The Search for Senior Housing: Joan's Journey
My name is Joan London and I am writing a series of blogs conveying my journey to find senior housing. I hope you, my readers, will find my experiences both interesting and useful as you or someone you know travel the same path.
First Dear Readers, I have a confession to make: this is my first blog – ever! At 67, I hang mostly with the not-so-technical crowd. About a year ago, after feeling illiterate around my adult children and others, I went on the Internet and investigated the term, “to Blog.”
As a former full-time journalist, I became fascinated with blogging and have been reading blogs, especially those relating to seniors. The blog I am now going to write for you will honestly chronicle my emotional and real-life encounters along the road to relocating as an independent, female senior citizen. I hope you enjoy the ride!
Part 1: Westward Ho!
Surgery, hail storm, earthquake and monster hurricane — enough drama for me to say I’ve had it living alone! It’s time for a change. It’s time for a new journey to begin. It’s time for 55+ senior living. It’s time for me to relocate to the West Coast. I planned my trip, purchased tickets, and here I am about to land in Seattle. Reflection time is over. My search is on. Read more about Joan’s decision to search for senior housing…
Part 2: Two Flights Forward, One Flight Back
About six weeks ago, I returned to Baltimore following my first hands-on search in the metropolitan areas of Seattle and San Francisco, two of the locations where I am considering relocation. The flights that took me to and down the West Coast were uneventful, but the visits to senior housing sites proved to be an adventure. Read more about Joan’s visit to Seattle and San Francisco…
Part 3: Move West Stalled, But Not Stopped
I promised to give you the honest lowdown on my search for senior housing. The truth is the search is fun. Researching and exploring new places, meeting interesting, caring, helpful folks, and exploring my personal, social and financial needs, is challenging in a positive way. The downer is the depressed condo sales market. Read more about Joan’s challenge of selling her condo in a down market…
Part 4: Southern California Reflections
The Valley is new territory for me, quite unfamiliar, with an urban but dry, desert feel. After exploring the area for a week, I learned that I like the Valley weather, culture and people. At each senior housing community I visited, I gathered materials, took pics on my cell phone and met with staff and residents. My Gemini personality thrived as I journeyed to each location, made new friends and came closer to identifying my new home. Read more about Joan’s trip to Southern California…
Part 5: And the Winner Is…
“And the winner is …” closed the last senior housing blog for Joan’s Journey, so it’s only fair to lead with this phrase. Hang with me readers for a few hundred words. I will share insights of my two least favorite senior residences, my three favorite senior housing corporations, my second-favorite residence and “the winner.” Read more about the senior housing communities Joan visited…
“The Search for Senior Housing: Joan’s Journey” is written by Joan London, a freelance writer from Baltimore, MD, who lives in a 55+ condominium with Mia, a sweet Russian Blue rescue cat. Blogging about her search for the just-right-fit senior living facility on the West Coast is London’s latest freelance endeavor. Her blog will explore the pros and cons, ups and downs, whys and why nots of this 67-year-old single woman’s new life journey. Join the discussion the SeniorHomes.com blog or email your questions to joan@seniorhomes.com.
