After spending the past decade enjoying life in Florida, Linda and Vern Garrison have found their way back to the Midwest, just in time for the holidays—and they couldn't be more thankful to be “home.” Originally from Cincinnati, the couple settled into an apartment in Bethany Village in Centerville. “At 92 and 80, we knew we needed to think realistically about the future," Linda explains. "Bethany Village met all of our criteria. It’s beautifully maintained, there are so many activities, and it doesn’t feel like you’re growing old here."
Both Linda and Vern knew it was time to make a change and move back to Ohio. "We loved Florida because of the friendships and activities, but it was time to come back north," Linda shares. "Frankly, I missed the Midwest weather,” she jokes, noting that she missed having all four seasons. “But most importantly, I missed being close to family. All of our kids are building their lives and to be able to experience what they're doing is a wonderful blessing. I'm so happy to be closer to them and our wonderful grandchildren.”
For Vern, the community’s amenities and ease of living make Bethany Village the perfect fit. "My favorite part is that I don’t have to clean up after dinner," he chuckles. "But seriously, the staff here are excellent, they pay attention to your needs and they keep everything extremely clean. It's a great place for someone my age to stay active, with a beautiful pond for walking and indoor spaces for winter exercise.”
Linda fell in love with watercolor painting when she and Vern lived in Florida and she even served as president of the local art club. At Bethany Village, Linda is organizing a paint-and-sip event for fellow residents. “We have an art room here and Bethany Village supplies the materials for group activities related to art,” shares Linda. “I think we're going to do a little snowy scene with a mailbox and a cardinal and maybe people can share it with people they love over the holidays.”
Since moving back to Ohio, the Garrisons have had the chance to reconnect with their family, particularly their daughter who lives nearby in Kettering. "We’re thankful to share meals and activities with our family again. Watching our great-grandson play golf has been such a joy," Linda says.
As the holiday season approaches, Linda and Vern are looking forward to their first Thanksgiving celebration with family. "We celebrated Christmas in July this year to avoid anyone traveling in bad weather, but Thanksgiving will be a special time for all of us to be together," Linda shares.
For anyone considering making a move closer to family, Linda offered some advice: “Pay attention to what your current needs are with a realistic look to the future.” She stressed the importance of finding hobbies and activities to be involved in and making sure that any move will meet those needs as Bethany Village has done for them. Find out if Bethany Village could offer you or a loved one a home, community, friendship and more at BethanyLutheranVillage.org.
"Bethany Village met all of our criteria. It’s beautifully maintained, there are so many activities, and it doesn’t feel like you’re growing old here."