Freedom to Live the Life You Love: Community Living in Retirement

This Independence Day, celebrate the type of freedom in retirement that truly matters to you.

For many older adults, it’s not about slowing down; it’s about finally having the time and support to focus on what matters most. Whether that’s spending more time with loved ones, diving into hobbies, or exploring new adventures, living in a life plan community, also known as a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), offers a kind of freedom that feels truly liberating.

Sequoia Living’s life plan communities across the Bay Area offer older adults a reimagining of what retirement means. They are trading home repairs, grocery lists, and daily maintenance for connection, convenience, and a lifestyle that allows them to Never Stop Growing.

For Andrea, the decision to leave her 2,300-square-foot Novato home after 32 years came with clarity: “I like change and embracing new things,” Andrea said. Now a resident at The Tamalpais Marin, Andrea enjoys the freedom of maintenance-free living, more time to explore Southern Marin, and the opportunity to pursue her love of travel. With support from the move-in coordinator and maintenance team, she settled in seamlessly, art hung, internet set up, and adventures waiting.

“Don’t take too much stuff,” she advises others considering a similar move. “You won’t need it.”

Craig, a professional photographer, spent decades capturing the beauty and complexity of the world through his lens. But it wasn’t until friends began sharing their stories of community living that he saw a new kind of picture—one filled with connection, ease, and possibility. In 2022, at age 74, Craig made the move to The Sequoias San Francisco.

What he found was more than just a new apartment; it was a new chapter in his life. One with the freedom to keep doing what he loves, the support of a thoughtful team, and friendships that enrich every day.

Read Craig’s full story here.

After years in their longtime home, Robert and Mary Dodge chose to start a new chapter at The Sequoias Portola Valley, a decision rooted in love and clarity. “It was a gift to our children,” they said. The move is more than a new address; it provides their family peace of mind while giving themselves the freedom to live more fully in the present.

With friends already living at The Sequoias, the move felt natural—like coming home. Robert and Mary are embracing a life of connection, humor, and purpose—proving that freedom in retirement means living with intention and joy.

Read Robert and Mary’s full story.

At 74, Gala and her husband moved to Viamonte at Walnut Creek, continuing her family’s legacy of calling a Sequoia Living CCRC home. After watching her parents enjoy the simplicity and security of The Tamalpais Marin, she knew what to look for.

“No plumbers, tree trimmers, painters, cleaners, or carpenters to call—Viamonte does it all,” Gala says.

For Gala and many others, that freedom has been life-changing. No more unexpected bills or maintenance hassles. Only more time for connection, wellness, and joy. And, it brings comfort to their adult children, who know their parents are supported, safe, and living independently.

Read Gala’s full story here.

A life plan community offers independent living with access to future care should your needs change, allowing residents to live life in the present with freedom and confidence about tomorrow. 

Sequoia Living communities combine comfort, convenience, and meaningful connection across beautifully maintained campuses located in Marin, San Francisco, Portola Valley, and Walnut Creek.

This July, as freedom is celebrated, consider what a life plan community offers you—freedom from home maintenance, daily chores, and isolation, and the chance to enjoy more time for travel, friendships, and the moments that matter most.

Ready to experience a new kind of freedom?

Download our free Move-in Guide here or schedule a visit to one of our Bay Area life plan communities below.