Creaking at a Different Pace

Well, Hound is the same as always. Didn't notice any difference from my last eighty-two visits. I guess Mississippi is consistent like that. The pace of living around Hound is a lot slower than it is back home in New York. That's a good thing. For one, its usually around noon before my joints get creaky, rather than "a New York minute" after I wake up.

Since I'm off of yard duty today, as it's snowing outside (I guess no one told Mother Nature that winter ended a week ago), I thought I'd relate a story I heard down there. For those of us who are noticing that our creaky joints are getting creakier day by day and need to change their pace of living, but loathe the idea of going to a nursing home and its "hospital-like" residency, there is an answer. There are new community housing alternatives that offer the best of both worlds. These residences offer independent living, but with a supportive community and varying levels of qualified, professional care, depending on needs.

The example I was presented with was a place by the name of RiverWoods, a nonprofit community which offered many attractive options, especially for arthritis sufferers. Rather than living at the regular dog house, this community takes care of everything from maintenance to yard work, but lets you enjoy your personal space. It also offers many features that are attractive to those of us who are living with arthritis, including recreational facilities, like a large swimming pool and health club. In addition, the close proximity of these facilities means it will not be such a struggle to get on over and work those muscles. Best of all, RiverWoods is designed and priced with ordinary people and pooches in mind, not just the pure-bred set. Apartments are offered at more than reasonable prices, so that this housing is more accessible than it may seem.

Perhaps the most notable aspect of the RiverWoods community is how it began. RiverWoods was founded by two women who were growing older and realized that not enough so-called 'nursing homes' truly offered what they were looking for. This began the concept of the community, and their idea took off after years of hard work and planning. Even as we grow older and face more difficulties, hard work and persistence can always work things out (except in the case of bothersome children, they'll never learn. Ever.) This is a lesson I've taken to heart as arthritis gets me down, I know that if I just get myself to the pool or maybe take myself for a walk, my situation will improve. The difficulty of getting out there and doing it is another matter, but this is a reminder of the power of determination. Besides, I can't have my old arthritis getting me down, that just gets in the way of me being annoyed at everything else.

That said, I'm surfing off to check on a rumor about a new kennel wing (or is it paw?) being put up at RiverWoods...