The Where I Live series aims to showcase our diverse city and region by spotlighting its many vibrant neighborhoods. Each week a local resident invites us over and lets us in on what makes their neighborhood special. Have we been to your neighborhood yet? Get in touch to share your story. If your story is selected and published, you will receive a $250 stipend.
Independence Village is a retirement community nestled in Stone Oak.
My wife and I moved here in early 2020. We and our neighbors live in 103 single or semi-detached homes on 23 acres, surrounded by hundreds of mature and heritage trees. In a gated neighborhood, we are lock-and-go for those who wish to take a cruise or a trip across the globe or around the country to see family. For the stay-at-homes, amenities and activities provide plenty of choices for enjoying the “golden” years.
The best thing about Independence Village is our community of neighbors, hailing from across the county. If you were to survey why people chose the Village, the two most common reasons were to relocate close to children and grandchildren or because they were stationed here during military service and chose to return to San Antonio upon retirement.
We have a wealth of life experiences to share when socializing with neighbors from Vermont to Hawaii and beyond. A third reason to live here is the ambiance, giving us the privilege of tree-shaded walks or the joy of sitting on the front porch and greeting others strolling by, often accompanied by their dog.
Having a wide variety of activities, opportunity to make good friends abounds. We enjoy a monthly breakfast, lunch, and happy hour, a weekly Friday at Five get together, card games, board games, a book club discussion, Bible study, craft groups, exercise groups, and puzzles, so there truly is something for all interests.
Beyond that we ride the Village bus to attend activities and shows around town and further afield. With someone else driving, it is a pleasure to enjoy trips to Fredericksburg or the lavender fields or a winery or many other nearby venues .
Our lifestyle facilities here are first rate. The clubhouse is the focal point for most events, with a large, heated year-round outdoor pool adjacent. A library and small gym are also available. For golfers and tennis players, we have privileges at the Sonterra Country Club less than a mile away.
And as we age, our concern for needing medical attention grows. Fortunately, we are in the heart of the Stone Oak medical area, with both the Stone Oak Methodist and Baptist hospitals as well as many doctors and clinics just around the corner. For somewhere down the road, an assisted living community sits next door for an easy move if needed.
When my wife and I decided to downsize, we searched for a place centrally located with individual units and one which does not require paying for daily meals. That leaves us free to dine in or dine out at the many area restaurants. A retirement residence next door also offers us a large dining room with very reasonable pricing whenever the urge to skip our own kitchen pops up.
Our homes are comfortable, with a choice of one, two, or three bedrooms ranging in size from 1,100 to 2,300 square feet plus an attached double garage. We are comfortable at 1,800 square feet.
A plus is that landscape and household maintenance repairs and tasks are included. Happily, someone else mows the lawn, blows the leaves, and trims the bushes. Changing out smoke detector batteries, A/C filters, and light bulbs or dealing with a plumbing problem is a phone call away. My wife especially enjoys the weekly visit by a housekeeper, who lightens the regular cleaning chores we share.
Independence Village is definitely NOT an old people’s home! It is an age-appropriate community. After five years, we still believe that our choice to move here was the right one for us. And we only had to be over 55!
