‘The Greatest Place to Live’

Peggy Hovermale was drawn to Asbury Solomons by her love of the water and fond childhood memories of fishing on Solomons Island with her father. Now, the Silver Spring native loves it when her grandchildren visit and they all head down to the river to kayak, fish off the pier or net fish along the beach.

“They think this is the greatest place to live,” Peggy says. So does she.

 

Questions?  Have lunch with a resident ambassador and get them answered by someone who’s been in your shoes. Contact us and write “lunch with resident” in the comments box.

Growing circle of friends and opportunities

“Asbury welcomes you onto a campus, but they also give you many opportunities to join the larger community,” Peggy says. She has forged strong connections through volunteering at Anne Marie Garden and Calvert Marine Museum, her church and her membership in a local artists guild.

Peggy discovered Asbury Solomons when it was under construction and in 2004 she became a resident of the retirement community before she had even retired.

More affordable than Silver Spring house

“I haven’t regretted a day of it. My house would lose shingles or I’d need to get the mortar on the chimney repointed,” she says. “There was always something. I figured up what it would cost me to move versus stay in my house and it was actually less to move to Asbury Solomons. If I lived in my old neighborhood, I would be paying to go to the gym. Here, you have a pool and classes of any kind – yoga, zumba, balance. And you can take the high-impact aerobics here and get completely out of breath. They don’t take it easy on you!”

She has enjoyed watching the campus change and grow as new residents joined and enhancements such as the TopSide Pub were added. “And eating in the dining room with its river view is a luxury to me,” she says. “You see some spectacular sunsets.”

Peace of mind is part of the package

Peggy has also benefited from the security and health care services that are an important part of Asbury’s benefits. During a hip replacement, she received nursing and rehab services without the inconvenience of having to leave her home and her support system of friends.

Peace of mind is included in other ways, she notes. During storms and blizzards, “you have no worries,” Peggy says. “You can head downstairs to the Pub with friends for a meal. You don’t worry that you’ll lose electricity. And there’s no need to pay someone to shovel you out or repair a damaged roof. All of that is part of the package.”