Just Who Lives in
"Those Places?"

“I was thrilled to find other people at Plymouth Village who had the same passion for travel as I do.”

For Janet, Plymouth Village in beautiful Redlands, California, was a great spot to continue enjoying traveling without all the stress of maintaining a home. She’s walked on all seven continents, sailed all five oceans and visited 117 countries and all 50 states. As a contributor to the local newspaper, Redlands Daily Facts, she shared travel tips and stories.

“I was thrilled to find other people at Plymouth Village who had the same passion for travel as I do,” she says.

As a member of Village Voyagers, she gets to share her travel experiences and wisdom with a diverse group of adventurers. She says she loves that other residents grew up in Hawaii like her, allowing her to reminisce and form connections firmly rooted in culture and place.

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“There are many beautiful trails around The Terraces of Los Gatos. One day, you can cycle to an area with steep climbs, and another day, you can be on flat terrain.”

The Terraces of Los Gatos, an energetic Life Plan Community in Los Gatos, California, offered the perfect fit for Louis, an avid cyclist. With a weekly target goal of 90 miles, he has cycled a lot and likes it that way. He only got serious about cycling in his 50s. Before that, he logged millions of miles in the air and on the ocean as a Navy captain.

“There are many beautiful trails and a variety of terrains in and around The Terraces of Los Gatos. One day, you can cycle to an area with steep climbs, and another day, you can be on flat terrain. I prefer riding on the open road,” he says.

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“We were both raised by parents who lived by a generous philosophy of selfless work for others, so we are honoring their legacy by helping to make the world a better place.”

Haren and Pratima, both physicians, have devoted their lives to giving selflessly to others and now relish the chance to do so from a comfortable home in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania’s, inviting Rydal Park & Waters.

Pratima, an ophthalmologist with a cornea transplant subspeciality, was on staff at the world-famous Wills Eye Hospital. Haren, a vascular, trauma, and general surgeon, was the medical director of three hospitals in the Philadelphia area.

But the couple changed their focus when they turned 60. The pair had long served the Frankford, Philadelphia, community but wanted to give back to their home country of India. They began offering free health services and have served more than 100,000 people in 100 villages since 2003. They even purchased a hospital, which they converted into a modern health facility. They have been recognized with the prestigious Spirit of Philanthropy award presented by Frankford Health Systems for their incredible dedication and work.

“We were both raised by parents who lived by a generous philosophy of selfless work for others, so we are honoring their legacy by helping to make the world a better place,” Haren says.

At Rydal Park & Waters, they can pursue a life of service without added stress.

“The people we have met at Rydal Park & Waters are so welcoming, and the community offers so many opportunities to recharge our minds, bodies and spirits. And that does us good which, in turn, allows us to do more for others,” Haren says.

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"We’re trying to use what we’ve learned to help change the course of global warming and to encourage people to take action urgently.”

At Regents Point in Irvine, California, Bryce and Ann have made tackling climate change a personal mission. They were alarmed after a trip to southern Argentina and the Antarctic Peninsula in 2007.

“The ice was indeed disappearing,” Bryce says. “We visited research stations and wildlife areas where expert scientists had reached this conclusion already.”

It would be easy to be discouraged, but Bryce and Ann became more dedicated than ever to encourage, educate and empower people to find solutions.

For more than a decade, Bryce has coordinated a class, Our World in Change, at the Osher Institute of Lifelong Learning Institute at California State University, Fullerton. It offers a survey of the causes and effects of climate change, inspiring participants to take action.

Ann returned to school, becoming a member of the research staff of UC Irvine’s Department of Earth Systems Science in 2014. She now uses mathematical modeling to study the delicate balance of the ocean currents, the chemistry and the biology.

“We’re trying to change minds,” Bryce says. "We’re trying to use what we’ve learned to help change the course of global warming and to encourage people to take action urgently.”

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“I thought this could be a good place for a big-city boy to learn about planting crops or raising chickens and bees.”

Danny was never that interested in gardening. When he attempted to care for his late wife's African violets, only one survived, so he made it his mission to learn everything he could about gardening.

For Danny, a quiet, secluded plot at Westminster Gardens in Duarte, California, has enabled his love of gardening to flourish. He’s proud to live among 32 acres of lush groves and seemingly endless fruit trees. The freedom of life in a Life Plan Community has empowered him to experiment with his botanical interests, too.

“I was captivated,” he says. “I thought this could be a good place for a big-city boy to learn about planting crops or raising chickens and bees.”

Together with other residents, he rehabilitates struggling plants and trees. And as for African violets? He now has a lot of them.

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“Writing was my therapy.”

For Vivian, rediscovering her passion for writing was the catharsis she needed to cope with her late husband’s illness. A natural-born writer, she would sit at her kitchen table, sometimes in the middle of the night, and the words would flow out of her. It was her passion and her therapy.

As life got busier, her love for writing was eclipsed by her dedication to faith and family. Vivian was a gregarious pastor’s wife who had little time to focus on writing day to day. For one, her family moved 15 times between Minnesota, Sweden and California. The majority of Vivian’s time was taken up by church duties while raising three children and pursuing a career.

She now lives at Regents Point, actively working to uplift other residents and help them overcome grief through the power of the written word.

“I received so much encouragement from the Regents Point community when I was caring for my husband,” she says. “Many had been through it themselves and understood the struggles. That was so very valuable to me.”

The quiet security of the community afforded her a chance to focus on her own future desires and reawaken her passion for writing. Although she never necessarily saw writing as a career path, she went on to publish a memoir, Love in the Time of Crisis, about her role as her husband’s caregiver. She hopes her book can provide solace to others facing similar feelings and challenges. 

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“I expected I would like it here, but what I didn’t anticipate was the wonderful sense of community we both feel here.”

Since their move to The Terraces of Boise in Boise, Idaho, Tom and Mary report that their biggest challenge has been finding time for all the things they love to do.

“We’ve always had an active lifestyle, but once we moved here, Tom and I found it difficult to balance all our interests in the greater Boise area combined with the amazing activities that The Terraces has to offer. And we are forever grateful for this challenge,” Mary says.

Mary, a retired travel agent, loves getting to know people. And Tom, an outdoor lover, continues to pursue all of his outside interests, whether it’s bird hunting with Jack, their springer spaniel, or heading to the community dog park.

Mary decided that one way to get involved and connect with other residents was to become a member of the lifestyle committee, planning events such as tea parties, live music performances and excursions to local parks, museums and nearby wineries. She also enjoys painting watercolors in the art room on campus and spending time with fellow artists who have become good friends. She even started a small ukulele group.

“We are truly amazed at the people we have met,” Mary says. “I expected I would like it here, but what I didn’t anticipate was the wonderful sense of community we both feel here. The Terraces continue to complement our lives in so many ways, and that is a real blessing.”

They’re glad for the diverse opportunities that exist for virtually every interest, hobby and talent. “There is always something going on here, which we absolutely love,” Tom says. “Every day is different.”

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“It’s important to me to give back to others and share whatever knowledge I can to help other business leaders be successful.”

For Stan and Jackie Silverman, Rydal Park & Waters was the perfect spot to continue building community and improving the world around them.

Stan is the former CEO of a global chemical and engineered glass materials company, a nationally syndicated columnist for the Philadelphia Business Journal and the author of Be Different! The Key to Business and Career Success. Still active in the Philadelphia community, Stan has served on numerous public, private, private equity and nonprofit boards and is currently the vice chairman of the board of trustees of Drexel University and a board member and chair of the finance committee at Saint Christopher’s Hospital for Children.

“It’s important to me to give back to others and share whatever knowledge I can to help other business leaders be successful,” Stan says.

The couple also sponsors a third-grade class in northwest Philadelphia each year, helping the students take local field trips and purchase classroom supplies.

“We have no intention of slowing down, so living at Rydal Park & Waters has given us the gifts of time and convenience, which are priceless to us,” Stan says. 

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“It’s a beautiful space to create art.”

Arminee originally moved to The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens in Fresno, California, because of an injury. The move helped her uncover her inner artist after a neighbor invited her over to paint.

It’s hard to believe Arminee only discovered her artistic talent in her 60s. Her acclaimed body of work now includes more than 20 sculptures and 1,000 paintings. In 2015, the Fresno Art Museum selected her work to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Armenian genocide.

“It’s a beautiful space to create art,” Arminee says of her home at The Terraces.

She’s also a resident ambassador who welcomes new community members — often with art. She and other residents have begun painting small stones in the community and distributing them as collectibles.

“It’s been a great way for people to explore the outdoors, looking for rocks for me to paint,” she says. “The idea is to spread joy, hope and faith throughout the community.”

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“Music is truly the universal language and brings joy and happiness to everyone around me.”

For Marcia, a resident at cozy Hillside in McMinnville, Oregon, piano has been a part of her life since early childhood. Hillside offered her the chance to connect with other musicians and expand her musical capacity. She’s now stretched her talent to join the community Strummers Music Group as a ukulele player.

She helps plan the community’s annual performances and continues to give lessons on her cherished Steinway grand piano. She also serves as chairperson on the music committee, overseeing all music activities at Hillside.

“Music is truly the universal language and brings joy and happiness to everyone around me," she says. "I am grateful that I can use my talents to give back and serve others here at Hillside and in the greater McMinnville community. I truly believe this is why I am here.”

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“I believe we are on the cusp of major social change, and it’s very exciting.”

Some residents are retirees pursuing a second or third career act or taking up freelancing. Others, like Sara at The Terraces at Los Altos in sunny Los Altos, California, are still working demanding careers.

Dr. Sara, a entrepreneur and motivational and business speaker, is the president of Hartcom, a communication firm that helps individuals and organizations grow, evolve and realize their full potential. She’s especially passionate about helping women.

Her book, Prime Spark: Women Over 55, It’s Our Time! argues that the second half of life can be a time of lasting growth and profound power. Her podcast, Prime Spark, inspires listeners across the globe. She also founded a greeting card line.  

“I believe we are on the cusp of major social change, and it’s very exciting,” Sara says. “We are about to see the ascendency of women over 55 standing up and saying, ‘OK, it’s time for a change. We are dynamic, involved, contributing, powerful, desirable and vital to our communities.’”

Sara initially struggled with her move, but managed to settle into the community that was right for her, thanks in part to her passion for writing.

“I had to go through the painful and, frankly, sad process of leaving my large home and getting rid of my things, but I knew this was what I wanted to do,” she says. “After going through this process, I thought to share my journey with others, so I wrote a book, The Upside of Downsizing: Getting to Enough.”

She now loves her one-bedroom home at The Terraces at Los Altos with her cat, Mr. Bu, and finds that life in a Life Plan Community gives her the time and space she needs to do so much more. “I finally found my enough,” she says, “and I am extremely happy.”

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“I would never have thought that I would be leading the Residents Association, but I have learned to never say never.”

Erin, a Hillside resident, is a long-time fan of Oregon. She moved to Hillside to be with her sister.

A former research librarian at a law firm, Erin knew her working life wasn’t over just yet. When she moved, she found a job as a digital researcher for ABC News in New York.

She quickly became a volunteer for the Hillside Residents Association and has now ascended to its presidency.

“It’s important to me that residents have a voice at Hillside, so we serve as the liaison between the residents and community management,” she says. “I would never have thought that I would be leading the Residents Association, but I have learned to never say never at Hillside. Moving here has given me the opportunity to experience new things that have pushed me out of my comfort zone and have given me great joy.”

She recently joined a paint and sip class, which stoked her artistic spirit. She says Hillside continues to encourage her to do more, learn more and grow.

For now, though, work continues to take up a lot of her time.

“The news never sleeps!” Erin proclaims.

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