Better Together is Friendship Village’s blog. Short for “weblog,” a blog was initially an online journal of sorts written by private individuals on mini-sites of their own. Today, blogs have broader audiences, heighten search engine optimization and, at their best, inform, inspire, and engage their readers.

But enough about blogs. Let’s talk about the blog life.

What? The life of a blogger? No. The life that bloggers write about, and on this platform, the life of people in today’s retirement communities. Why would anyone blog about that, you ask? Well, if you’re not aware of the enormous changes in senior living over the past decade or so, you’d probably be knocked over by a feather if you walked into a community like Friendship Village, for one.

For starters, today’s best senior communities look more like vacation resorts. They are typically built on large stretches of land surrounded by trees, gardens, walking paths, bridges, bodies of water, and other natural or man-made eye candy.

Inside, they feature large, open spaces with generous natural light, comfortable, attractive furnishings and the chicest décor. Pools, spas, fitness centers, at-your-fingertips services and amenities are state-of-the-art and akin to those of the luxury retreats you see in your dreams.

And, oh, the dining. So far beyond three squares a day in a cafeteria hall, modern senior communities offer savory, nutritious fare created by talented chefs with taste, innovation, presentation and freshness in mind. Residents dine, nosh and imbibe at a choice of upscale restaurants, trendy bar areas, cafes and atmospheric eateries that rival the best in dining out.

Friendship Village’s new full-service restaurant, Mosaic, is unique even among today’s senior communities. It features a 360-degree show kitchen, wood-burning pizza oven, and a teaching kitchen for cooking classes.

But more than beautiful physical surroundings and fabulous dining experiences, senior living today is about quality of life, a culture of holistic health and wellness that considers every aspect of well-being: physical, social, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, even technological.

Today’s senior communities bring together the best of life in one welcoming space. Loneliness and isolation are replaced with vital activity and social connection; taxing chores and household responsibilities become distant memories; worry about changes in health is alleviated because Life Plan Communities like Friendship Village offer a continuum of care.

One might say that residents in senior communities are living the blog life – the one that inspires, the one that encourages, the one worth writing about.