(A Guest Post by the Spouse)
The spouse and I have recently moved to a continuing care retirement community. It’s located in a rather magnificent old building that looks like the library of a university campus. Apartments spread out from the main building, and the grounds are extensive with fountains and plazas and an arboretum. It reminds me of a well-tended high school or a small college campus. But it’s more than just the architecture that is reminiscent of school.
It’s also the students…I mean the residents. We are a smallish class of about 250. We live in the dorms…rather nice apartments with full kitchens, and we meet each other in the halls going to and from “class.” Today in the morning, for example, there was political science, but this afternoon there is home economics (we’re learning to knit). Tomorrow I have swimming first thing in the morning. (Ugh! I hate morning gym class.) Wednesday is art. The teacher is excellent, but I’m pulling a C in that class. Thursday, English (book club). Friday, French conversation.
After all these activities we meet in the dining room for dinner, though a lot of people like to eat in their dorm rooms. Lots of socializing goes on in the dining room. Topics that have come up in class are often on the agenda. Conversation at dinner often finds its way to talk of children and grandchildren, oh, and health. We are all pretty fit (given all those swimming and yoga classes), but we still have a full panoply of “issues.”
There’s not a lot of gossip (or maybe I’m just not in on it), but I have noticed that John and Marie are often together, as are Liz and Bob. I think they must be considered “an item.” I have seen other couples holding hands (!). There are nerds and jocks, musicians and artists. It’s an eclectic bunch.
We are all pretty style conscious…at least in the shoe department. It appears that high heels for the girls are not comme il faut. Walking shoes — preferably slip-in Skechers — are the order of the day. We walk a lot (the campus is extensive), so comfortable shoes are a necessity. No one would dare break that convention.
So after all these years, the spouse and I find ourselves back in school. It’s a new experience, and it takes some getting used to.
Sorry. Gotta run. I’m a little behind on my English assignment.
