When my husband and I decided to buy a second home in a 55+ community, we knew we wanted to buy in Florida, so we made three trips to familiarize ourselves with about 20 prospective places. We visited large communities and small ones, mostly near coastlines and airports, but some not. We almost bought a home located near the Atlantic coast, but after sleeping on the decision, we agreed it was too far from an airport. On our third trip to Florida, we bought a lovely two-bedroom house with a pool in The Villages.

I loved it! But we sold it less than a year later.

How come? We’d failed to take into account how my husband would really spend his time. He’d envisioned himself teeing off at one of The Villages’ 54 golf courses, swimming laps in our pool, and having a few beers with the guys. The problem is, for various reasons, he now rarely participates in those kinds of activities.

It was a disappointment to sell our place, but even so, I still have good memories from living in a 55+ community.

Reflecting on the experience, the advice I’d give anyone considering moving to a retirement community would be this: be honest with yourself about how you’d realistically spend your time. If you’re anti-social, if you don’t deal well with change or with rules, if you have health issues that limit your ability to enjoy the many physical activities—you might want to reconsider.

If you plan to be a snowbird or to frequently fly back and forth, the distance to your nearest airport should enter into your decision too. Find out how residents get to and from the airport (taxi, Uber, limo, bus, etc.) and the per-person cost of each trip. At The Villages, for example, there are residents who have licenses to drive people in their own vehicles. They’re convenient and friendly, but the cost adds up quickly. Other options are less expensive—but also less convenient.

Think you might eventually live full-time in a 55+ community? That was never our plan, but I remember a neighbor telling me that most people start out like we did—they are snowbirds, or they come for a few visits each year—and they keep staying longer each year, eventually living there full-time. Knowing that that often happens, you might want to pick a place that will be right for you in the long haul.