because I wear my heart on my sleeve, something that this community has coaxed out of me, and I am assuming this grandiose storytelling is why I have this Parker Duofold fountain pen in front of me; the exact type that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used to write his Sherlock Holmes novels. Much obliged, Amelia: I will be sure to have my ten-page paper on the mystery of who ate the last pieces of casserole to you by Monday!

Of course, my story is slightly different because my wife, Eden, and I reside in Assisted Living while most of you still dance to the beat of Independent Living. However, our lives here are not very different, but one of the biggest differences is that if this were my dinner party, it would be held in the private dining room in the clubhouse rather than a cottage.

But most everything else is the same other than I get a little bit more, as I like to call it, life maintenance than some of you. I am sure we can all attest to how much our social lives have grown and improved since moving into the community. My hobbies used to consist of fishing and gardening, which I still love and enjoy, but I have also discovered in my time here through the Writers Club that I have a knack for writing.

That’s what a life free from worry and stress and an abundant social and wellness schedule will do for you. The world, or at least your retirement, becomes yours for the taking! There is always something to do here, whether joining a club, grabbing a bite with friends, or hitting the road, bound for new sights and adventures.

When I first got the social and wellness calendars in the mail, I was curious if the community would live up to everything listed. I had hope because all the events and activities were fit for all skill levels and abilities. When arriving and meeting our social director, Matthew, I knew that the social life here would allow Eden and me to grow tremendously and make friends quickly.

Matthew was an amazing guide, giving us glimpses into the events happening the day we toured. Everything he showed us looked engaging and exciting. I was ready to jump right in, but I wanted to ensure that this was truly the scale to which all the events were held and that it was not just a show put on when a special tour was happening.

On the way home, Eden brought up a good point: check out their social media pages to ensure the activities were as extensive and grand as they seemed. So, in the months leading up to our move, I often looked at the page, finding that the events were exactly like we had experienced on our tour thus quieting any looming doubts.

We can all agree that our community is so great due to the friends, who are better described as a family, the staff who do all that they can to make our lives easier, and the full social lives we all live. From planned events and outings to learning and discovering new hobbies and Private dinners like this one with friends, our social lives are blooming like my garden in spring.

Amelia, I am so grateful to you for gathering us together tonight and encouraging us to share our unique experiences. Each one of us comes from a varying life path but we have all found ourselves here, converged on this community claiming it as our home. Our discovery stories, though unique, maintain a common theme where we seek the comfort of a community that is defined by vibrant and caring personalities, exciting programming, and a safe place to call home. I cannot wait to use this fountain pen to write down all the exciting stories that exist in our wonderful community!

Feel free to explore & read the rest of my dinner guests’ stories: click here
– Amelia