50+ Lifestyles

Variety is the Spice of Life!

By Karen McCoy
Marketing Consultant at Ridgecrest Village

Art Petersen has lived at Ridgecrest Village for almost 20 years, I asked him to share his story:

Ridgecrest Village was started by a Presbyterian minister, Dr. Rev. Koning.  Rev. Koning was the Pastor at my church, New Comb Presbyterian, Dr. Koning even officiated our wedding.  So I have had a relationship with Ridgecrest Village from the beginning, 52 years ago.  After Rev. Koning retired he had a dream to start a place like Ridgecrest Village; a place that people come to after they retired.

My wife, Mary began working at Ridgecrest Village as the Independent Living Activities Director in 1976, she stayed until 1990. When Mary worked here, she had programs at night and I came with her for the programs and got to know a lot of the people that lived here.  Mary was a proponent of living at RIDGECREST VILLAGE and so was I.  You could say Ridgecrest Village was born into our blood. We never looked at another place, it was always Ridgecrest Village. We moved in April, 1999. We moved into a cottage, and I still live there. Mary was my sweetheart for almost 60 years.

Art dressed up as “Ruby Redford” at Halloween

I was an accountant, a finance type of guy, worked at Alter Company. I am the kind of guy that likes to keep busy so I stay busy with a variety of things.  There is always something to do at Ridgecrest.  Life is interesting, everyday there is something interesting happening here. I serve as the Treasurer of the Ridgecrest Resident Council, Ridgecrest Village Foundation, Honor Flight and our Chapel.  I have also been known to dress up and work in the resale shop every Halloween. This year I was Ruby Redford, Robert Redford’s sister. I helped start the men’s choir and there is a men’s and women’s choir now. I serve as the Liturgist for Sunday service.  As well as serving on the Food Committee.

I spend 1000 hours a year volunteering here because I enjoy being with others and feel I should give back to my community. You don’t have to volunteer if you don’t want to, I just enjoy it.  I spend half of my life helping causes, helping other people, that is why we were put here on earth. I am not as active off campus as I use to be. I’m 90 years young now and blessed every day.

When we moved in we were the youngest couple here.  This is not an old folk’s home, it is a retirement community where you can come and live at ease. When you move here, peace and quiet and enjoyment come early. You can do the things you want to do and not worry about shoveling the snow or mowing; cleaning your house or fixing what is broke. I don’t know what people are waiting for. I wonder, are they waiting for a sign? Waiting for something to happen? The thing is, if you wait too long it may be too late to take advantage of our life care program.  If you want to stay in your home and wait until something catastrophic happens, then it is too late.

Eventually, people are going to have to leave their home; they should do it when they can make the decision, do it while THEY can. Don’t leave it up to your kids to tell you have to move out, don’t put the burden on your kids. Do it on your own terms.  Don’t wait until your kids tell you they can’t take care of you anymore.  Live your own life; make the decisions while you can. When you stay in your own home, alone, you have no socialization. If you don’t come here under Life Care think about the amount of money you will spend in your lifetime on health care. People should also know by coming to Ridgecrest under Life Care, there may be tax advantages; they should
consult their tax advisor.  Something I think people should know is that we are a non-profit; we have no stockholders to toe the line to. We don’t have to pay dividends to someone.

It’s a great day when you have a good meal and an opportunity to socialize.  When you get to see people every day it gives you joy, it makes your life interesting. We had mince pie for Christmas this year. What a great way to celebrate the holidays, remembering our old traditions.  Variety is the spice of life.

If there was a short way to describe my life here at Ridgecrest it is happiness and fulfillment.  Everything is here, friends are here, and they are all family.  Our atmosphere is so warm, so homelike.  Ridgecrest was built with heart and you feel it in the air.   

Karen McCoy is Marketing Consultant for Ridgecrest Village in Davenport, Iowa. If you would like to share
in the experience of living a life of ease and fulfillment in a homelike atmosphere, contact Mary or Karen at (563) 391-3430.