I swore I'd never live in a senior-living community. I moved into one at 83, and my life is more vibrant than ever.

Detailed summary

I was reluctant to move into an independent-living facility. But after four years of living here, I love my thriving social life and great apartment.

At 83 years old, I never thought I'd move again. I had already downsized, sold my home in Los Angeles to be near my younger daughter, Jody, and started a new life in an apartment in the East Bay Area. Life was good. But when Jody told me she and her husband were planning to sell their house and move to Washington, I was surprised. She explained that they'd be building a home in a 55+ community — and that it was just a mile from a brand-new senior-living facility. She suggested I consider checking it out, but I was immediately skeptical. It's not that I don't like old people. I am an old person. I've just never wanted to be surrounded by them 24/7.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Business Insider. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.