CRF Communities

As veteran snowbirds know, the ritual of closing your home "up North" and preparing to come South for the winter is a little more involved than packing a bag, locking the door and jumping in the car. The homeowners at Lake Ashton, Florida's favorite active adult community created this checklist for "newbies" and a reminder for the pros:

The Basics - remember to contact:

• Post Office
• Newspaper/Magazines
• Phone, cable and Utility Companies
• Bank and credit card companies
• If you have a security system, contact your security company
• Refill your prescriptions

A few "not-so-obvious" last list of things to do:

• Run the garbage disposal to make sure all the food is out
• Leave the dishwasher door partially open
• Gather all your plugs for charging batteries - cell phones, cameras, etc.
• Remember your checkbook and extra checks
• Have your pet's record of shots

A last minute check:

• Lock all windows and doors
• Set the thermostat back
• Turn off the water
• Unplug appliances and computers
• Open closet doors for ventilation
• Leave your dishwasher open or partially open
• Make sure your neighbor has a key to your home and your contact information
• Make sure you have your neighbors' contact information

Once you're packed up, locked up and ready to go, take a deep breath and think about the warm Florida sun and the great times ahead!

Be sure to plan a trip to Lake Ashton for a Stay & Play in Lake Wales, Florida when you are down! New homes are affordable and the Florida retirement community lifestyle amenities will help build on those Florida friendships!

You have been dreaming and planning for your retirement years all your life, and now that you are close to realizing that dream and fulfilling those plans, you are starting to wonder if now is the time to make that final decision. But how do you know?

Take this brief questionnaire to see if you are definitely ready:

Do you have enough money?
"How much money will I need when I retire?" This is the question almost everyone wants answered when they start thinking about retiring and finding the best retirement community. This is one of the most asked questions and the hardest one to answer. No one answer fits all.

Are you ready to retire?
Money is important when planning for your retirement but you should also plan for the free time you will have once you retire. So many people have no idea what life might be like once they aren't tied to a job. It can be the most rewarding experience or the most disastrous time you've ever had. You need to think about the financial side of retirement but the mental and emotional changes can be far more devastating than money issues. Ready or Not

Have you thought about working after retirement?
If you are considering working after your retirement, you will be in good company. Surveys have shown that almost two thirds of Americans not yet retired say when they retire they are planning to continue working at some type of job that will continue earning them a paycheck.

Can you retire well?
In addition to investing and saving money for your retirement, you need to make some additional plans. You need to plan how you might want to spend your retirement, where you might want to spend it, how to be healthy enough to enjoy it, and how to keep your family and friends around to help you enjoy it. Retirement shouldn't be considered an ending; it should just be a continuation of living. Retiring well, in the best retirement community, is worth more than money.

OK, you've made up your mind that you are going to stop the 9 to 5 grind and kick back and enjoy yourself. If you are like most, you have some idea of what the ideal retirement should be and what the best Florida retirement community should offer. Or schedule a "Great Escape" package at Lake Ashton for only $99 to start enjoying your new retirement life!

If you aren't quite ready, you can start preparing for retirement by visiting CRFcommunities.com online library, where their Retirement Tips & Tools can help you make the most out of planning your new life! If you are serious about your retirement goals, you must start to prepare right now, not tomorrow.

There are so many perks when you live at Lake Ashton, one of CRF Communities Florida retirement communities. Set on over 1200 acres of beautiful Florida ranch land that fronts the serene waters of Lake Ashton, this Florida active adult community is Simply the Best! Lake Ashton is a gated community that boasts a 26,000 sq ft clubhouse, 30,000 sq ft health and fitness center, indoor pool and outdoor pool, two 18-hole private golf courses, lighted tennis courts, boat ramp/dock, movie theater, bowling alley and much, much more!

In addition to the daily calendar of events and all of the activities, you can also enjoy world class musical acts right in your own backyard! On November 7^th, 4-2-Five, a talented group of 5 young men, will take the stage at our own Lake Ashton ballroom. Critics are calling 4-2-Five's à capella performance one of the most refreshing approaches to music that has graced the stage for some time!

Based in Orlando, 4-2-Five has been performing its own unique brand of entertainment since the turn of the 21^st century. Evolving from a street corner barbershop sound, and drawing on funk, rock, jazz, and blues - 4-2-Five is unlike any musical experience around, recreating an entire instrumental band with nothing but their five voices - a feat which has to be seen to be believed.

4-2-Five brings timeless, classic music to life with renewed freshness and infuses their beautiful harmonies with a lovable sense of humor and style. 4-2-Five is blazing new trails and winning the hearts and imaginations of audiences of all ages.

This concert is just one of many activities to enjoy at Lakes Ashton. So, invite your friends, bring your grandkids. Don't miss out on this incredible evening of music and laughter. Limited seats are available and tickets are selling fast!

Tickets are on sale now at Lake Ashton's Activities Center. For more information about any of CRF Communities Florida retirement communities, visit http://www.crfcommunities.com/ or call 1-800-234-1581.

How do you make money on the web?

Retirees spend a lot of their time at online - researching and connecting with others. But now they are blogging and setting up their own websites on those hobbies and passions they are enjoying in these retirement days. Those that have fallen in love with golf have created their own golf Web sites. Those that love shell-collecting have started a new career blogging about it. They can sell ads on their website or become a Google Adsense partner that will pay them for ads that people click on their site.

Learn about website building, blogging and online entrepreneurship?

Florida retirement communities like Lake Ashton encourage their residents to immerse themselves in their favorite hobbies - golf, fishing, boating, dancing, traveling and much more. And Lake Ashton also offers computer courses that can help jumpstart their careers in Web Site blogging sites.

How will you spend your retirement years? Will you work? Will you take computer courses to learn how to blog and connect with others who share your passions? CRF Communities invites you to visit its Florida Retirement Communities such as Lake Ashton in Wales, Florida. We know you will enjoy the amenities we offer as you connect with new friends both in person and online!

Lake Aston, a Florida retirement community in Lake Wales, Florida, offers free basic computer classes to its residents as of August this year. Taught by Instructor Mary Boseman, this Computer101 class took place in the HFC Media Center in the central area of the retirement community.

With the world revolving around the Internet, CRF Communities was proud to have one of their Florida Retirement Communities step up to the challenge of introducing new technology to active adults, and encourage others to do the same.

Lake Aston has a dedicated team in the Activities Department and is known for their community involvement. With a wide variety of facilities, this Florida retirement community offers an abundance of classes including aerobics, ceramics, crafts, cards, dancing, and computer courses, among other popular activities.

Basic Computer is for computer novices only. Class attendees will learn basic topics including:

•· Common uses of the computer

•· Basic terminology of computing

•· How to use computers for playing games

•· How to set up a free Email account

•· How to change basic computer settings

•· How to create a Word document and print it out

•· How to download photos onto a computer

•· How to attach a photo or another document to an Email message

Based on class feedback, Lake Ashton will begin offering this course for residents on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 - 4:00 during the second and third weeks every other month. The next class is scheduled Tuesday, October 13 at the HFC Media Center. Each class is free, but space is limited to only 10 people. To learn more about these computer classes and other Lake Ashton activities, contact Computer Instructor and Activities Assistant, Mary Boseman of Lake Aston at 1-863-595-1562.