Move toward an exciting lifestyle with small-town charm and friendly neighbors
Like most journeys, Raúl Ramírez’s road to Highland Springs materialized one step at a time. “I’d been thinking about independent living communities when a friend and former coworker invited me to Highland Springs for lunch and a tour,” says Raúl, a retired creative advertising director for J. C. Penney.
Conveniently located in North Dallas, Highland Springs is managed by Erickson Living, one of the nation’s largest and most respected networks of continuing care retirement communities. The scenic 89-acre campus offers the small-town charm of friendly neighbors, convenient amenities, and around-the-clock security, all without the hassles of owning a home.
“I have always wondered how my life was going to be as I got older,” says Raúl. “I’m a social person, and I want to have friends to meet for dinner, or to go to the theater or the opera together. I live by myself, and I’m okay with being by myself; I just don’t want to be lonesome.”
A life of adventure
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Raúl moved to New York City after he graduated from college.
“I’m adventurous,” he says. “I wanted to do something different and living in New York City was one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve ever had.” In New York, Raúl was hired by J. C. Penney.
“When the company moved to Texas, I was invited to move down,” he says. “I loved New York, but living in New York without a job wasn’t going to do it for me, so I moved to Texas."
Raúl spent 30 years with J. C. Penney and retired in 2008.
“The work was rewarding, exciting, challenging,” he says. “It was a great experience.”
When Raúl retired, he sold his home and moved to a one-bedroom apartment in Dallas’ Uptown district, a dynamic neighborhood known for its eclectic restaurant and bar scene.
“I moved there because the neighborhood is alive,” says Raúl. “It’s busy all the time. I like to live in a community that has a lot going on, so it was a wonderful neighborhood. It has a seven-mile walking trail, and I do a lot of walking.”
As much as he loved his Uptown neighborhood, Raúl was keeping an eye to the future. He wanted that same vibrant lifestyle in a community where he can thrive well into his retirement years, a community just like Highland Springs.
“My first impression of Highland Springs was how welcoming everyone was, from the administrators to the sales team to the resident ambassadors,” says Raúl. “The sales team took us around to look at apartments in different residence buildings and we got to see the amenities like the bank and the medical center. Then we had a wonderful lunch and got a taste of what people who live here eat on a daily basis.”
Join the priority list
After his initial visit, Raúl was ready to take the next step. He joined the priority list, putting down a fully refundable $1,000 deposit to reserve his place in line for the apartment home of his choice.
Joining the priority list comes with a multitude of additional benefits, including invitations to exclusive parties and workshops designed to help you through the downsizing process. Priority list members are also the first to learn of community news, updates, and special offers. As a priority list member, Raúl connected with Highland Springs resident ambassadors, those in a unique position to offer an insider’s look at life within the community.
“I met some ambassadors who invited me to dinner and Sunday brunch at Highland Springs,” says Raúl. “Through them, I met other residents and learned about all the activities offered at the community. I found out there are groups that go to the theater together, with transportation arranged so you don’t have to worry about Dallas traffic. Highland Springs had what I was looking for, in other words. That’s why I was looking forward to moving to this community.”
Choose an apartment
When the sales team at Highland Springs unveiled plans to priority list members for Lakeview Pointe, a new residence building scheduled to open in the spring of 2020, Raúl was ready to move forward. He selected a one-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath Bridgeport-style apartment in the new building.
Cindy Gay, personal moving consultant at Highland Springs, visited Raúl in his Uptown apartment to assist with space planning for his new apartment. As personal moving consultant, Gay offers complimentary coordination of moving resources for anyone moving to Highland Springs, including referrals to trusted real estate agents and senior move managers.
“I was lucky, because I had already downsized,” says Raúl. “Cindy looked around my apartment and told me I didn’t need to get rid of anything. It would all fit in the Bridgeport.”
Move in, start living
Raúl moved to Highland Springs in June 2020. “I have been very happy here,” he says. “There were no surprises because the sales team and the resident ambassadors did such a good job giving me all the information I needed.”
Moving in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic put a hold on the typical social opportunities a new resident experiences, but Raúl is already starting to see the vibrant lifestyle he was hoping to find.
“I’ve enjoyed meeting new people at dinner and while I’m out walking around the lake,” says Raúl. “One thing I’ve learned about this community: people will help you any way they can. It gives you a good feeling.”
Photo: Raúl Ramírez began planning a move to Highland Springs in 2018. Step by step, he moved toward a fulfilling lifestyle at the North Dallas community.
Written by Sara Martin
About Highland Springs: Highland Springs, one of 20 continuing care retirement communities developed and managed by Erickson Living®, is situated on a scenic 89-acre campus in North Dallas, Texas. The not-for-profit community of more than 1,150 residents and 520 employees is governed by its own board of directors, affiliated with National Senior Campuses, Inc., who provide independent financial and operational oversight of Highland Springs. Additional information can be found at http://
