Communes for geezers :-)

[Habibi]

So, does anyone else wonder what their old age will be like? My husband and I are helping his elderly (77) mom and his dad's cousin (79) maintain their "independent" lifestyles--they live about 25 minutes apart and we travel about 1.5 hours every week or two to help them get their groceries and meds. Another family cousin will be staying the winter with MIL; we'd love it if cousin Dorothy would also be willing to come into town for the winter with the two ladies--would make *our* lives easier. They have varying abilities; it could work out very nicely for them.

All of this makes me wonder what my old age will be like. I really like the idea of a commune . . . Has anyone thought about where they'll be living at the age of 75-80? Or . . . 90?

[lizziegrace]

1. I think it's a good idea

I have several friends who are also divorced and single with kids out of the house. We've decided the one with the biggest house will be where we'll all end up, watching out for each other.

[Habibi]

2. I think it's a good idea too

I'm just wondering how many are actually thinking about/planning such a thing.

[lizziegrace]

3. Last winter

with heating costs so high, senior groups were urging people to live with others during the worst of the cold so they wouldn't have to decide between heat, food and medication. It would be interesting to know how many actually did.

[RedCloud]

4. Now if they could just get the unwanted (!) kids to meet with them

That would be a major step toward restoring humanity. People who have a lifetime treasure of learning to share with kids who for lack of a better term, nobody wants. Somehow I do believe it takes humans to heal other humans and they have so much importance.

It is sad to see how fast things change and someone can feel left behind by all the changes. Let us always be humane.

[Habibi]

5. I'd like to see that too

[In_The_Wind]

6. I hope I'll be able to take care of myself .

Because there isn't anyone to care for me if I can't.

[BarenakedLady]

7. Don't know

But if going by my 101 yr old Nana, I've got time to think about it. :D

[Dem2theMax]

8. Hey, I've actually done some searching on the InternetS for

communes for geezers. I'm series!

I think it would be a great idea. I'm going to be on my own when I'm old. (Just now 50. Not NEAR old yet!) ;) I wonder all the time about how I'm going to take care of myself. No hubby, no kids, no relatives I could count on.

So, we pool our money, buy some land and call it DUerville? I'm in. :)

[DBoon]

9. In LA there is/was a retirement community for "aging commies"

It is/was called "Sunset Hall"

A movie about them:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368310/usercomments

and this form the LA Weekly
http://www.laweekly.com/general/features/raging-gracefully/2931/

[Dem2theMax]

10. Thank you for the info!

I read the IMDB comments and immediately put the movie on my Netflix list. Can't wait to see it.

Oh, the title is "Sunset Story" not "Hall."

Thank you again! :)

[WCGreen]

13. Fuckin' Hippies....

[Dem2theMax]

14. So tell me,

what do you mean by your comment?

[pitohui]

11. thought about it

for me it won't work, alzheimer's in the family and i'm the physical twin of a direct ancestor who had it

all i would do is drag down a commune and take their money

i dream about skyscrapers and jumping off, not that she didn't, i'm sure she did, knowing her, but there's that razor edge between the time you know you're losing it and the time you've lost it

[Totally Committed]

12. I love the idea of a commune!

I love all my friends, and would love to live in one big house with them. We've all made plans, actually, that if we make it to *that age*, we will definitely throw our lots in together. It'll save us money, give us security, independence, and companionship... and, as we all know from our years and years of friendship -- many laughs.

TC