When we last spoke with Jim and Valerie, who joined the Blue Skies of Texas family in 2017, they were busy pursuing passions such as traveling and sampling the many clubs and classes at our San Antonio senior living community.

We recently caught up with this unstoppable pair of Blue Skies residents and learned that their story has only grown more colorful over the years. Let’s check in to see how they’re continuing to fill their lives with meaningful projects, enriching activities, and endless opportunities for fun in our community—and around the world.

BUILDING TOGETHERNESS AND INDIVIDUAL PURSUITS INTO THEIR DAILY ROUTINE

“Blue Skies is fantastic for couples,” Valerie beams. “You can take off in different directions and do your own thing and still come back home and catch up with each other.” On most days, Valerie wakes up about two hours before Jim and spends her morning quiet time checking in with loved ones across the pond. “I still have family in England, so we keep each other up to date through emails and WhatsApp,” she explains.

After breakfast (including toast with English marmalade) Valerie leaves Jim to his gardening and computer hobbies while she heads to the fitness center to attend one of our many exercise classes. Her favorites? Zumba, Tai Chi, Total Conditioning, and line dancing. She also notes that whenever she returns from a trip to England, she’s always welcome to join our Seasoned Soles Walking Club for a brisk stroll to work off her jet lag.

Valerie makes it a point to give her mental wellness some attention too. “I’m learning a complex form of Canasta,” she explains. “It helps keep those brain cells active.” She and Jim also recently attended an iPhone class given by one of the many tech-savvy residents at Blue Skies. “I never realized how much one small phone can do,” she laughs.

Although Valerie enjoys filling her days with activities she loves, she looks forward to reconnecting with Jim for dinner. “Tonight, we’re meeting friends in the Roadrunner Lounge,” she says.

CULTIVATING ZINNIAS—AND SENIOR WELLNESS

Jim may have a reputation for sleeping late but make no mistake, he gets more than his share of exercise working in our community garden several times each week. “We had a wonderful crop of zinnias—200 square feet, almost waist-high,” Jim says with pride. “A dozen or so different vegetables were also part of the mix, and I was able to share about 90% of them with our neighbors. It appeals to the accountant in me to grow an abundance of food from about 50 cents worth of seed.”

For Jim, gardening is a fun way to build physical wellness into his daily routine, and he’s proud of the fact that he rarely uses the elevator when he leaves the couple’s seventh-floor apartment home. “It’s almost like having a dog, because the plants aren’t going to take care of themselves,” he explains. “There’s no room for laziness. I have to make sure everything’s watered and tended to, so it forces me to get outside and move around. Right now, I’m trying to keep the daylilies and irises from succumbing to the summer heat.”

When he’s not nurturing plants, Jim puts his financial savvy to good use. He’s served as treasurer for the Blue Skies Garden Club and Bike Club and is an active member of our community’s Finance Committee. Jim will also join Valerie for a yoga class, as long as it’s not too early in the morning. “On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the class starts at 11, so I only have to get up one hour earlier,” he laughs.

SAVORING COMMUNITY LIFE WITH FRIENDS OLD AND NEW

Jim and Valerie cherish the bonds they formed with folks who joined our San Antonio retirement community near the same time they did. “Going through the experience of downsizing, moving in, and finding our way around together really helped these friendships ‘click’ early on,” Valerie explains. “Now, almost ten years in, they’re like family.” 

Jim points out, though, that one of the best things about community life at Blue Skies is the opportunity to meet new faces. “People here come from all walks of life and have such interesting backgrounds,” he says. “One of my favorite things is grabbing a cup of coffee or a quick meal at the Village Café Bistro, where people are always coming and going. It’s a great way to mingle.”

The pair has also maintained their commitment to service throughout their nearly 10 years at Blue Skies. Jim is on the board of trustees for their Church Council, while Valerie finds great satisfaction volunteering with the Blue Skies hospice care program, as well as projects organized by her church. “We put together a very successful back-to-school shoe drive for local children, as well as a fund drive to support families affected by the recent floods in Central Texas.”

WANDERLUST WITHOUT WORRIES

Before moving to Blue Skies, Jim and Valerie were quite the globetrotters—Jim alone has traveled to more than 80 countries. And now, the hassle-free lifestyle at our San Antonio senior living community makes stamping their passports easier than ever. “Having a big, lovely home is nice, but it comes with lots of responsibility,” Valerie says. “We love having the freedom to pack up and leave without worrying about what’s happening with our house or yard.”

This year, the couple’s travels took them to destinations as diverse as Tahiti, Romania, North Macedonia, and Albania. Valerie also has plans to fly solo to England for a family wedding. “I can rest easy knowing that the house will be cleaned, and Jim won’t have to worry about clearing out the gutters or mowing the lawn while I’m gone,” she says. “It’s a real weight off my shoulders,” Jim adds. “Blue Skies takes care of everything, even something as simple as changing a lightbulb, which is great, considering I have zero mechanical ability,” he laughs.

Sometimes, Jim and Valerie are the ones hosting travelers. In March, Jim celebrated a milestone birthday (we won’t say which one) with a visit from Valerie’s family from the UK. “They loved the River Walk and all the other tourist hot spots in San Antonio. Plus, there are guest rooms right here in The Towers, so we didn’t have to search for a hotel,” Valerie says.

The couple’s next big milestone? Celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary in 2026. We’re sure that their life will continue to sparkle at Blue Skies for many years to come.

Your Story as a Blue Skies Resident Can Begin Right Now

Jim has some parting advice for folks thinking about moving to a senior living community like Blue Skies in San Antonio. “Don’t put it off—and don’t be afraid of downsizing. You won’t miss all your piles of stuff, and you’ll get to enjoy the ‘playtime’ of your life, just like us.”

Schedule your tour today and discover how your daily routine could be ripe with possibility. Call (866) 553-5389.