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How Community Living Optimizes Your Life and Well-being
Like many, Michael Gordon, 82, experienced the aging process with his mother. She lived at The Sequoias San Francisco, where he visited three times per week until her passing. When it came time for him to consider what he wanted later in life, he knew firsthand the importance of being a proactive planner. He did not want his only child to bear the burden of receiving a call in the middle of the night notifying her of his passing at home.
In 2020, he began researching retirement communities and listed his San Francisco home for sale. Moving to Marin was not his initial plan, as he loved the energy of living in the city. However, the decision was easy to make after his daughter moved to Corte Madera. She gave birth to Larkin, his granddaughter, and Michael wanted to be nearby.
Living in Greenbrae, he is only a few minutes away. This affords him the opportunity to spend quality time with Larkin twice a week during their music sessions. He plays the guitar, sings songs to her, and sees his daughter more frequently than if he had remained in San Francisco.
After being a widower and living alone for nearly 40 years, “I was ready to downsize and find my last home,” says Michael.
Downsize Comfortably With The Tamalpais Marin
Choosing a senior living community does not have to be a daunting task. Michael recommends identifying what is important to you. Think about what services or amenities will serve you best in years to come. Determining the right community and services is crucial, he adds. The Tamalpais Marin was the best fit for him as it provides the “entire package” of care. After moving in, “I had a sense of relief that I knew where I was going to be, and that took a load off my mind knowing that I would be taken care of.”
The Tamalpais Marin is a Life Plan Community, also known as a continuing care retirement community (CCRC). For many retirees and their families, a Life Plan Community provides peace of mind knowing that care is available when needed.
For Michael, the maintenance-free lifestyle means he can spend time doing what he enjoys, like volunteering and continuing to be an active member of his community. When considering his next home, activities were important to him, “concerts, hiking trips, local symphony, theatrical arts – it is nice to have those options.”
As we age, it is important to do the things that bring us joy and fulfillment, as it contributes to longevity and healthy aging. Community living helps older adults attain this and much more, including making new friends, providing access to healthy and nutritious foods, and a wide array of activities. When you live at The Tamalpais, you can tailor your experience and focus on what matters most to you.
Following retirement, Michael became an active volunteer guide with San Francisco City Guides and is still very active with the organization. Now living in Marin, he leads private bus tours for his friends and neighbors at The Tamalpais. Each excursion has been an opportunity to meet and connect with others while sharing the history and providing insider knowledge only a local would know.
“Making new friends when you’re in your 80s may sound a little odd to some people, but here I am, in my 80’s, making new friends,” Michael adds. Enjoying meaningful time with friends and family while participating in the activities available at The Tamalpais helps to lead a healthier and happier life.
Live Longer and Happier
Want to optimize your life? Move more, get enough sleep, eat healthy, and get involved in your community are just a few habits to help you lead a healthier, happier life, according to Dan Buettner, author of Blue Zones. As Buettner notes, “Living longer and feeling better is the sum of a few small, easy choices you can incorporate into everyday life.”
Lifestyle dictates longevity—the choices we make day to day. Having access to a group of people around you for support, to share commonalities with, and to do activities with is not only comforting but also good for your mental and physical well-being.
