Rolland Smith

Review of Asbury Methodist Village

Yes, indeed! Six years ago, we sold our Takoma Par...

Yes, indeed! Six years ago, we sold our Takoma Park condo and, after a fairly lengthy search of CCRCs in the region to which we moved from California because our grandkids and their parents were here, bought into a two-bedroom apartment in the Edwards Fisher building. Rollie, refusing to consider he was getting old, was reluctant. Bernie, tired of cooking, was ecstatic. A few months earlier, she had come to see a friend at Asbury and soon met many friends. Even though active in our condo association, she was conscious of the transiency of our Takoma neighborhood and of the ability here at Asbury to secure long-time friendships. And Rollie after a very short time agreed that this was a great move. We were a bit nervous about telling our children but then saw the great relief in their faces when we did.

Bernie is more of an inside-the-neighborhood person, active in local community and church associations. She loves our Keese School opportunity to continue her education. She helps organize parties in our Edwards-Fisher neighborhood. Rollie is more an outside-the-neighborhood person and loves to work with the resident-run Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative which gets him and many others here at Asbury involved in local schools, community organizations, and city and county affairs. He is also quick to take advantage of lectures, book reviews, and other activities in DC usually hopping the metro a few minutes away.

We like skipping around the dining rooms, cavorting with friends at the Blue Note, and taking advantage of the events, theater, and parties right here at Asbury. We often say how fortunate we are to be able to be here and hope that someday all US residents will have this opportunity. Covid-19 has brought this realization home with a thud. We, with management, are scrupulous in following the rules of public health and are rewarded with a sense of security as well as comradery in protection from the virus.

We understand that good health, education, friendship, and happiness does take a Village.

Rollie and Bernie Smith
Edwards Fisher #613