Fifteen to twenty percent of the residents living in Del Webb's nine Sun Cities are single, according to a recent study by Del Webb. Ten years ago, a typical mental picture of retirement may have included an older couple sitting on a porch swing together, enjoying a relaxed but passive life. This picture is no longer the norm for seniors.

In relation to the eight other Sun City active adult communities for people 55 and better, the rapidly expanding community of Sun City Georgetown comes in at the top of the charts, with 20 percent of its residents being single. Del Webb's Sun City Georgetown, located 30 miles north of Austin, Texas, features a singles club called "The Solos," in which members can enjoy travel, dinner, picnics, dances, or just socializing with one another.

"They are full of great ideas and are enthusiastic about meeting each other," says Danny McCoy, Community Association director at Sun City Georgetown. "They can get involved in so many great activities here at Sun City, but the club provides a group of friends who can all relate to being on their own, but who don't always want to be alone." The odds are stacked highly in favor of the men in the Solos Club. There is a 20-to-1 ratio of women to men.

While a 20 percent single population is still the minority at Sun City Georgetown, many single residents find they feel welcome and are comfortable in their lifestyle. Mary Powell, a single resident at Sun City Georgetown, moved to Sun City after spending 15 years alone following her divorce in 1981. Powell decided she wanted to live near people who shared the same interests and were close to the same age.

"It was lonely living in neighborhoods with young families or working people because their lives were established and busy," Powell says. She prides herself on learning to be independent but enjoys spending time with others, especially other singles. "I'm hoping to have a chance to meet more singles, so we can do things together,'' Powell says. "We are a unique bunch of people."

"This is a good community for singles,'' says Joe Gilmore, who met his new wife through the Sun City Solos Club. "You can relax and enter into the many activities available. It is a very good way to make friends."

A recent study indicates that seniors are going for the good life, and many of them are going for it solo. There are an estimated 33 million households in the United States headed by people over the age of 55. Approximately half of those households are headed by single people.