Your tale of seniors on a park bench brings to mind that Simon & Garfunkel song "Old Friends" "sat on their park bench like bookends..."

Dug it up when I turned 70 ("how terribly strange to be 70..."). I used to hang out at the Plaza/park and sit on a bench reading a book. Occasionally people would sit and we'd chit-chat.

So yes... However your Spanish Elders may be different than Northern California elders - we're off working/playing at what we love.