Lois McKinnon tried tai chi for the first time.

Gerry Bittinger fell in love with water aerobics — and the instructor.

CHRISTOPHER OQUENDO/Special (ENLARGE)

Young Choe (left) and Lois McKinnon work out in the exercise room at Campbell-Stone, which also has a beauty salon and theater.

CHRISTOPHER OQUENDO/Special (ENLARGE)

Bud Taylor met his fiancée, Gerry Bittinger, at Park Springs in Stone Mountain, and their romance blossomed during a water aerobics course.

JOEY IVANSCO/Staff (ENLARGE)

The home of Lani Ortman and her husband, Steve, is on the 18th hole at The Cottages at Heron Bay in Locust Grove. She plays golf at least three times a week.

Lani Ortman found room in her schedule for more golf.

All three believe the active adult and retirement communities they now call home have changed their lives. Here's how.

GERRY BITTINGER, 73, Park Springs (Stone Mountain)

BEFORE: She lived in a single-family home. She had a busy lifestyle before moving into Park Springs but lacked immediate access to fitness and other social opportunities. "I know that eventually I wouldn't be able to be as active because I had to drive to too many of these places."

AFTER: She's regularly involved in water aerobics at Park Springs and enjoys attending concerts, such as those at Woodruff Arts Center, on group outings. She's also learned how to ballroom dance with her fiancé, 80-year-old Bud Taylor. Taylor was one of the first people she met there when he offered to move her into her unit, which is right next door. They plan to wed in October.

SHE SAYS: "Another big advantage is you get to go to the concerts downtown and you don't have to worry about driving or someone to go with. You can just hop on the bus."

LANI ORTMAN, 60, The Cottages at Heron Bay (Locust Grove)

BEFORE: Lani and husband, Steve, lived in east Cobb County for 21 years and belonged to Indian Hills Country Club. They just were too busy working to play golf as often as they liked.

AFTER: Lani's schedule is filled with golf, either playing at Heron Bay's 18-hole Canongate Golf Course or one of the area's 13 other Canongate courses. She plays at least three times a week, and usually more. Their home is on the 18th hole in The Cottages at Heron Bay, in Locust Grove. The couple and the other residents in the active adult neighborhood often gather to play bunko and for social events such as recent Kentucky Derby and Masters parties.

SHE SAYS: "This is like heaven for us. I thought we'd never leave Cobb County, and we love it down here. Everything worked out great."

LOIS McKINNON, 82, Campbell-Stone (Buckhead)

BEFORE: She lived in a rental apartment in Mississippi but was forced to leave because of Hurricane Katrina. Few activities were offered in the community for residents, leaving her to find activities outside of the neighborhood. "I had a car down in Mississippi, but there wasn't much to do there but gamble, and I'm not a gambler," she says.

AFTER: Many days of the week are taken up with meditation, tai chi (which she decided to try after starting to lose her balance) and the Laughter Club, all offered at Campbell-Stone Apartments in Buckhead. That's in addition to watching movies, going to the on-site beauty shop, outings to museums and other events, just to name a few.

SHE SAYS: "There's just so much to do here. I've met a lot of people in the year and a half I've been here."

5 QUESTIONS TO ASK DURING THE SEARCH

1. Do you want to stay in your general area?

2. How long do you plan to live in a new place — and do you expect it to be your last move?

3. Is it near medical offices, banks, the post office, pharmacies and other things you need?

4. Does the community have easy parking and plenty of spots for socializing?

5. What exercise options are available?

Source: Cathie Berger, Area Agency on Aging

A quick look at three communities

Community: Park Springs

City: Stone Mountain

County: DeKalb

Age minimum: 62

Homes: 398, plus a 64-suite health center with assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care

Prices: Entrance fee (based on type and size of home initially chosen) plus a monthly amenities fee. Entrance fees for Golf View Villas start in the mid-$200,000s, with monthly service fees starting at $1,700. (Fee for a second person is $759 a month.) When members leave the community, 90 percent of entrance fee refunded to resident's estate upon resale.

Square feet: 700-2,500

Developer/builder: Isakson-Barnhart

Information: 678-684-3300, www.parkspringscommunities.com (Park Springs); 404-467-4900, www.peachtreehillsplace.com (Peachtree Hills Place)

Of note: Peachtree Hills Place is under construction in Buckhead; there'll be 274 independent residences and 36 skilled nursing and memory care suites. Entrance fees from $546,000 to over $1 million; monthly fees from $2,983 to $6,480.

Community: Heron Bay Golf and Country Club

City: Locust Grove

County: Henry

Age minimum: None

Homes: 160-170 in active adult neighborhoods; 2,200 in total community

Prices: high $100,000s to high $300,000s in the three active adult neighborhoods (The Cottages, The Villas, The Enclaves)

Square feet: 1,500-3,500 for active adult

Developer/builder: Minerva Properties; multiple builders

Information: 770-957-5633, www.heronbayinfo.com

Of note: Lawn care is covered.

Community: Campbell-Stone

Cities: Sandy Springs, Buckhead

Age minimum: 62

Homes: 342 residential apartments in Buckhead; 197 residential apartments and 22 assisted-living units in Sandy Springs

Prices: $778 to $957 a month, depending on apartment size; rental subsidy for those who qualify.

Square feet: 452-793 at Campbell-Stone Buckhead; 440-910 Campbell-Stone North (Sandy Springs)

Developer: Campbell-Stone Christian Centers

Information: 404-261-4132 Buckhead, 404-256-2612 Sandy Springs, www.campbellstone.org

Of note: The Buckhead location is undergoing an $11 million update.

LEARN MORE ONLINE

You might get started with www.Agewiseconnection.com, where the Area Agency on Aging gives hints on changing lifestyles and housing options.