Active adult communities, where the living is made easy

When Jim and Susie Briski bought their home at Village at Deaton Creek, they didn’t know anybody else in the Hall County active-adult community.

In just a few months, the Briskis have made lots of friends and are involved in as many community activities as their full-time jobs allow. They are members of a bocce league, play pickle ball and enjoy wine tastings with the Vintner’s Club.

Susie Briski participates in the Blue Sneakers, a charitable organization, whenever her work schedule will allow.

Best of all, they have lots of friends in the community.

“We didn’t know anybody when we bought here, but now, the community is like a family. Everyone is warm and friendly. We were welcomed from Day 1,” said Susie Briski. “The chance for an active lifestyle and the warmth of the community were what sold us on Village at Deaton Creek.”

Before they moved in, the Briskis were participating in activities organized by the community’s lifestyle director, Lori Twiss.

“People who move to active-adult communities want to engage in new activities with people their own age,” said Twiss. “Our facilitated lifestyle gives residents the opportunity to meet new people and forge new friendships beginning when they sign their contract.”

Many buyers in Atlanta’s active-adult communities are moving to the city from other parts of the country, attracted by the moderate climate, affordable housing, dining, cultural and sports activities and, in many cases, because their grandchildren live here.

Recognizing that their buyers may not know anyone in their new neighborhood, developers of the communities have organized activities to help residents meet people with similar interests.

Village at Deaton Creek, a Pulte Homes/Del Webb community, has more than 80 clubs and groups that meet regularly for everything from bridge games to French lessons to tai chi. Like other large active-adult communities, Village at Deaton Creek has a full-time activities director who helps the residents plan parties and organize excursions.

But even smaller communities assist homeowners in organizing activities to help them meet each other.

Barbara Crockett was the second homeowner at Brookhaven of East Cobb when she moved from Alabama to be near her grandchildren. “I didn’t know anyone at the time, but now we have about 12 families living here,” Crockett said. “We all know each other and do things together. We went out to dinner for Christmas and had dessert at someone’s home.”

With the help of Tamara Hesse, lifestyle director for Jim Chapman Communities, Crockett and other residents have organized activities for the new year. “We had a meeting to talk about what we are interested in and created a schedule of activities,” Crockett said. “We have a lot going on in January.”

Hess added, “We want our homeowners to become acclimated to the community and to make new friends. We invite prospective buyers to our activities and most home buyers get really involved in the community activities.”

Jim Chapman Communities sponsors a travel club for residents and organizes scheduled activities ranging from parties to card clubs to pot luck dinners.

Jim Bole and his wife, Carol Vasher, moved from Michigan to Windsong Properties’ Somerset community in Somerset in October and quickly got involved in activities with their neighbors. “This is a very eclectic community. We have people here from England, Canada and all over the United States,” Bole said. “We are all of the same generation and many of us have the same interests.”

The 58-home community doesn’t have an activities director but does have an active neighborhood association that plans activities. The sales staff got the ball rolling by organizing a trip to the North Georgia mountains to see the fall color, Bole said.

“That kicked things off. We all got to know each other on the trip, and we’ve been planning other events,” he added.

Residents and activities directors suggested the following ways that newcomers in active adult communities can get to know their neighbors.

Take the initiative and come up with ideas for activities, then rely on the activities director for advice, suggested Audrienne Light, who coordinates activities for O’Dwyer Communities’ active adult neighbors.

Attend your neighborhood’s welcome parties, holiday parties and other activities and meet your neighbors there, she added.

Don’t be afraid to suggest organizing an activity that interests you, Twiss said.

“Homeowners suggested 99 percent of the activities we have,” she added. “They have the best ideas.”