The Village’s Future Resident Club: Where Belonging Begins

Choosing the right senior living community involves more than finding the perfect floor plan. It’s about finding a place where you truly belong. Thanks to The Village’s Future Resident Club, this sense of belonging begins long before moving day.

Finding community from day one

Residents John and Mary Slaby had always admired The Village—their home on Presidents Drive was only six doors away. So, when it was time to downsize, they knew exactly where to begin.

“There was no doubt when we started talking to the residents and attending activities that this was going to be our place,” John said.

“At that time, we didn’t have a dog,” Mary recalled. “We put our name in, originally for a cottage. Then I started to think that as we age here, maybe we should be inside so we could get to everything without dealing with the weather. So, we put our names in and put the deposit down.”

It took a little under two years for the perfect apartment to become available, but through the Future Resident Club, the Slabys were able to attend dinners, holiday gatherings, musical performances, and ice cream socials—and form bonds with Village residents before they even had their keys in hand.

“Every month, they sent us a list of activities we could attend, and we would join whenever we could fit it in,” John said.

During that time, they also adopted a new family member, their dog, Casey, who made it even easier to form bonds with nearby residents. “When they took their dogs out for a walk, we would often walk and chat with them about the village, which gave us a lot of information,” said John.

The Slabys eventually decided on a two-bedroom, two-bath first-floor apartment. Their second bedroom serves as an office, a room where John can watch Penn State sports, and a guest room. And with plenty of places outside to walk and play, Casey is adjusting well to his new home. “Everybody loves him, but we have to teach him to not get too enthusiastic,” Mary said with a laugh.

Meanwhile, Mary is keeping busy herself. “I like trying everything. I’m trying water aerobics, line dancing, watercolor, stenciling. I’ve done just about everything.”

Getting a head start on belonging

Jake and Dr. Kim Graham met while serving in the Marine Corps. During their time in the military, they lived in California, Virginia, Japan and Germany, but their ties to State College always ran deep. Kim grew up there before joining the Marines as a communications professional, and Jake, a retired Marine Corps helicopter pilot, spent 18 years as a professor of practice at Penn State in security and risk analysis.

They decided to explore retirement communities after seeing friends struggle with managing work and caring for aging parents. “We didn’t want to do that to our children,” Kim explained.

While the couple has been on the waiting list for just under two years, the Future Resident Club has already helped them feel like they are part of The Village community.

“I think the Future Resident Club is just truly brilliant. We get an email every month that highlights six or seven events that we can select to attend. And, of course, it’s always free. We can go to dinner six times a year—the meal service is phenomenal—and we go to Happy Hour,” Kim said. “It’s really a wonderful way to talk to other residents. You get to hear their full story, and that’s been a delightful opportunity for any questions I’ve had.”

Jake agrees. “There’s a sense of belonging. It’s very welcoming, and there’s a wide cross-section of the community, from medical doctors to former professors to businesspeople, who share our family values.”

The couple is now considering several housing options: a cottage, an apartment with the Eisenhower layout, or one of the new villas currently under construction. Through it all, the Future Resident Club has been there to help them form bonds and take part in community life.

A perfect way to begin the future

For both the Slabys and the Grahams, The Future Residents Club was not only a way to enjoy exclusive benefits and priority when living spaces became available, it also helped them establish connections well before moving day. Through shared activities, meals, and Happy Hour chats, both couples discovered that The Village is not just a place to live—it’s a place where they truly belong.