There's something magical about natural light. Sunshine can lift your spirits, even on the shortest winter days.
That's why so many prospective Maris Grove residents gravitate to the Jackson floor plan. The extra-large two bedroom, two bath, corner apartment home features almost double the standard number of windows throughout, including one in the eat-in kitchen.
Spacious, open, and light-filled, the Jackson is ideal for entertaining. The second bedroom makes a perfect guest suite, office, or computer/craft room. Everyone has added privacy, thanks to the second bathroom. And the expansive living/dining room can host a crowd.
With all this space, downsizing might be easier than you think.
The perfect size
Long before they retired, Nancy and Dave Gale scouted communities and agreed that Maris Grove would be their home someday. They were on the community's priority list for years. They often visited friends who lived in a Jackson, and they liked everything about it.
"I always felt we could live comfortably in one," Nancy says. "It was the only place we saw that gave me that feeling."
When Dave passed away, Nancy needed a manageable, maintenance-free home and wanted the active social life Maris Grove offered. "I didn't want to stay in my large home alone," she says. "I was finally ready to move."
While she loved the Jackson, she was curious about the new buildings opening at the time. "I toured a unit with a screened porch and huge rooms," she recalls. "I was dazzled by how gorgeous it was and put down a deposit that day. But when I got home, I thought, 'What have I done? I don't need that enormous apartment!" she laughs. "I called the next day, and they kindly cancelled my reservation."
Meant to be
Several weeks later Nancy called to thank the sales office again for understanding her change of heart. "As luck would have it, a Jackson model with a patio had just become available," she says. "I thought, 'There's no way home styles like this are going to come up that frequently,' so I grabbed it. I absolutely love it. It's the perfect space for me and my best friend, Abby."
Abby, aka Abbygale, is a rescue dog that Nancy says is "part long-haired dachshund, part devil/angel, depending on the day. She's my best friend. The green space is perfect for her, and the Jackson is perfect for me."
Since Nancy moved in March 2019, the retired nurse has found the transition easy, thanks to a hallway filled with welcoming, friendly neighbors. "[My neighbors], and the social life in general, have made it so easy to start this new chapter," she says.
No matter what size home you're looking for, Maris Grove has lovely one- and two-bedroom options to choose from.