My wife and I recently moved to an independent-living villa in a so-called Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). This blog is a result of our having to explain to our friends and family what exactly this facility is, and isn’t, as you will come to understand if you read our entries.
All the names of the people we feature here have been changed to protect their privacy, and because this is a personal, thus unofficial, blog, we have changed the names of the facility, its buildings, its streets, and all its staff members. My blog name is Harvey, and my wife’s is Alma.
Our goal is simply to give our readers a glimpse into the world of a CCRC. Nothing more, nothing less. Maybe some of you will even be influenced to join us someday!
Carolyn and I had been thinking about downsizing for several years, but we never seemed to find the time to actually carry out that crazy plan. We thought about a condo, but the tight housing market where we were living ruled that out. So, how do you downsize when there are no condos available and … Continue reading “Moving to a Retirement Community”
In Greek mythology, there were three Fates: Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. Clotho, the spinner, was the youngest of the three goddesses of fate; she spun the thread of fate with a distaff, determining when a person was born; Lachesis measured the length of the thread to determine the length of life; finally, the cruel Atropos cut … Continue reading “The Three Fates: Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos”
We visited a number of retirement communities. The one we chose was a large complex and we felt at home there, plus we could afford the fees and monthly rent. One problem, though. We had a large four bedroom three bath ranch home. I had my own private bathroom. I refused to share a bathroom and … Continue reading “Making the Decision”
I said to Jim, “You’re already into the community in your blog, but I’m not there yet.” I will get to the subject of living here, but now I want to write about the three angels. I was sitting here exhausted while Jim was out someplace on our first night here. I could not get into the kitchen through … Continue reading “Three Angels”
Do not wait too long to make this move. It was clear that the house was too much for us. We weren’t even using all of the rooms. Jim struggled with the huge property summer and winter. The yard work was endless. We did not want either one of us to be left alone in our house. … Continue reading “Your Last Shirt Will Have No Pockets”
A digression before I get to life in this place. The day we came out to inspect our villa before signing the paperwork, a bad thing happened. I experienced what we thought might be a stroke. EMTs arrived, very hot ones as I recall, sick as I was. Our local hospital just around the corner … Continue reading “A Frightening Detour”
You will move things you don’t need. Things will get lost until found, if ever. You will make purchases that won’t work. Every day more packages arrive. You will give away what doesn’t work. Furniture will be moved around until things finally settle. It will take far longer to organize your home than you expected. … Continue reading “Take Some Honey and Plenty of Money”
As part of the registration process, Otterbein Pemberville included a form for us to list all our current expenses at the house, for example, taxes, utilities, cable TV, repairs, etc. These figures were written in a column, beside which was another column of what those costs would be at Otterbein, which were all pretty much … Continue reading “What?! Free Yoga and Cable TV!”
This post is kinda personal, as it shows a major failure on my part to consider everything that I might need at our new home. Chalk it up to my being a guy, thus not likely to ask around the new neighborhood before our move to find out what sorts of things I might need. … Continue reading “What to Bring With You”
MESSENGER As I did stand my watch upon the hill, I looked toward Birnam, and anon methought The wood began to move. Macbeth, Shakespeare Act 5, Scene 5 We were so thrilled with the view in back of our villa. We have a short expanse of grass bordering an old growth forest. It was cold weather. … Continue reading “Forest Wildlife”
