One of the biggest concerns people have about moving to a continuing care retirement community in Concord, NH is whether they'll be able to continue pursuing the passions that make life meaningful. Will there be space for your woodworking projects? Can you still tend a garden? What about your book club, your painting, or your weekly poker game?
The good news is that life at a CCRC doesn't mean abandoning the activities you love. In fact, many residents discover that moving to a community actually gives them more time and opportunity to pursue their interests, along with the chance to explore new ones.
The Reality: More Time for What You Love
Think about how much time you currently spend on home maintenance: mowing the lawn, cleaning gutters, fixing leaky faucets, scheduling repairs, and managing the endless to-do list that comes with homeownership. For many seniors, these tasks consume hours each week that could be spent doing things they actually enjoy.
When you move to a CCRC, those responsibilities disappear. Maintenance, landscaping, and housekeeping are handled by the community, freeing up your schedule for the pursuits that matter to you. Residents often find they have more discretionary time than they've had in years.
Space and Resources for Your Passions
Modern CCRCs understand that residents come with diverse interests and established hobbies. Many communities provide dedicated spaces and resources to support these activities.
- Creative Arts: Art studios, easels, and supplies for painting and drawing. Pottery wheels and kilns for ceramic work. Music rooms with pianos and soundproofing for practice sessions. Craft rooms with large tables and storage for supplies.
- Hands-On Hobbies: Woodworking shops equipped with tools and workbenches. Community gardens with raised beds that are easier on backs and knees. Sewing rooms with machines and adequate lighting. Dedicated spaces for model building, jewelry making, or other detailed work.
- Physical Activities: Fitness centers with specialized equipment for senior wellness. Swimming pools for water aerobics or lap swimming. Walking trails throughout the grounds. Even putting greens or bocce courts for outdoor recreation.
- Intellectual Pursuits: Libraries stocked with current bestsellers and classics. Computer rooms with high-speed internet for research or staying connected. Quiet reading nooks and study spaces. Meeting rooms for book clubs, discussion groups, or classes.
The specific amenities vary by community, but the principle remains the same: CCRCs are designed to support active, engaged lifestyles, not limit them.
Bringing Your Hobbies With You
Your apartment or cottage at a CCRC is your home, which means you can personalize it to accommodate your interests. Set up that sewing machine in the spare bedroom. Display your model train collection. Create a reading corner with your favorite chair and adequate lighting. Hang your musical instruments on the wall.
Many residents maintain workshops in their garages or storage units on campus. Others transform spare rooms into art studios, home offices, or hobby spaces. You have the flexibility to design your living space around the activities you love.
If you have hobbies that require more space than your residence offers, talk with the community about options. Some residents negotiate access to additional storage or workshop areas. Others find creative solutions through shared spaces or scheduled access to community facilities.
Finding Fellow Enthusiasts
One of the unexpected benefits of moving to a CCRC is discovering neighbors who share your interests. That watercolor hobby you've been pursuing alone? There might be three other painters in the community who would love to paint together. Your passion for genealogy research? Someone down the hall has been tracing their family tree for years and would welcome a research partner.
Communities often facilitate these connections through resident interest groups, such as gardening clubs, card game tournaments, investment clubs, writing groups, and quilting circles. The list goes on. These groups provide both social connection and motivation to stay engaged with your hobbies.
Even if there isn't an existing group for your particular interest, you can start one. Post a notice in the community newsletter or on the bulletin board. You might be surprised how many people have been quietly pursuing the same hobby and would love to connect with others.
Exploring New Interests
While maintaining your existing hobbies is important, many residents discover that a CCRC opens doors to activities they've always wanted to try but never had the time or opportunity to pursue.
Communities regularly offer classes, workshops, and learning opportunities. Painting lessons for beginners. Technology classes to master your smartphone or tablet. Cooking demonstrations. Language classes. History lectures. Fitness instruction. The active senior living programming varies, but the goal is the same: helping residents continue growing and learning.
These educational opportunities often come at little or no additional cost and are conveniently located right in your community. No need to drive across town for a class or worry about evening activities. You can simply walk down the hall.
Some residents use this time to revisit interests from earlier in life that got pushed aside during busy working years. Others discover entirely new passions they never knew they had. The combination of time, resources, and supportive community creates an environment where exploration feels safe and accessible.
Adapting Your Hobbies as Needs Change
One advantage of CCRC living is the built-in support system that helps you continue your hobbies even if physical challenges arise. Arthritis making it harder to hold a paintbrush? Occupational therapists can suggest adaptive tools. Balance issues affecting your ability to garden? Raised beds and seated gardening techniques make it easier.
Communities also offer assistance with transportation to hobby-related outings. Want to visit an art museum, attend a concert, or shop for craft supplies? Many CCRCs provide scheduled transportation or can arrange trips for groups of residents with similar interests.
The continuum of care model means you can continue your hobbies through different life stages. If you transition from independent living to assisted living, you don't have to abandon your activities. Staff can provide support to help you continue participating in meaningful ways.
Balancing Solo and Social Pursuits
Some people worry that community living means constant social interaction with little privacy for solitary hobbies. The reality is that CCRCs respect both needs. You can be as social or as private as you choose.
Want to spend your morning reading quietly in your apartment? Absolutely. Prefer to paint alone in your personal studio space? That's fine too. But when you're ready for company, neighbors and activities are readily available. This flexibility allows introverts and extroverts alike to find their comfortable balance.
Many residents appreciate having both options. They might spend mornings on individual projects and join group activities in the afternoons. Or they alternate between solo hobbies and social clubs throughout the week. The key is having the choice.
Technology and Staying Connected
For residents with hobbies that involve online communities, digital creation, or remote collaboration, reliable internet access is essential. Modern CCRs understand this and provide high-speed connectivity throughout the community.
This means you can continue participating in online forums for your hobby, streaming instructional videos, sharing your work on social media, video chatting with fellow enthusiasts across the country, or even selling handmade items through online marketplaces if that's your interest.
Technology also enables you to stay connected with hobby communities outside the CCRC. Maybe you were part of a quilting guild in your old neighborhood, and you can still participate in virtual meetings. Perhaps you belong to an online book club, and you can continue engaging with those discussions from your new home.
Making the Transition Smooth
When considering a move to a CCRC, be upfront about your hobbies and interests. Tour the facilities that support your activities. Ask about storage for supplies or equipment. Inquire about existing interest groups. Talk with residents who share your hobbies about their experiences.
If something important to you isn't currently available, ask whether the community can accommodate it. Many CCRCs are willing to create new spaces or programs based on resident interest and need. Your hobby might inspire a new amenity that benefits the entire community.
Before moving, think strategically about which supplies and equipment to bring. You may need to downsize some collections or materials, but keep the essentials that allow you to continue your practice. Many residents find that having slightly less but still adequate supplies actually makes their hobby more manageable and enjoyable.
Your Hobbies, Your Lifestyle
Moving to a CCRC isn't about giving up the activities that define you, but instead, it's about creating an environment where you have the time, resources, and support to pursue them more fully. Without the burden of home maintenance, with dedicated spaces and fellow enthusiasts nearby, and with the security of knowing you're in a supportive community, many residents find their hobbies flourishing in ways they hadn't experienced in years.
Your passions are part of what makes you who you are. A quality CCRC recognizes this and works to ensure you can continue living a life that's authentic, engaging, and fulfilling.
Discover Life at Havenwood Heritage Heights
At Havenwood Heritage Heights, we believe retirement should be a time when you finally have the freedom to focus on what brings you joy. Our community offers diverse spaces and programs designed to support your interests, whether you're continuing lifelong passions or exploring new ones.
From our all arts room and woodworking shop to our community gardens and fitness center, we've created an environment where your hobbies can thrive. Our engaged community of residents means you'll find both fellow enthusiasts and supportive friends who respect your individual pursuits.
We invite you to schedule a tour of Havenwood Heritage Heights and see for yourself how our residents are living active, purposeful lives centered around their interests. Talk with residents about their experiences, explore our amenity spaces, and imagine how your hobbies would fit into life here.
Ready to learn more? Contact us today to schedule your personal tour. Discover how Havenwood Heritage Heights can support the lifestyle you want to live, one filled with the activities and pursuits that matter most to you.
Call us or request a tour online to get started.
