g'day mary,

here is one link i found:

eco villages

try a google there are yonks of sites there.

len

Here is a link that might be useful: len's garden page

me again mary,

just a word to the wise before you venture into a society like you are interested in:

find forums/boards where people who are/have lived in these communitites are chatting, that way you will get the fore's and against's so you can better guage if you realy want what currently may look like a cloud with a silver lining.

at the very least you will have the knowledge to ask all the right questions and be on the look out for those little traps that may be contained within. from some of what i have heard/seen the people who run/own these villages can be very dictatorial even though in first face to face they come across ever so friendly and flexible.

you will be buying into a covent so read and understand those terms, get legal advice maybe? when the going gets tough you may find it tough to get going out of there, as other buyers may not be so abundant. you will at the very least be dealing with a body corporate on a week to week or even daily basis and they can get very govemental with long termers dominating as well.

maybe try finding a rental in one of the villages and try before you buy.

len

I think you are right.

I looked at one on-line. It was in north caralina.

They have fees coming at you from all directions. You rent the land from them, and of course have to pay a home home owners association type fee ($120 a year) to cover joint expenses. The membership fee is high like $4000, and non refundable. Paid labor fee, for when expertise that is required beyond the community service hours of the group ($140/year). Fees required to use community kitchen and bath while waiting for you house to be built. ($20/month I think). You live in a rented or purchased hut during the time your house is being built. hut fee ($40/month). I think over the rental fees. Since the house is built by members and paid labor with no loans, the house can take 7 years to complete. Until, then you are dragging your shampoo down the road to the community center.

You have to contribute 1500 community service hours to the group over a period of 10 years. (works out to 12.5 hours a month). I think they help each other build each others houses. usually straw bale or adobe and such. That part sounds nice.

site lease fee is 20,000, non refundable, but you can sell it to others. Beginning to sound like a time share!

special permission required to have a pet.

you have to be approved to become a member. Sounds too exclusive to me.

I think if I ever have to find a place to call home otr than what I am in now. I will buy some little cottage in the woods, and that will be that.

yes mary,

from the littel i have seen it is like a dictatorial commune where you pay for all their lifestyle, would reckon on also if anyone bought into them that come time to sell it may better to just walk away, as i reckon they will have power of veto over your sale as well.

might be for you when the time comes and we pray that is no time real soon, that a nice resort style unit in the country away from all the pollution of the cities, these resorts have medical staff on stand by and are readily saleable, again doing research in this quarter early will give you ideas and no rush to move leaves plenty of time to have a solicitor peruse the finer details.

my mother-in-law lives in one and she is very happy being self contained but close to medical, lots of activities available, also spoke to others in a local resort down on the bay all very happy. reckon on when your time comes that will be our future, especially by the bay. in MIL's case her and FIL moved in before his time so she is nicely settled now, with a resort full of friends.

take care and enjoy

len

What do I search for via google to find one of these resort communities in the country?

I am 45 and hubby is 46. He drinks and smokes. I wonder when these bad habits will catch up to him? I am the sick one, but my health is improving due to lifestyle changes, such as eating a whole food diet (No processed food), getting a lot of sun via my garden, and trying to get to bed earlier. Stuff like that.

I have seen him slowing down in the last few years. It started to show when I got sick. I suppose all the stress from that, and having to do more of the work, errands and such.

I am probably worrying about nothing. My mom was very ill in the last ten years of her life. She always worried (scared to death really) about having to go live in a nursing home after dad died. He was 8 years older than her. She died at 60. Dad took care of her at home until the end. He is still with us, and is 72, and seems pretty healthy to me.

I guess in life, we tend to worry about things that never come to pass. I told my hubby of my concerns of him dying first. He said he had always thought I would die first. (since I was the sick one) I had health issues even when he first married way back 21 years ago.

I like the idea of being around other old folks if the time comes to that. I hate to think I will stare at four walls and have no one to talk to. I am hoping to not be homebound by that time, so I can at least get out from time to time. Chemicals, perfumes and such do not bother me as much as they once did. I used to fall on the floor when someone walked by with perfume or scented deodorant on. Now, although I think that stuff smells horrible, I don't fall down. My immune system is horrible. If folks would not wear scented products I might be able to get out into public. Oh well, can't change other folks.

Someone told me of a assistance dog this collage student had. She is chemically sensitive to. He would pull her away from scented folks and other things so she would not get sick.

getting way off topic, so I need to quit.

g'day mary,

try this link it may give you a lead in?:

retirement

some are attached to convelescent type accommodation, some are run by religous groups others private might even be some gov' run one's?

but yes being with people of similar age and ilk looks like the way to go, MIL and all people where she is are out and about often on bus excursions (gets so that my wife has to book an appointment to visit her mum) etc.,. some places have their own bowls green, tennis courts heated pools, water aerobics classes all are near shopping centres, all are secure. sounds like hubby could do some changes hey? he will feel better for it and live longer healthier, not wanting to preach but been there done that all bad habits not needed.

anyhow back on topic do the research now you may even see the benefit of buying in early, their homes increase in real value just like any other property you may own.

len