November 5, 2016

  • Groundbreaking

    For the last year or so I have been talking about a possible move to a retirement community to be built over the next couple of years.  This will give me the security of having only the one more move while I am still able to participate comfortably in moving, as well as continuing medical care as needed (including memory care if needed).  I'm not really ready for such a move yet, but it is prudent to be situated by the time I turn 80 -- that will happen about a year after this move.  Last week, after a change in location and revised planning, the company held a "Groundbreaking" ceremony -- they had actually broken ground about a month earlier.  I didn't take my camera to the event, but a couple of days later I went back to see where we had been, and to take what will eventually be part of a series of progress photos.  The first of the group are taken from the sales office, across the street from what will be the main entrance to the project.

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    The hill was once covered with an orange orchard.  The trees have been removed for construction purposes, but many will be replanted as landscaping on the grounds.

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    There is a "roadway" up the hill, just behind the orange and white k-rail, leading up to a large graded space where the ceremony was held.  There was a huge tent where they had organized food service for about 400 people!  It had been rainy the day before, and I was very glad not to have to drive up the hill as they had originally planned -- at the last minute, they hired some "party vans" to take us up the hill!

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    The event was held on a graded space just to the left of the two white trailers (fancy porta-potties!) are.  It was explained that we were at what will be the "Clubhouse," a two-story large community dining room.  The views from that level of the hill are really spectacular, looking in one direction to the mountains, and in the other towards a hill behind which is San Clemente.  The hill on the left is new -- as they graded, they ran into a large amount of sand, valuable in creating the proper geological soil mix for such a building.  Rather than discard the sand and have to replace it later, they are saving it to mix in as they need it.  The project leader told us a funny story -- every morning when he arrives on site, he rides his dirt bike to inspect and to see what has changed since the day before.  One day, he came to a big hole in the ground -- he knew that if he went down into the hole fast enough, he'd be able to use the momentum to climb out the other side -- what he didn't realize was that there was a sand pile at the bottom of the hole!  That was the beginning of building the sand pile that you see in this photo!

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    Having taken these photos, I went across to the park below the project, where there is a park with the rows divided by small orange trees.  The rest of the photos are taken from that area.

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    The lighter colored earth at the top of the hill in the center of the next photo is the sand that has been piled up for later use.

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    I will continue to take photos periodically as the building progresses over the next couple of years.

Comments (12)

  • It will be interesting to watch the progress with your photos. I expect it will be a beautiful place to live.

    • I've seen two other facilities built by this company -- they are beautiful -- almost like resort hotels.

  • You and I must be close to the same age. I will be 79 in January, so then just one year until 80. I am thinking that I should move to a retirement place near here, which also has assisted living, nursing home care, etc. It's true I have a lot of kids living close, but I'd rather be able to enjoy them and they enjoy me, and not have to ask them to do things for me all the time. I'm trying to get rid of things now, so a move will be easier when the time comes.

    • Yes -- I'll be 76 in December. A few years ago, when I was looking for a place for my mother, I ran into a woman who said that she had a goal to move into such a place before she was 80 -- "and I'm SO glad I did!" Although I believe 80 is arbitrary, I took that as a lesson to move while I still can. I waiver now between being "not ready" to thinking it's the best planning I can do. If I can continue to think of it as moving to a one-story apartment, I'll be ready when the time comes!

  • I keep telling myself the same thing. Better to move by my choice when I still can, than to wait until my kids have to move me. We'll see if I still think this way when I'm 80, but I hope I will.

  • My SIL worked in land management in CA. The rules and regulations are pretty thick. Sounds like the builders are doing everything right to minimize the disruption of the land and water and of course the wildlife. I hope your plan to move goes smoothly!

    • Thanks, Val -- the actual move is still a couple of years away -- at this point, it's something to look forward to -- and to worry about whether it's the right move at the right time! California does have pretty heavy regulations on land management -- but they are very progressive on environmental issues. In such a large state, it seems to be working pretty well in most areas. Hopefully we'll have a little water by the time people move in -- but we can't control that!

  • Good thinking, Janet. Since my husband and I don't have the kind of money it takes to live in such a place, we are preparing our own home for live-in caregivers. It is hoped, of course, that one of my nieces will live in the house next door. But if not, we should be able to find someone who could be bribed into it.

    • This seems to me to be a good solution to the fact I have no children to care for me, and not wanting to depend upon my sister, my niece or nephew or their children, particularly as that would involve an even bigger move! It's good that I have a couple of years to be sure that I'm ready when the time comes, but can still make the move myself! Your solution sounds good too!

  • Looks so interesting! Hope your move goes well and you enjoy your new location.

    • It will bea couple of years before I actually move if, by then I haven't "chickened out"! -- stay tuned as things progress!

  • So happy to read that the trees that were removed, would be replanted later after the project is done.
    Janet, this seems like a colossal place, and I think it will be a superb facility.

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