Thornton Oaks Residents Speak

Joanne and Lowell Bollinger

When it was time for Joanne and Lowell Bollinger to sell their old farmhouse and select a retirement community, they had four criteria:

• They wanted to live in a college town, in New England.
• The town had to have a population of between 20,000 and 25,000.
• They wanted to be within walking distance of downtown.
• Their new home had to have a mountain view.

“Growing up in India, Lowell enjoyed views of the Himalaya,” explains Joanne. “He thought it would be nice to gaze on mountains again. But Thornton Oaks ‘ appeal was too great. We gave up the mountains and have no regrets.

“We looked at a number of places. Thornton Oaks was just so comfortable and homelike. We particularly like the small size of the community, the way it’s laid out and the fact that it will never grow any larger.

“We love the access to miles of hiking trails—right from our back door. Thornton Oaks’ trail system abuts that of the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust. We especially enjoy walking through the woods from our house to the Crystal Spring farmer’s market.

“We also love living in a community of people with such accomplished lives. The intellectual curiosity and mental vitality is in itself quite stimulating.” A former voice teacher, Joanne, has rekindled her study of the piano. She enjoys practicing Chopin, Bach and Broadway show tunes to, “keep life interesting.”