What It’s Really Like Living in Seal Beach Leisure World: The Little Things I Love Most
Updated: Aug 22
So, What Is It Actually Like to Live Here?
In my first post about Leisure World Seal Beach, I shared the story of how I first discovered this community in my 40s and how, decades later, it unexpectedly became our home.
In my second post, I wrote about something much more practical — the financial qualifications and requirements I wish I had understood before retirement.
But this time, I want to forget about paperwork.
I want to show you what it actually feels like to live here.
And honestly, it's the little things that have surprised me the most.
A rabbit sitting outside my front door.
My husband disappearing in the morning with his pickleball paddle and somehow finding another sport to play by lunchtime.
A Tuesday trip to the farmers market that has turned someone who never cared much about fruit into a person who actually looks forward to buying it every week.
Swimming outside at night and looking up at the stars.
Golf carts covered in red, white and blue decorations on the Fourth of July.
And yes...
the morning I looked outside and wondered why such a strange-looking dog was walking through the neighborhood — only to discover later that it was a coyote. 😂
These aren't the things I thought about when we bought our home.
But they've become some of the things I love most about living here.
My Favorite Place Might Be the Pool
I love swimming, so having an outdoor pool here has been one of my favorite parts of daily life.
The pool is open for long hours, which means I don't have to plan my entire day around exercise.
But my favorite time is the evening.
There is something completely different about swimming outside after the sun goes down.
Sometimes I look up from the water and see the stars above me, and for a moment it feels less like I'm exercising in a retirement community and more like I'm staying at a resort.
It's such a simple thing.
But even now, I sometimes think:
I get to do this where I live?
My Husband Has Basically Turned Leisure World Into His Sports Club 😂
My husband loves exercise.
And Leisure World has given him plenty of ways to enjoy it.
Some days, it feels like he has his own athletic schedule:
Pickleball in the morning. Bocce at lunchtime. Table tennis in the evening.
And then there is the fitness center with full-size exercise equipment.
Meanwhile, I'm perfectly happy heading to the pool. 😊
One thing I've come to appreciate about retirement is that staying active doesn't necessarily have to feel like a chore.
When the activities you enjoy are right inside your community, exercise naturally becomes part of your day.
Tuesdays Have Become Farmers Market Day
There are three main gates into Leisure World, and just outside the South Gate is a shopping area where a farmers market is held on Tuesdays.
This has become one of my favorite little routines.
Here's the funny part:
I've never been a big fruit person.
But the fruit I've bought there has been so sweet and flavorful that somehow, after moving here, I started looking forward to fruit.
Now Tuesday means going to the farmers market, bringing home enough fruit for the week, and enjoying fruit that honestly tastes different from much of what I normally find at the grocery store.
Apparently retirement can change your eating habits too. 😂
Sometimes Dinner Comes to Us
Another little convenience I didn't expect is the rotating food trucks that come into the community in the evenings.
There are days when we've been out, exercised, or simply don't feel like cooking.
Instead of making a whole trip somewhere, we can sometimes pick up dinner right here.
It's not a major reason anyone would choose a retirement community.
But these small conveniences begin to matter more than you expect.
Rabbits, Squirrels... and One Very Suspicious “Dog”
We have plenty of little visitors around the neighborhood.
Rabbits hop around near the homes, and squirrels are everywhere.
One morning, though, I saw something walking near my home.
My first thought was:
What an ugly dog.
😂
I didn't think much more about it.
Then the next day, our Leisure World newspaper included a warning that coyotes had been seen inside the community.
That's when I realized:
That wasn't someone's dog.
I had seen a coyote.
Apparently during certain seasons they can wander through the community, so residents do need to be aware of them, especially around small pets.
Now whenever I think about that morning, I still laugh at myself.
The Fourth of July Here Was Not What I Expected
I had heard that Leisure World had a Fourth of July golf cart parade.
I wasn't quite sure what that meant.
Then I saw it.
Around 150 golf carts were decorated for Independence Day, with flags, red-white-and-blue decorations, music and families riding together through the community.
Some residents had their grandchildren with them.
Afterward, there were more things to see, including a display of beautiful antique and classic cars.
It was cheerful, funny and surprisingly festive.
I enjoyed it so much that I've already bought some patriotic clothes and accessories for next year.
Apparently next time I'm not just watching.
I'm dressing for the occasion. 😂🇺🇸
There Is Always Something Going On
One thing that surprised me after moving here is just how much exists inside the community.
There are numerous clubhouses and activities, a golf course, billiards, spaces where visiting grandchildren can play, and even garden plots residents can rent if they want more room to grow things.
There is RV storage, and even a place where residents can wash their cars.
There are also practical services within the community, including healthcare-related services, a pharmacy and postal services.
During the summer, there are performances at the large outdoor amphitheater.
And sometimes in the morning, even something as simple as sitting in a lounge with coffee and a cookie becomes part of the rhythm of life here.
You can participate in a lot.
Or you can participate in almost nothing.
I actually like that freedom.
And Then There Is Seal Beach
As much as I enjoy what's inside Leisure World, one of the biggest gifts for me is what's just outside it.
The ocean.
When I lived farther inland, I didn't realize how much being close to the water would change my everyday life.
Now I pay attention to the clouds in the late afternoon.
If the sky looks promising, I sometimes grab my camera and head toward the beach before sunset.
Some evenings are ordinary.
And then there are evenings when the entire sky turns gold.
Those are the moments when I understand why living here makes me so happy.
It's not because retirement suddenly became glamorous.
It's because beautiful things have become easier to notice.
A Small Home, A Simpler Life
Of course, there are things I might have done differently.
If our budget had been larger, I probably would have loved a two-bedroom home, especially when our children come to visit.
But for the two of us, our one-bedroom home works surprisingly well.
And as I've gotten older, I've begun to see another advantage:
there simply isn't that much house to take care of.
Less cleaning.
Less maintenance.
Less space filled with things we don't really need.
And because the community feels safe and neighbors tend to notice what's happening around them, I also feel more comfortable when we travel.
Sometimes a smaller home can actually make life feel bigger.
What Is It Really Like Living in Seal Beach Leisure World?
When people hear “55+ retirement community,” they may picture something quiet or even a little boring.
That's not how it feels to me.
Life here can be as active or as peaceful as I want it to be.
I can swim.
My husband can play sports all day.
We can go to a concert.
Buy fruit at the Tuesday farmers market.
Watch a parade of decorated golf carts.
Drive to the beach for sunset.
Or simply sit at home and watch a rabbit outside the window.
None of these things by themselves are extraordinary.
But put together, they have created a life that feels surprisingly full.
And maybe that's what I didn't understand about retirement when I was younger.
A beautiful life doesn't always need bigger things.
Sometimes it is simply having the time — and the place — to enjoy the little ones.
Coming Next
From Outdated to Bright & Simple: How We Remodeled Our One-Bedroom Leisure World Home
Next, I'll show you our little home and share why I think buying an older, less-expensive unit and remodeling it yourself can sometimes be worth considering — especially if you enjoy making a space truly your own.
Disclosure: This post reflects my personal experience living in Leisure World Seal Beach. Amenities, schedules, services and community activities may change over time. Please verify current information directly with Leisure World Seal Beach.
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