Keeping Your Cottage Instead of Moving Into Assisted Living

 

Time and time again, seniors are encouraged to sell their homes, downsize, and move into assisted living.  Is this the right advice for you?  In my case, it isn't.  Not everyone has the personality to live in those types of situations.  You need to really like being in groups.  Some senior living homeowners  report problems with residents who drink too much, are inconsiderate, and won't follow the rules.  

My parents both spent their final days in their home. They owned a gorgeous Spanish style house that they had taken impeccable care of, restoring it lovingly and nurturing the vibrant garden.  They could afford help in their later years.  A housekeeper came every couple of weeks and took care of the cleaning.  My dad eventually hired a gardener to manage the front and backyard when he was in his early eighties.  He took care of all the plants until that time.  He was very proud of how lush and healthy the front and backyard looked.  

As a person who likes one on one time and privacy, I don't think I would feel comfortable in assisted living.  I like my privacy, spend much of my time on this porch, and I would miss my garden.  I love watching the alpacas frolic on the hillside, observing the bees and butterflies, and seeing the color of the sky shift and change at night.

 Each of the plants I picked out myself and planted.  The soil was clay when I bought the bungalow.  I amended it regularly with straw and compost over the years so that it would support the flowers, trees, herbs and wildlife.

Do you plan on moving in retirement, or will you stay where you are?

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Staying Outside of Palma in Mallorca

 

On my trip to Mallora last spring, I decided to spend one night in the mountains.  Prices at pensions outside of the tourist areas are much more affordable.   It can be very difficult to get a taxi from the airport in Palma, but I got straight to the front of the line and jumped in one.  I had a friendly female driver and gave her the address to my home for the night outside of the city. 

It was a pastoral setting, so I spent my time relaxing, taking walks in the area, stopping for a pizza at the nearby restaurant, (there was only one,) and reading.  The soil and animals looked healthy and natural.  

The inn where I stayed had a sparkling pool with a lovely garden.  The sound of the water was so relaxing.  Breakfast, which was included, was a delightful spread with lots of variety.  This bed and breakfast is run by a couple who relocated there.  Their young daughter was with them in the morning; she was such a cutie.  The stonework was impressive, inside and outside the home.

Stumbling upon these sheep excited the knitter in me.  It was such a quiet and peaceful area, in contrast to Palma, Mallorca, where I spent the next three nights.  That was a thrilling finish to my European vacation.  I think when I return, I will stay for a week in Palma.  The hotels, restaurants, and sights were first class.   It just appealed to me on so many levels.  May was the ideal time of year to visit.  It wasn't too crowded, and the temperatures were warm and pleasant.  Summers can be extremely hot there, according to my taxi driver.

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Using Your Time Wisely in Retirement

 

One thing I commonly hear from people nearing retirement is that they don't know what they will do all day!   Many of them identify strongly with their work/career role.    They worry that once that form of expression ends, they will be bored, lonely and have endless hours stretching out in front of them each day.  They imagine a depressed and lonely existence. 

I have found the exact opposite to be true.  With so many hobbies, in addition to the responsibility of taking care of my home and garden, I find that it's difficult to fit in everything I want to do in twenty-four hours.   Each day in retirement for me is full and busy. 

I love to be outside with my dogs on our gorgeous, sunny California hiking trails.  The shot above is taken on a long walk that I took last week in Agua Dulce.  That is the famous Pacific Crest Trail.  The damp caves, sparkling stream, and flagstone staircase made the journey feel enchanting. Parts of the landscape are rocky, stark and memorable.  Vasquez Rocks in pictured in the background. 

Although in the past few years I took some magnificent trips to Europe, in 2023, I have stayed home.  The plans I carefully made to visit the Panama Canal, London, and the British Isles collapsed, because all three of my flights were canceled.  That disappointment dampened my excitement.  I lost the passion, due to not trusting in the airlines, travel insurance carriers, and other merchants.  There is so much to do close to my home, so I have been kayaking at our local lakes, paddling in the ocean, and biking on the bike trails and through our neighborhood. 

You don't have to sit in front of the tv and veg out as you age.  If you stick to a routine, you can enjoy making delicious meals, get in your daily exercise, grow a lush garden, and take care of your home and pets.  I savor watching my favorite television shows and documentaries on Netflix and Max each evening.  For many of my lean years I didn't have tv, so now it feels like a real treat.  I definitely get my money's worth from the two streaming services I have.  

Retirement is what you make it.  If you fill it with things that you love to do, it can be a rewarding and fantastic time. 

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Roses in Retirement

 

I have been letting the roses grow wild in front of my cottage.  One bush is now five feet tall.  They seem to love to expand and reach toward the sunlight.  As the saying goes, "Roses love to be on display." 

Although roses appear to be expensive in the nurseries, I have found that they are well worth the investment.  They provide, beauty, grace and fragrance.  As they age, the plants as a whole become stronger, and their stalks thicken.  

You can cut them to enjoy in a crystal vase in your home, and you don't need to hire an expensive tree trimmer to keep the pruned.  If you deadhead them regularly, they will reward you with constant blooms during the warm weather.

For those who own cottages, roses are a classic plant to show off in your front garden.  They attract so much attention and admiration.

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Harvesting MacIntosh Apples

 This morning I picked the apples off one of my trees;  they were starting to fall on the ground.  Tree ripened fruit is the best!  It is exciting to be growing apples in Cailfornia.  They do so well up here in the mountains.  The climate is perfect for them.  I believe these are MacIntosh.  They came with the property, so I'm not sure of the variety.  The flavor is fantastic.  It's such a treat to have fresh fruit from the garden.  

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The Joy of Gardening During Retirement

 

One of my favorite ways to spend time as a retiree is as a gardener.  Shrub roses grow well here in the sunny mountains of California.  I go out and deadhead these Cecile Brunners each morning.  I am rewarded with constant, fragrant, pink blooms and new growth.  They enjoyed a recent drenching from the rain we just received.

This year I planted a Mr. Lincoln, (my favorite dramatic red rose,) in the ground.  It's located in a sunny spot, and I'm hoping that it will thrive there.  Berries, apples, pears, and cherries grow in abundance in Wrightwood, California.  Our summers are short and mild, unlike the harsh and blistering heat we experience in Santa Clarita.  I tend different fruits in each location.

This plum tree is very close to my cabin.  I saw a squirrel excitedly run off with one of these succulent fruits in its mouth.  It looks like they have adapted to the climate very well here, as well.  This plot of land also has a large grapevine that is filled with grapes.  It receives plenty of sun.

Are you growing any fruit right now?  I am currently harvesting Macintosh Apples.  They are so tasty and sweet!  

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