Retirement communities dangle the promise of freedom from maintenance worries. Maintenance was of no concern to me. What maintenance could we possibly need? Our apartment had been completely refurbished and had all new appliances. Then one day our washing machine spun to a halt and the lid wouldn’t open. I called the front desk of […]

Sales representatives at the various senior living communities mentioned that transportation for errands or medical visits could be provided. I paid little attention. Unlike the characters in the movie Trains, Planes, and Automobiles who had no ride, we had our own transportation. We were bringing our cars. Oh yeah, I had that all figured out.  […]

Dipping a toe into the ocean of prices, room dimensions, and meal plans wasn’t going to be the solution to selecting a retirement community. Those things are important, but there was something else, something unmeasurable. Personality. Each retirement community had its own personality. I needed to dive into the deep water of community personality. Would […]

Even the blooming crabapple and pear trees did not prevent my noticing there were no car garages at the retirement community we were circling for the first time. At our house, I had never taken our garage for granted. I loved the multiple shelves for garden supplies. I loved that it was only steps outside […]

Like Koi swimming in circles, we circled through our house, trying to decide what to take and what to give up as we downsized to a retirement community apartment. In the first thirteen years of our marriage, Tom and I had seven corporate moves. Those were relatively easy. Movers packed and loaded up everything. Then […]

There is no way to joke about a logjam of white-haired people using walkers and motorized wheelchairs waiting for the dining room to open at four o’clock.  Tom and I are meeting sales person, Kathie, for a second look at the retirement community apartment that Tom and I are pretty sure we want to rent. […]