How College Town Life Can Turn Back the Clock

Even when your frat party, pulling an all-nighter days are over, there’s something rejuvenating about living in a college town. Most retirees agree that the cool university vibe inspires youth by osmosis – keeping them active and engaged in a setting that typically offers more than the average city in terms of amenities and culture. Driving through towns like Eugene Oregon, home to Oregon State University, and Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, you’ll often see an equal number of older adults, and backpacking collegiates riding around on bikes, and mingling at the local coffee shop. Whether or not it makes you miss your days in academia, college towns have a knack for exuding youthful energy.

There’s Always Something To Do – Most college towns are as entertaining as they are studious. Galleries, shops, and performing arts venues are usually within walking distance and typically stay open late. Step outside campuses like Southern Oregon University in Ashland, and you’re next door to the local Shakespeare Festival, and First Friday Art Walk, or the University of Wisconsin in Madison where you’ll find live music every day of the week. In addition to walkable downtown areas, and exciting cultural events, college kids know where to find the best food in town. From the local watering hole to upscale dining, university towns are usually packed with great restaurants and offer an array of options that cater to current diet trends.

Cutting Edge Healthcare – Medical care in a university setting is as specialized as it gets. With access to the most advanced technology and targeted research, university-based health facilities offer medical care you won’t find anywhere else. From general hospitals to specialty providers, world renown locations like UCLA, Oregon Health Sciences University, and the University of California, San Francisco provide a broad spectrum of comprehensive care, to help you stay on top of your health, and according to AARP, also helps improve a city’s overall livability.

Learn Something New – Research has shown lifelong learning to boost longevity, so if you’re longing to break open a textbook why not sign up? Many cities across the country participate in the Bernard Osher Lifelong Learning program including California State, and Tufts University – offering adults 50+ the chance to take a variety of non-credit courses, in a no-pressure environment. Osher institutes also provide volunteer opportunities and help students learn new skills they can take with them to pursue encore careers or travel the world. Whether or not you got along with your college roommate, the friendships you’ll make heading back to class at this stage will have you making plans for your own after party – after all, who said anything about being retired?