Future Play

Yesterday we spent the day with six of our good friends. We started in the mid-afternoon for a day of eating, drinking and general merriment. We met up at one couple's house about an hour north of us. With their new 60 inch tv screen and surround sound we were able to enjoy a few concert DVDs while we played games, talked, argued politics, and plotted our futures. Since we are all approaching or already in our fifties with our children scattered all over the country and abroad we have been considering a plan to build our own semi-retirement community where we would each have a small home centered around a swimming pool and clubhouse. We would make the homes energy efficient and wheelchair accessible for the future with wide sidewalks leading from one home to the other, allowing us to be available to help each other out as our physical capabilities change over the years. With the pool and clubhouse available for use anytime we would always have a place to gather with our families and other friends. By having our own community of friends we would stave off the loneliness that many couples experience after their children are grown and gone. We all enjoy each other's company so much and have known each other since we were kids and I can't think of a better way to relax after work than to head to the community room to see what's going on there-to get a game of euchre started, to cook out on the grill, swim laps, or simply sit with a drink and chat. The clubhouse could be set up to accomodate all sorts of hobbies to keep us busy, an exercise area, a video area for watching movies together and perhaps a library area where we could all share our books. We would limit the amount of upkeep on the exterior by choosing building materials wisely and each of us would be assigned specific responsibilities for groundskeeping. Of course we would have an annual fee to cover certain maintenance expenses that would be hired out. And a legal contract to avoid misunderstandings and problems down the road.
I know it may seem a bit early to be considering this plan but we all know it will take years to see it to fruition. And without our children living nearby we all see an eventual need to help each other in the future as we have struggled to meet the needs of our own aging parents over the past several years. Our community plan may never happen, but it definitely will not happen if we don't start the planning process now. And that planning is half the fun! All suggestions are welcome.