When Sheila encountered old age her design career’s unique experiences became a guide to enhance change and shape an entire new lifestyle: the adventure of being a resident with 800+ elders all heading to the backstretch.
Sheila wants a — Gasp?
Metamorphosis!
Although metamorphosis often brings to mind the life stages of a butterfly, equally so, our bodies travel upwards and downwards on each of our life’s own roller coaster ride.
And, our life ride is skidding to — End Ride!
Noes, yeses, ups, downs — no more, pondering. Decision time.
Hang on as we discover solidarity for our ride in Post 5!
Stagnate us??
No way! Because there was a serious Chunk of Change involved as we reviewed our gains and losses
A CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community) is a business and requires a contract. Sign on the dotted line….”we’ll do our best to take care of your physical and cognitive health.”
Next, the future resident hands over that Chunk of Change to secure a physical dwelling that ensures (us) a residency with a monthly fee which includes —
food served in handsome dining rooms and the myriad services of laundry, repairs, house keeping,
transportation, etc.
In that mix, is the security of the Wellness Compound as each life progresses— Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living and Memory Care, with a fee added monthly.*
AND Wonderful Plusses with Social Resources:
Indoor/Outdoor Swimming Pools, Art Room, Woodworking Shop, Golf, Libraries, Movie Theatre (popcorn!), Garden Plots, Pickle Ball & Tennis Courts & Guest Rooms for Family Visits.
Our new oasis is a most enticing property. It has been documented that we are “physiologically affected by the natural world, a reference to Biophilia.”** This property has a connection to nature, albeit on a grander scale than our smaller family compound duplicating plants, flowers, trees, sitting spaces, walkings paths, koi pond, etc…
The property has seemingly endless activities and bountiful feelings of joy
where we will live with our “Silver Tsunami” *** neighbors.
Additional resources include concerts, lectures/seminars, fitness classes & private workouts, clubs galore — current events, art/ceramic, poetry, etc…
What is there not to like?
An important consideration in your planning is acknowledging your ability to take part in the above activities and interests. Some residents arrive when their health is too challenged/fragile to enjoy what’s doable. Personal and physical activities increase the joys of living particularly when “Advancing to Go” as in older and older and older.
We kept researching. And, minute by minute, we were getting older and older. Decision time!
Once more with feeling.
Stay put through the holidays and celebrate one more set of holiday visits, shindigs and
over-the-top decorations.
And sharing the fun of music & laughter with friends.
Our wedding anniversary was on December 22, and my husband often engaged a piano player. Friends joined us; he wore a tuxedo and I needed something new. Hooray!
As a family, we celebrated Christmas Eve at a sweet Mexican neighborhood restaurant with friends, had our main gift giving on Christmas Eve night and attended Midnight Services.
Before we had our family Christmas Day dinner, our daughters graciously drove to a distant French Patisserie bakery to pick up my yearly Christmas Tree tart dessert…major fib…they detested that errand. (Full disclosure, it was an imposition for their Xmas mornings. I, now apologize to N. & D.)
In essence, we were creating our own Catch-22.
It was not a great real estate market — moving and down-sizing is tough. But then, whether sooner or later it was always going to be tough.
No more roller coaster ups & downs — full speed ahead!
We had banked many memorable moments — there was room for more.
We found a realtor…
Put our house up for sale.
It sold in a week.
Truth be told. Downsizing and selling a house is exhausting. But, in
reality — we were “upsizing” — we were “daring to try a new life” as
we became renters/sort of owners of an apartment in a Retirement Community.
Welcome to — Life —
Now known as
GROUP LIVING!
SALIENT POINTS:
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Honor your memories with photo keepsakes.
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Look forward to making fresh memories & new friends.
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Discovering friendships are emotionally energizing.
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Move with optimism and a positive attitude.
*California residents pay their regular monthly service fee plus $550.00 per month for the two extra daily meals provided when they transition to
Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing or Memory Care.
**From Phoenix HG 12-20, “Biophilia literally translates to ‘love of life,’ and there are many studies in this field….Spending just 40 seconds outside can lower your blood pressure, stimulate your immune system and encourage brain function.”
***For starters, the baby boom generation is aging, causing an exacting demand for senior housing and by 2030 more than 20% of older American would top 73 million. Older people are projected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. History. This age group has been known as the “Silver Tsunami.”
Happy May Day Blaire!