Granite is one of the most beautiful and hardest materials available, and like snowflakes, no two pieces of granite are the same. It is naturally formed when magma flows from volcanic activity then cools in combination with other minerals over millions of years, under millions of pounds of pressure. These various minerals consist of three primary components, feldspar, mica, and quartz that give granite its various colors.

Other than its wide range of colors, there are 5 reasons for choosing granite for a countertop surface:

Granite is the second hardest material on earth.
It is difficult to simply scratch the surface by ordinary utensils such as knives and forks. It is also resistant to bacteria which have a hard time permeating the surface. It has a high durability for heavy traffic and usage, and if installed properly, virtually impossible to crack or break.

Natural stone has ageless beauty.
No two pieces are identical. Granite comes in thousands of shades, patterns, and colors so you’ll be guaranteed that your countertops will be just as unique 30 years from now as they are today.

Granite makes good financial sense!
Direct importers and online shopping have provided more competition to lower prices over the years. In the long run, the cost per square foot of granite is more efficient than replacing Formica countertops every 10 years.

Easier kitchen maintenance.
Natural stone is immune to mold and mildew. It is also heat resistant, and although its not recommended, you could actually place hot pots directly on it. If installed properly, your granite countertop should have as few seams as possible. With regular sealing of those seams and surface, and a little soap and water, you can keep your granite countertops looking great.

Home value.
Granite countertops have maintained their popularity with homeowners and designers alike. They are a number one selling point if you ever decide to put your house on the market. Whether it’s in a year or in ten years – your granite will look like new even then. It’s definitely an upgrade that holds value.

According to AARP the four most accessed online activities for people over 55 are:

• Facebook
• Yahoo
• Google
• YouTube

That’s nearly a quarter of the organization’s members using Facebook and that number is increasing. With so many senior social media profiles on Facebook, the AARP provides an excellent example of how a large organization is reaching out to older, digital-savvy people. To create conversation online, the AARP focuses on sharing relevant news and inspirational stories that are of interest to people in their membership.

Many boomers are a few months or years behind on the social media craze but they are finding it to be a very valuable resource. YouTube is even becoming popular for boomer resources, information, and education. Some of this appeal for social networking for older Americans may be related to managing health issues. Blogging or researching online health forums are popular activities for some people coping with a serious illness and people living with a chronic disease are more likely to reach out for support online.

Connecting with friends and loved ones through social media is also a big reason older people will use social media. It is so much easier now to communicate with sons and daughters, and sisters and brothers who are a long distance away. Even if they are not far away, it’s simply fun to see updated pictures and posts of what relatives and friends are up to!

We all know that the baby boomer generation is huge… that it is made up of people who think and act differently than previous generations. As boomers face retirement, they will defy what we think it means to “get old.” They will eventually inundate social media and force society to rethink how the web is used and how we engage older people with newer technologies.

Sanctuary Lane Estates is located in the town of Hopkinton, which is just 26 miles west of Boston, MA. Here you will find one of the largest networks of hospitals, biotechnology companies, academic medical centers, and health IT companies in one city. Boston is THE place to cover the many changes taking place across a broad spectrum of the healthcare industry. With a reputation as a center for health care, Boston and its surrounding hospitals get high scores for the availability of specialized care for older adults.

Top Five Hospitals Near Sanctuary Lane Estates:

1. Milford Regional Medical Center
City of Milford
7 miles
15 minute drive

2. Marlborough Hospital
City of Marlborough
14 miles
23 minute drive

3. U-Mass Memorial Medical Center
City of Worcester
19 miles
26 minute drive

4. Worcester Medical Center
City of Worcester
21 miles
30 minute drive

5. Newton-Wellesley Hospital
City of Newtonville
24 miles
34 minute drive

There are few people who actually plan on going to a hospital, unless you actually work at one, but it’s reassuring to know that living in the community of Sanctuary Lane Estates has some of the best medical care only a short drive away.

The most serious disease for older adults 55+ isn’t heart disease, it’s not even cancer… it’s loneliness! It’s been shown that widows with pets are medically healthier during their first critical year of stress without a partner. A pet can relieve symptoms of depression and provide the greatest medicine that a doctor can’t prescribe…LOVE.

A therapy dog or companion pet can provide these additional health benefits:

• Reduce feelings of stress
• Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels
• Increase your sense of responsibility and alertness
• Reduce your sense of loneliness
• Increased physical activity during the day by pet grooming, dog walking, and even petting improve circulation.
• Release endorphins add joy and love in your life
• With improved overall health, decreased doctor appointments save money

Sanctuary Lane Estates is a pet friendly, adult community in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Many of our residents can enjoy walking their pets on a private cul-de-sac street as you greet neighbors and enjoy the fresh air. Hopkinton itself is also a pet friendly community holding such events as the “Paws and Claws 5K Run/Walk” through beautiful Hopkinton state park. To find out more details about pet ownership contact the Baypath Humane Society or Hopkinton Animal Control.

A purchaser of a new home in a 55 and over condo or townhome development must be aware that there’s going to be some kind of Home Owners Association, otherwise referred to as an HOA, that sets guidelines for a 55+ community. By federal law they must publish and adhere to policies and procedures demonstrating intent by the HOA to provide housing for persons 55 years of age or older. At least 80 percent of the occupied units must be occupied by at least one person who is 55 years of age or over.

Sanctuary Lane Estates understands that a home community for people of ANY age must be welcoming to all. There are all kinds of people 55 and over with many different family situations. Some started families later in life and are just looking for a stable, peaceful place to complete parenthood, and some are through that stage of life and simply have their sons and daughters visiting them on weekends. Whatever your situation may be, Sanctuary Lane Estates would like to have the opportunity to show you around the neighborhood!

The 2012 tax season is upon us and deadlines are less than a month away. If you’re reading this, maybe you’ve already completed yours, or maybe just procrastinating a little bit. In either case, filing your yearly taxes is an unavoidable responsibility. Massachusetts expects to see your federal and state return by April 17th this year. You may have visions of driving to Boston Harbor to start throwing tea around, but before you do, realize that many new tax laws are actually helpful to those 50 years of age and older. Through taking deductions that reduce your taxes owed, and by using the many exemptions that can lower your taxable income, you can enjoy a stress-free tax season. You might even enjoy a hefty return!

Many deductions are available to save money on your personal income taxes this year.
One option is deducting legal fees for retirement tax planning and medical expenses for things such as hearing aids and batteries, artificial teeth and prescription drugs. Also other claimable medical expenses: oxygen and wheelchairs. These qualified deductions usually cover life-sustaining type fees and nothing superficial or cosmetic like teeth whitening or hair transplants. Another deduction to consider is if you pay all or some of your parents’ medical bills, you can deduct those as health care expenses even if the parent doesn’t qualify as your dependent because of income rules. If you pay for a parent’s medical care and these payments add up to more than half of the parent’s support, those payments are treated as part of the taxpayer’s itemized medical costs.

Lets not forget the tax benefits of buying a new energy efficient home in Sanctuary Lane Estates. Our GreenSMART and GreenSMARTPlus homes are built through a partnership with EnergyStar, which is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. You may qualify for substantial tax credits related to buying and owning an Energy Efficient Home. It would be best to discuss these and many other current tax deductions with a tax professional or research more at IRS.gov.

A container garden, also known as a potted garden, is a great way to transform a patio,
porch, or deck into a unique living space. By accenting borders and softening hard edges, you
enhance the architecture of the building or space. Potted shrubs can easily be switched out for
colorful flowers. Plants can add life to bare walls and floors but be careful, many Home Owners
Associations (HOAs) have limits regarding exterior features such as container gardening. It
usually comes down to a matter of taste. A few basic rules to follow would be:

● Choose containers carefully. Personal choice in a container should also be tempered by
the architecture type that it is being married to.

● Use dark-colored blooming flowers in front of a light-colored house, and light-colored
blooming flowers in front of a dark-colored house.

● Individualize each pot with its own colored plant or bloom, placing too many colors in
one container can look messy.

● Select the proper size container for the proper size plant. educate yourself on the plant’s
requirements and growth expectations.

● Keep in mind the difference between decorative gardening and purposeful
gardening…some vegetable plants simply are not attractive from street view.

● You want to project a pleasant transition between your interior and exterior spaces.
Using too many containers of too many sizes will result in a cluttered “yard sale” look.

With so many products on the market for controlling a contained plantscape, it is now easier
for people who have never attempted to grow anything before to become a gardener. Deck
and container watering systems using electronic hose timers, micro irrigation, soaker hoses,
drip watering systems, and self watering pots make sure your plants are routinely watered.
Conserving that water is the next step and the type of container you choose is important.
Plastic or metal pots can get hot and dry out the soil quickly so try to avoid them. Glazed pottery
evaporates less water than unglazed pottery. Also try to choose planting containers that have
straight sides and less open space on top, remember, the more open soil space at the base of
the plant, the more water will be lost.

What you put in the container for the plant to grow in is just as important. It’s not just shopping
for dirt. Special potting soil is comprised using recipes that allow for drainage and aeration.
Gardeners will refer to some container soil as soil-less or artificial media because the actual
makeup contains peat, vermiculite, bark or coconut grounds. Water saving gel crystals and
Hydro-mats can also be used in conjunction with this media. Sometimes this material can be
expensive for larger pots or many containers so a good way to reduce the quantity needed is
to use filler in the bottom of the pot such as foam packing peanuts, crushed plastic milk jugs,
etc. These are also much better for drainage as well. The old idea of using stones or gravel as

Innovation in the furniture industry has come a long way in the last 30 years. Stores such as IKEA and Target now sell items from some of the worlds best designers. Not only are the designs sleeker, but the internal working mechanisms have been refined using computer technology to make them smaller, stronger and more lightweight. William L. Murphy patented his first fold away bed in San Francisco in 1900, and over the years this convertible concept has been applied to so much more that just beds. Coffee table tops now extend upward to become TV-trays, couches flip open to become bunk beds, ottomans convert into beds, and now there are even Dining room tables with a piano built in and armoires that contain a complete functional kitchen with all appliances including the kitchen sink!

Typical space saving designs will be a little more costly, but it is usually necessary if you are downsizing from a larger home to a smaller one. In the long run, paying extra for specialty furniture is much more cost efficient than maintaining a large family home that sits mostly empty. Futons aren’t what they used to be and blow-up mattresses are becoming extinct. Today, convertible sofas, day-beds, and even single chair-beds make it possible for overnight guests to comfortably stay in your smaller home. You can usually expect a convertible furniture piece to be one third to one half of the price more than its non-converting style. If cost is a factor, look for deals and specials in your area depending on when seasonal dorm room and studio apartment rentals are hot.

Even the furniture accessories market has become quite ingenious with their products. Shelves with coat hooks underneath of them, expandable drying racks, shower curtains with pockets, fold-away ironing boards, wall art pieces that fold into chairs, collapsible cooking tools and so much more! With the aid of computer design and improved materials the old idea of multifunctional furniture has never been easier to adapt to today’s smaller homes.

Of all of the 50 states to move to, Florida is usually the first that comes to mind, mainly because of tradition. Retirees from the New England area have been moving to Florida since it first became popular in the 1920’s as a place to escape the winter cold. It wasn’t until much later that the absence of state tax became another primary factor in retiring there. Today, this financial concern is skirted with many more ways a state can increase tax revenues. You may actually pay more than expected. Moving to that arbitrary humid place may come back to haunt you.

With that being said, let’s countdown the top 5 reasons to retire in Massachusetts:

Lobster, crab legs, and the freshest fish around are great reasons to retire in MA. Sure, other states have the ocean available to them, but some of the best catch comes from this area. And let’s not forget all of the traditional restaurants with experienced chefs and cooks that know how to prepare it just right. There’s nothing like when your seafood is caught in the afternoon, and finds it’s way to your dinner plate that same day. The health benefits of having fresh seafood available to you can also help you live a longer life. According to the American Heart Association, “Fish is a good source of protein and doesn’t have the high saturated fat that meat products do.”. The abundance of great-tasting seafood containing heart-healthy Omega-3 Fatty Acids for a longer life are a great reason to retire here.

Massachusetts is one of the oldest states in the nation, formed from the original colonization of English puritans at Plymouth. Much of the United State’s heritage stems from this state such as the pilgrims immigrating to this area on the Mayflower, the start of the American Revolutionary War, and the introduction of the Thanksgiving holiday tradition. The state was one of the first industrialized in the country leading the way in manufacturing. When industry declined, the state’s leading education system with universities such as Harvard, Boston College, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) helped transform the state into a leader of information technology and biotechnology. That type of innovation led to the “Big Dig”, one of the largest federally funded highway projects in the U.S.. Many retirees can trace their heritage to the history of Massachusetts and may find that giving up that local attachment isn’t as easy as they thought.

After living your life in the northern United States, are you sure you’re ready to trade oak trees for palm trees? Natural landscapes are so much better than prefabricated ones. Massachusetts is home to many mountain regions including the Appalachian Mountains, also named the Berkshires. Hiking & biking trails with spectacular foliage displays in the fall, downhill skiing in the winter, wildlife sanctuaries, state parks, and a beautiful moderate climate in the Spring and Summer. Maybe physical activity isn’t your thing any more; driving tours are much more interesting with scenic outlooks, and much easier to explore when they makeup your backyard

Sure, a golf course open year-round, and sunny weather everyday can be quite nice… to a point. After a while, you start to rely on a calendar to tell you what holiday is coming up instead of watching the oak leaves changing colors. In northern states, a blizzard can temporarily cripple the daily routine, but is Christmas really the same without a fresh blanket of snow on a quiet moonlit night? Stringing lights on palm trees and applying SPF-50 sunblock while decorating the house just doesn’t seem right. When you have a change of seasons you also have clothing style… you’ll have more opportunity to experiment with fashion.

Moving to a state for a warmer climate or to gain a tax break are quite common, but will you be happy? Retirement is about living well and enjoying life, and pulling yourself out of that dynamic isn’t necessarily the best idea. Moving means having less contact with the people you love. You’ll have to call the grandchildren, rather than visit them. Your sons and daughters will be too far away for those times you need each other. If you’re part of the techno-savvy crowd, you’ll be spending a lot more time video chatting on Skype, following Facebook, and talking on your I-Phone and you’ll start to realize you miss them. Before you know it, you’re booking expensive plane tickets and having layovers in airports. Old friendships won’t be the same, remember that states populated for climate reasons are also some of the most transient states. Even if you find good neighbors, chances are, they won’t be your neighbors for long. Living in Massachusetts offers easier access to your family and friends, which can lead to a much happier and stable lifestyle.

Sometimes downsizing is planned, and sometimes it is just realized by the sudden onset of events in one’s life.

Common factors that come up in the later stages of adulthood would be:

Medical Reasons
Financial planning
Lifestyle Choice

The study of gerontology has had many advances over the years but one thread remains the same, growing older is inevitable. Every person will age differently, and with their own afflictions… arthritis, asthma, heart conditions, vision loss, osteoporosis, and the list goes on. Sometimes there may be medical factors that were not natural such as our war veterans who suffered injury, or simply less mobile adults who have had accidental injuries.

In any case, property maintenance such as mowing the lawn, painting the house, and pressure washing the driveway are chores that are not possible, no longer affordable, and are good reasons to downsize to a managed adult community.

Planning ahead saves time and money. It doesn’t take long before a couple realizes they are officially “empty-nesters” and they’re carrying the costs of a large family home for only two people. Utilities, maintenance, and insurance on a large home can drain a retirement account much quicker than you think. Warren Buffet once quoted “In a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.” Not only would downsizing reduce these costs in general, but by moving into a newer, energy efficient home, you would save even more money. Maybe you’re a widow or widower receiving survivor benefits, this money should go towards making your future comfortable and happy with an alternative to traditional home ownership. It’s time for providing a larger capital base by reducing expenses and adding to your general retirement account.

Your lifestyle has changed. You raised your family and the kids have lives of their own, you don’t need a large home anymore. Maybe the neighborhood has changed and it’s not the suburbia you once knew. If your significant other has passed, you can be feel alone in that empty home of memories. Sanctuary Lane Estates can provide the tranquility of suburban life, with neighbors of a similar mindset, and everything you could want from wooded views to fine dining. Make new memories and new friends and keep living an active life.