Living a Happy Retirement at Panorama

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Sandy Bush, Janet Sears and Beverly Sloane share a laugh together at Panorama. The trio moved to Lacey after living at the Sea Ranch community in Sonoma County, California.
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Panorama resident, Janet Sears, works in her home quilting studio.

Relocating is a big decision at any age. Whether a job transfer to a new city, uprooting after raising a family, or pulling up stakes upon retirement, finding a new place to call home is about defining your future lifestyle. For a handful of retirees, the naturally picturesque Sea Ranch community in Sonoma County, California seemed to be the ideal location to spend their golden years. Yet recently, over twenty Sea Ranch homeowners have “re-relocated” to Panorama in Lacey, Washington. Panorama is a retirement community designed around several distinct neighborhoods with lifestyle amenities, inclusion of home maintenance and a continuum of health care. Residents of Panorama are known as the doers and dreamers of Pacific Northwest senior living.

Sandy Bush moved to Panorama with her husband, George, in May 2013. Bush shares, “Sea Ranch was somewhere we went from the working world to decompress. We considered it our retirement home but it has become more of a rental community and a destination place. As we age, we realized there are not a lot of available services there for dental, medical, vision and such.”

Janet Sears and Beverly Sloane, also former Sea Ranch homeowners and current Panorama residents concur with Bush’s comments. “We moved to Sea Ranch because of the beauty, privacy, and to live lightly on the land,” adds Sears.  “We have discovered that it is also a beautiful place here with such an engaging community of people.”

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Sandy Bush, Janet Sears and Beverly Sloane share a laugh together at Panorama. The trio moved to Lacey after living at the Sea Ranch community in Sonoma County, California.

Rachel Dobry, Retirement Advisor at Panorama surmises, “My sense is what collectively drew them to Sea Ranch originally was that it was a community away from everything. But that is the very thing that has them leaving. Reality takes place and as we age it is important to access needed health care in a timely manner. Not only are the health care facilities and providers easily accessible from Panorama but we offer a continuum of health care on site. Doctors are within a few mile radius as well as a variety of cultural options and activities like the library, walking trails, shopping, museums and art. People come to Panorama for the community and lifestyle.”

Lifestyle and activities are as diverse as the people of Panorama. A weekly dinner date regularly brings the former Sea Ranch homeowners together.  While the commonality is their previous place of residence, they represent a fascinating array of interests spanning from theater, woodworking, blogging and fiber arts. “We are not just consumers of our activities,” Sears remarks.  “We also get out to contribute to the community. We volunteer at food banks, schools and are politically active. That is why our community is so rich.”

“Come to Panorama at least by your early 70s or whenever you are in good enough health to get acquainted with community,” Sears encourages. “We arrived when we were still living completely independently.  It is as if you have your own gardeners and handymen to take care of things. Now I don’t have to worry about my home and yard maintenance, which enables me to enjoy the things that I really want to do. Olympia has been so fun to explore. It is the funkiest small town, big capital. Right next door to a tatoo parlor will be a plush restaurant.”

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Sandy Bush prepares to head out on a hike from her Lacey retirement home.

In addition to art and culture, the outdoor lifestyle is a huge attraction.  Bush comments, “The hiking outings are amazing. There are places that I would likely not find on my own or make an effort to explore – from excursions to Mount Rainier to the many local parks.”  Sloane adds, “Many of us like to take advantage of the proximity of the Chehalis-Western Trail. It is important to have flat and level walking areas for those with mobility issues and needing the use of a walker.”

What shapes the community of Panomora is the diversity of interests among the residents, spectrum of aging needs, and the easy lifestyle. Dobry explains, “You have to be at least 62 to live here. Generally speaking, people have been coming in their early 70s but this is changing because of the boomers. The boomers love the lifestyle we offer. They have worked hard and in many ways enjoy being taken care of. They understand that quality of life does not necessarily mean owning a home or having lots of stuff. They like to travel and get out to do things. That is all right here for our residents. It is an easy transition to come live here.”

“We were told it is just a change of address to come here.  And really it has been,” Bush concludes. “It is so easy and comfortable living here.”

To learn more about residing at Panorama, click here.

Panorama

1751 Circle Lane SE

Lacey, Washington 98503

360-456-0111 or 1-800-999-9807

 

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