Every Night Is Date Night For Monarch Landing Couple
"Our move-in date is July 18th and that's our new anniversary. It's the anniversary we're going to celebrate the most," said Mary Ann Krajewski. Married to Joseph Krajewski for 44 years, Mary Anne said that since they moved to Monarch Landing last summer, "every night is date night. It's just lovely."
Mary Anne first fell in love with Monarch Landing when she viewed it through a professional eye ten years ago. The senior living community in Naperville had just been completed and Mary Anne, who is a trained nurse and was a professional marketer for a skilled nursing facility, toured it with some of her peers. "We were looking at different retirement communities. Monarch Landing was the first that actually had all of the amenities," she said. "I told Joe, 'if we ever get to retire in a place like that, Monarch Landing is where I want to go."
When the Krajewskis decided last year that they were ready to make a move, Mary Anne fell in love with Monarch Landing all over again. Visiting on what was this time a personal level, she recalled, "It took about a half an hour to decide. In my heart, I knew as soon as we walked in. We were greeted, we looked around, and I immediately felt at peace. I felt like this was home, this was right. That this was a good fit. I told Joe that this is where we need to be."
Mary Anne, who has an autoimmune disease, credits her new home for helping her maintain good health. "My prognosis had been really poor. But now they're finding that relieving stress is a big factor in controlling my illness, as are exercise and good nutrition. That's what I'm doing here and I feel great," she said. "And we like the idea of continuing care. If one of us needs more care, we'll be easily able to access it. That's very important."
Mary Anne dove right into the active lifestyle at Monarch Landing. "I'm 65 years old and learning to play the drums. It's a ball," she said. "If we were living in our own home and the weather was bad, we'd be sitting there just looking at each other and not knowing what to do. Instead, today for instance, we went to a meeting, then I went to a drumming class, we had a great lunch, met with a woman who is thinking about moving in and we went and listened to a program about Charles Dickens. Tonight we're going to dinner with 36 of our closest friends and then we'll go to our apartment and watch a movie and have a cup of tea. There's an enormous difference between what our life would have been like at our house and what it is like here. The richness and quality of life is so much better and that's what I want."
Joe is taking his time transitioning. "I'm exploring different programs and activities," he said adding that he goes to lectures, computer club and Bible study and plans to participate in the workshop.
Moving out of their house into their new home at Monarch Landing was admittedly a big step for the couple. "We have been good at making moves that are good for us. We research and think things out and it was just time. And it's good to go in first class rather than coach," said Joe.
Monarch Landing is a Life Plan Community located on a scenic campus in Naperville, Illinois-named "one of America's best places to live and retire" by Modern Maturity, and "the best city for early retirement" by Kiplinger. Monarch Landing offers independent living, promoting a vibrant life style for active seniors. The Springs at Monarch Landing offers assisted living memory support, enriched living, respite, rehabilitation and skilled nursing services, thus providing complete continuing care for seniors. Monarch Landing is owned by Senior Care Development and managed by Life Care Services. For additional information visit www.WelcomeToMonarchLanding.com or www.TheSpringsatMonarchLanding.com.