You May Want a Large Shower in Your Retirement Home: 5 Reasons!

Seat in large separate shower

If you had your choice in your retirement home, would you choose a large shower or a small shower stall. Most people might say a smaller one not really giving it much consideration. When reviewing retirement communities, I see many very large separate showers, some with 2 seats. Liking smaller, cozier things in general I would wonder if I needed such a large shower (and more to clean). Some even had 2 seats in them--why would I need that.

Large separate shower

Well, now I know.   As you age, as I have said many times, things change.  Your preferences change, too.   Sitting around too much?  Have high blood pressure? Circulation impaired?  Need to help your spouse shower?   Wanting your shower to be your spa?   All of these things may influence your choice of shower. 

Here are some reasons you may not have thought of for choosing a large shower in your retirement home (and maybe a separate one with 2 seats, too).

1) Spending time in the shower --  you may be needing more than one shower for your active retirement lifestyle swimming, sunbathing, playing golf or tennis and you are finding the shower is more important. 

2) Helping spouse in the shower -- sometimes one person in a couple requires assistance in the shower -- a larger separate shower makes it easier to get into and maybe one with one or two seats.

3) Have additional spa-like gadgets in the shower -- a hand-held shower preferably with a massage feature can be enjoyed better in a large shower.

4) Improving circulation with hand-held shower head -- As we age, circulation becomes more important -- and a hand-held shower head is an inexpensive way to improve circulation -- a seat in the shower is helpful too when massaging the legs and feet.

5) Therapeutic uses such as cooling off in the shower or frequent showers may require a larger shower -- using the shower to cool down on a hot day is a pleasant way to relax or a hot shower to soothe aching muscles.

Yes, a large shower could be desirable for more reasons than pure aesthetic enjoyment--it may be a practical consideration.  Take this into consideration when you are looking for your retirement home.

Check out Best Guide Retirement Communities listings to find your perfect new home!

Pro's and Con's of Landscaped Retirement Communities

Landscaped retirement communities are beautiful but can require upkeep.  Just like your home needs grass cutting, tree pruning, flower beds watered and much more, so does the property of a retirement community. 

It's a nice rainy morning on the East Coast; one of those mornings perfect for napping, sleeping in and half dozing.  Unfortunately, the landscapers chose this morning to do a complete renovation of the lawns.   Not really, but it feels like it.  All morning I have been listening to trimmers, lawnmowers and edgers and not the soft sprinkling of the rain.     But when it's finished, it will be beautiful.  They sure do keep up the landscaping here.  But there are pros and cons.

The location of my home looks over a park--another thing to consider--location of your home.  Golf courses, for instance, while providing beautiful views, require a lot of upkeep so you may have to put up with sprinkling and fertilizing more often.  Along walk pathways also require more upkeep.  Generally anywhere that shows off to the public appearance may get more attention from gardeners and a chance of showering you with dust and noise on a regular basis.

The trees on the property can tell you a lot about the community.  Are the trees tended to.  If not, maybe they don't have much money.    Are they cutting down too many mature trees or just enough to keep the property safe.   What is the philosophy of the landscaping department.  Are they considerate of the property owner who has a gorgeous cherry tree blooming outside their window and would be upset if it were suddenly cut down. 

There may be people who would like to see that happen so you can't depend on that tree being there forever.  If it's important to you when you are choosing your retirement home, ask the head landscaper about it.

It's interesting about landscaping, there are so many varied opinions.  Some people love when the grass is kept low for that nice clean look.  Some people want a more natural look.  So this is something to consider when you are looking at retirement communities--the kind of appearance and how much upkeep you can tolerate. 

I think overall, since my community chose wisely, the landscapers here don't overdo it.  They don't spray with toxins that might hurt wildlife or people, they don't stay so busy that they are in your way, they stop their work if you walk by and they are courteous about it.  This is the way it should be at a retirement community.  The result is harmony.

But please investigate this aspect of the community to make sure there aren't more cons than pros.

Interested in seeing some great retirement communities? Check out my list of the Top Retirement Communities!

Why a Full Community Brochure is Helpful to You!

A Full Community Brochure is Filled with Information You Need. Be sure to ask for a full community brochure if not offered.

There is a sheet in the full brochure listing items included in your home purchase. This list is titled something like: "Outstanding Features of your new home." It is a list of included features and benefits. This is the list you want to see.

Go through the list and check off things you want that are on the list. The list will also remind you of things that are missing.
After checking off the things you want in what we'll call Community A, do the same for another community you have seen, Community B. Only compare items that are desirable for you to have as top priority. Here is an example of what I did:

Community A:

• Cathedral ceilings … check
• Eat in kitchen with Island and sunny in the morning … check (reminder: check lighting at location I choose)
• Gas range … check
• Wood floors…check
• Walkin shower .. check
• Fireplace …check
• Gated entry … check
• Outdoor Pool .. check
• Energy Star .. check
• Walk trail
• Low Taxes
• medical and fire 10 minutes

Missing from Community A:

• Granite counters was an option
• No indoor pool which meant I could only swim during the warm season
• No whirlpool tub offered
• No night patrol
• No restaurant
• Some traffic noise
• No nearby shopping to walk to if it was necessary (was there a shuttle)
• Ocean beaches 20 minutes

Community B: (I did not receive a full brochure at community B which made my information limited.)

• 2 heated pools .. indoor and out.. check
• Indoor spa .. check
• Elegant clubhouse .. check
• Ceramic floors standard .. check
• Upgraded kitchen cabinets standard .. check
• Granite countertops were included .. check
• Fireplace .. check
• 24 hour manned gated entry with night patrol .. check .. check
• extra large water heater .. check
• whirlpool tub offered as option . .. check
• Gas range..check
• Energy Star..check
• Low taxes..check
• miles of Walking path .. check
• ocean beaches 5 minutes .. check..check
• Quaint town
• Location isolated but away from traffic noise
• Shopping 10 minutes

Missing:

• Wood floors optional
• No restaurant
• Shopping 30 minutes
• medical and fire 20 minutes

Both communities were in the same price and square footage range. The Community B offered more of what I was looking for and had more of the options I wanted included in the price. The definite plus was the 24 hour manned patrol at Community B and being near beaches.
So by comparing the items on the Feature list, I had a pretty good idea of which community I would prefer.
Instead of listing what I wanted, I checked off what the communities offered. This way I kept an open mind.
Doing these comparisons will help you define what is important to you.

Sunrise/Sunset, Retire in Monterey, California

I changed my homepage photo to this sunrise/sunset in Monterey, California.  It is a Monterey Bay photo treat for you as well as for me.

My daughter, a photographer and writer,  is spending time there.   (She also has a website, www.healthy-happy-life.com.)   When I saw this photo she took, I had to have it on my home page.  I loved the other photo and I will bring it back in the future, but this one seems just right for now.  It also matches the theme of my website--the warm sun.  Hope you like it.  


There really is no where on earth quite like the Monterey Bay.  Pelicans, seagulls, the ocean teeming with sea life--sea otters floating on their backs joyfully as if they know they are in the happiest place.

You can climb on the rocks on the shore, investigate the abundant tide pools, touch real sea anemones as the sea air heals your body and soul.   Seaweed is thick and green as any forest.  The air is pure and sweet, crisp and cool; this photo shows a sunrise (I thought it was a sunset) from the hotel's balcony.

The great Monterey Bay Aquarium is a few blocks away as well as restaurants with views of the Bay:  Listen to the pat-pat sound of a tortilla being freshly made while you sip your marguerita beverage and await your meal at one of the Mexican restaurants overlooking the water, or a seafood dinner at the Sardine Factory.

Enjoy unbelievably scenic and pristine views of 17-mile drive and the famous Monterey Cypress. Fall in love with the sea. So much to enjoy in Northern California.

Check out Northern California Retirement Communities!

Upgrade Your Life by Buying a New Retirement Home

It's so exciting to purchase a new retirement community home--so much about it will change your life--hopefully, for the better. If you're happy where you are now, then there may be no need to change. But for most, a change will be for the better. So much about our lives in the first half is so different from our lives as seniors. What age do the most changes take place?

I think not until you are in your 60's and very much so in the latter 60's. So much has to do with health. In your fifties you may have planned on eating out every night when you retired, but in your sixties, you want to stay home and cook healthier.

It's very hard to find a restaurant that cooks the way you want to eat (or have to) in your senior years--lower salt, sugar and fat. If you cook at home, you can leave out the salt, saute in water instead of oil, and put in less sugar. Not so when you eat out.

So I find that this is a huge change when you turn 65 or become retired. If your current kitchen is less than inviting to cook in, please go to your nearest retirement community and see how great the new kitchens are--perhaps larger, more light, upscale features, kitchen islands, eating areas, blend with the great room and more. When a couple cooks together, 2 separate work spaces makes it more fun


Yes, a lot can change when you buy a new retirement community home and the looks and functionality of a kitchen for the senior years is not the least of those changes.

Good article about Kitchen functionality by a senior kitchen designer

Another article on Retirement, Happiness and Health

Trilogy at Vistancia--Popular Active Adult Community in Arizona

Congrats to Shea Homes for having 35% of the Arizona 2010 active adult community market share with their Trilogy at Vistancia community in the West Valley of Phoenix area (from builders sales reports). As I have often mentioned, some communities are "hot" and when you hear about them, you need to go and take a look to see what all the excitement is about.

Update for 2013:  The Best Year in 5 or 6 Years!

Trilogy at Vistancia is reporting phenomenal sales in 2012 and had some price increases; if the market continues strong,  they anticipate selling their remaining 100 lots by the end of 2013.   This year they discontinued 2 programs:  the Leaseback and the Vacation Homes which were at less price due to fewer upgrades.

Some communities sell faster than others--whether it is the price, location or amenities, or all three, you need to act fast.

Apparently this community has all three: location in the Sonoran Desert known for its scenery, exceptional resort amenities, and value price--a recipe for boomers looking for the perfect retirement. Shea also excels in energy efficient construction with their Shea Green Certified program. Appealing design is something else baby boomers are looking for and Shea is known for. Long time residents of California are clearly aware of the beautifully designed homes built by Shea Homes but new retirees to the area may not be.

Shea Homes is a premier builder in California and now Arizona and more recently Washington, Nevada and Florida.

Trilogy at Vistancia by Shea Homes is a gated resort community on 1000 acres and 2400 homes are planned ranging from lower $200's to mid $300's.  And to top it off, new premium home sites are now available.   But don't wait long since this community is very popular.

You can call 800-685-6494 or visit at 27980 North Trilogy Boulevard, Peoria, AZ
Open Daily 

See our complete list of senior communities in Phoenix, Arizona, area for more.

We are not associated with Shea Homes in any way and this is for information only. We do not recommend or give opinions of communities. Please do your own thorough investigations and verify all information.

Great Resource for Real Estate News

We realize that most people visiting our site are primarily interested in knowing about where the retirement communities are.  However, with so much happening in the real estate news and news in general of late, we would like to refer you to a website with videos to help with some of the real estate market confusion that results from so many news stories and news events in general.

The National Association of Realtors has a page of video news updates  on the market that are very professionally done. 

We have our page "Real Estate Update" on our site following news and projections, however, we feel this site by the National Association of Realtors gives  more specific information with their frequent videos with their experts. 

So if you are interested in everything newsy about the real estate market, you will find this a good resource.  Many of the videos are for Realtor members but the News and Analysis video section or the Home & Design video Section would be of interest to everyone.   Enjoy!

Realtor TV Videos-- Go to the News and Analysis Category