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In Search of Shared Values
The search for meaning can of course lead in different directions. Retirees are joining churches and other religious groups in great numbers these days. {need some articles to flesh this out].
In our youth most of us questioned our values: religious, political, ethical. We challenged each other, especially people who disagreed with us, in dorm rooms, classrooms, even barrooms. But sociologists have observed that as time went by, we gradually settled into conclusions, and not only that, we also began congregating with people of like minds. We chose to socialize not with people who disagreed with our values but people who reinforced them.
Marketers have taken note of this phenomenon and are now creating housing developments which cater to like-minded people. Last year The New York Times reported:
"For some Americans approaching their golden years, choosing the right place to grow old is less about golf and weather than about finding neighbors who share their attitudes and interests. Developments that cater to gays and lesbians have popped up from California to Florida. Retired Jews — or Catholics and other Christians — looking to continue a life of service and fellowship can buy homes and condos in religion-centered communities in Washington and New Jersey. Neighborhoods that attract retired pilots have taxiways and hangars. Looking for fellow neopagan anarchist pansexuals? Try Pumpkin Hollow, an all-ages collective in Liberty, Tenn."
This phenomenon is discussed more fully in the section of the BBRC website devoted to housing and where to live in retirement. But it rates a place in this section because it says a lot about how we gain satisfaction and find happiness: we want to hang out with people like ourselves. Of course it's not always easy to define what we mean when we say "people like us." Everyone has a race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnic background and so forth as well as passions for different hobbies and other interests. It may take a bit of introspection on your part to figure out who you are, and more importantly, what kind of people you want to hang out with. Mistakes are not irreversible. You can always move on to a new community having learned from your mistakes but it may be expensive in both time and money.
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