LIFE AT 15 CRAIGSIDE

Although I've now been retired for 26 years, I still enjoy Saturday the most.  Don't know why, but it still feels like a day off.  Every day these days are a day off, so it shouldn't matter, but.

Not only am I retired, but I live in a senior's community, where, for an entrance fee and monthly charge, there is nothing for me to do, for we are served three meals/day, apartment weekly cleaned with bed linen changed and new towels, have guards and a lot of cameras to protect us, numerous activities to keep us occupied, or not, for I tend to mostly avoid them, and lifetime security, for they have promised to take care of me until I die.  Of course, they won't let you in unless your finances are such that they are secure.

You would think I am joking, but after returning from our recent trip, where one portion was a long Oceania cruise from Yokohama to Vancouver, I came to a conclusion that the best place to eat was at 15 Craigside.  Oceania is known for its fine cuisine, and some others like Regent Seven Seas, Crystal and Seabourn are similarly excellent, but they all eventually get to seem like eating in a cafeteria, even though they have specialty restaurants.  15 Craigside ascends because the main focus is on "local" food.  Everyone, no matter where you live, you have your own kind of local food, so this advantage can also be yours.

There is a plethora of independent living facilities for the elderly (62 and over).  I've explained the differences in various postings, but to get a more universal perspective, read this article.

When you reach my age, any day could be your final one.  The odds for serious ailments increase and you now physically can't do the things you once could.  Thus, decisions need to be made about whether to go out to enjoy life, or stay at home and feel safe.  We don't go out to eat much, but I do go shopping for enhancement ingredients for what I take-out from the dining room.  We do have two trips planned:  in October to San Diego and Paso Robles, the former because we need to land at an airport from Honolulu, plus their zoo, and the latter to create a Petite Syrah pipeline to Hawaii.  Not too much because four cases of those Stanford wines will be coming this Fall.

So with that my life at 15 Craigside.

At the heart of the Arcadia Family of Companies is a mission to enrich the lives of Hawai‘i’s kūpuna by providing communities where they can thrive with purpose, surrounded by trusted, caring teams. One of the most heartwarming and impactful examples of this mission in action is the annual 15 Craigside Summer Camp, a unique intergenerational experience that brings together residents and the children of employees for three unforgettable days of learning, teaching, and aloha.

I rarely go down to the dining room for my meals.  I pay $1.50 to takeout food, and enhance my meal.  Pepperjack Sparkling Shiraz and Huli-Huli Chicken.

Gifts from companions from their Philippines tour.

Diamond Head at Oceans with two of the Philippine tour members.

African Blood Lily in July of 2025.  There have been annual blooms for 43 years! Here is a photo taken at my former Craigside 2101 penthouse, followed by photos and a video of these flowers at 15 Craigside.

And, yes, there are a lot graves to view if you live on the mountain side of the building.  I reside on the ocean side, so see downtown Honolulu and the Pacific Ocean.  Lunch at Teishoko.

Chicken Katsu and sashimi at 15C.

I splurged on this lunch, getting an unagi bento and otoro sashimi ($99/pound).

15 Craigside had a bon dance.

Reverend David provided a Buddhist blessing.

15 Craigside president, Irene, did the introductions.

The bon dance.

More.

There were many more dances.

To close, what was the #1 song 50 years ago?  On 9August1975, Jive Talkin by the Bee Gees.  

• This was their first number one hit in four years.  
• The song replaced One of These Nights by the Eagles.  

• 
  My favorite of this group was their 1975 Hotel California.  Won the Grammy for Record of the Year, and was the best-selling song for the Eagles.
• What was particularly special about this release is that it was around 6 minutes and 30 seconds long.  The average song is in the range of 3 minutes.  The shortest Billboard #1 hit was the 1960 Stay by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, which clocked in at 1min36sec.
• Thus, a 6min30sec disc was most unusual.  However, one reason why it might have become so popular was that disc jockeys on radio could get a bathroom break.

• 
  I close with these songs because tomorrow I will ask, what was the #1 song a century ago?

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