Retirement villages = any experiences?

[Evelyn25]

Anyone know someone in a retirement village? If and when I sell my house, I am on the verge of signing up for one about ten miles away. It has a big centre, with a restaurant, gym, shop, table tennis, lots of activities, etc. and about 200 flats around it. I am very active and gregarious, and now I'm a widow, I hate being on my own in a very quiet village. About 75 percent of the people live independently there. I'm trying to think of this as an adventure, but leaving our lovely place will be awful.

I think I'd find only being surrounded by elderly people quite depressing ... Some of the residents seemed extremely isolated despite the activities.
I'm not sure that it would be depressing and don't forget that the definition of "old" for ExtraCare is "55+" which is still a dozen years shy of retirement age! There are a lot of posts on MN by middle-aged people desperate to make new friends (for whatever reason) and they find it really hard. Going to a retirement village could be a great way of adding to your friendship circle. It's a bit like starting school - a big pool of people like you, who enjoy the same sort of activities.
Of course not everyone will be like that but humans are not a homogeneous blob at any age, there is always some variety. I wouldn't be surprised if there is some correlation between happy versus isolated and those who choose to go there versus those sent there by the Council. People are always happier when they have some control over their own life.