A Different Kind of Summer

Summer is my favorite time of year. I love the long days, and to be honest, I even get a twinge of sadness on the longest day of the year as I know that each day after will have fewer moments of sunlight. My summer days begin with a sunrise paddle in the ocean and end with an evening cool-down dip. My fondest memories of summer consist of spending time with family and friends.

However, this is a different summer, indeed. The country and the world are beginning to reopen to an unchartered new normal. The coronavirus pandemic has changed the face of our nation. Life has just been made even more difficult for the vulnerable population and older Americans. Many lives have been lost and should be remembered. Each one of us has been through unimaginable times with stay-at-home orders and new social distancing norms. Many of our readers come from areas that have borne an undue burden with high infection and death tolls, and to those people, we are sorry for your loss.

At ideal-LIVING, it has been our goal for over 30 years to help people find their ideal place. This goal is even more paramount in today's world. We believe that everyone deserves to live their ideal life, and we encourage you to find yours even sooner than you may have planned. And, as such, our summer issue focuses on ways that you can live your

by Kelly Godbey kellyg@ideal-LIVING.com

best life and find that life within the "Best of the Best" in planned communities on page 54. We'll tell you stories of how retirees have weathered these tumultuous times in a much easier way on page 102. You'll find that for the people who had already retired to planned communities, they have been able to continue to enjoy their lives during stay-at-home orders that include lots of outdoor activities and social distancing. It's a lot easier to be social but separate when you live in a community that encourages an active lifestyle.

At Ideal-LIVING, we surveyed our readers to see if anything had changed as a result of the pandemic. Approximately 60% of the respondents indicated that their timeframe to relocate had changed and that they were not quite sure when they would be able to visit communities to make their decisions. When asked for ways we could further assist their search for the perfect location, they indicated that virtual real estate shows would be beneficial. So, we are responding with two virtual shows in September to meet that need (page 36).

Please share your stories with us, and we will continue to share stories of people who have found their ideal life, even during this unprecedented time. Stay safe and healthy. And, find your ideal destination, life, and home. It's never too late to start.