I love my apartment at The Moorings and find special pleasure in growing plants all year around on my glassed-in porch. I’m looking forward to a new residents’ garden in the spring with raised beds where we can grow vegetables and flowers to share or add to our own cooking. The entire staff here is pleasant and helpful.

Housekeeping keeps my apartment clean; maintenance takes care of any problem. I love living where, if I run out of coffee or bread, the “Bistro” is right down the hall. A good library and a swimming pool are in the main building, too, as is a full-menu dining room and other conveniences. Yes, even a woodworking shop!

I have a college major in studio art and coach the community art group. The same room that is provided for painting activities is also outfitted with comfortable chairs and a fireplace for needleworkers who gather to socialize while knitting or quilting, browsing through art and craft books, or sharing a new skill. Once a year, The Moorings displays an exhibit of residents’ creative arts for sale. A percentage of the earnings is donated to the Residents Reserve Fund.

Community members are involved in many activities sponsored by The Moorings (such as tai chi) or arranged by resident committees (such as movies, the book club, chorus, and outings for dinner). The Residents’ Association comprises many committees and gives voice to resident concerns and interests. Whether serving on a committee, joining an activity, or making use of events and services in Lewes or nearby Rehoboth, I keep busy. Or, when I want quiet, I sit on my porch and enjoy my plants. Orchids are blooming on this snowy day!

In October 2017, my wife and I developed a schedule, preparing to evaluate several senior living facilities in the large New Jersey area between New Providence and Maplewood, and Princeton in the South. After each visit, we assessed the CCRC on a scale of 1 to 5, covering 10 different factors. Some units were evaluated only after a second visit, sometimes including a meal with a few residents.

At the conclusion of this exercise Winchester Gardens was clearly number one.
We moved forward, found an apartment we loved, and relocated in early 2018. We have been residents for almost two years and compliment ourselves on the choice. During this period, we’ve experienced continuing improvement in the selection and quality of the food, while dining amenities have been upgraded and substantially expanded with additional new dining choices due to open in the coming months.

Most residents are eager to meet and welcome newcomers, and with a wide range of scheduled activities, we met a large number of people in quick time. Today we’ve made many new, wonderful friends and truly enjoy our greatly enhanced, yet simpler and easier lifestyle.