In this particular retirement community, Rob, you're perfectly free to hide out and not socialize, and that's what some do. There are, of course, a lot of group activities if you want to participate. We live in our own home, which I've supplied with a studio -- 17 x 22 Epson printer, top-of-the-line mat cutter, dry-mounting press, etc. Our house is on the river and reasonably isolated from the others around it.
I participate in things that turn me on. Shooting plays is one of those things. A week from today I'll do another portrait shoot for the officers of one of the community's organizations. I also "teach photography," which means mostly that I talk about things worth shooting (mainly people and the way they interact with their environment), and recommend that my audience become familiar with the photographic classics. I steer away from equipment and how to operate it, since, as HCB pointed out, unless you're unusually stupid everything you need to know is in the book that comes with the camera.
Down the line, of course, is assisted living, which is what you're talking about. Fortunately there's a place not far from here where you live in your own home but have access to meals, in or out, cleaning services, etc., etc. Even a pretty nice pub. That may be the next step.
My exploration list is a lot shorter than it used to be, but a long way from empty. Studio's a bit messy at the moment, but there's work in progress.
