RULES, SCHMULES….

When Sheila encountered old age her design career’s unique experiences became a guide to embrace change and shape an entirely new lifestyle; the adventure of being a resident with 800+ elders all heading to the backstretch.

Is there a precept that learning increases learning?* Actually, it’s an actuality!                                                          

Scientists found you can grow new brain cells your entire life; —“neurogenesis”                                         

We needed a lot! Did any neurogenesis arrive in Post 7?



Did you know that geese flying in formation fly 70% farther and at a much faster speed than they could ever fly alone?

Well, our recent move flew us into a flock of sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties….

      Reporter interviewing 104-year-old woman

“What’s the best thing about being 104”?

                                         She shrugged,      “No peer pressure!”

We fit right!

And next, Xanadu happened with this article — “It’s proven you can rewire the brain in 30 days to increase happiness, productivity and cognitive ability.”

Hooray, I had “Great Expectations,”

because

our newly developed neurogenesis found the life-renewing dialysis site,

but, the same sameness was the same — not unkind, just business. Some smiles here and there, but just business as usual. Bare bones room decor, three mondo days a week.

There were no complaints from my husband when his future became tied to machinery; his self-control was estimable. We hoped continued dialysis offered a multifaceted future.

I had a secret weapon in our new habitat; a heart-felt friendship, still strong after 50+ years and SHE lived in the next building.

Our years of friendship eased my way, not only on this property, but outside our “open sesame” gates. As the sole driver of our adventure now, without her help, I might have remained lost and wonderfully we continue to be the dearest of friends.

About that group living….

A study in Princeton, New Jersey discovered that when committed groups of people set intentions together, they’re six times more likely to manifest what they’re focused on.

Sooo, when 800+ of we ancients roam up and down our village avenues, reckonings arrive — SCHMULES!

About those schmules:

Our recent Retirement Realm’s abundant perks were truly abundant, but as far as unfettered freedom, nyet. Apparently, we would be fettered. Sounded doable; only a few garden variety do and don’ts. Hands down, no problem. Welll…..

Our apartment was in the largest segment of our CCRC: independent living. There are many, CCRC’S throughout the U.S. and all have this component. **       

RULES!

For starters, a badge of white plastic with each resident’s name is issued with a magnetic attachment and when placed onto a lovely ensemble, nestled near a marvelous piece of jewelry, well, it does cross the mind,  Is this haute couture?

                              As far as I’m aware, Vogue never featured this.

 

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STILL THINKING?

 

 

 

 

 

BADGE…. HAUTE COUTURE?

(Truth be told: remembering a name on a badge near a face clearly opens opportunities for friendship. And think of the “neurogenesis=brain cells” added when learning 800+ new names and faces!)

There’s More:

Also, a daily 2″ X 4″ red check-in button next to each interior front door must be pushed each day.  This was challenging —  remembering to push that button upon waking.

I tried a mantra — it didn’t work consistently. “Get up, push the button, get up, push the button” After a timing window from 5:30 to 11:00 AM; a Safety representative telephones to see if you are alive—(not necessarily functioning and definitely embarrassing, if you are alive and apologizing for not pushing the button on the third day in a row.)

 

 

Or, if you went out and forgot to push the button (with no one at home to answer,  there is a phone check.) Next there is a door check with a follow-thru procedure of visiting your abode….ring the doorbell, no answer, use a master key to enter. Yikes, what if you did not put in hearing aids and you are undressed — whew, most demoralizing.

But, if empty, a form note is left, stating that your apartment was entered. If said resident needs helps, our accomplished Safety team is ready to revive, restore or rescue.  (Keep in mind, it’s a good move to be a pristine housekeeper. Allows you to hold your head somewhat high when encountering that Safety Officer.)

Foremost — the red button is an in-depth “out-of-harm” feature  offering a positive 24 hour life checkup. Safety officers can be our life savers.

Apparently, this is a steep learning curve because many new residents [forget] to  push the #^*% button. As do quite a few long-time residents.

My AM twin — —

we have the same hairdo, same “out of touch” look and I am now burdened  to push a button! (Who knew how demanding life can get?)

I’m thinking even the handsome dude above could learn to push that button. It seemed I required my first cup of N’espresso coffee and it’s splendid aroma to push that button. Full disclosure, one of us living in our apartment always remembered.

And, it was not the dude above or me.    Hmmmm!     

New brain cells?



SALIENT POINTS:

  • Ultimately rules are a trade-off  and a reflection of common sense
  • A positive argument for choosing this Retirement Community experience — pivotal Safety Protocols.

    *From Harvard Medical School: …”about 700 new neurons are produced in the brain per day,” according to a 2013 study in the journal Cell.

    **Independent living areas in CCRC’S make up the largest component of Senior Shelters. No hassles of landscaping, housekeeping, property taxes, real estate insurance, most utilities covered…AND residents come and go at will. A CCRC means a continuum of care throughout the residents life and Safety features.

    From Fortuny, Venice Italy:

  • I bought this 2000 Fortuny stenciled green velvet tunic in Italy & wore it to one daughter’s wedding.

                                                No badge!

From Jewelry by Miriam Haskell:

A cherished gift from C and worn with authentic site badge to “intrepid” functions.

 

From Ethnicity Etc.  – By Bea:

Tunic & necklace by my valued friend Bea Roberts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Fourth of July Blaire & Happy Birthday to your Aunt C.

New Stomping Grounds

When Sheila encountered old age her design career’s unique experience became a guide to embrace change and shape an entire new lifestyle; the adventure of being a resident with 800+ elders all heading to the backstretch.
 
Baby steps ushered us to a new cosmos. But firstly, we had to hop onto a moving van parade and journey to Our Brave New World!
 
Pick up a suitcase and join the parade in Post 6.


Our new stomping grounds were made for old protoplasms and a multitude of us agreed that Retirement Communities* offer not only pretty sites, but opportunities to function flexibly.
Hellooo, — — future mind & body Wellness Community!
 
Moving reinforcements and organized brains arrived to take center stage as dear friends helped us pack, discard, discard — pack. “Downsizing is torture.”
I recall that sentence from a Washington Post article. It does take over your brain 24 hours a day because less space means making smart decisions and smart decisions can be hard. Nonessential possessions take on a new life when met with “Throw it away!    Scale down this much?    I love this!”
Then again, we discovered my husband scaled down too much in his quest for doing his part —”unsettled compromise” entered the picture.**
In hind-sight, we wish he had not downsized as much with his “over-the-top” life achievements shown through his music publications, world guest adjudications, textbooks, honors and more. We felt heartsick.
And now, our last goodbye.
                                                  SO LONG, FAREWELL, AUF WIENDERSEHEN…
 
We had given our queenly pet goat, Victoria Elizabeth to a farm where she could meander among possible cousins, aunts, uncles…her painted A-Frame cottage nestled under trees needed a new tenant.
We bought her to be a roaring facsimile of an electric weed eater. No way!
She expected to be treated as royalty. No weeds for her highness — honey alfalfa from a Feed Depot. Her occasional walks of prancing around our back roads suited her fitness routine.
 
    Victoria Elizabeth’s castle was empty!
 
Adieu to our picturesque wicker swing….swaying to and fro…. listening to the quiet in my head, solving questions that no one was asking me to solve. It was the perfect setting for imaginary journeys.
(No swing at our new digs, but there is an appealing rose garden.)
Farewell to:
That unruffled peaceful feeling of ambled pathways in our natural haven.
We closed our court yard gates for the last time. The old wooden garage door clattered downward. The moving van parked in front of our soon-to-be former home. Movers appeared to run a fifty-yard dash as they shouldered our grand piano. It was placed on a separate truck to begin life in Arizona where our darling granddaughter’s eight old fingers would explore its keys.
Our piano first appeared in my life when I was five years old in St. Louis, took up residence in San Diego and now was traveling to reside in Phoenix.
Goodbye to our peripatetically traveling piano!
Again, we had loved this home, but its upkeep was wearing and I worried because my husband’s difficult health journey over the last 6+ years had advanced to a fragile state. His life depended on “dialysis,” — a colorless cloud of patiently being hooked up to a dialysis machine three long days a week.
The toll was always that low-grade tedium and the dialysis centers he encountered seemed to compete on being cheerless.
Technical equipment essentials certainly take precedence, but natural daylight was not a design feature in his experience.
(And as a design professional, I wholeheartedly embraced the positive physiological effects of daylight on a patient hooked up to a machine for often four hours at a time….that should be a primary consideration.) ***
 
Regina Brett, a distinguished journalist from the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio wrote at age 90, “the 45 lessons life taught me.”
 
All worthy, but today, Number 4
spoke to me:
 
 
 
 
 
           
                                   “The best is yet to come.”
              
                                     We were counting on it.
 
Our “merry movers” didn’t finish placing all the furniture or unpacking boxes that day, although it was supposed to be a one- day move.
 
“Sorry we can’t return until Saturday.” What?
 
 
 
Nooo,….!
This was Wednesday, December 12, the next day was our first visit to the new dialysis site. Never being there — we were going to have to dig deeper to find our way. We did. We prodded and pushed ourselves to move forward.
Remember that Washington Post sentence? “Downsizing is torture.” **** WELLL..
the second bedroom/study was stacked with boxes and furniture. Unable to sleep that first night, I searched for a book with only a faint light.
 
OOOPS!
                                            I fell and landed on my tailbone.
After bumbling around for three weeks, X rays confirmed, it was broken. Of course it was. The prognosis — “healing can take between 8 to 12 weeks.”
  Darn, that prognosis was right on.
 
Later and half-awake that first night, for some unfathomable reason, I teetered to our doorway, opened the door and looked out expecting to see a courtyard with elevator gates fronting our swimming pool, the voluminous avocado tree’s branches clamoring for space and…
This is what I saw…..
 
                      Propitious?                                                            Nirvana?
                                    Hmmm — Our New Stomping Grounds!

SALIENT POINTS:

  • Emotions roiled through this process of adding value for our winter of life.
  • This move to a Retirement Community was  well-considered — monetarily, pragmatically & environmentally.
  • We catalogued pictures & memories.
  • In essence, we were excited to try a new lifestyle.

*Retirement Community ads: “Surroundings offer balance and harmony, age-friendly design, pedestrian-friendly streets, walkways and activities”.
**Thoughts from ‘A Short History of an Idea HOME,’ (W. Rybcznskii Professor of Architecture: Topics from his excellent book regarding the subject of comfort.
Personal history & possessions tell a story to become part of each persons “comfort zone.” but when efficiency and downsizing become a primary motivation, ‘unsettled compromise,’ enters the picture.”
***From the section, Dialysis Facility design—Part IV: Color, sound, and materials…
Steven B. Bower AIA “I am a firm believer that natural daylight is still an important factor and should be a primary design consideration for a long‐term treatment area like a dialysis clinic…..after sitting in a chair without being able to move for 4–6 hours, the space may start to seem rather boring.”
****Zillow: “Moving requires emotional stamina unique to the process itself, one where you have to juggle forming a connection to a new place…”

   Happy Summer Solstice Blaire