A Perfect Fit for this Doylestown Couple

Downsizing from a spacious suburban single home to a two-bedroom apartment in an upscale retirement community presents a number of challenges, not the least of which is figuring out what is worth keeping and what needs to go.
But when Inez and Norman Bing, a Doylestown couple moved to Pennwood Village in Newtown, the process was both enjoyable and liberating.
“We knew we were creating the rest of our lives,” said Inez Bing. “It was a lot of fun.”
While the Bings, married for 52 years, didn’t follow the more common route of swapping the large single-family home for a condo or townhouse once they became empty nesters, they did decide it was time for the many benefits that come with “rightsizing” a couple of years ago.
But, before that lifestyle choice there was another - building a new, larger home. “We just wanted a change, just for the fun of it. We upsized before downsizing and it all turned out to be rightsizing,” said Inez Bing.
“Building that house was a very happy and creative time for Norman and me. We had never experienced anything quite like it before and loved every moment,” she added. They lived in the Buckingham home for 18 years after raising their two sons, Michael and Chris, in their Doylestown Township home.
As time passed, however, the pair increasingly thought of the future, asking themselves, as so many seniors do, “who’s going to take care of us?” explained Inez, who worked as an elementary school teacher in Philadelphia, before becoming a guidance counselor in the North Penn School District, and then a bereavement counselor in Doylestown. Norman had a long career as a financial advisor analyst with Merrill Lynch.
It was among the thought-provoking questions that propelled the Bings to begin their next journey. It was time, they agreed, to leave their much-loved, 3,800-square foot, 4 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom on a half-acre home for something smaller. They were ready for a simpler life and a community where they would find the peace of mind they now wished for.
“We wanted to be part of something, make friends and have our future needs all taken care of,” explained Inez Bing.
The couple – both are 77 – have found that and more in a beautifully appointed 1,400-square foot two-bedroom apartment at Pennswood Village close to Newtown, a continuing care retirement community for residents 65 and over.
The Bings said downsizing has given them the freedom to enjoy their senior years without the stress of maintaining a home. Knowing they have the benefits of a continuum of health care at Pennswood has removed those uncertainties that often keep people up at night, said Inez

“Rightsizing for us at Pennswood has offered us a new world of friendships and a community in which we can relax and thrive,” she said.
Giving themselves six months to plan, transitioning to their new life went smoothly, said Inez, who is highly organized by nature. With the aid of a computer application provided by Pennswood that let them get a virtual view of their new home’s floor plan and room sizes, they were able to take their time choosing what furniture they wanted to keep and what they would no longer need. The app allowed them to design their new home to meet their unique needs, an opportunity both said they were very grateful for.
The couple, for example, looked at what they used in their kitchen, family room and bedroom. They got rid of their bulky living room and office furniture but kept their French country dining table and chairs, re-covered some furniture, and bought a sofa bed. In the end, Inez estimated they got rid of about one-third of their belongings.“I really enjoyed it,” Inez said, of the downsizing process. “We just really wanted to make it comfortable for us, and we did.”
Because the apartments are gutted before new residents move in, Inez was able to choose the kitchen cabinets, countertops and vanities they wanted. Most of the rooms are painted in various blue-gray tones. The Bings use one of the two bedrooms as an office but with a pullout sofa and full bath, it also works well to accommodate overnight guests. With an airy “morning room” where they enjoy Sunday morning coffee while reading the newspaper, the Bings have plenty of space to be comfortable but not so much that they feel overwhwelmed.
Living in the Pennswood Village community and being a part of something so meaningful and expansive, makes rightsizing for us even better,” said Inez.
Norman practices yoga five times a week, while Inez said she’s enjoying pottery classes and the community’s two swimming pools and fully equipped fitness center. Although the pandemic has posed challenges to travel, there are many concerts, museum trips and other outings available, with transportation provided.
“We love living here, surrounded by all of this natural beauty without having to maintain it. And, after preparing daily meals for many years, I delight in meals prepared by the chef and dining staff,” Inez said.
“We’re living our best lives.”

Freda R. Savana is a regular contributor to Senior Living.

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