Is it any wonder that the Mature Adults of today are choosing Maintenance-Free Living Communities? The over 55 population is staggering at a whopping 78 million individuals in the United States alone! And, as they have reached their prime age for travel, they have also reached their peak earning years, and now consider travel a necessity and no longer an anticipated luxury. The parents of the so called Baby-Boomers often saved their pennies and waited for retirement to travel, but todays travelers are well-seasoned decades before retirement age has arrived. At this point in life, they are travelers looking for a very specific type of experience as they ready themselves for their next excursion. Some are looking for adventure, others simply want to have fun, and yet many seek the more sophisticated venue in their destinations. Either way, they're all looking for the same thing; immediate gratification! Its important to understand that Mature Travelers are not the passive travelers of yesterday. And, being technically savvy in researching the internet for information, they want to be involved with planning their destinations. They typically have no interest in package deals where they have to visit A, B and C, as they're likely to have already chosen D, E and F. Another commonality is they're after creature comforts. And, no surprise, they're not shy about demanding their version of luxury, be it a quaint and private mountain cabin, the bright lights and sensory stimulation of the Vegas Strip, or the slow, gentle sway of a 2000-passenger ocean liner. They anticipate great food, great views, and, in a nutshell, an all-around great experience. For the majority of them, because they are so interactively minded, the idea of sitting in a tour bus while someone points and describes their current destination, is a complete turn-off to them. This generation of traveler wants the actual experience of feeling, touching and tasting. For this reason, many of the Tour Operators of yesterday have dropped the word Tour from their title and are now promoting themselves as Travel operators. Those once known as Tour Guides are now Destination Experts! My, how things have changed! So, why not choose Maintenance-Free Living Communities, where all you have to do is lock the door behind you while venturing out to your next travel destination!Editors Note: This article was written by Holly Braning, Director of Sales and Marketing for Water Valley Good Samaritan community. She may be reached at 970-674-5515 for more information.