Social interactions are critical to happiness even when those social interactions occur with an acquaintance or stranger, as opposed to a close friend or partner, according to Iris Lok, a UBC Ph.D. student in psychology. The pandemic severally restricted our social interactions. It is now time to prioritize social interactions given that loneliness is terrible for our health. Social isolation is associated with many health risks including; high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. A retirement residence can provide the perfect balance of social interaction and independence, which is good for our overall health and well-being.