Just a few short weeks ago, active adults in the Midwest were melting into the sidewalk on 90 degree days and praying for Indian Summer. Now, it really does seem as if the calendar and the weather have synced up. It’s November. The skies are leaden, fall color is gone and bare tree limbs click in the icy wind. And then we remember... Thanksgiving is here! And as active adults, its time to begin breaking out those old holiday traditions, and creating new ones.

This holiday is one of our favorites. Low stress, lots of great food, and casual togetherness with family and friends. While the "togetherness" piece may conflict with your “low stress” descriptor, pumpkin chiffon pie can do a lot to smooth things over. The good news is that every active adult resident of a Treplus Community has access to the fitness center and a Wellbeats fitness app to burn off those extra calories!

Around the holidays, active adults look forward to the right to host family and friends for holiday events. Treplus Communities' luxury apartment homes are the perfect place for beautiful holiday celebrations. Whatever your family’s big day might be, make the most of it with some excerpts from Treplus Communities’ guide book for active adult entertaining.

Throw Down in Spacious Luxury Apartments 

Your active adult apartment is new and needs to be broken in. Your family will enjoy getting out of their own homes to come over and enjoy yours.

Treplus Communities' elegant apartments are designed for active adult lifestyles, but everyone loves the layouts. Our single story ranch style homes have open floor plans so everything feels open and more spacious. The little ones will love toddling (or running, sliding, skating, fill in the blank) across the wood laminate floors; no bumps or stairs to impede the dark force of their movement. Just implement a “leave shoes at the door” rule if the day turns out rainy, snowy, sleety or muddy. There’s a good chance one or all of those conditions will exist on turkey day in Central Ohio and Greater Dayton.

Our kitchen/living areas are perfect for entertaining. Active adult apartments are designed for relaxed, casual living, and it’s easy to guide dinner’s progress in the kitchen while conversing with guests. Sight lines from the kitchen will also enable you to spot your grandchildren dressing up the dog in that Tom Turkey outfit he loves so much, or feeding the cat caviar and crackers.

There is Power in the Commons

At The Commons, Treplus Communities offer decked-out community spaces with comfortable furniture, bar areas and personal liquor lockers for each resident. Each community has a big screen television and Wi-Fi. Your family will love having pre-dinner cocktails or watching the game in The Commons. If it’s a nice day, gather around the fire pit for some conversation and hot toddies.  And for the day after, there is a great fitness center and the Wellbeats app to burn off those extra helpings of mashed potatoes and gravy.

ACTIVE ADULTS Celebrate the New Normal 

It seems as if there are a million suggestions directed at active adults who may be empty nesters on how to make it through the holidays after the last of their brood flies the coop.  But there are just as many ways to spend the season in togetherness in the community with holiday events galore!

Focusing on what the holidays really mean adds excitement to the coming days. And the “new normal” certainly doesn’t rule out throwing a holiday in your new active adult apartment. 

Keep It Simple, Sunshine

If you’re focused on keeping things simple, here are some tips for assembling the Big Meal in the effortless fashion that defines your new active adult lifestyle:

• Make Potluck the new rule and have everyone bring a different dish. In my family, it’s difficult to pry the Thanksgiving holiday away from my 90-year-old mother, but she’s always willing to accept hot and cold dishes brought from her kids’ kitchens. And we love letting her host and brown the rolls. 
• Your friends and family will love being part of the feast, and they’ll be thrilled to hang out with you in your new gourmet kitchen. Reminder: your new active adult apartment home is no different than the family homestead at parties. Everyone will cram into the kitchen, guaranteed.
• When everyone brings a favorite appetizer, vegetable, side dish, salad or bread, the meal will come together in a snap! In the spirit of new traditions, have Aunt Helen forego the perennial lime Jell-O and mayonnaise salad in favor of a nice Gewürztraminer.  Your regulars will give thanks.
• Order the turkey in. This is not Thanksgiving blasphemy (or a Thanksgiving faux pas). This suggestion may not make it as a longstanding holiday tradition, because you’ll likely miss the wonderful aroma of the roasting bird too much. But oh, the time you’ll save—before, during and after the day. And the leftovers are just as good. 

There are some fabulous options in Central Ohio and Greater Dayton for prepared meals along with freshly roasted, smoked or deep fried whole turkeys. Here are several that rate highest from local foodies:

Central Ohio

• Park Street Poultry, North Market, Columbus
• Lucky's Market, Columbus
• Carfagna’s Italian Market, Columbus
• The Hills Market, Worthington
• Whole Foods Columbus, Dublin and Easton locations
• UA Food Market, Upper Arlington

Greater Dayton:

• Dorothy Lane Market in Oakwood, Washington Square, and Springboro
• Fresh Thyme Market, Beavercreek
• 9 Locations for Thanksgiving Without the Work (Courtesy of Dayton Magazine)

Break OUT New Traditions 

The new modality of active adult living for the holidays is learning to let go. Try not to hold on to all of the old family traditions. Doing things differently and establishing new traditions can be fun and exciting. You will, we’re certain, find yourself spending the holidays you once hosted in the homes of your children and grandchildren. Letting them host will make them feel happy and proud. Let them spoil you on the holidays!

But it’s also guaranteed, at some point during the holidays, they’ll want to come spend time with you in your new digs! Treplus Communities’ luxury apartments have loads of potential as the setting for fabulous celebrations. The gourmet kitchens in Treplus Communities' spacious ranch homes are perfectly designed to help you pull it together easily. Just make sure you baste often so there’s lots of gravy!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Treplus Communities' family to Yours!