Description
Despite the abundance of retirement communities in the US, none compare to The Villages in Central Florida. Home to nearly 150,000 residents and spanning an area larger than Manhattan, it is the world's largest retirement community and the only one that can be considered a city for older adults. Based on in-depth interviews with 40 residents and two months of participant observations, this captivating and insightful book delves into the aging experience in The Villages. It explores why people move there, their perceptions of its rapid growth, changes in their daily activities upon moving and over time, social involvement and leisure constraints, and their sense of identity and community. In doing so, this book unveils how The Villages' unique characteristics profoundly impact residents' well-being and offers a glance into the future of old age.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments; 1. Introduction; 2. Retirement communities; 3. The villages; 4. Big size fits all?; 5. Small communities nested in a massive community; 6. Innovation culture; 7. Self-serving volunteering; 8. Limitations in a land of unlimited opportunities; 9. Bubble communication; 10. Neighboring death; 11. Aging differently; 12. Concluding remarks; Appendix; References; Index.
