No More Snow Shoveling for Us!

By Ann Burnside Love

Right now as I’m writing, major areas of our country are dealing with heavy snow and ice, and The Weather Channel is constantly talking about, and showing us, places where the accumulation has made transportation particularly difficult and dangerous.

Accidents along major highways: 30-some cars skidded into a tight mess that looks, unfortunately, like a junkyard. Overturned 18-wheelers. People bundled up as they try to shovel snow that’s building up faster than they can shovel. Airports are delaying hundreds of flights, again experiencing massive tie-ups and stranded people.

And I’m looking out the window behind my computer, enjoying a gorgeous multi-day snowfall that’s made the trees into a fairyland. I can see my car down in the parking lot, the seventh totally blanketed mound from the left — and happily my name is already on the list to have my car dug out when it lets up. Soon I’ll go down to the dining room for a hot lunch and all the hot green tea I want!

Back in the early ‘90s, when Love & Company first became involved with senior living, one of the main features prospective residents were interested in was “No More Snow Shoveling.” Everyone talked about it in the same breath they talked about not having to cook. One of our newspaper ad series featured individuals gleefully listing all the things they no longer had to do related to snow and other challenges.

In my early days as an entrepreneur, my unofficial job description as president and founder included shoveling out our city sidewalks and walkways to and from our parking lot so clients and staff could get to our office. It was a big day when my son joined the company and took over “everything necessary to allow the creative people to create,” which, when we were far smaller, included snow shoveling. (He’s now president, we have dozens of employees, and he still gets that job on urgent occasions like today.)

The point is, most of us have done a lot of snow shoveling in our time, certainly at our own homes, driveways and around our cars, thus knowing a lot more about snow shoveling than we care to experience as seniors. And we know that for many seniors shoveling snow is a major, and actually dangerous, concern — and one of the most important reasons they choose retirement communities. Snow truly was one of my own big reasons to move, and just as big a reason for lots of my fellow residents and friends.

If you live in a climate where snow is one of your challenges, it makes good sense to put “No More Snow Shoveling” close to the top of your “Why I Chose a Full Service Retirement Community” list. If you’re already there, congratulations! Then you, too, can look out the window and find snow a gorgeous happening — before you go to the gym, the swimming pool or the library — while looking forward to your next delicious hot meal! Carry on!

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Ann’s new blog appears here for you to enjoy every Thursday. Comments or questions are always welcome!