New Stage of Life Opens Opportunities

Ahhh, freedom. Finally, you've reached the stage of life when you've earned the right to explore new adventures and scenery. This change of pace and lifestyle means connecting with likeminded compatriots and enjoying a livable community with easy proximity to friends and family. It's not about downsizing, but upgrading to a space that is easy to care for, safe, and comfortable.

At Caldwell Farm (978-462-3344, www.cpberryhomes.com), rolling meadows and woodlands surround a maintenancefree, secure, gated, active adult community that borders the pristine Parker River and Great Salt Marsh. Situated on 125 acres, this award-winning, over-55 community has been recognized for its exceptional design, architectural quality, and landscape. There are three distinct floor plans to choose from, all spacious homes with gas fireplace, dining room, powder room, kitchen, breakfast nook, and master bedroom. Exceptional amenities include granite countertops, central vacuum system, and luxury appliances.

Conveniently situated on the picturesque North Shore in Newbury, Caldwell Farm also offers 100 acres of open space, a heated swimming pool, and fully furnished clubhouse with kitchen, changing rooms, and fitness center.

When you're done strolling the grounds, downtown Newburyport is just minutes away for fine dining and trendy shopping. The Salisbury Beach State Reservation is nearby as are opportunities to kayak on the Essex River and explore Plum Island. Caldwell Farm's location near Interstate 95 and Route 1 means Boston's world-famous cultural offerings are less than an hour away as well. Model homes are open daily.

At Capital Group Properties (508-357-8825, www.capitalgroupproperties.com), the motto is: "Quality is evident in the details." And at the properties of Deerfield Estates in Hopkinton and Sudbury's Mahoney Farms and Grouse Hill, careful consideration is paid to finish, amenities, location, and landscaping.

Surrounded by walking paths and nestled in beautiful woodlands, Deerfield Estates (508-357-2298, www.capitalgroupproperties.com) offers luxury town homes with first-floor master bedrooms. Much of the 28-acre community is preserved as open space, carefully designed to complement the natural features of the land while offering privacy for homeowners. Five different home designs include attached and detached homes, all with luxurious appointments. Units range from $429,500 to $685,900.

Follow scenic country roads and open pastures, and you'll arrive at Mahoney Farms (508-357-2298, www.capitalgroupproperties.com), another exclusive community. A gracious stone entrance marks the gateway to this country estate where meticulously appointed interiors appeal to the most discriminating eye. You'll enjoy a life of ease with fireplace, custom bookshelves, stainless steel appliances, and superb wood finishes. Units range from $785,900 to $895,900.

Nearby, Grouse Hill (508-357-2298, www.capitalgroupproperties.com) overlooks peaceful meadows and spectacular foliage, with traditional townhouse-style condominiums in a town rich with history and tradition. True low-maintenance living includes full basement and two-car garage. When you're ready to stroll the grounds, walking paths meander through country lands. Units are priced from $515,900 to $519,900.

If you're seeking convenience and location, look no farther than Hunter's Ridge in Sharon (781-784-0700, www.huntersridgeofsharon.com) and Berry Hill in Raynham (508-880-7090, www.berryhillofraynham.com), beautiful adult-exclusive neighborhoods close to shopping and dining.

Hunter's Ridge offers classic charm while providing amenities such as a private community clubhouse with pool, exercise facilities, billiard room, and library. Three of the five models are available for viewing, with all 49 homes in the complex located on single-family lots. The Colby offers 1,759 square feet of single-family living; the Norwich offers 2,144 square feet of two-story living with master bedroom and bath on the first floor; the Middlebury offers 1,691 square feet of single-level living. All models feature two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and two-car garage. Prices start at $479,900.

Partake of Raynham's many recreational opportunities while enjoying a lushly landscaped neighborhood at Berry Hill. Residents can socialize at the outdoor swimming pool or enjoy get-togethers in the community building. Choose from models such as the Babson, 1,515 square feet, or the Wheaton, 1,706 square feet; both are single-level homes with two bedrooms, two baths, great room, dining room, kitchen, den, and two-car garage. Prices start at $359,900.

Worry-free lifestyle

Erickson Communities (www.Erickson.com) prides itself on "changing the way America ages" by offering a worry-free lifestyle to middle-income retirees. Erickson Communities has grown to 20,000 residents in 20 communities in 11 states, including Linden Ponds in Hingham, Erickson's newest community in the Boston area. Linden Ponds(800-832-5319, www.Erickson.com) offers convenient, on-site amenities and services, including an all-season pool, fitness center, three restaurants and bistro-style pub, bank, convenience store, creative art studios, and on-site medical center.

Linden Ponds' integrated wellness and health care system, Erickson Health, gives residents individualized attention, while board-certified physicians at the on-site medical center help patients avoid more costly care. The community also features two clubhouses. For residents' convenience, the buildings are connected by glass-enclosed, climate-controlled walkways.

The affordable home plans ensure that residents' savings are protected; when you sign the residence and care agreement, the entrance deposit is fully refundable.

Two vibrant active adult communities developed by The Gove Group (866-778-6400, www.thegovegroup.com) are drawing empty nesters to scenic Maine and New Hampshire.

The life you've been waiting for is as close as Brentwood, N.H., where Mill Pond Crossing condominiums (603-642-5200, www.MillPondCrossing.com) offer a classic New England country setting that's close to New Hampshire's recreational pastimes. Set in acres of woods, homes range in price from $299,900 to $349,900 for 1,466 to 1,855 square feet. The attached and detached condominiums feature hardwood flooring, first-floor master suite, gas fireplace, two-car garage, and spacious guest bedroom. And when you're ready to gather with friends and neighbors, stroll over to the clubhouse, set among lush landscaped gardens. Host a formal gathering or casual get-together in the clubhouse's kitchen, porch, or media room. Wooded trails with interactive fitness stations are located nearby, with bird watching, golfing, skiing, shopping, and the seacoast just a short jaunt away. Perhaps the best part of living at Mill Pond Crossing is the friendly, small-town life of Brentwood, where the locals still remember what "neighbor" means.

For waterfront living at its best, Shepard's Cove on Spruce Creek in Kittery, Maine (877-666-1911, www.ShepardsCove.com), has been voted a national award winner for Best Active Adult Community Under 200 Homes, presented by the National Association of Home Builders. Shepard's Cove is composed of luxurious residences in an array of styles and sizes, and there are still several mid-rise homes available. Step outside to a private community dock and boathouse, ideal for a sunset paddle, or watch for birds and wildlife as you stroll the private walking trail toward the clubhouse. Prices start in the high $200,000s.

"Find your place" is the motto of Oak Grove Village (781-662-3900, www.OakGroveVillage.com), and that's how you'll feel in these lovely rental apartments located at the edge of Pine Banks Park on the Malden-Melrose line, just minutes from Middlesex Fells Reservation and adjacent to the Oak Grove station on the MBTA Orange Line.

Streetlamps, crosswalks, and sidewalks form a charming promenade, while flowering gardens fill the courtyards. If you need to shop for necessities, the Shops at Oak Grove Village are on-site for retail convenience. And a centrally located clubhouse has wireless access, modern exercise equipment, and a projection screen television room. Relax and make new friends at the sunny poolside terrace, or work out in the state-of-the-art fitness center.

Spacious one- and two-bedroom apartments include high ceilings, walk-in closets, large, fully equipped kitchens, in-residence washers and dryers, and garaged parking. Prices range from $1,675 to $2,395, plus one month free.

Avalon at Lexington Hills (866-434-4864, www.AvalonatLexingtonHills.com) is a sophisticated new rental apartment community with resort style amenities in a lush suburban setting. The Lexington community features 60 luxury apartment homes dedicated to residents age 55 and over in an exclusive building.

Avalon at Lexington Hills' apartment homes are designed for active adults who may be seeking to downsize. The 55-plus South Building offers spacious two- and three-bedroom apartments with open floor plans to enhance the sense of space. They include gourmet kitchens, washers and dryers, and private decks. Each apartment has special features designed to meet active adults' needs, among them ample storage space, two bathrooms (one equipped with a walk-in shower), an elevator, and a dedicated parking garage.

Within the village setting of Avalon at Lexington Hills, residents can enjoy a barbeque picnic area, bocce ball court, outdoor pool and patio, resident lounge, fitness center, and bike paths. There is also a complimentary commuter shuttle to Alewife MBTA station as well as the MBTA express shuttle to the local communities.

Surrounded by 400 acres of wooded conservation land, Avalon at Lexington Hills offers active adults the perfect mix of suburban living and easy access to all the attractions of greater Boston.

Seton Highlands at The Pinehills (888-508-0620, www.SetonHighlands.com) welcomes discerning 55-plus buyers to experience the ease of no-maintenance living in a stunning neighborhood of single and duplex-style condominium homes. Inspired by the Arts and Craft style of architecture, these two bedroom, two-and-a-half bath homes are nestled on 52 wooded acres high in the pines. The views are expansive and the setting is private. With open floor plans, high ceilings, luxurious finishes, mahogany decks, and two-car garages, the homes are simple to maintain and a pleasure to live in, perfect for casual entertaining or just relaxing with family and friends and leaving the world behind.

Residents enjoy exclusive membership at The Seton Club, a private club for the neighborhood, with heated pool, billiards, fitness center, and lounge as well as all the privileges of living at The Pinehills with its miles of walking paths, daily fee championship golf, and Stonebridge Club amenities and activities. Prices start from the mid-$500,000s.

Step back in time to The Village at Ames Pond (781-389-1187, www.villageatamespond.com), a charming maintenance-free neighborhood with all of today's modern conveniences and easy access to major highways and commuter rail service.

Centrally located in Stoughton, The Village at Ames Pond is a well-planned community with spacious townhouses nestled near scenic Ames Pond. Three different home models exhibit quality craftsmanship, all with master bedroom suite and walk-in closet and private bath, vaulted ceilings, gas log fireplace, and skylights. Other features include expansive loft room overlooking the living room and attached garage and deck. Prices start at $434,000.

Explore nearby recreational opportunities, including boating, fishing, swimming as well as shopping and other cultural and social activities. You won't have to venture far from home to find what you need, while still enjoying the closeness of quaint village life.

A more polished setting than Emerald Court in Tewksbury (978-640-1784, www.emerald-court.com) would be hard to find. Although the cottage homes are completely sold out, space is still available in Emerald Court's single level one-andtwo-bedroom homes in a mid-rise building. With secure, heated, underground parking, Emerald Court offers both privacy and convenience. Kitchens glisten with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and maple cabinetry, while bathrooms include walk-in showers, full-length mirrors, and comfort-height toilets. Spacious decks, hardwood floors, gas fireplaces, and convenient storage units ensure that active residents enjoy easy living without sacrificing comfort. And when it's time for fun and relaxation, stroll over to the clubhouse,

which features exercise facilities, lounge, and library.

Tight social networks have developed, with clubs ranging from walking clubs to card games. Perhaps the best proof of Emerald Court's value is that more than 190 units have been sold in two years, with only 20 units left. Prices begin in the mid $200,000s for one bedroom and low $300,000s for two bedroom.

Pulte Homes of New England (866-785-8325, www.pulte.com) is one of the nation's largest builders of active adult communities, with Arbor Glen, its newest over-55 neighborhood, located in Stow. Picturesque Arbor Glen (978-461-4995, www.pulte.com), is tucked away in Stow's rolling countryside but still convenient to major routes and only an hour from Boston. Five different home models, starting from the upper $300,000s, range from one-story plans to spacious two-floor layouts with loft areas and guest bedrooms.

Many homes include full basement and two-car attached garage with plenty of room to work, play, and organize in the main living area. With maple cabinets, granite countertops, hardwood flooring, and pre-selected custom lighting, the homes are ideal for entertaining friends and neighbors. And since these are low-maintenance homes, there's plenty of time to explore Stow's golf courses, farm stands, and parks.

Oak Point (508-923-0002, www.oakpointhomes.com) offers the privacy of single-family homes and the luxurious amenities of a country club lifestyle. A meticulously planned community on Boston's South Shore, Oak Point in Middleborough has attractive two- and three-bedroom homes with the ease of one-story living.

Each home is situated on a landscaped lot of at least one-quarter acre and many border hundreds of acres of rolling countryside.

Homes start in the mid-$200,000s and can be customized with hardwood floors, Corian countertops, upgraded cabinets, and lavish master baths. New construction or re-sales are available.

You'll never want to leave this gated active adult community, since there's a full schedule of group activities overseen by two on-site social directors, all revolving around a spectacular clubhouse with swimming pool and tennis courts. Enjoy bocce, shuffleboard, walking trails, or putting greens or take the shuttle bus to shopping, restaurants, golf courses, Cape Cod beaches, and other excursions.

Del Webb Communities (888-717-9777, www.delwebb.com) offer not just unique home designs but amenities that encourage warm, neighborly interactions.

Surrounded by rolling hills and pine forests, Great Island by Del Webb (508-209-8500, www.delwebb.com/greatisland) is part of the nationally acclaimed master-planned community of the Pinehills. Comfortable, well-designed homes line the streets of this intimate neighborhood in Plymouth. Choose from five different floor plans, ranging from 1,600 to 2,400 square feet, with select property sites offering views of the 77-acre Great Pond Island or water vistas of Plymouth Bay. The one-level ranches and two-story residences include first-floor master bedroom suites, granite countertops, and hardwood floors.

With a full-time activities coordinator overseeing Great Island's community center, recreational opportunities abound.

Pinehills Golf Club is home to two, 18-hole championship courses, and homeowners can also enjoy the in-house fitness center, tennis and bocce courts, and miles of walking trails.

Great Island prides itself on being a community within a community, causing one resident to quip, "Why would you ever want to leave?"