Oh wow, it sounds exciting, but obviously an enormous change. If it's any consolation, we got a new Electrolux range in May, and we are still figuring out its features, and we had a previous induction range. I grew up with gas, but I haven't cooked regularly on gas since the 1990's so it would be a big adjustment to go back to gas, too.

Looking forward to seeing your new place!

How exciting!

it took me a few weeks to get used to our new Bosch DW. It has the third rack, which I love and I took out the cutlery basket altogether. Loading the bottom rack optimally took a while. IS taking a while lol! I've had it over a year and I've changed the way I load the bottom rack a couple of times already. I wish racks were interchangeable among DWs so we could use the configuration we like bet for our needs.

Have fun in your new community! It will be easy to get used to not having to watch out for kids on bikes much, but it think I might miss the school bus rumbling by in the morning. Well, maybe not.

Enjoy your new journey! It sounds like a wonderful forever home. Can not wait for your reveal.

Don't sweat the new appliances too much. We just bought a new washer & dryer and it has been surprisingly easy after the first 1-2 loads. There was a quick guide that came with both and I kept the books handy for the first month until I felt I knew my way with all the new settings. I'm still adjusting in some ways.

The TV would be the only one that would drive me nuts. It's just as you say with pushing a button and everything goes haywire.

Congrats on the new home! I'm sure it will be lovely, and we will all be excited to see it.

How wonderfully exciting! I never in a million years thought I would enjoy living in an over 55 community since I've always thought of myself as a bit of a loner. That is, until we began staying summers at our lake house, which is a true community, with long evenings spent with neighbors on our porch or their porch, or impromptu gatherings by the water with the fire pit.

Don't sweat the technology. Do you have a grandchild? They are imminently patient with their poor aging grandparents, and can provide easy to understand operating lessons. OTOH, I am still challenged turning on the porch light in the house we built 19 years ago because I can't remember which of the 5 switches turns it on.

I enjoyed reading that and hearing the excitement in your tone. What a wonderful time for the two of you. Change is the best thing for people who are empty nester's. Your place sounds great and you have people around to broaden your friendship base. I can't wait to see the finished production. I'm sure it will be exactly right for you, paint and all.

What a great adventure! It's always an adjustment to get accustomed to all of the new places and parts after a move, but you'll be comfortable in no time. How nice to move into a freshly built home and even as a loner, I think you will enjoy being in a community. Generally, people let you participate as much or as little as makes you comfortable.

Loved reading your rambling tale and looking forward to seeing pictures.

We got a big fancy tv in 2010 and I'm sure the newer tv's are even fancier. . I continue to watch my simple little kitchen one but I don't have a problem figuring out the other appliances.

I loved reading your tale. It's so nice to hear about how everybody navigates these transitions. Congratulations on being almost there. I look forward to seeing pictures of your beautiful new house.

I can't wait to see pics of your new home. I've enjoyed hearing about the project as it has unfolded. I know you stayed in the same area but did you have a pick of several over 55 communities? Does yours have a lot of homes or is it on the small side?

We have started our search, but still have no clue where we want to be. We've looked at small and large communities and both have advantages and disadvantages. How did you decide "the one" assuming you had a few communities to choose from? It's all very daunting.

I think you're experiencing the over 55 equivalent to back to school anxiety. You know it will work out but you just can't help feeling a little anxious - will you be able to open your locker? Have someone to sit with in the cafeteria? Like your teachers?

After 34 years in the same place, it's to be expected. Change is always both exciting and slightly worrying.

I, too, look forward to your reveal. Good luck with the move.

I think it sounds like a wonderful adventure. Can't wait to see pictures! You have a gem of a husband-indeed, paint is an easy fix. Still, hope you end up loving whatever you chose.

Thank you, thank you all. This has indeed been an interesting journey. DH retired 3 years ago and he resisted the idea for a long time. But one day last year I mentioned that one of the larger homes that backed up to the woods had just come on the market and he surprised me by agreeing to see it. Then he floored me by making an offer. Most of the homes in this community sell quickly, usually by word of mouth which is how I found this one. My friends who live there told me the day it went on the market.

Joanie - You asked how we chose this community. That was probably the easiest part of this process. We used to drive past the entrance when we took the dog to the vet and every now and then DH and I would drive through. This community is 13 years old, has 235 individual homes and 30 townhouses reserved for lower income seniors. There is a clubhouse, outdoor pool, tennis and bocce courts and a very active group of residents.

As with so many other real estate decisions location was key. We have many over 55 communities in this part of South Jersey and I know of 5 more that are being built. Most of the newer ones have larger units and more options but they're not necessarily better construction and most of them are in towns with high taxes. Toll Brothers is building one on a golf course in my town. These are all townhouses and the taxes for a 2100 sq ft home are over $15,000.

Our development has 8 different models ranging from 1500 sq ft to 2150 sq ft - we choose the larger one in hopes that some day we might have grandchildren who'd like to visit. We have a 2 car garage, a kitchen, family room, living room/dining room, master bedroom and guest room on the first floor. The second floor has another guest room and a loft. The lots are small and the houses are close together which is why we wanted one in the rear with a private patio and backs up to woods. The monthly HOA fee is $135 which covers yard care, snow removal and recreational facilities.

Once DH realized that this move made sense he threw himself into planning the remodel. He comments that if we're giving up this home that we love then he wants to make the next one 'ours' too. So while they all seem to look alike on the outside we're completely remaking the interior. I've heard him talking to our friends about our move and he now says that he should have done this earlier. Giving up our big home, yard and pool will free us from many of those home ownership worries plus there is the financial savings - our taxes will be halved, utility costs will be significantly lower and we plan on spending more time at our vacation home in NE PA. DH is near 70 and I'm a few years behind and he has health limitations that prevent him from strenuous activity. We won't have to switch doctors or hospitals, all 3 adult kids now own their own homes and live within 30 minutes. I'll actually be closer to Wegman's and the Wellness Center where I try to do pool exercises 4 or 5 times a week. I can easily drive or take the Hi-Speed Line into Philly or take NJ Transit to NYC. I'm the social butterfly in the family while DH is reserved, quiet and definitely not a joiner. They have regular card games in the clubhouse but DH wouldn't dream of just walking in. I'm hoping he'll met someone who will ask if he plays pinochle - that would make him a happy camper. My girlfriend and I have already signed up for the September bus trip to NYC.

Thanks again everyone for your encouraging words.

Maire

Maire.....thanks for the info. You're right...half the battle is knowing where you want to be. You're lucky in that you knew you wanted to stay in the area. DH would happily stay put but I'm ready for a change to a less congested area and lower COL. We plan to really take time and visit places when he retires at the end of the year, but it's a lot to consider. I hope we find a place we both like.

Joanie, my sister, and her husband visited Asheville, NC. Her husband looked around and exclaimed, "We can live here!" They lived in Florida for 30 years (we are from NYC) and I think he needed a change. Both still worked at the time. He a Pharm.D she a Physical Therapist. They both found jobs immediately.

To be honest, this move was not on my sister"s radar. She had a nice home, friends and a job she liked in Florida. But, her DH was always easy going throughout their marriage and never put his wants first. She agreed that this was now his time.

They almost bought a townhouse but bought a ranch style home. They are in a neighborhood, so not a 55 or older.

They have a son and daughter. Their DD is in Chicago and son is in Florida (not near where they lived though.)

They were used to seeing their kids intermittently, so a move didn't really change that.

They are now both retired. This was a good move for them.

What is your must haves list? Warmer climate? Walkable neighborhood? Do you have a radius as to how far you want to be from your kids? Or have they scattered anyway? Do you want an over 55 or will you be happy in a neighborhood?

What are your interests? Some people like to be in a college town. This would not interest me.

DH and I both like nature. We would like to be near the ocean and have a house with the privacy of woods. For us, it would be only part time as DH has real estate that he needs to manage and he isn't interested in selling it off anytime soon.

Eld.....all good questions. We have put together a loose list of wants. i would go out west in a heartbeat but DH doesn't want to be that far from the kids. He'd prefer to be no longer than a short day's drive but that's not a priority for me. We agree on an over 55 community for the social and activities aspects. Once he retires visiting places will be our focus. We've looked at places on vacation but you can't do much in a few days time other than rule it in as a possibility or rule it out. I wish the Reirenent forum here was more active.

Maire.....meant to say... 235 homes is a nice size. We've looked at a few places that had 40- 60 homes with a very small clubhouse. We knew they were too small for us with not enough going on.

Joanie - it is a good size yet contained. And it feels like a neighborhood. There are many pros and cons to a HOA but I realized that it helps to maintain property values by keeping a uniform look - no statues or lawn ornaments allowed in the front of the house, holiday decorations must be removed 10 days after the holiday, no dead flowers or empty flower pots in the front yard, shrubs must be maintained at a certain height, exterior paints must be on the approved list. etc. The HOA walks through the neighborhood 2 times a year checking for infractions.

There are a number of residents who are snowbirds. And probably an equal number who have homes at the Jersey shore. Since almost every resident has downsized most of them seem to have the means to maintain 2 homes or travel. I've also found out than many of my neighbors made the decision to move here when they were only in their mid 50's. We never even considered an over 55 community at that age. DH thought we'd retire to the mountains but I don't want to live that far from my kids and friends and quite honestly I certainly don't want to be living in the middle of a forest if I were by myself.

We may be in the minority but we both love winter - especially since DH no longer has to get up and go to work even in the worst snowstorms. And to be honest our winters have become much milder than when we first moved to the Philly area 43 years ago. We love heading to our place in the mountains of NE PA and getting snowed in. Our home is on 135 wooded acres and we have a whole house generator and 3 fireplaces, plenty of firewood, canned soup, coffee, wine and popcorn. We think there's nothing better than to sit in the great room and watch the snow falling all around you. Now we'll be able to just hop in the car and take off without worrying about the pool or if there's snow on our sidewalk, or if the sump pump failed.

Eld did have some great questions. We also thought about moving into Philly like many others in our age group have done. I could easily do it but I don't think DH could handle the congestion of city living again.

How exciting for you and how great that it's all working out so nicely. We are spending time looking and thinking and researching. We are maybe a 2 or 3 years behind you and your hubby. I am still working though and Dh retired about 10 years ago. He also has some health issues and snow shoveling is totally not an option. We have one child on the west coast and one outside of Philly. We are in NJ. I think I might prefer a 55 plus or at least a sort of condo arrangement, and we are also downsizing from a large house. the set up of your house sounds perfect. We are not finding that in the areas we are looking and continue to fine tune our search. I would like to be no more than 30 to 40 minutes from DD (and grands:) and that area is pretty pricey, or older and does not really have the type of housing with first floor living.. Anyway very happy for you and would love to hear more.

Reading this makes me want to pick up and move. I have never liked my house although the neighborhood was perfect for the kids growing up and the schools are among the best. My house is small. It was too small the day we moved in. Now that I am here by myself, the size is fine but the layout is not. I have dreadful neighbors across the street and a young family next door who are always thoughtful.

i'd love to move and your situation sounds nice. Maybe I should start looking into something like that. Enjoy your new space. Your lifestyle sounds ideal, especially with the mountain getaway home.