In this chapter, we review empirical and conceptual work pertaining to organic changes in the brain and shifting goals as contributors to age-related changes in affective processing. We argue for the need to integrate these two previously isolated lines of research by delineating their crucial interplay toward a comprehensive understanding of affective neuroscience in aging. We present examples of aging trajectories, impacted by organic brain and motivational change, to identify key processes of interest for future research and potent intervention targets to promote successful aging. We conclude with open basic and applied research questions embedded within our integrated conceptual framework to guide future research on affective neuroscience in aging.

This chapter delves into the multifaceted dimensions of aging and senescence, given the rapidly aging global population. While aging research traditionally centered on frailty and illness, contemporary discourse emphasizes the concept of “aging well” and preserving one’s youthful vigor. Anthropological studies adopt a comparative lens, recognizing the contextual variations in what constitutes “successful aging.” This chapter underscores the role of local cultural understandings in shaping individual experiences of aging and decline. Care emerges as a central theme, intricately woven within political, economic, and social power dynamics. Sakti’s research, with a focus on contexts of involuntary migration and mobility, sheds light on the challenges faced by older individuals navigating displacement and loss in a post-conflict setting. The Timor-Leste case reveals how older individuals reconstruct their lives amidst upheaval, intertwining notions of care, interdependence, and ancestral connections. This exploration challenges conventional notions of aging well, emphasizing the interconnectedness of individual and collective well-being within broader social and cultural contexts.

Although residents of The Villages often say, "You name it, they have a club for it, and if they don’t, you can start one," moving to the city frequently necessitates quitting or reducing involvement in existing activities. Additionally, aging presents various challenges to participation, such as declining health and lack of companionship. Based on the ecological model of leisure constraints, this chapter explores how residents navigate these conditions, why some choose not to negotiate them, and how the vast array of activities in The Villages both supports and hinders successful negotiation.

The opening chapter sets the stage for the book. It starts with a recount of the author’s first day at The Villages and her motivation to explore the aging experience in this "city for seniors." The second part details the study that forms the book’s foundation, including the research questions, methods, and participant descriptions. The third part outlines the book’s structure, providing a brief overview of each chapter.

After outlining the history of The Villages from its origins as a trailer park in the late 1960s to its present status, this chapter examines the factors behind its success. This discussion covers the unique master planning of the community, the extensive variety of leisure activities available to residents, and the population’s relative homogeneity. By distinguishing between the place and its residents, the chapter also reviews previous research on The Villages and identifies the gaps in the existing knowledge that this book aims to fill.

The final chapter compares The Villages to other retirement communities, aging in place, and aging in community. Drawing on the study’s findings and the perceptions of interviewed individuals, it highlights how The Villages’ unique characteristics – including its size, innovation culture, bubble communication, opportunities for meaningful involvement, social networks, and communal coping – generally enhance residents’ well-being. The chapter also summarizes The Villages’ weaknesses and presents key takeaways about the societal meanings of its success.

With 115 recreation centers, 3,000 clubs, numerous activities, and media content that encourages residents to “Try something new!” The Villages actively promotes innovation in later life. Drawing on innovation theory, this chapter examines the continuity and change in residents’ leisure activities upon moving to The Villages and over time. It describes what can be termed an "innovation culture" while also noting that innovation tends to decline with age and pointing to a greater tendency towards self-preservation rather than self-reinvention innovation.

For The Villagers, "fun" is a serious matter. This chapter highlights the remarkable volunteering patterns among residents and analyzes them through the lens of the serious leisure perspective. It differentiates between volunteering in leisure and volunteering as leisure, describes the populations served by the volunteers, and examines whether the residents’ involvement in volunteering is truly optimal.

The Villages provides its residents with a wide array of formal and informal media, most of which are digital. This chapter examines the content and usage of these media, delving into the attitudes of the residents towards them. Despite frequent criticism from residents about the media’s heavy emphasis on local "happy news," this chapter suggests that such a focus fosters a sense of a "bubble," which contributes positively to their well-being.

Living in a city for older adults inevitably involves facing and coping with the frequent deaths of neighbors, friends, and acquaintances, serving as a constant reminder of one’s mortality. Through the stories of three individuals, this chapter offers a glimpse into the experiences of dying, caregiving for the dying, and grieving in The Villages. It also contrasts the pervasive presence of death with the relative invisibility of the "fourth age."

Departing from the distinctions among retirement communities, "aging in place," and the newer concept of "aging in community," this chapter presents a definition and typology of retirement communities along with a brief history of these communities in the US. It then offers a literature review on key topics: (a) transitioning into a retirement community, (b) adjusting to and aging within a retirement community, and (c) the well-being of residents in these communities.

This chapter addresses the challenge of socially "starting from scratch" when moving into a community of approximately 150,000 older adults. It suggests that most residents integrate into overlapping place-, leisure-, and faith-based communities, and experience varying levels of psychological sense of community (PSOC). The chapter also explores the few instances where no PSOC was reported and examines the multiple tensions between different groups based on age, type of residency, and political orientation.