By Kathleen M. Rehl, Ph.D., CFP®
Editor’s Note: This is the first in a new series by Kathleen M. Rehl chronicling her move into a Continuing Care Retirement Community. You may recall Kathleen’s earlier pieces for agebuzz—her poem, Waiting List, and her practical guide, Navigating the Future: Our Checklist for Choosing a Continuing Care Retirement Community. Now, she’s sharing what it’s really like to make the leap.
Two years ago, when my husband and I placed our names on the waiting list for a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) associated with the University of Florida in Gainesville, it felt like a distant, abstract plan. We had previously discussed the pros and cons of this type of move a couple of years before. It was a heartfelt decision not made lightly. That’s when I told Charlie, “I really want to be living in a CCRC when I celebrate my 80th birthday!”
I even wrote a short poem about it—Waiting List—published here on agebuzz, full of anticipation and hope for what lay ahead.
A few months later, I shared a more practical side of our journey in Navigating the Future: Our Checklist for Choosing a Continuing Care Retirement Community. Back then, we expected to move to our CCRC in 2026. That timeline felt safe and manageable—plenty of time to prepare, downsize, sell our winter condo in St. Petersburg, and say long goodbyes.
But life doesn’t always stick to the script.
Two months ago, the exact unit we’d been hoping for became available—a year earlier than expected. That apartment had everything we wanted—the right size, a nice layout, an attractive location within the community, and an unusually cute front porch on a balcony overlooking a garden atrium. We didn’t want to risk missing out. So, we said yes.
And now? We’re moving two weeks from today as I type my story.
“Too Young!” vs. “You’re Old!”
When we first told friends about our plan to join a CCRC, the response we often heard was, “But you’re too young for that, and you’re so healthy!” They envisioned CCRCs as a last resort, not as a proactive choice for people who were still healthy and active, planning ahead for a time when they would no longer be so able-bodied. Indeed, while the level and intensity of long-term care needed vary from person to person, the Administration on Aging at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that at least 70% of people aged 65 today will require some form of care.
Meanwhile, our 9-year-old grandsons see things differently. “You’re old, Grandma!” they remind us, with the unfiltered honesty only kids can deliver. So maybe we’re somewhere in between: too young for some, too old for others, but just the right time for us.
Logistics Behind Our Leap
Previously, we assumed we’d sell our beloved St. Pete condo, where we’ve spent many winters, to fund our move to a CCRC. But summer isn’t prime condo-selling season in Florida—most snowbirds are up north. When no quick buyers stepped forward to engage in bidding wars, we decided to leave the condo vacant, with a future sale probably several months away.
Thankfully, we were able to arrange alternative funding to close on our CCRC unit without waiting for our condo sale to happen. That choice turned out to be a blessing. It means we can move our furniture directly into the new residence, avoiding the hassle of storage or temporary housing.
Before move-in day, we allowed time for a few updates—fresh paint and minor custom adjustments—so the space will feel truly ours. We’re holding off on some other changes until we’ve lived in the unit a while, including a new kitchen counter backsplash, bathroom wallpaper, customized closets, and a redesign of the breakfast nook.
Our CCRC offers professional move-in support, with a team on hand to help unpack and assist with the initial organization of our belongings. Knowing there’s help for those first overwhelming days is a huge relief.
A Warm Welcome
Even before moving, there are welcoming signs from the community we’re joining. Our soon-to-be next-door neighbor sent a friendly email introducing herself. The staff continues to be advocates for helping us accomplish our goals within our timeline.
Emotional Side of “Yes”
But moving isn’t just about logistics—it’s about letting go.
I’m saying goodbye to St. Petersburg volunteer work I’ve loved, including committee work with my congregation and tutoring a third-grade student. I’m hugging friends who’ve been part of our St. Pete life for many years.
I’ll need to work with a new team of health care specialists, and that’s a bit daunting. I have to find a new hairstylist, massage therapist, and personal trainer—all very important professionals in my life!
And then there are the quieter, goodbyes: to striking sunrise and sunset views from our condo balcony that overlooks Tampa Bay, morning walks by the Bay, and feeding peanuts to our friendly squirrels in the park, to the sense of rootedness that comes with years in one place.
Friends sometimes ask, “Are you sure you’re ready for this?” My honest answer? Yes . . . and also no. Because you can prepare all you like, but there’s still a tender moment when you realize you’re closing a chapter forever.
A New Chapter
Yes, we’re leaving behind people and places we’ve loved. But change invigorates and energizes me. Here are some of the opportunities I’m looking forward to in this next chapter. I’ll do some independently, and others with Charlie:
A Phased Landing
Our arrival at our new CCRC residence won’t feel immediate. We’ll move in at the end of July, stay for two weeks, then head out on three previously planned trips. We won’t truly be “settled” until late October.
And we’re not entirely giving up our seasonal rhythm. For now, we’ll continue returning north to our longtime home in Saratoga Springs, NY, each summer, as we’ve done for years. Eventually—when we’re really old—our CCRC residence will become our only home. But for now, we’re easing into this change in stages, keeping a foot in both worlds.
Someday, even my grandsons will agree—it really will be time to settle in one place. But for now, we’re not quite that “old and gray” yet!
Why We’re Doing This
Some see moving to a CCRC as a loss of independence. For us, it’s just the opposite. We’re creating more freedom—the ability to shape the next stage of our lives with choice, security, and the right kind of support when we need it.
Our adult children understand what we’re doing. My daughter-in-law recently said, “Thank you, Kathleen and Charlie, for taking this positive action so I don’t have to travel a thousand miles to take care of you after an accident—like I did for my 90-year-old aunt who slipped and fell in the bathroom and was alone for two days before anyone found her!” We want to relieve our children from future caregiving demands.
Years ago, I told Charlie that I wanted to be living in a great CCRC by the time I turn 80. Now, in just a few months, I’ll celebrate my 79th birthday at our new community—one year earlier than planned. We’ve simply given ourselves the gift of arriving at our future a little sooner than expected.
I’ve spent years writing and speaking about the concept of purposeful aging. Living it in real time is different. It’s humbling. It’s emotional. It’s vulnerable. And it’s also full of hope.
So here we are: surrounded by boxes, caught between the life we’ve loved and the life we’re stepping into. It’s messy. It’s tender. And it’s exactly what we want.
Over the next few months, I’ll share more of this journey—the joys, the challenges, and the surprises along the way. For now, I’m taking it one box, one goodbye, one deep breath at a time.
Postscript
We’re in! We moved at the end of July—a couple of weeks after I filed this story. We christened our new residence “Kathleen & Charlie’s Treehouse,” with a little porch that perches over the garden atrium on one side and ancient oaks on the other. The reception has been warm. Neighbors even posted a welcome sign. Helpful staff greet us by name, maintenance is hanging art like pros, and IT coaxed our home office to life. Murphy’s Law tried to tag along (a broken pinky toe, a rebellious, fractured dental crown, and a surprise eye infection—quite the trilogy). Still, modern medicine and stubborn optimism won out. We’re almost all unpacked, will take a few pre-planned trips, and expect to be fully settled by fall. More to come—now that “Treehouse Life” is officially underway.
Next in this series: What it’s like to leave behind the familiar and step into a brand-new community later in life.
“Honestly, I’ve got so much to give at this age and stage. I’m owning my life story, and it’s an exciting place to be!”
Kathleen M. Rehl, Ph.D., CFP®, is an author, speaker, and educator passionate about purposeful aging, legacy planning, and empowering widows. She’s the author of Moving Forward on Your Own: A Financial Guidebook for Widows, widely used by individuals and professionals alike. Kathleen writes frequently for agebuzz on topics of aging with intention, philanthropy, and navigating life transitions. She is now documenting her own personal journey of moving into a Continuing Care Retirement Community and the lessons learned along the way. Her website is https://www.kathleenrehl.com.
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