The three available floor plans range from 1,503 square feet to 1,953 square feet. All have two bedrooms and two baths. An open design allows for a free flow from the kitchen to the dining area and great room. Some master baths have large walk-in closets, a spa, and dual sink vanities. The architectural style is Mediterranean, with a light colored stucco exterior and a red/pink/tan tile roof. Yards are a combination of nicely manicured grass and Xeriscaping. Every home has an attached two car garage.

Prices begin in the low- to mid-$300,000s. The HOA fee is $330 per month. Please verify this with a Realtor as prices will change.

Residents enjoy a clubhouse with a fitness center, a library, billiards, and a game room. The outdoor swimming pool is surrounded by a patio and BBQ area. Tennis courts, walking trails, and a community garden round out the amenities.

Four Seasons is less than two hours east of San Jose and minutes from I-5. Metropolitan entertainment, beaches, Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay, and the Big Basin Redwoods State Park are within easy reach.

Los Banos has a hospital, but it is not accredited by the Joint Commission. The nearest accredited hospital is in Merced, 25 miles away.

Summer temperatures are in the 90s. Winter temperatures are in the 30s and 40s. On average, the city receives 10 inches of rain each year.

Visit tinyurl.com/ehcs4cet to see a listing. Homes do not come up for sale often.

California

California is the most populous state in the United States, and it is the sixth largest economy in the world.

Because it is so long, the climate varies greatly. Everything from deserts, forests and snow covered mountains to the world famous moderate temperatures of Southern California are here. Record temperatures have included a low of minus 35 degrees and a high of 134 degrees.

A string of missions, each built within a day's walking distance of another, runs the length of the state and started appearing in 1769. Juan Cabrillo first sighted California in 1542 and inspired the missions. A few of the most famous ones are San Juan Capistrano (the swallows return every year at the same time), and San Diego (the first one).

A few of California's natural resources include petroleum, timber and natural gas. Industries are manufacturing (machinery, transportation equipment, electronics), aerospace and defense, biotechnology, and tourism. Of course, Hollywood and Disneyland are known around the world. Other famous attractions are Yosemite National Park, the Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco), Point Reyes National Seashore, Sequoia National Park and San Simeon State Park (Hearst Castle).

The lowest point in the U.S. is California's Death Valley at 282 feet below sea level, and the highest point in the Lower 48 is its Mt. Whitney at 14,491 feet above sea level. Outside of Hawaii and Alaska, the state's Lassen Peak is one of the two active volcanoes in the U.S. It last erupted in 1917.

More immigrants settle down in California than in any other state.

Are 55+ Communities Really "Retirement" Communities?

Many people who live in age-restricted communities (usually for people age 55+) are still gainfully employed. So why would they live in what is considered a "retirement" community? Why not continue to live in a standard neighborhood? People still employed choose age-restricted communities for the same reasons as people who are retired do: the safety, amenities and sense of community that one can provide. And whether employed or not, once the kids are grown, it is sometimes nice to live in a neighborhood where small children do not congregate.