Birds of paradise

I think that the bird of paradise flower is well named.   

In 1969 I began studying at Northern Michigan University. I lived in Hunt Hall, one of its many dorms. I had a roommate and two suitemates.  Our room contained a set of bunk beds, a desk and chair for each of us, and a closet along the entrance from the hallway. We shared a bathroom with the two guys who lived in the next room.  Space was limited, but we didn't feel constrained. There was actually so much more to our residence than where we slept.  

Hunt Hall had a lobby, generally with a worker on duty behind the desk. It had comfortable  sofas and chairs available in a common area and mailboxes for the students.  In the basement were ping-pong tables and plenty of room for events. At the center of the quad of dorms was the cafeteria that provided most of our meals.

Hunt Hall was just one of a number of buildings that housed students.  I lived on the second of three floors. I quickly became familiar with my building and soon began exploring the other dorms as I met people in classes and we visited one another's rooms.

I loved living there. Once I had paid the tuition and room charges, my place on campus was assured for the year.  Most of my society was made up of people of roughly my own age. There were concerts, football and basketball games to attend, a library, a swimming pool, and a host of other activities available. I felt at home anywhere on campus. 

N.M.U. was like a refuge from the real world in some ways. Viet Nam was going on and other young people I knew were already out in the mainstream, earning a living as best they could.  My life by comparison was safe, ordered, and definitely pleasant. The four years I spent there were wonderful. I enjoyed learning. My major was biology. 

Now, just over 50 years later, I began living at Waitakere Gardens. Jeanne and I live in the Atrium, one of its many buildings. Our apartment is small, but we've come to realize that it is every bit as big at it needs to be. We have a kitchen, our living room, our bedroom, bathroom and even a balcony. Closets are sufficient. And there is so much more to our residence than just our apartment.  

Our lobby downstairs is always staffed in case we have questions or an emergency. There are comfortable sofas and chairs in the common areas and the mailboxes are nearby. At one end of the Atrium, our cafe stands ready to provide whatever meals we order. (And they deliver; at no charge.)  

We think that our Atrium is the best building to live in of all those that make up the Retirement Village. We live on the second of three floors. We are exploring the other buildings as we meet other folks and visit one another's apartments.  

We are enjoying life here. We have paid in full for our apartment and have the right to live here for the rest of our lives.  Most of our society is made up of people of roughly our own age. We attend concerts, movies, and sporting events. We have a library, a swimming pool and other activities available to us.  

Waitakere Gardens feels like a kind of refuge from the world. Our working lives are behind us and receding further each day. We are in a gated community that provides a high level of comfort, culture and security. Our monthly bills are automatically paid. We have access to a van service. 

I still enjoy learning. My range of interests has expanded.   

I have come to realize that our lives here in many ways mirror my life in Hunt Hall.  Just like my dorm room was then, our apartment here and now is but one component of our actual home. 

But there is one big difference between my dorm room so long ago and our apartment. Jeanne and I are together here. Life is good. 

We once thought we might become 'snowbirds' in our retirement, and divide our time each year between Michigan and some southern state. Instead, here we are living year round on our south sea island.  We've become 'birds of paradise' instead. Go figure.   🐦🐦    -djf