Monday, November 1, 2021

A Cherry on Top of Our Move to VMRC

For 9 years, I had my application in to the VMRC (Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community but it's not all Mennonite - more on that later.)  Every year the Director of Sales would call and I would tell him I wasn't ready.  The beauty of being on the waiting list was that I stayed at the top of the list.  Last summer my tune changed.  

I was ready to move!  Oh, BTW (by the way), one little fact changed - I married Gary Suter on September 19, 2020.  So instead of ME moving in, it was WE who were moving in!

December 7, 2020 was the day Gary and I moved into our 5th floor apartment in Park Gables building.  I call it our "Little Love Nest" and we are feathering it carefully.  

Now that we've been here for a little while, we're having some positive observations.

We're realizing that the friends we make here at VMRC are special because we're all here until we die.  We are now in the system and if need-be, will be transferred to the assisted living or the nursing home, even if we run out of money.

I already know more than half the people in the building.  Park Gables is five stories and  has 88 apartments.  Between the valuable friendships,
the dining room elegance, and tasty food I am delighted.  

Then there is added cherry on the top!!! I learned that our monthly fee includes housekeeping!!!  At first I wondered how hours twice a month could be helpful. I quickly learned that with our small apartment, they can clean the whole place in a hour and a half.  Best of all, I don't have to change my sheets!  

I sometimes feel I've died and gone to heaven.  It was worth waiting on the list for 9 years.

One drawback:  We won't be invited to the elegant Prospective Owners' events such as picnics up on the VMRC beautiful vegetable farm.

 

p.s. At our Porch Party (more on that later) recently we learned that the Bing cherry is named after Seth Lewelling's Manchurian orchard foreman and friend, Bing.  It was cultivated in 1875 in Oregon.  BTW - Bing was  7 feet tall.