Big changes ahead
Apparently we haven't talked about this on LJ/Dreamwidth.
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jwg and I have been (for the last several years) looking into moving into a retirement community. specifically focusing on Brooksby Village in Peabody, MA. We don't need to do this yet – we're both in reasonably good shape – but we're getting up there in age, and it's not unlikely that a day will come when living in a house on three floors is not going to be viable. As the conventional wisdom has it, It's better to make a move like this when you can than when you have to. My parents did this when they were about my age (76), and it was one of the best decisions they ever made.
And now it's official: We accepted an apartment last week. We will most likely be moving in late October or November.
We settled on Brooksby for a number of reasons: (1) It's a Continuing Care community, meaning there's assisted living and skilled nursing on the premises – this was a non-negotiable requirement for us; (2) It seems like nice place, the grounds are beautiful (and huge), and has a very good reputation; (3) Peabody is only a 20-minute drive from Gloucester, and we're planning on keeping the Gloucester place for now.
Leaving Cambridge is going to be a big adjustment; having the resources of that city, plus public transportation to the rest of the Boston area, within walking distance, is something we've really gotten accustomed to (If there were any CCRCs in or adjacent to Cambridge we would surely have considered that option, but there are not). Also, John has lived in the Cambridge house since 1966 (I've been living there full-time since 1985). A two-bedroom apartment, even a moderately large one. is going to be a very different experience.
There's one major headache that we are fortunately able to avoid: our next-door neighbor (who, by the way, is John's ex-wife) wants to buy the house, so we don't have to go through the painful process of putting it on the open market.
We are, obviously, going to have to go through a major downsizing; there's 50+ years' worth of accumulated Stuff in that house.
It's exciting. It's terrifying. The next few months are going to be quite the ride.
jwg and I have been (for the last several years) looking into moving into a retirement community. specifically focusing on Brooksby Village in Peabody, MA. We don't need to do this yet – we're both in reasonably good shape – but we're getting up there in age, and it's not unlikely that a day will come when living in a house on three floors is not going to be viable. As the conventional wisdom has it, It's better to make a move like this when you can than when you have to. My parents did this when they were about my age (76), and it was one of the best decisions they ever made.And now it's official: We accepted an apartment last week. We will most likely be moving in late October or November.
We settled on Brooksby for a number of reasons: (1) It's a Continuing Care community, meaning there's assisted living and skilled nursing on the premises – this was a non-negotiable requirement for us; (2) It seems like nice place, the grounds are beautiful (and huge), and has a very good reputation; (3) Peabody is only a 20-minute drive from Gloucester, and we're planning on keeping the Gloucester place for now.
Leaving Cambridge is going to be a big adjustment; having the resources of that city, plus public transportation to the rest of the Boston area, within walking distance, is something we've really gotten accustomed to (If there were any CCRCs in or adjacent to Cambridge we would surely have considered that option, but there are not). Also, John has lived in the Cambridge house since 1966 (I've been living there full-time since 1985). A two-bedroom apartment, even a moderately large one. is going to be a very different experience.
There's one major headache that we are fortunately able to avoid: our next-door neighbor (who, by the way, is John's ex-wife) wants to buy the house, so we don't have to go through the painful process of putting it on the open market.
We are, obviously, going to have to go through a major downsizing; there's 50+ years' worth of accumulated Stuff in that house.
It's exciting. It's terrifying. The next few months are going to be quite the ride.
no subject
i want full details when you get there. my parents moved into one and loved it and then loved them and it was perfect. but so many are not. you are so smart to do this before you have to. i need to start looking but arugh.
no subject
Oh, it's a daunting prospect to be sure. I'm still not really prepared for it, emotionally.
You, ate least, don't have to deal with stairs where you are.
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hi there,
i read your profile and some of your entries, and i just find you so fascinating and cool.
i think it's beautiful that you are into blogging. in this day and age, i feel like it's an underrated and somewhat lost art.
i know i'm much younger than you, i'm 32... but i have kept a blog since the year 2000.
finally settling down here, moving over from livejournal.
i am in absolute awe that you have a Steinway grand. that's a dream, and even calling it that feels like an understatement. my dad is a blues musician, so i grew up around music. my mom is an old souled hippie, and she dabbles in guitar and ukulele here and there. my dad started me playing violin first (while also gifting me a guitar) -- and i played through the end of high school, and after that, kept up with it on my own. i switched around to playing cello, teaching myself piano, i got a banjo one year, a ukulele another, and so on. i can play anything with strings, except the harp. i have never tried the harp, but i find it the most hauntingly beautiful, along with the cello. there's just something about the cello.
i will leave this comment here, for the sake of not writing a whole dissertation of a dreamwidth comment.
i did add you, but if you'd like for me to take you off my list, please let me know because i do want to do right by you.
regardless, i'm wishing you the best with your move and with the next several months. i hope it all goes as smoothly as possible.