Aging With Friends: How Community Living Is Redefining Retirement

When you picture your ideal retirement, what do you see? A quiet house and endless free time, or a lively circle of friends just outside your door? 

Across the country, older adults are rewriting the retirement script. You don’t have to slow down or go it alone; instead, you can create a life that feels full and joyful, starting with the people you share it with. Whether you move alongside lifelong friends, build new connections in a Life Plan Community (sometimes called a continuing care retirement community or CCRC), or explore creative living arrangements, the heart of this new movement is connection. 

Imagine choosing a retirement housing option that puts community and connection at the heart of daily life, because friendship can be just as important as financial security or health care. After all, square footage doesn’t make retirement meaningful; it’s shared laughter, familiar faces, and steady support that create a home where you can flourish. 

How the Friendship Factor Is Redefining Modern Retirement

Popular culture and media are fueling this conversation around the friendship factor in retirement, showing how friends can become a kind of new family. 

A primary example are older adults who choose to live next to each other, cultivating their own supportive community like The Bird’s Nest in East Texas, recently featured in the New York Times. Here, eleven single women have built their own tiny houses on the property, preserving their independence while experiencing the emotional and practical support of sharing a common life stage, common social spaces, and common goals. According to the founder, the community evolved from a group of hard-working women forced to meet a need: to live independently as long as possible with little to no financial cushion.

The idea of the Golden Girls lifestyle isn’t just a sitcom fantasy; it’s visible in recent housing trends. Senior-only cohousing communities are the fastest-growing subsegment of cohousing nationwide, offering private homes with shared social and functional spaces for connection. Meanwhile, the number of people 55 and older actively seeking roommates has nearly doubled over the last five years, showing that older adults are open to creative solutions that make friendship a central part of daily living.

This trend resonates right now for a variety of reasons. With adult children often living far away and families spread across the map, friends are stepping into the role of day-to-day support and companionship. While family will always matter, friends are right there in the moment to share meals, lend a hand and enrich each day. 

Plus, retirement today is about more than just getting by, it’s about staying active and engaged. People want a lifestyle that actively supports their well-being through social connections.

Living With Friends in Retirement: From Dream to Lifestyle Upgrade

Who says retirement has to be a solo act? The dream of aging with friends can make life a lot more fun, fulfilling and supportive when you share it with people you care about. 

Having Fun and Feeling Fulfilled

Everyday life feels richer when it’s shared, and ordinary routines and special occasions become more meaningful with friends by your side. Retirement shifts from a focus on filling your time to enjoying your time

Ann and Art, residents of Valle Verde, a HumanGood Life Plan Community in Santa Barbara, California, found a wealth of new friends and passion projects when they chose their community. From diving into the local art scene with group projects and museum trips to coordinating exhibitions in the community dining venue, they have found a place to connect.

Ann says, “We absolutely love living at Valle Verde. It’s a place where we can continue exploring our interests and passions but also be exposed to new things. We continue to be impressed with the diversity of the community and the connection we feel with our neighbors. There is certainly a wonderful spirit here.”

Building Friendships That Feel Like Family

Whether you make the move with old friends or find new ones in a new community, the bonds you form can feel as strong as family. There’s comfort in knowing you’re living alongside people who are in the same phase of life as you and understand your challenges and share your joys. That sense of belonging makes every day brighter and easier. 

Experiencing Each Day With Friends

Whether you meet for morning coffee or take evening walks together, when you live near friends, you create a built-in circle of support. In addition to filling your days with companionship and mutual encouragement, this kind of connection prevents isolation and helps reduce long-term health risks, such as heart disease, depression and cognitive decline. 

Sharing a Lifestyle and Values

When you age alongside friends, you’re surrounded by people who inspire and motivate you. Want to volunteer or start a new hobby? Friends make it easier to get started and stay engaged. Plus, according to studies, older adults with broader, more diverse social networks may feel less lonely and enjoy better health than those whose social circles are smaller.

For Janet, a resident of Plymouth Village, a HumanGood Life Plan Community in Redlands, California, a lifelong passion for travel was a strong foundation to build a support network of like-minded friends with the Village Voyagers. This travel group meets up regularly to share globetrotting experiences, socialize and create new memories together on trips throughout the year. 

“I was thrilled to find other people at Plymouth Village who had the same passion for travel as I do,” she says. 

Enjoying Practical Support and Peace of Mind

One of the most underrated benefits of retiring with friends is the safety net it creates. It’s easy to look out for one another when you live close, checking in after medical appointments, celebrating milestones and lending a hand when needed. That shared care provides peace of mind both for you and the people you love, who can rest easier knowing you have a local support system by your side.

Find Your Ideal Path for Aging With Friends

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to creating a life with friends in retirement. Here are some of the most popular and creative ways older adults are making their retirement dreams a reality. 

Shared and Collaborative Living Models

If you’ve ever dreamed of a neighborhood or home filled with the friends you love most, these models are all about creating a sense of everyday connection:

• Cohousing communities: Imagine building or buying homes with your friends in a community that’s designed for connection with shared gardens, kitchens or common spaces that bring people together while providing privacy.

• Co-ops/cooperative housing: A model where residents pool resources, collectively own a property and manage decisions together creates financial stability — and deep bonds.

• Accessory dwelling units: Backyard casitas or converted garages let friends live on the same property while maintaining independent spaces.

• Travel- or resort-based retirement clubs: Friends buy RV lots, timeshares or vacation homes in the same destination, forming built-in seasonal communities that reunite year after year. 

Hybrid Models

Not ready to commit to one roof or a single plan? Hybrid models let you and your friends enjoy independence and shared support, often blending the best of both worlds.

One increasingly popular option is custom-built "pocket neighborhoods." These small clusters of homes or condos, arranged around a shared courtyard or green space, are specifically designed so friends can live close to each other and easily connect.

Life Plan Communities: A Blueprint for Aging With Friends

When it comes to flexibility, peace of mind and staying connected for life, Life Plan Communities provide the ultimate setting for living with friends in retirement. The benefits of community living shine through, including: 

• Continuum of care: With independent living, assisted living and memory support, Life Plan Communities provide seamless care transitions if your needs change while empowering you to stay close to your friends.

• Amenities and programming: With pickleball matches, art studios, lecture series, fitness classes and more, you have endless opportunities to share hobbies and try new things together.

• Safety and security: Peace of mind comes from knowing that friends and neighbors (and professional support) are just outside your door.

Ann’s Neighborhood Story: The Benefits of Life Plan Community Living

In HumanGood communities, friendship and support aren’t just a bonus; they’re built into everyday life. A prime example comes from Redwood Terrace in San Diego, where one woman’s decision to move sparked a ripple effect that brought her longtime neighbors closer than ever. 

Ann lived in the same north San Diego neighborhood for decades, building a group of friends who shared life experiences together and raised children alongside each other. When she decided to move to Redwood Terrace eight years ago, her neighbors came to visit often. 

Those visits left a lasting impression. Her friends decided that they also needed a plan for the future that offered not only care but also community. In 2025, three of Ann’s former neighbors all moved to Redwood Terrace within months of each other, so they could continue to share their lives while experiencing the support and camaraderie they wanted.

For one couple, the decision was especially telling. They had initially placed a deposit for another senior living option, but after seeing the community Ann had found, they changed course. When asked why, their answer was simple: “I want to be where my friends are!”

Aging Together, Living Better

Retiring with friends isn’t just a dream; it’s becoming one of the most rewarding ways to enjoy this phase of life. Whether you move alongside lifelong friends, build new connections in a Life Plan Community or explore creative living arrangements, the heart of this movement is connection. 

Surrounding yourself with people who inspire and support you turns retirement into a joyful chapter filled with meaning. Want to learn more about how a Life Plan Community provides the resources and support you need? Check out The Complete Guide to Life Plan Communities.