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So Much to Do. . .So Little Time
Retirement Living on the Northern Neck
People retire to the Northern Neck for lots of reasons. Gordon Charlton moved here to be closer to his son. Jim and Marjory Willis wanted a smaller home away from the city. Alan Christensen came so he could live beside his boat. So did his twin brother Chris.
Once they got here, these retirees discovered that “moving to the country” didn’t mean settling for life in a rocking chair.
Instead, Northern Neck seniors are busy taking advantage of the many opportunities they have to pursue their passions. Look around. You’re likely to spot them dining at area restaurants, boating on the region’s waterways, shopping in antique stores, visiting historical sites, attending community theater performances and musical events, stopping by local farmers’ markets, wandering through local art galleries, joining neighbors for outdoor concerts on town squares or at Belle Isle State Park. They’re bicycling down country lanes or working out at the local YMCA …The list could be extended, but you get the picture.
Many continue to work at something they love. Dr. Marty Stonequist, a retired musician, offers private lessons to a dozen students each week. Bob Butler, who spent his career developing shopping centers, builds intricate made-from-scratch models for five different museums on the Northern Neck. Chris and Alan Christensen are involved in the Northern Neck computer user’s group. Alan’s wife Mildred is active in a local garden club and the White Stone Women’s Club.
And of course, many retirees work at organizations which rely heavily on volunteer support to keep their doors open. Check out the halls of Rappahannock General Hospital, or the grounds at Historic Christ Church outside Irvington, and you’re bound to spot retirees helping these important community resources run effectively. Quite a few retirees are active in local churches. Schools and youth groups rely on them to serve as mentors for youngsters who benefit from their experience.
Seniors are the lifeblood of community libraries. “We couldn’t run the library without our retirees,” says Northumberland Public Library director Jane McQuade. “Volunteers do everything – work the front desk, catalog and shelve materials – they even weed the flower beds.” Their efforts allow libraries to operate with fewer paid staff and still provide valuable service to their patrons.
Sometimes retirees spot a job that needs doing even when no one has thought to ask them. That’s been the case for several older members of the Rappahannock Yacht Club, who several years ago formed the “Tuesday Beavers” group to perform much needed maintenance at the 75 year old facility.
“We know today’s seniors want to keep active,” says Stuart Bunting, president of Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury, a continuing care community located outside of Irvington. “Older adults enjoy keeping physically fit, and they want to keep their minds active as well.” That’s why RWC has opened its fitness programs to seniors from the community and routinely schedules presentations to bring in speakers on topics of current interest. Recently retired Marine Corps General Anthony Zinni, former commander of Central Command, spoke to a packed house in the RWC community center.
“The worst advice anyone can give you is that getting to retirement age means you’ve earned the right to sit in a rocker all day long,” says RWC resident Bob Butler, who has a colorful way of describing his fellow retirees’ penchant for staying active. “RWC has several rockers … but you hardly ever see anyone sitting in them.” pl
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