[moguldreamer]

Originally Posted by NC_Cpl

Interesting thoughts on SCA. So buying into a retirement community didn't afford you an easy group of instant friends it seems? I ask because my wife thinks thats what you get - any instant group of friends, standing at the ready to invite you to parties, BBQ's, events, Etc. I've been skeptical its that easy.

In general, meeting people and making friends has more to do with group & club activities that have some unifying purpose where you have something in common: book clubs, gourmet clubs, fine wine clubs, scotch & cigars, cars & coffee, wood working, fishing, and the like. There are active newcomers clubs as well, and pot-lucks.

I'm not sure I'd call 55+ communities "instant groups of friends" but it does work out well after a bit as you get to know people. The pandemic threw a monkey wrench into socializing, of course, but nowadays that's much less of an issue. You'll find a diversity of people - those for whom going to lunch at an Applebee's is an extravagance in which they won't indulge, and those for whom dropping a hundred bucks into a slot machine is a daily occurrence; sometimes, they preceding are one-and-the-same. Still others who are here in the winter and elsewhere in the summer, maintaining two or more residences. Others are on cruise ships several times per year while others still spend every Monday Night at a casino "pig skin party" (projecting Monday Night Football on a huge screen in the main showroom). It all varies. You have to find your own niche based on your own interests, likes, and dislikes. The preceding shouldn't be a surprise to you, and my guess is it is true in most 55+ communities across the nation.

The common theme is they moved here from somewhere else because there was something elsewhere they didn't like, and something here they do like. Of those who come here and then leave, I've heard a couple common themes:

* Want to be near grandchildren
* Miss their old life (friends/church/community)
* It was a mistake to retire - they weren't ready for it emotionally/psychologically.

Originally Posted by NC_Cpl

How bad was the critter problem?

There is an almost total lack of flying bugs (mosquitoes, etc). Similarly, very, very few rodents. There are a few creepy-crawlies - roaches & scorpions. Scorpions mostly hitchhike in from Arizona on palm trees relocated for landscape purposes. Most areas have no scorpions at all. Newer areas with newer landscaping may have some - or none. Some people hire an exterminator service while others are DIY, and still others do nothing and don't have a problem.

[RJ17015]

Originally Posted by NC_Cpl

Interesting thoughts on SCA. So buying into a retirement community didn't afford you an easy group of instant friends it seems? I ask because my wife thinks thats what you get - any instant group of friends, standing at the ready to invite you to parties, BBQ's, events, Etc. I've been skeptical its that easy.

How bad was the critter problem?


btw - we're originally from the Midwest but I can't ever see us going back there. Too flat and snow. We may end up staying in NC.

Friends: it took a few years because of the pandemic, but yes we have made friends. Most friendship are superficial - but we DO have friends here, and do socialize. Many of our friends travel a LOT, some have a 2nd home and leave for the summer months, one set of friends were gone for 26 weeks in one year (she hates the heat here). I believe if you and your wife jump in with both feet into the clubs, you'll make many friends, and you'll enjoy the community.

Critters: What I've experienced in our yard/house: Rats, mice, snakes (outside), cockroaches, grasshoppers, flies, bees, wasps, tarantula, earwigs, beetles, scorpions, ants, moths, dragonflies, still not sure what it is but a giant black flying bug (looks like a small bird) and is very loud - and NO it's not a hummingbird. My biggest pet peeve are the wasps - nonstop in our pool while we're trying to enjoy it - we've both been stung. We lived outside of Phoenix and I don't remember having wasps in the poor or this many bugs - but our house was a new build, so landscape was not mature. We also currently live on a golf course (elevated) so we may have more bugs/critters because of the golf course. On the plus side we get to enjoy the hummingbirds, quail, rabbits and roadrunners almost daily, we also regularly see coyotoes on the golf course - in the winter months hear them many evenings.

Looking back - I wished we would have rented here for a few years before making the jump to retire here. As many have said - many people LOVE it here and would never move back, others (like me) don't and bail. If it's possible - try renting for a few years, see if it's a good fit for you and your wife.

[ddeemo]

Originally Posted by RJ17015

Friends: it took a few years because of the pandemic, but yes we have made friends. Most friendship are superficial - but we DO have friends here, and do socialize. Many of our friends travel a LOT, some have a 2nd home and leave for the summer months, one set of friends were gone for 26 weeks in one year (she hates the heat here). I believe if you and your wife jump in with both feet into the clubs, you'll make many friends, and you'll enjoy the community.

Critters: What I've experienced in our yard/house: Rats, mice, snakes (outside), cockroaches, grasshoppers, flies, bees, wasps, tarantula, earwigs, beetles, scorpions, ants, moths, dragonflies, still not sure what it is but a giant black flying bug (looks like a small bird) and is very loud - and NO it's not a hummingbird. My biggest pet peeve are the wasps - nonstop in our pool while we're trying to enjoy it - we've both been stung. We lived outside of Phoenix and I don't remember having wasps in the poor or this many bugs - but our house was a new build, so landscape was not mature. We also currently live on a golf course (elevated) so we may have more bugs/critters because of the golf course. On the plus side we get to enjoy the hummingbirds, quail, rabbits and roadrunners almost daily, we also regularly see coyotoes on the golf course - in the winter months hear them many evenings.

Looking back - I wished we would have rented here for a few years before making the jump to retire here. As many have said - many people LOVE it here and would never move back, others (like me) don't and bail. If it's possible - try renting for a few years, see if it's a good fit for you and your wife.

I am somewhat surprised at the critters you are seeing - where I am in NV, see little besides a few bees and wasps. I get a lot of bees in our pool in CA - don't see that many in LV. Frankly, we lived in the midwest and there were many more bugs and critters there than in LV - LV has a pretty low level of critters.

Seems like LV is similar enough to Phoenix to know if you would be ok with living in the area - don't know if rental would have made much difference.

[movin1]

Phoenix is even hotter in the summer, Vegas is much cooler in the winter.

[Scott456]

Originally Posted by movin1

Phoenix is even hotter in the summer, Vegas is much cooler in the winter.

I.e. Phoenix is always warmer than Vegas all year round.

[PinkString]

Originally Posted by RJ17015

Friends: it took a few years because of the pandemic, but yes we have made friends. Most friendship are superficial - but we DO have friends here, and do socialize. Many of our friends travel a LOT, some have a 2nd home and leave for the summer months, one set of friends were gone for 26 weeks in one year (she hates the heat here). I believe if you and your wife jump in with both feet into the clubs, you'll make many friends, and you'll enjoy the community.

Critters: What I've experienced in our yard/house: Rats, mice, snakes (outside), cockroaches, grasshoppers, flies, bees, wasps, tarantula, earwigs, beetles, scorpions, ants, moths, dragonflies, still not sure what it is but a giant black flying bug (looks like a small bird) and is very loud-and NO it's not a hummingbird. My biggest pet peeve are the wasps - nonstop in our pool while we're trying to enjoy it - we've both been stung. We lived outside of Phoenix and I don't remember having wasps in the poor or this many bugs - but our house was a new build, so landscape was not mature. We also currently live on a golf course (elevated) so we may have more bugs/critters because of the golf course. On the plus side we get to enjoy the hummingbirds, quail, rabbits and roadrunners almost daily, we also regularly see coyotoes on the golf course - in the winter months hear them many evenings.

Looking back - I wished we would have rented here for a few years before making the jump to retire here. As many have said - many people LOVE it here and would never move back, others (like me) don't and bail. If it's possible - try renting for a few years, see if it's a good fit for you and your wife.

Also seeing that weird bug the last few months. It flies like a hummingbird up to the upstairs window, and all around outside, coming back many times back and forth outside the window, then speeds off. It almost flies like a dragonfly at times, and can see huge bug wings on the side of it as well, but looks like a giant fly as big as a hummingbird. What is it??? That can't be a cicada, can it??

[moguldreamer]

Originally Posted by PinkString

Also seeing that weird bug the last few months. It flies like a hummingbird up to the upstairs window, and all around outside, coming back many times back and forth outside the window, then speeds off. It almost flies like a dragonfly at times, and can see huge bug wings on the side of it as well, but looks like a giant fly as big as a hummingbird. What is it??? That can't be a cicada, can it??

I think it is.

[Mike from back east]

There's a moth that people often mistake for a hummingbird, here's a link to info.

[RJ17015]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

There's a moth that people often mistake for a hummingbird, here's a link to info.

No I've seen the Hummingbird Moths, I forgot we have those in our yard too - this is dark black, and it makes a humming noise with it's wings like a hummingbird - but it looks like a giant bee/fly - they've soared by my head before. I Googled it and I think its a Mydas Fly, looking back I think it is in the Spring when I see them, then not again during the summer. That being said I spend less time outside in the summer than the spring, so?

Oh I forgot to mention the lizards, but that's to be expected in this climate.

[NC_Cpl]

Thats fine, but details as to why are needed?