How a Temperate Climate Can Shape Your 55+ Lifestyle
Something interesting has come up on quite a few of our community tours this year.
People are tired of the heat.
We’ve had prospective buyers visiting from different parts of the country tell us that one of the reasons they’re considering a move to coastal North County San Diego is because they are searching for a more temperate climate.
We get it.
Ironically, this has been one of the hottest summers we can remember since living in Ocean Hills Country Club. We’ve had a long stretch of days in the mid-80s, which feels pretty darn hot to us.
But when we talk to people coming from places where summer temperatures routinely climb into the 90s or triple digits, our definition of “hot” starts to feel pretty relative.
And it got us thinking about something we don’t often consider when choosing where to spend the next chapter of our lives.
Weather isn’t just about comfort or preference. It influences how we live.
When it’s too hot, life gets smaller
We recently read an article about the effects of extreme heat on older adults that caught our attention.
The health implications of prolonged extreme heat are certainly concerning, particularly as we get older. But what struck us most was something much simpler:
When it’s really hot outside, people tend to stay inside. You probably don’t need a research study to tell you that.
When it’s 100 degrees outside, you’re less likely to take the long walk. Play a couple hours of pickle ball. Ride your bike. Work in the garden. Play a round of golf. Sit outside with the neighbors.
A missed day here or there probably doesn’t matter much.
But what happens when extreme heat becomes the norm for weeks—or months—at a time? That’s when climate starts becoming more than a question of whether you prefer sunshine or snow.
Weather affects how you spend your days.
The weather makes a difference in how we live here
One of the things we love most about Ocean Hills is how much of everyday life happens outside.
We run.
We golf.
We play pickle ball.
We ride bikes.
We sit on patios.
We take the golf cart to visit friends.
We head to the beach, go hiking, paddle board, garden, attend outdoor concerts or simply stand in the street talking to a neighbor longer than we intended.
Of course, we have warm days. We have chilly mornings, cloudy days and even some wet ones.
And somehow, all of those weather “extremes” give Southern Californians something to complain about.
But most of the year, the weather makes it pretty easy to say yes to going outside. And perhaps that’s more important as we get older than we realize.
Amenities that are part of daily life
There are beautiful 55+ communities all over the country—many with golf courses, pickle ball courts, pools, walking paths and gorgeous outdoor spaces. But there’s another question worth asking when you’re comparing communities:
How many months of the year will I actually want to use them?
A beautiful pickle ball complex doesn’t add much to your daily life if it’s simply too hot to play for much of the summer or winter. The same goes for golf courses, walking trails, patios and all the other outdoor amenities that may have attracted you to a community in the first place.
Because an amenity isn’t really about having access to it. It’s about being able to enjoy it.
That’s one of the things we’ve come to appreciate about Ocean Hills. The golf course, pickle ball and tennis courts, walking paths, patios and outdoor gathering spaces aren’t simply things we point out on a tour.
They’re woven into everyday life here—and our coastal climate is a big part of what makes that possible.
Maybe climate belongs on the retirement checklist
When people start thinking about where they want to live in retirement, there are plenty of practical things to consider.
Cost of living. Proximity to family. Healthcare. Housing. Taxes. Airports. Activities. Community.
And, of course, weather has always been somewhere on that list.
But maybe the question isn’t simply: Do I like the weather there?
Maybe it’s: Does the climate make it easier for me to live the way I want to live?
If you want your next chapter to include more walking, more outdoor activities, more time with friends, more time on the patio and more reasons to get out of the house, the number of days each year when you can comfortably do those things matters.
That’s not really about weather. It’s about lifestyle.
Choosing the environment for your everyday life
A more temperate climate certainly isn’t a guarantee of better health. And moving to Southern California won’t magically turn anyone into a pickle ball-playing, bike-riding, sunset-watching outdoor enthusiast.
But environment matters.
And when you’re choosing where you might spend the next 10, 20 or 30 years, it seems worth thinking about.
Maybe that’s why we’re hearing weather come up more often on our tours.
People aren’t necessarily looking for perfect weather. They’re looking for a place where more days invite them outside.
A morning walk. A round of golf. Pickle ball with friends. Dinner on the patio. A bike ride to the beach. An evening concert.
Because ultimately, you’re not just choosing where you want to own a home.
You’re choosing the environment in which you want to live your everyday life.
Curious what everyday life in Ocean Hills Country Club is really like?
If you’re exploring 55+ communities and wondering whether Ocean Hills might fit the lifestyle you’re looking for, our free OHCC Neighborhood Guide is a great place to start. It covers the homes, amenities, activities and everyday details that are hard to understand until you’ve spent some time inside the gates. Get your free copy here →
