The Mayflower Navigator Summer 2021

MAYFLOWER inside this issue:

LIFE’S AN ADVENTURE A Take-Charge Approach MAKING LIFE EASIER No Worries LIFE LESSON The Key to Thriving

A PUBLICATION OF THE MAYFLOWER AT WINTER PARK SUMMER 2021

E R U T N E ADV

LIFE’S AN

For these residents, whose experiences have taken them all over the world, moving to The Mayflower enables them to simplify life, while continuing to explore all its possibilities.

And, when the Walters were considering the next chapter in their lives, it was she who took the lead. “We wanted to be near our son and daughter and our three grandchildren, so we started looking at communities in the area,” recalls Richard.

“The Mayflower has a reputation for being the best, and Mary likes the best.”

At first, Richard admits, they weren’t sure they were ready. But after getting to know the campus and researching their options, their minds were made up.

“Even if we weren’t ready, we knew it was time to get ready,” he says. “We wanted to be somewhere where we could feel secure – and that’s what we found at The Mayflower.”

EXPECTATIONS EXCEEDED

After traveling extensively and living abroad, Richard and Mary Walters have settled into a safe, secure lifestyle at The Mayflower.

ONLY THE BEST

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ew can match Richard Walters for the diversity – and success – of his globe-spanning career. An engineer by training, he climbed the ranks at several corporations and worked in information technology, finance, and business development. He also served in the U.S. Army’s Active Reserves, obtained two master’s degrees, and traveled extensively with his wife, Mary – including a memorable six-year stay in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where he managed projects in conjunction with

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the European Bank of Restructuring and Development. Richard ended his career as president of a Florida-based financial investment and business development firm.

But it’s Mary whom he credits as being “the glue that held them together” through all their adventures. A woman of many talents, she took up floral arranging, crafting (creating floral wreaths and cornhusk dolls), and interior decorating. In fact, the Walters’ home in Washington, D.C., was once featured in Southern Living magazine. Mary also was instrumental in the development of a small ballet company and has donated her art to charity auctions.

Emmett and Jo Clary never turn down an adventure. The couple, who met in high school and are bilingual in Spanish and English, have traveled and worked in Mexico and Puerto Rico, as well as across the United States. Once, they drove across the country coast-to-coast, stopping at every National Park along the way.

“We traveled 8,000 miles and had two flat tires,” recalls Emmett. “But it’s all part of the experience!”

As the years passed, however, the couple began looking for ways to simplify. They still wanted an active lifestyle – but not one that required so much upkeep, says Emmett: “We had a big Tampa home and a pool, and it was a lot to manage. I didn’t want to do yard work or change lightbulbs anymore!”

It was time for the Clary’s next adventure.

In search of a more all-encompassing solution, they researched a number of options, and it wasn’t long before they were in agreement: The Mayflower was their top pick. “It was the nicest community by far – such a friendly atmosphere,” says Emmett.

“We don’t feel old here … we never even think about our age.”

Now acclimated to their new lifestyle, the couple looks forward to a future “full of possibilities.” Emmett, who spent his career in telecommunications, is an avid outdoorsman who kayaked every waterway within 100 miles of Tampa.

These days, he gets his exercise by swimming laps in The Mayflower’s pool. For Jo, a former office manager and Red Cross volunteer who was born in Cuba, the biggest advantage is the stress-free lifestyle and the healthcare assurance The Mayflower provides.

“Everything’s right here, from the doctor to the hair salon,” she says. “I like that feeling – not having any worries, just knowing you’ll be taken care of if the need arises. It’s a load off your mind.”

Hesitant about the move at first, Jo admits: “At some point, you wonder if you’re ready to make the change, but you’re afraid to. And I can tell you – that was me. But this was the best move we ever made, and all I can say now is: We should have done it sooner!”

A TAKE-CHARGE APPROACH

Because she had joined the Captain’s Club, Martha Williamson began working out regularly at The Mayflower’s Fitness Center even before she and her husband moved in.

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Emmett and Jo Clary say The Mayflower was even better than they anticipated: “We look back and think, gee, we should’ve done this sooner.”

artha and Jim Williamson didn’t have to wonder whether or not they’d like living at The Mayflower. They already knew … long before they moved in. That’s because the couple had joined the Captain’s Club – and they were able to take advantage of a long list of perks that come with membership.

It was part of the couple’s take-charge approach to their future.

A former psychotherapist, Martha knows the risks of not being proactive.

“From talking to my clients, I saw that when people don’t plan ahead, they lose the freedom to make choices about their care,” she recalls. “I’m a major ‘advance planner’ – and I realized very early that I didn’t want us to make that mistake.”

So, the Williamsons did their research and crunched the numbers to decide on a community that would check all the boxes. They found it at The Mayflower.

“It’s not a question of if, but when, something unexpected will happen,” says Martha. “And when it does, you don’t want to be searching for somewhere you

can go – so don’t wait too long. I’m glad we came early enough that we can take full advantage of all the opportunities.”

START EXPERIENCING MAYFLOWER LIFE NOW Whether The Mayflower is going to be part of your life plan sometime soon – or if your decision is a few years down the road – you can start enjoying everything we have to offer by joining our Captain’s Club today!

Reserved exclusively for those who have made a deposit on their future home, the Captain’s Club offers a host of VIP privileges – including locking in your entrance fee for 12 months after you join.

For more information about the Captain’s Club – and how you can join – call 407.672.1620 or email taylor@themayflower.com

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MAKING LIFE After successful careers in computer science and information technology, these UCF alumni have traded the worries of living alone and the hassles of home maintenance for a safe, carefree environment at The Mayflower.

And she did. After securing an entry-level data processing job at s a proud alumna of Florida Montgomery Ward, Cathy went on Technological University’s to work in “almost every position in (now UCF’s) first-ever freshman the information technology field” – class, Cathy Everett has always been mastering a trailblazer of sorts – and “A big part of healthy aging is … programming languages, nowhere is that not having to worry about traveling the more evident than as in her 35-year things that don’t really matter.” country a database career. Early on, software trainer, and eventually she saw opportunity in the nascent field becoming a project manager for of computer science: “If you had an Lockheed Martin’s internal security interest and a passion for the work, and systems. “It was a very male-dominated if you were willing to learn on the job, field,” she says. “But I knew how to you could do almost anything you set hold my ground. And since I was a your mind to.”

FINDING SOLUTIONS

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manager of programming teams, it was part of the job description.”

No less driven in her personal life, Cathy is an avid cyclist who spent years volunteering with a mountain biking organization in North Florida.

She also plays both the guitar and the mountain dulcimer, a stringed instrument native to Appalachia. After retiring, however, she found herself looking for more to do.

“Living alone in a large home on the river in Titusville – with all the upkeep that entailed – just didn’t make sense,” she recalls. “I started looking at communities nearby, but nothing met my needs. I was very much alone at the time, and I wanted more activities, more people, more things going on.

The Mayf lower solved all those problems. Here, I can be carefree, and not have to worry about all those home ownership headaches like house and lawn maintenance. All that is stressful – and a big part of healthy aging is keeping your stress level down and not having to worry about things that don’t really matter.”

Having access to quality healthcare was another important factor for Cathy.

“People don’t realize that if you live long enough, you will have healthrelated issues and you’ll have to make these kinds of decisions – there’s no way around it,” she says. “You can’t predict it, you can’t prevent it – but you can prepare for it.”

TAKING CONTROL

Cathy Everett says The Mayflower lifestyle is “so much easier, so much better and so stress-free” that it helps people live longer.

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After going back to college in her late thirties, UCF grad Rochelle (“Rikki”) Hanin was also drawn to computer science. After graduating, she pursued a career in telecommunications at Stromberg-Carlson, where she worked on telephone switching equipment and

E E ASI E R

NO WORRIES...

WHY WE CHOSE THE MAYFLOWER

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ften, it’s the big things – like planning for your future healthcare.

Or preparing for a hurricane.

Other times, it’s as basic as not having to worry about changing a lightbulb or cooking dinner. People move to The Mayflower for reasons as varied as they are. But many of them will tell you that it’s the little things in daily life that can make a really big difference.

RI KKI HAN I N:

“I wasn’t driving often, and my car battery went dead.

So I just called maintenance and they fixed it. That’s all it took – one phone call.”

A history buff and avid reader who enjoys tennis and traveling, Rikki Hanin says The Mayflower is a community where you can be active, social, and engaged.

“I have friends who don’t think a soon made a name for herself as “the senior living community is for them,” woman who gets the job done.” she says. “But I look around and see That reputation has characterized that this is a place where you come Rikki throughout her life – from to really live. You’re active, you’re working on political campaigns to social, you’re engaged. There are doing volunteer work. For her, music programs, people discussing civic engagement is more than a art, intellectual good cause: It’s a personal responsibility. “Whether it’s a pandemic discussions – always something Still active in the or a hurricane, I know interesting community, she served going on.” on the board of Hillel I’m in a safe place.”

Rikki and her at UCF for many years family have peace of mind knowing and continues to support her local that her future is planned out. synagogue as a volunteer. “I look “They were worried about me living forward to staying involved,” she adds. alone,” she says. “Now, whether it’s a “The residents here are deeply engaged pandemic or a hurricane, I know I’m in philanthropy.” in a safe place. And if I have a health Like most things in Rikki’s life, issue, all levels of care are right here. moving to The Mayf lower was a That’s a wonderful feeling.” carefully calibrated decision – but it’s one she couldn’t be happier with.

CATH Y EV ER ETT:

“Here, I don’t have all those home ownership headaches – keeping up the house and the yard and all that stuff. And I never have to worry about making dinner or eating out of a frozen food box!”

E M M E T T CLA RY:

“The lightbulb was flickering, and maintenance changed it right away. And I didn’t have to climb up the ladder!”

J O CLARY:

“Although I love cooking, I

don’t have to if I don’t feel

like it. And I no longer have to get in the car to go to the doctor or the hairdresser. Everything’s right here.”

SA N DY G RI D ER :

“The other day I reached under the sink to grab something and discovered the pipe was leaking.

Instinctively, my first thought was: ‘Oh my gosh, how much is this going to cost?’ Then I remembered: It’s not my worry; I’ll just call downstairs and they’ll fix it.”

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LIFE LESSON Before choosing a Life Plan Community, these former educators did extensive research and learned what exceptional value and security The Mayflower provides.

The Mayflower’s focus on wellness was a big plus for Sandy Grider.

LIVE WITHOUT LIMITS

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andy Grider isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. In her career as an educator, she worked with nonspeaking children to help them develop communication skills; today, she says those were “some of the hardest days of her life – but also some of the most rewarding.”

After graduating from what was then Florida Technological University (now UCF), she found herself back on campus years later, working for the State Department of Education. As a manager

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of flow-through funds, she was responsible for allocating federal grants to support special education in public schools. But after she retired, Sandy was ready for a change of pace.

“I was living in a big townhouse by myself, going up and down stairs all day,” she recalls.

“I have adult children in the area, but it’s not as though they can come by every time I need a lightbulb changed – and I’m not getting on ladders by myself anymore.”

As any teacher would, Sandy did her homework: She toured every upscale community in the area.

“The more research I did, the more I understood that moving to a Life Plan Community is a guarantee for life,” she says. “They’re here to take care of me as long as I need it.”

Of all the places Sandy visited, The Mayflower immediately stood out.

“I had a feeling here that I didn’t have anywhere else,” she says. “Everyone we spoke to – resident or staff member – seemed so genuinely happy to meet us.

It felt positive, welcoming, almost like an extended family.”

The Mayflower really “has it all,” Sandy says: “I wish more people understood that living here doesn’t limit what you can do. You can still travel, get out and about, visit family, get

involved – and all your needs are met right on campus.”

The focus on wellness is a big plus, too.

As a cancer survivor, Sandy takes her health seriously – and she can often be found walking outdoors, swimming in the pool, or working out in the Fitness Center.

Her advice to others is simple: “If you wait until you think you need to move, then you’ve waited too long. It doesn’t matter whether it’s today or ten years from now, you’ll still have to do your research and make these decisions – and the sooner you do, the more freedom you’ll have.”

“Just after I moved in, a hurricane was headed this way.

My first reaction was to hurry to the store to get supplies. Then I realized: I don’t have to do any of that anymore. What a relief !”

I After visiting a number of communities, Barbara Jones knew immediately that The Mayflower was the place for her.

BEST DECISION EVER

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s a longtime Winter Parker, Barbara Jones was familiar with The Mayflower’s sterling reputation … and when she retired after 23 years as a program assistant with Orange County Public Schools in the textbook and library services department, she decided it was time to take a closer look. “I didn’t want to live alone, so I began seriously looking at communities in the area,” she says. “Each had its own unique traits. But what I found was that nowhere – nowhere – was at the same level as The Mayflower. The residents were so friendly, the staff were perfect, the scenery was lovely. Right away, I felt that this was everything I’d been looking for.

And that’s when I said: ‘This is the place I want to be.’”

But moving to The Mayflower was more than “love at first sight.” After caring for her own husband in his later years, Barbara knows it’s critical to take a long-term view when choosing a senior living community. One of the must-haves on her list: quality care close to home.

“Living here, I know there’s a wonderful clinic and a doctor on-site,” she says. “Not only that, but they offer physical therapy, memory support, and higher levels of care, if you need them. People don’t often realize how rare that is: Not all communities are that inclusive. That’s something everyone should look at before making a choice.”

LIGHTBULB MOMENTS When describing maintenance-free living at The Mayflower, many residents can distill the benefits into a literal “lightbulb moment” – as in not ever having to climb a ladder and change one again. Fortunately, our maintenance technicians are just one call away – and they continually get high marks for being prompt, friendly, and thorough. Other things Mayflower residents never have to worry about: replacing batteries in smoke detectors, fixing a dripping faucet, rebooting the TV or computer – and of course, dusting, mopping, vacuuming, and much, much more!

THE KEY TO THRIVING

f you ask Dr. Jim Louttit, he’ll tell you his first impression of The Mayflower came from a different perspective than most: As a physician certified in family medicine and geriatrics, he treated many patients who were staying in the community’s Health Center.

Every time he visited, he was impressed by the medical staff’s commitment and care.

After more than four decades running a medical practice together – his wife Jane leading the business side while Dr. Louttit focused on the clinical aspects – the couple understood the importance of having a plan for future healthcare … and that made the idea of a Life Plan Community like The Mayflower appealing.

No longer burdened with keeping up a large home, Dr. Jim and Jane Louttit, pictured here with “Jib,” found freedom and independence at The Mayflower.

“We realized that anything could happen to either of us at any point,” says Jane. “If it did, we needed to be in a place where we could get help.”

After several years of research, the couple confirmed what they already suspected: The Mayflower consistently rose to the top.

Now living in a Villa, they have less stress and more security, and they’re free to focus on their passions: travel, photography, and, naturally, wellness. When they’re not heading to class at the Fitness Center, they enjoy the outdoors – usually with their West Highland White Terrier, Jib. “You have to keep moving,” says Jane.

“That’s the key to thriving as an older adult: staying busy and engaged, physically, mentally, and socially.”

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1620 MAYFLOWER COURT | WINTER PARK, FL 32792

88141 PRAD FNL 8/2021

Join Us for Breakfast How a Life Plan Community Helps You Take Control

Presenting Our September Information Session

A Safe Harbor for All of Lifes Storms From healthcare issues to hurricanes, life has its share of storms. You can’t prevent them – but you can prepare for them. Learn how a Life Plan Community like The Mayflower can take care of the worries.

September 15, 2021

WHAT: Continental Breakfast & Info Session WHEN: Wed., Sept. 15 • 10 a.m.

WHERE: Interlachen Country Club

2245 Interlachen Ct.

Winter Park, FL 32792 R.S.V.P.: By Sept. 8

Call 407.672.1620 or email taylor@themayflower.com to R.S.V.P. for you and a guest. Limited seating is available.