My RetCom (retirement community) could be considered a gated community. It doesn’t have a gate at the entrance, but it does have a sign in station in the lobby of the building. But, after thinking about it a while, a gated community could also be a prison. Comparing the two is what this post is all about. 😁

RetComs and prisons do have some of the same characteristics. For the most part, the people in each of these institutions live in their cells/apartments twenty or more hours per day. They get out once or twice a day to have their meals, and usually have a period of time for socialization.

How do the costs compare between RetComs and prisons?

According to data from the Vera Institute of Justice, the average cost to keep someone in prison in the United States is around $33,274 per year, though this can vary significantly depending on the state, ranging from as low as $14,000 to as high as $70,000 annually per inmate. 

My RetCom costs considerably more than the average prison, but the major difference is that I have to pay the total, whereas the State covers the cost of prison.

Ok, enough of this silliness. 😁😎🙄 But I do sometimes feel like I live in a gated-community and the gate is most of the time closed.