As I sit here and hum the tune of "Little Old Lady From Pasadena", I can't help but think that the Southern California city would be the perfect place of retirement for my mother.
There are three reasons why I say this: flowers, shopping and Asian art.
If there's one thing my mother absolutely loves it's flowers.
Whenever she has the free time you can find her tending to her rose bushes, hydrangeas, lilies and orchids to name a few.
What is practically synonymous with the Southern California city of Pasadena? The Tournament of Roses Parade, or the "Rose Parade" for short, comes to mind.
In fact, once a year, you'll find my mom glued to the television watching the Rose Parade accompanied with the frequent "how beautifuls", "oh mys", and "I have to get those!".
She can tell you everything you need to know about flowers and how to properly care for them.
What a treat for her to actually see the Pasadena Rose Parade in person each year! If my mom is not tending to her garden, then you will find her shopping.
Downtown Pasadena, "Old Town" as it is referred to by locals, can accommodate my mom's shopping urges quite nicely with its array of shops and restaurants.
Even better than that, from my mom's point of view, is "bargain" shopping.
Lucky for her there is the Rose Bowl flea market where she can shop for bargains galore.
Lastly, my mom enjoys Asian culture.
You will find many feng shui items and Chinese calendars in her home.
Luckily, Pasadena is home to the Asian Culture Museum.
And for other museum browsing, there is the Norton Simon Museum.
My mom is still young enough where she can get around as an active adult during retirement.
At this point, some sort of independent living situation would be perfect for her.
However, I know that as she ages she will no doubt need a little help.
For planning purposes, I believe a continuing care community to be a good option.
It will allow for independent living now with some assisted care when she eventually needs it.
And, if at some point she requires specialized nursing care, then a continuing care community will definitely be the best choice.