Atria Senior Living’s Post

"My parents gave us the gift of $1,000 when we got married. Instead of using the money to buy furniture, we bought our first sailboat," shares Ron. "We loved the competitiveness of racing and the complication of it, as Ron loves complicated things," laughs Joan. "We also loved that it was something that you could do with family." This adventurous couple didn't just sail for leisure but enjoyed racing competitively. In 1982, they won the International Yacht Race from Newport Beach, CA, to Ensenada, Mexico. The roughly 135-mile trip could take anywhere from 12 to 24 hours to complete. They set out against 300 boats in various classes to make it to the finish line. "It was exhilarating," shares Ron. Today, the couple fondly remembers their time on the water, sharing stories and displaying their trophy for their friends and neighbors at Atria San Juan.

"I first saw Wile E in a dog show in England. Then I adopted him in 2018 when he was 5 years old," shares Gwen. They've been inseparable ever since. 🐾 Wile E is a Picardy shepherd, notable for their scruffy mane. You might recognize the breed from the 2005 movie “Because of Winn-Dixie.” Fun fact: the movie's producers wanted a dog that looked like a mixed breed but needed several that looked alike so the production could continue smoothly, so they decided on this rare purebred dog. Wile E is always happy to greet residents, visitors and staff. "Oh, he gets all sorts of pats on the head. My fellow residents love him. In fact, I complained, ‘He gets pats on the head, and I never get any!' so my friend came over and patted me on the head," Gwen laughs. You can find Gwen and Wile E on their daily walks around Atria Campana Del Rio or at the local park.

"My friendship bracelet said 'best friend' and I gave it to my good friend Peggy," shares Dorothy. She and her fellow Life Guidance residents at Atria Cinco Ranch showed off their creativity and love for Taylor Swift with a Swiftie friendship bracelet-making party! We had to know which Taylor song was Dorothy's favorite. "Oh she has so many but I really enjoy 'Shake it off!' I love all her albums. My granddaughter plays her album 'Lover' a lot." What is the most important part of friendship bracelet making? The friends! "I have made such great friends. The first day I moved here they were so friendly and welcomed me into their group. We have lunch in the bistro together every day." To quote Ms. Swift, "And soon enough you're best friends." 💕

They say life imitates art, but at Atria Seville, it's a puzzle that is imitating the residents. 🧩 This team of "dissectologists" can be found doing puzzles so often that they have become a fixture in the community. And what better way to immortalize this team than with a puzzle of themselves puzzling given to them by the team at Atria Seville! Resident Gary, a retired professor at UNLV, loves keeping his brain sharp by flexing his problem-solving skills and enjoying his social life in the community. "I was surprised to see myself on a puzzle, as were the other four," he shares. "We all thought it was quite novel. We finished it quickly and it's now hanging on the wall adjacent to the puzzle table." What's next for this crew? Gary suggests holding an "Olympic Puzzle Challenge." We're excited to see what they put together next.

How can having a furry friend help your health and happiness? Learn about the benefits of bringing your four-legged friend (or fish, or bird) with you when making the move to senior living in our Caregiver's Guide blog: http://ms.spr.ly/6044lsQzG

"I have been playing the piano since I was 17 years old. It's been 67 years," exclaimed Gabe, a resident of Atria El Camino Gardens. "I've never played professionally, I just do it for fun. I want to make people feel good!" "I believe the style of music fills the residents with feelings of good emotions," he adds. He can be found entertaining his fellow residents with his favorite songs, like Love Letters by Ferrante & Teicher. "I like to reach out to my fellow residents with my music. It makes me feel the love."

"When I was younger, I was allowed to paint but was not allowed to showcase it for other people to see because I was a woman," shares Woody, one of the Life Guidance residents from Atria Aquidneck Place. "I like to show my art whenever possible now!" Woody and her fellow Life Guidance neighbors shared their artwork with the rest of their community, family and friends in a garden-themed exhibit. "I think it was a real eye-opener for some of my neighbors," shares Marjorie, one of the featured artists. The talent of this group defies stereotypes. "I think that no matter how old you get, it shouldn’t stop you from doing the things you enjoy," exclaims Marjorie.

There's nothing quite as fresh as produce from the farmers market! 🍅🥕🍓 Whether residents foraged at their local markets or shopped for fresh foods at pop-ups hosted by their communities, we nourished ourselves with seasonal delights! 📸: Atria at the Arboretum, Atria Del Sol, Atria Newport Beach, Atria Oakridge, Atria Willow Glen

The dog days of summer are here! We celebrated by tossing bean bags and snacking on mini corndogs at our aptly named Cornhole & Corndogs Social Series events! 📸: Atria Valley Manor, Atria Marina Place, Atria Campana Del Rio, Atria Park of Ann Arbor, Atria Cinco Ranch, Atria Carmichael Oaks, Atria Evergreen Valley