Imagine living every day with total peace of mind while enjoying exclusive access to our social events, restaurants, and recreational opportunities. One way to make this dream a reality is by joining the Blue Skies of Texas Commander’s Circle.

Simply put, being in the Commander’s Circle lets you reserve a spot on the Blue Skies senior living waitlist by paying a deposit for the residence you’re interested in. The earlier you join, the higher on the list you’ll be—and you won’t lose your place in line if a residence becomes available but you’re not ready to move in. What’s more, you can enjoy many community benefits throughout your Commander’s Circle membership. You’d be hard-pressed to find another depositor program that gives you this much control over your future.

Just ask Retired Air Force Colonel Josh M. and his wife Sue, who joined the Commander’s Circle three years ago, and are eagerly anticipating their move to our San Antonio senior living community.

A MOVE DECADES IN THE MAKING

Before retirement, Josh was stationed in the personnel center at Randolph Air Force Base near San Antonio. While carrying out his duties, he had many opportunities to visit military-affiliated Life Plan Communities, and Blue Skies (known then as Air Force Village) stood apart from the crowd. “Everyone seemed so positive, and the ambiance was wonderful,” Josh explains. “The only complaint I heard is that folks wished they had moved in sooner.”

After Josh retired, his neighbor Harry McMillin, a retired colonel and the former Blue Skies/Air Force Village CEO, asked him to join the Board, where Josh still serves today. While Josh was highly impressed with the community, it would be some time before he and Sue were ready to move.

“Our original plan was to age in place,” says Sue, a retired educator and principal. “We had someone taking care of the housecleaning and yard work, so it seemed like the right move at the time. But after my hip replacement and a back surgery, we decided that a community with multiple levels of living would be the smarter way to go.”

Before they made their final choice, however, they decided to look around. “It was my good idea (I get those every now and then) to visit some other communities,” Josh explains, “and Blue Skies stood out as far as the quality of care, the different home styles, and how beautiful it is.”

The rest, as the saying goes, is history. Josh and Sue joined the Blue Skies Commander’s Circle depositor program and are now third in line for a spacious, well-appointed home in The Gardens on our West Campus.

CONNECTION, COMMUNITY, AND PERKS

For members of our Commander’s Circle, time spent on the waitlist can be (almost) as exciting as life in our retirement community. Folks can, for example, sit in on exclusive educational programs that help them prepare for move-in day. “We attended a very informative senior moving series,” Sue says. One program gave us helpful hints about downsizing, while another talked about finances and how to decide which style of home is right for us. There was also a presentation that gave us strategies for staging and selling our home.”

Social events are also part of the package—and often include an appearance from

Blue Skies President and CEO General Darrell D. Jones (Ret), who’s also a Commander’s Circle member. “Sue and I have enjoyed numerous functions for both Board members and Commander’s Circle members,” Josh says. “The food is amazing, by the way.”

“Everyone tells us how excited they are to have us as future neighbors,” Sue adds. “Once when I was having coffee here, a gentleman sat down and asked me if I played bridge. I said ‘yes,’ and he replied ‘oh, it will be great to have you here.’ So, now I have a bridge partner, and I haven’t even moved in,” she laughs.”

EAGERLY ANTICIPATING THEIR ARRIVAL

One of the perks of moving to Blue Skies is having access to a dedicated Relocation Manager who will help you enjoy the thrill of moving to a friendly retirement community without all the headaches. They’ll organize the details, coordinate with moving companies, and make sure your new home is all you expected it to be.

For Josh and Sue, that means they can spend more time eagerly planning what their first day at Blue Skies might look like. “We’ll probably grab lunch to make our presence known, then check out some of the activities. They have everything here. There’s woodworking, music, cards, games, and so much more,” Josh says. “It will be a challenge to make time for golf, which is my number one passion.”

As for Sue, she’s looking forward to giving her green thumb a workout in our community garden, and using what she grows to take her culinary skills to the next level. “One thing I love about Blue Skies is the vibrancy of the community,” she says. “Folks don’t act like they’re here for their last hurrah. It’s a thriving, engaging place, and we can’t wait to be part of it.”

SECURE YOUR SPACE AT OUR SAN ANTONIO SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

The best time to join the Commander’s Circle depositor program is between eight and ten years before you want to move to Blue Skies. That way, when the time arrives, you’ll have the best chance of securing your first choice of residence.

Schedule your tour today and learn why we’re the #1 Continuing Care Retirement Community in Texas and #7 in the country, according to Newsweek. Call 866-553-5389.