New Skyline Resident Says She Made the Right Move
For Mary Neuschwanger, this was the perfect time to find her new home.
One of Skyline’s newest residents, Mary moved into her one-bedroom nest just this February. To say she’s happy would be an understatement.
“Oh, I must have a guardian angel,” she beamed. “I moved here at just the right time and I love it!”
Mary is a retired elementary school teacher and business owner. After teaching for 14 years here in Seattle, she and her husband ran a manufacturing company. She kept the company going for another six years after he died some 10 years ago, then sold it to a Philadelphia firm. She retired and bought a condominium in the heart of downtown.
“I absolutely loved it there, right at 4th and Pike,” she said. “I could walk to movies, shopping, Pike Place Market. I had a beautiful view from there. It was hard to give that up.”
But after 10 years, she knew it would soon be time to find someplace else. As many Seattleites know, downtown was changing.
She’d considered Skyline three years earlier, but wasn’t quite ready at the time. Earlier this year, thought, she decided to make the move.
“And not a moment too soon,” she said. “Now, with the way things are, everything down there is closed, boarded up. Life as I knew it wouldn’t have been the same. I would’ve felt isolated. I would’ve been afraid to go out. I wouldn’t have felt comfortable walking.”
At Skyline, Mary says she feels safe.
“I’ve got a nice place with a wonderful view. Everything’s beautiful. Pretty much like brand new. New kitchen, and living room. The deck looks west and I can see beautiful gardens below. I feel like I’m sitting in the sky right now.
“And the staff goes above and beyond,” she added, laughing. “Always surprising you. They keep us happy and involved. Way beyond what I expected.
“There’s the gym and I do exercise three days a week. There are movies. They work really hard to keep us motivated and involved. Every once in a while there’s a knock at the door and they’re bringing us chocolate sundaes. And wine!”
And it’s not just the team members who’ve made Mary feel welcome. Residents have opened their arms, as well.
“Oh, yes, it’s harder than if you were married or had a partner, so it was hard at first,” she said. “But everywhere you go, other residents greet you and we strike up conversations. People recognize you. You’re welcome in all these groups. There’s a lot of joy here.”
Even with the necessary restrictions to keep everyone safe and healthy, Mary says she genuinely loves her new community. She still keeps in touch with young nieces and nephews and is making new friends. She feels lucky.
“Like I said, I think I’ve got a guardian angel.”
