Blog - Ardendwoods Independent Living Community

The Art of Minimalism- How Having Less Makes You Do More

The idea of minimalism is not entirely new. It has been around for quite a while, but is seeing a resurgence in our lives today. Minimalism is the art of having fewer physical things and burdens in and around your home so you can focus on other things that you care about.

Throughout our lives, it’s no big secret that we tend to acquire a whole bunch of stuff. We may find ourselves going through a sea of things each time we move to another home or area, or maybe during a spring-cleaning spree. The average American home has more than 300,000 items in it, ranging from clothes, books, kitchen utensils, toys and more. As a society we are drowning in stuff.

It would be one thing if stuff we owned actually added to our general levels of happiness and productivity, but for most people, it brings anxiety and dread- definitely not the key to happiness!

6 Reasons Western North Carolina is the Perfect Place to Retire

Why is WNC the perfect place to retire?

You may be researching any number of places as you figure out where you would like to retire.

There are many fantastic towns and cities that exist and they all have a certain charm for those who may want to retire there.

Whether you’re looking for new opportunities to enjoy the second half of your life via education, a change of scenery from your hometown, or you have family in the area, Western North Carolina may be one of your top choices on that list.

WNC consistently ranks high on places to retire, and we’re about to show you why.

Below are 6 reasons you should consider retiring in Western North Carolina.

The Ardenwoods Marketing Team: The First Friendly Faces You’ll See!

The marketing team from left to right: Gena Duncan, Marcella Gibson, and Sarah Marr.

The Ardenwoods Marketing Team are among the first faces you’ll see when you come to visit Ardenwoods and Heather Glen. Their friendly smiles welcome you as you come in for a tour or for a marketing event. From the very beginning of the sales process all the way through your move in date, the Marketing Team walks with you every step of the way. Meet each member of the team that you will work with at Ardenwoods if you decide to live here!

Sarah Marr, Marketing Director, has been with Ardenwoods since 2014 and became the Marketing Director in 2017. Her favorite part about working here is getting to know all the residents and their families. Sarah loves to travel; she has been to over 18 countries and is working her way through all of the National Parks.

Gena Duncan, Sales Associate and Public Relations Manager, has only been with Ardenwoods for two years, but has 11 years of experience in the industry. Gena splits her time marketing for both Ardenwoods and Heather Glen. When she is not working, Gena can be found spending time with her three grandkids, riding her Can-Am motorcycle, and camping.

Our Marketing Coordinator, Marcella Gibson, came to Ardenwoods in 2017. She works to get your new home at Ardenwoods ready for your move in, according to the renovations and floor plan you select. After you move in, you will often find Marcella at many Ardenwoods events, taking pictures for our social media and socializing with our residents and their families. Marcella plays an active role in her church and loves going to concerts, sporting events, and the movies.

Our Marketing Team is always excited to welcome you to the close-knit communities of Ardenwoods and Heather Glen! We’ll do our best to make sure you enjoy your exploratory visit and hope that you’ll consider our amazing retirement community for the next phase of your life. We’re sure you’re going to love it here!

Ardenwoods Resident Spotlight: Elaine Marten

A Foundation of Love and Learning

Originally from New York, Elaine Marten has accomplished and is still accomplishing much in her life. Often found in an exercise class or at the swimming pool, she enjoys staying active and dons the most interesting outfits that range from fun colors to eccentric patterns. Intelligent and coming off very demure, she claims she “isn’t very interesting,” but sources say quite the opposite! Our discussion consisted of a number of topics, from her life’s work, to technology, to faith, to academia, family life, the resilient human spirit, and volunteering and sustainability efforts.

With a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Rochester in NY, Elaine is a very intelligent lady, and her life’s work has focused on sustainability and water conservation. The author of a number of publications while she was still in grad school, she worked industrially for Eastman Kodak most of her career before leaving at the age of 50. She said that what drew her to the sciences was simply, “I had an affinity for math and science … I was good at them and have found that accomplishing anything in those fields is very rewarding. I think you sort of have to feel that way about your life’s work. It served me well.”

The granddaughter of Italian migrants on the maternal side of her family and of German migrants on the paternal side of her family, she recalls her family life as “very warm, loving, and supportive,” and had “a wonderful relationship” with her parents and grandparents. Her father passed in his mid 60s, leaving her mother devastated, but as women tend to do, “we bravely pushed ahead — my mother met and married a lovely widower, and they had a happy life until both passed around the age of 80.”… Read More

How to Have a Sense of Belonging in Your Retirement Community

It is a well-known fact that as people age, they often withdraw from others, whether it be because of health issues, not wanting to be a “burden” on others, or simply think they are too “old” to make any positive or lasting changes. Many older adults may become anxious, depressed, and lonely as they age, and may begin to simply give up on life, choosing to isolate and “stay out of the way.”

There can be a loss of “purpose” as people get older, as their kids are grown and living their own lives, they may be retired from a lifelong career, and diminishing physical abilities may keep them from doing things they love.

Feeling at home in a retirement community can help your loved ones see that there are still people who love and care for them and want them to succeed. People think that living at a retirement community is a sign they can’t do things for themselves, but that is far from the truth.

Retirement communities offer a unique opportunity to get involved with volunteer work, campus events, and classes that focus on specific hobbies. There are many ways to have a sense of belonging at a retirement community and we’re going to discuss that below.