Do you love your alma mater enough to retire there?

Aggie checking in, and I knew immediately this would be A&M, lol.

Gosh I actually think this would be kinda fun tbh. I actually adored my college days - surrounded by nerds just like me. I also love Boston/Cambridge so could see it as a really interesting second home. Cost of living is too high there so it'll never happen, but damn I'm kinda jealous.

Living in a 55+ community that is part of a university town is appealing to me (not my tiny state school alma mater!).

We've found that it is very very hard to make friends once you are retired unless you are part of some type of like minded community and 55+ (which in reality can be 70+) fits the bill. Some folks do it through church, but we aren't church people. And universities have a ton of activities - lectures, sports, museums, classes.

Depending on how it is run, it could be very successful.

Aggie here with one current Aggie and one that just graduated. Couple of thoughts.

I skimmed the article and thought this part was worth pointing out…

A&M's property will be open to people 55 and older, with options for independent living, assisted living and memory care, Stretch said. Villas, townhomes, and one-, two- and three-bedroom flats make up the 260 residences on 14 acres north of campus, near the Century Square shopping and dining center. Pricing hasn't been finalized.
“People have formed tremendous affection towards their university, and they’re already going back for season tickets ... and performing arts and fundraisers,” Stretch said. “Our focus for Varcity is, why don’t we create an aspirational environment where you can really re-engage?”
University-adjacent living isn’t a new concept, with university-affiliated retirement facilities already located in many college towns. Varcity takes the idea a step further by integrating the residential retirement community into the daily life of the university: Residents will not only have access to the campus, but several university programs will also partner with the community to create research and experiential opportunities for students, faculty and staff.


I do think there is a quickly rising need for more housing for our aging population (I’m thinking traditional retirement community). So to target their college town as a place to return to makes sense to me as some people are already struggling with this transition in life. Also, for all of our faults as Aggies, we are pretty good to our “ol’ Aggies”. There is alot of love and respect for former students around campus and I can see the appeal of that + the opportunities to be involved to someone who is slowing down, but wanting community and connection.

I do think the location and distance from the housing and nightlife of college students will be a thing - LOL.

I am 54 and have no interest in this now. But in 20 years, possibly. I have lifelong friends I met in college - we have done a girls weekend the last 27 years - and they joke about retiring all together somewhere and I can totally see us in 20 years living in a place like this .

55+ is a misnomer. Hardly anyone under 75-80 moves into these places. I’m going to be 72 in a couple of weeks, and don’t feel anywhere near ready. That’s where my 96yo mom lives, for Pete’s sake! (She’s still pretty independent.)

Stanford has something like this. My stepfather was a Stanford alum and wanted to move there but my mom said it was too expensive.

I could see living in one attached to my university. Berkeley is a nice walking town with lots to do.  But like Stanford, it would cost a fortune.