There’s something about Hot Springs Village that just feels right to me. I’ve thought about it quite a bit, and I’ve come to realize that it’s not necessarily something I can fully explain. It’s a feeling. A connection. A sense of belonging.
I recently revisited an article written by Arthur C. Brooks for The Atlantic in 2021 entitled “Find the Place You Love. Then Move There.” It explores the idea that where we live can have a profound impact on our happiness, not simply because of the practical advantages a place offers, but because of the emotional connection we develop with it.
There’s even a word for it: topophilia. It means a love of place.
And I think that’s exactly what I experience here in Hot Springs Village.
It’s More Than Amenities
When people consider retiring to Hot Springs Village, they naturally want to know about the cost of living, housing prices, golf courses, lakes, recreational opportunities, and other amenities. Those things matter. They’re legitimate considerations when deciding where to spend our retirement years.
But I wonder if we sometimes overlook something even more important.
How does a place make us feel?
For me, it’s the trees, the winding roads, the peaceful neighborhoods, the lakes, and the natural beauty that surrounds us. It’s the quiet mornings and the slower pace of life. It’s being able to sit on our back porch and simply enjoy being here.
None of those things are particularly complicated. And perhaps that’s part of their appeal.
I don’t need constant entertainment or endless activity to feel content. I enjoy the environment itself.
Finding Where You Belong
Brooks makes the point that the place we love isn’t necessarily where we grew up or where we’ve spent most of our lives.
Sometimes we discover a place later in life that resonates with us in ways we didn’t anticipate.
That’s worth thinking about, especially as we approach retirement.
For much of our adult lives, where we live is determined by our work, family responsibilities, or other obligations. We don’t always have the freedom to choose a location simply because we love being there.
Retirement can change that.
Suddenly, we may have the opportunity to ask a question we haven’t seriously considered before:
Where would I most enjoy living if I could choose?
Not where should I live because it’s familiar. Not where do other people think I should live. But where do I genuinely want to be?
A Beautiful Place Isn’t Enough
Of course, Brooks also reminds us that moving somewhere we love doesn’t automatically guarantee happiness.
We still need relationships. We need purpose. We need meaningful activities and opportunities to connect with other people.
A beautiful house surrounded by beautiful scenery can still be a lonely place if we don’t make an effort to build a life there.
That’s an important consideration for anybody thinking about moving to Hot Springs Village.
You can love the natural beauty and appreciate the amenities, but becoming part of the community requires some initiative. Friendships don’t always happen automatically. Sometimes we have to put ourselves out there.
And that’s true no matter where we choose to live.
Retiring TO Something, Not Just FROM Something
I’ve talked before about the importance of retiring to something instead of simply retiring from something.
I think this idea fits perfectly with that philosophy.
Retirement shouldn’t be defined entirely by what we’re leaving behind. It can also be about what we’re moving toward.
A different pace. New experiences. Meaningful relationships. More time to enjoy the things that matter most to us.
And perhaps, a place that feels like home.
I’m not suggesting that Hot Springs Village is the right place for everybody. It certainly isn’t. What appeals to me may not appeal to somebody else, and that’s perfectly fine.
But I do think we owe it to ourselves to consider whether we’re living in a place we genuinely love.
For Rhonda and me, Hot Springs Village has become that place.
It’s not perfect. No place is.
But there’s a comfort and contentment I experience here that’s difficult to put into words.
Hot Springs Village feels like home to me.
And at this stage of life, that’s worth an awful lot.
What about you? Have you found a place that just feels like home? Maybe it’s where you’ve always lived. Maybe it’s somewhere you discovered later in life. I’d love to hear what makes that place special to you.
Thanks for joining us at HSV Inside Out, where we explore what it’s really like to live and retire in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.
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