When Morgan Orchards opened Arny and Priscilla knew the timing was right to move, as the maintenance and upkeep of their home had become an issue.
But their search for a new home went no further than Morgan Orchards. Both are active volunteers and members of various clubs and social networks in the Randolph area and both wanted to keep their medical care at Gifford. The fact that they could bring their 14-year old dog, Frosty, with them was another bonus.
While the decision to move to independent living wasn’t necessarily a difficult one, the actual moving process was a bit of a struggle, as both had to make some hard decisions on what to bring and what would need to go. So the couple got creative. Arny measured the new apartment, put the measurements into his computer, and came up with a floor plan arrangement that would fit all the furniture they wanted to bring with them.
“At the end, I realized that our apartment is similar to the space that we were using in our former home on a day-to-day basis. Short of the larger kitchen in our old home, everything is similar.” Arny shared, which meant it didn’t take long for the new space to feel like home. And the loss of that larger kitchen hasn’t been an issue. “With the evening meals here, there is no need to do any cooking. It’s like eating at a fine restaurant every night.” Arny continued, meaning they’ve been able to relax on their cooking duties. Though Priscilla added, “I miss his homemade breads.”
With more free time on their hands, the couple has been able to focus more on the activities they love. Hobbies are a big part of Arny’s life. As part of their downsizing process, he worked with the staff at Morgan Orchards to set up a woodshop, donating many of his own tools to equip a space that’s open to all residents. He’s also brought his leather-working tools which he would like to eventually set up in the Arts and Craft Room so he can teach others how to do leather work.
“Morgan Orchards is a comfortable place and the layout is good. I’ve got access to most of the things I like doing and the food is super.” Priscilla agreed, noting “there are places that we both can go to do the things we like.”
[box title=”Need help downsizing?” bg_color=”#dbf3f1″ align=”left”]Downsizing or moving to a smaller home can be an overwhelming process. But with proper planning and the right resources, it can actually be an enjoyable experience as well.
To make downsizing easier, we’ve created a few tools to help you on your downsizing journey!
