"For many years residency at this 5 star Continuing Care Retirement Center was restricted to those who had served as commissioned officers in the Armed Forces of the United States and their spouses or widows. Newly eligible retirees now include officer equivalent levels of Civil Service (GS 7 or above)in many US Government agencies, immediate family members of current residents, and others on a case-by-case basis. There is also a new program for renting homes or apartments in the Village. My wife and I have enjoyed the services here for many years - from 24 hour health care emergency services to lavish celebrations of holiday events, from a state-of-the-art fitness center with a closely associated comprehensive Physical Therapy Department to the daily contact with remarkable people."

Jim & Mary Sibley

 

Retirement Dreams

Bill had seen ads in his Air Force magazines about Air Force Village West, a Retirement Resort Community, and hadn’t paid a lot of attention to them.  But when we got to where it was becoming more and more difficult to keep up with yard work, home repairs, aching knees and backs, etc. we began to think that might not be a bad idea.

We started looking into AFVW as well as a few other Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs).  We finally decided that this was something we should do and that AFVW was the one.  When we told friends and family about our plans, they all thought we were nuts!  “You’re too young to do that!”, “How can you even think about leaving the Central Coast?”, “especially for Riverside!”  Riverside would not be my first choice of place to retire to, but the facilities, amenities, and the community here are AWESOME!

So, after many, many months of trying to get the house in Arroyo Grande ready to put on the market; going through and sorting clothes, furniture, unused dishes and cookware, and other items; and reminiscing over old files, letters, pictures, and other mementos; and trying to decide what to keep, and what to toss, we finally got the house on the market, sold, and have made our way south.

We have our own house in a gate-guarded community.  We did downsize a bit, from three bedrooms to two, but are finding it quite adequate and comfortable.  It will be even more so when we get our sun porch added on so that I will have room for my sewing machine and my craft things.  All the maintenance inside and out and landscaping (other than extra plants or flowers the resident wants to add) is taken care of, including a housekeeper once a week (YAY!!).   And no lawn mowing or hedge trimming.  You just call Maintenance and they come and fix whatever needs fixing.  A meal plan is part of the contract, so we eat most of our dinners at the Dining Room of the “Commons” building.  I have almost forgotten how to cook.  I did cook a nice meal for Fathers’ Day when Leslie (our daughter) and Skip came in from the desert.

There are so many activities and amenities here to take advantage of.  That’s why they say to come while you’re still young enough and fit enough to enjoy everything that is offered.  Then when you really do need the extra care, it is all right here.  There are apartments in the “Commons” building, a Skilled Nursing Facility, Assisted Living apartments, and a relatively new Alzheimer’s Unit.  We don’t like to think about those things, but nice to know they are all right here if or when we need them.

Plus, the golf course is right across the street from AFVW and Bill can drive his golf cart (yes, he bought one) right over to the course from home.  Almost everyone at AFVW has a golf cart whether they golf or not.  It is the perfect transportation for getting around the Village and sure saves on gas.

Guess you can tell that although we really do miss the Central Coast and especially all the wonderful friends we had there, we do feel like we made the right decision to move here.  I would highly recommend this place to any retired military officer, Air Force or other.

Bill & Jerri Rains