Meet Mary: How Sequoia Living Empowers Active Seniors to Travel

Skip to content News & Resources Mary Judd can’t imagine a life without traveling. For her, travel isn’t an escape; it’s a continuation of who she has always been. After earning her anthropology degree at UC Berkeley and working for decades across East Asia, her worldview was shaped by curiosity and cross-cultural understanding. She spent years in Indonesia and the Philippines, with numerous trips to China, Mongolia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, learning how governments operate, how communities shift, and how culture influences everyday life. So when she planned her next chapter, she didn’t look for a place to settle. She looked for a home base, a place that would give her the freedom to continue seeing the world. Mary chose community living intentionally: a secure place to land, recharge, and share stories, then leave again without hesitation. At a life plan community, she can lock the door, step outside, and be in motion within minutes. She travels with only a carry-on, walks out the front door, takes the bus to BART, rides to the airport for international destinations or to San Francisco Pier 27, and boards a ship. No long packing lists, no stress, no logistics slowing her down. Just step out and go. When asked how long she plans to keep traveling, her answer was simple: she’ll stop “when I can’t physically travel.” Until then, her plans continue. New destinations, new itineraries, new experiences. Not out of restlessness, but out of commitment to learning and meeting people. For Mary, Sequoia Living supports that life. There is comfort in knowing her home is safe while she’s gone, connection when she returns, and a sense of belonging among neighbors who are also active, curious, and deeply engaged in their own pursuits. Travel feeds her mind; community roots her spirit. She once imagined she might retire in Marin County, drawn to its beauty. But family in the East Bay Area, and the convenience of being close to every kind of transportation she needs, ultimately mattered more. Proximity of Viamonte at Walnut Creek lets her travel the world on her terms, while staying connected to the people she cares about most. Mary isn’t slowing down. She is simply choosing where she takes off from. Mary’s life has been shaped by many countries and cultures around the world. She was born and raised in Malaysia, a Southeast Asian country between Thailand and Indonesia, during the time of British colonization. She was educated by Irish nuns before moving to the United States for higher education. Now based in the Bay Area, Mary chose to live in the community near her siblings, nieces, and nephews to enjoy gathering for every holiday and birthday. Our Communities Longevity Resources Downsizing & Decluttering Never Stop Growing Communities for Retirement Volunteering Home Office Follow Us Page load link Go to Top

Meet Mary: How Sequoia Living Empowers Active Seniors to Travel

Categories