Eighty-three-year-old Virgil Heidbrink has found what he thinks is the perfect place to retire. He's met many interesting people there. Every day, they share their life stories and favorite jokes. And he's convinced that the new social connections are keeping him young in spirit.

Heidbrink spends three to four hours a day in the blogosphere – that virtual neighborhood of the Internet where he writes his blog and answers readers' e-mail. A computer coach has helped the resident at the Edgemere retirement community in Dallas build and maintain his Web site, virgilsviews.com.

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The largest percentage increase in Internet use since 2005 has been in the 70-to-75 age group, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project. The survey found that 45 percent of that age bracket is online, compared with 26 percent in 2005.

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