Often people do leave, for a variety of reasons, many of which I’d categorize as a combination of “tired of the young messy loud communards” and “East Wind deliberately has very limited filters on membership, and I’m tired of dealing with the mentally ill/people’s alcohol abuse”.

Many of the older folks who leave go to Twin Oaks, which is much more restrictive and thus tends to have less drama.

But many people have chosen to live out their golden years at East Wind. It’s a great place to get lots of youthful energy, and avoid the isolation of modern American culture.

The cynic in me says that they rejoin normal society. You don't see many old counter-culturals.

We keep them. Twin Oaks first built a clinic space connected to the residence which is designed to handle mobility and other age related issues. Then we built a hospice. In the 20 years i have lived at Twin Oaks, only a few people over 65 have left the community to live elsewhere, the significant majority have stayed with us until they died.

There are a good number of members at East Wind in their late 50's and 60's.

There are also a good number of long term members with memberships of 20,25,30, and one with 40 years.

At East Wind there is retirement after 25 years "on the system" as well as medical retirement.