Life is good in our new place

     A little more than five weeks in our new senior-citizen retirement community, and we really like it.

     This is home, a welcoming, friendly place.

     We have been greeted and recognized as "newbies" about 48 dozen times, and that is a good feeling.

     Now we have been here long enough that we are among the greeters for the latest newcomers. And hopefully they will be as happy as we are.

     We have walked into a community of walkers. You might know that I am a daily walker -- or try to be. So, fine. But this  is a twist on words.

     Yes, there are those who often go walking for exercise -- for example, a woman (Earline), age 81, who has walked from here to Central Market and to Hulen Mall ... those are extensive hikes. There is a 7:15 a.m. walking group every Tuesday and Thursday.

A familiar sight here: the lineup of walkers outside
 the dining room.

     (No extensive hikes for me, just aiming for a good workout. And no walking group; I am a solo act, so I choose my own routes.)

     Back to the point, the walkers I mentioned above are the ones used to assist those unable to walk on their own. They are a common sight here (see photo), most noticeably outside the lunch/dinner area.

     It is, after all, an older community. At ages 73 and 71, Bea and I are -- a guess here -- among the youngest 10 percent of the population here.

     Another guesstimate: About 35 to 40 percent of the people here use walkers or motorized carts, or require a cane or other walking aide. (It is 50 percent on our floor.) Many others are wobbly. 

     But please understand: This is not meant as a negative. Not at all. This is just the way it is.

     Here is what we quickly learned: The people who live here -- if they possibly can be -- want to be so independent, so determined to live their remaining time as best they can.

     Found this out the second day we were here. We have a 98-year-old woman -- sharp mentally -- who was about to do her laundry in the area on our floor, and when I offered to help, she let me know she could do it herself. 

     Next day I met a 97-year-old man upstairs (he's on a walker, but he's obviously still alert enough. The following day I saw him driving his car out of our garage).

      I sat with a 96-year-old confined to a motorized cart, listened to his stories, his movements slow and labored, but with total recall of events, places and names 6-7-8 decades ago. 

     We have a 91-year-old retired minister in our easy yoga class (which isn't all that easy), a witty, upbeat man. Just yesterday, we visited with a generous 89- and 81-year-old couple prominent in their past communities -- and still contributing.

     We have met at least eight doctors (we have a radiologist and a veterinarian -- both retired -- living next to us), a few nurses, oil/gas entrepreneurs, a half dozen clergymen, attorneys, a judge, and -- as mentioned previously -- one baseball Yankees/World Series star and ex-president of the American League who is an entertaining storytelling presence.   

     Interesting, vibrant people, all with their own interesting stories and accomplishments, and we meet more each day. And many stay involved; there is, if you want, plenty to do:

     -- Exercise classes -- yoga, "sit and be fit," strength training, water aerobics, tai chi (don't laugh, we are learning), a "better balance" class, a [river] bank-run group (no, thank you) ... and the walking group.  

     -- Regular games: bingo, poker, dominoes, Mexican dominoes (without a wall), pinochle, something called Manipulation; team gin rummy. 

     -- Regular trips to area venues -- grocery shops -- and special events/facilities. We went to the Kimbell Art Museum last week, a day after a group went to the Perot Museum in Dallas. 

     -- Group outings to various restaurants (can we resist Jason's Deli or Babe's Chicken?).

     There is a social hour each Thursday at 4 p.m., with delightful -- and some unusual -- musical performances, plus the occasional musical special ("Dancing With The Stars" tickets on sale now). There is a party to celebrate birthdays each month; .

     Every other week, we have a Saturday Morning Coffee program (they have not asked me to host yet). There was an entertaining sing-along program one evening (they asked me -- no, told me -- not to sing). On the Fourth of July, there was an ice cream social at noon (ice cream for lunch -- yes!).

     There is a ballroom dancing class, a knitting group, "cop and coffee" meetings, and the pool table, the wellness center, a therapy pool, and the indoor heated swimming pool. There are lobbies and rooms to sit and read, a library with plentiful selections, an area with computers and office needs, meetings rooms.

     Bea has joined one of the various book clubs, and as a former antique/collectibles dealer, she is working toward helping with one of the big monthly attractions -- the White Elephant Sale.

     The extensive operation of goods/furniture/clothes -- much left over from estate-type apartment sales after deaths of residents -- benefits the community's work force.
      And the staff -- top management to workers in all departments -- has been very courteous, pleasant, helpful,   well-organized and efficient.
      (Reality check: Since we have been here, there have been five deaths, including the oldest resident -- 103.)

     There is an extensive health-care operation, with memory-care floors, therapy units, and support groups for specific areas (Parkinson's, dementia, etc.)

     For those interested, there are religion-based services and meetings.

     We are provided transportation, housekeeping and laundry services. We are grateful.

     The lunch/dinner venues currently are next to the 16th floor in our building, nice views of downtown in several directions. A new dining facility is under construction in our building, and management -- in the meantime -- is providing daily breakfast, coffee and soup (2-4 p.m.) in a downstairs lounge area.

     We think lunch and dinner choices are plentiful -- too much for us, really; more than we want. Takes discipline to keep from having too much, discipline we too often don't have. Ice cream and/or yogurt and all sorts of cakes/desserts with every meal ... dang, stop it. (Staying away from the weight scales.)

     So, more exercising is necessary. And back to where we started, about walking. For my friends who have inquired, yes, I have found new walking trails -- gone in every direction already. 

     There are many parking garages nearby (almost empty after working hours and on weekends, and some shaded to keep me out of the blazing sun) and the nearby Montgomery Plaza parking lots are huge; prime territory for me.

     Won't be driving much any more. In the next blog, you can find out why.