Linden Ponds Couple Glad They Didn't Wait to Move

Hingham, MA — Susan and Bill Humberd lived in a four-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom, house in Norwell, MA. But they were finding they didn't need all that space. That's why the couple, who are 71 and 72, moved to Linden Ponds, an Erickson Living community in Hingham, MA, in April.

"We sat down and said, 'What rooms do we actually live in?' and that is what we purchased," Susan says.

At Linden Ponds, the Humberds live in a Hastings-style apartment home. With two bedrooms, one-and-a-half baths and a spacious living and dining area, their new home is all the space they need at this stage in their lives.

What really attracted the Humberds to Linden Ponds, however, was the active lifestyle and many activities offered right on campus. There are more than 100 resident-run clubs, ranging from art to fitness to politics.

In their first few months at Linden Ponds, Susan and Bill had both joined a weekly bridge group. They also volunteer to introduce prospective residents to the community. Bill is a member of the men's golf club and he plays poker with his neighbors on Tuesday nights.

"I would say don't wait too long to move," Susan says. "Come while you're able to enjoy Linden Ponds."

"We have so many residents say to us they are so happy they didn't wait to move to Linden Ponds," says Christine Hansen, sales director at Linden Ponds.  "Moving sooner rather than later allows residents to enjoy the active, vibrant lifestyle Linden Ponds has to offer for as long as possible."

The Humberds also have an active life outside of Linden Ponds. They're part of an outside bridge group and often meet friends for dinner. They have three sons and 10 grandchildren, so they also spend a lot of time with family.

"We're still active grandparents, and we spend time babysitting and having family dinners," Susan says.

Over the summer, three of the Humberds' grandkids were coming to visit them at Linden Ponds and were particularly excited to swim in the community's indoor swimming pool.

Whether they're spending time with family or traveling overseas, living at Linden Ponds means the Humberds have more time for the things they really enjoy. Linden Ponds residents enjoy maintenance-free living, so they no longer have to worry about tasks like mowing the lawn or cleaning the gutters. Residents can also dine at the community's on-site restaurants, which means less time spent grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning the kitchen.

"We're very busy," Susan says. "We haven't cooked a meal since we've been here, and we have met a lot of very nice people."

Susan and Bill also like the long-term security that Linden Ponds offers. With continuing care offered right on campus, they have the peace of mind of knowing assistance is available if they ever need it. They learned firsthand how important that is while caring for their own mothers as they aged.

"Both my husband and I had mothers who stayed in their homes way too long, so we decided we would give a gift to our boys and move while both of us were able to do the downsizing and moving on our own," Susan says.

About Linden Ponds:  Linden Ponds is a vibrant continuing care retirement community managed by Erickson Living. The 108-acre campus in Hingham, MASS., is home to more than 1,200, who are enjoying life to the fullest.