I was skeptical about moving into a retirement community. But it's so much fun, and much easier on my adult children.

• Deepa Andleigh didn't want to burden her adult sons as they raised families and pursued careers.
• In 2020, Andleigh moved into Priya Living, a Bay Area retirement home rooted in Indian heritage. 
• Andleigh, 73, finds it "wonderful" to be surrounded by like-minded peers and to have independence.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Deepa Andleigh, a 73-year-old retired bank worker who in 2020 moved into Priya Living, a senior community grounded in Indian heritage but also open to individuals of all races and religions. The essay has been edited for length and clarity.

I am retired and have lived in the US for about 50 years.