MEET JOYCE.

Joyce Raimer thinks getting old is kind of boring. That’s why she likes to keep a busy schedule playing games.

“I have a group that I play with on Monday, and then I group I play with today, and a group I play with tonight,” she laughed.

Whether it’s Progressive Rummy, Dominoes, or Rubix Cubes, the 89-year-old spends her days catching up with various groups of friends at the Manor. When she’s not playing, she enjoys swimming at Friendship Manor’s pool – although it’s currently under construction. In the meantime, Joyce takes her bike out on the roads of Isla Vista to get her exercise.

“When students are in town, I very seldom go on the bike path. I feel safer on the main road, which has a large lane for bicycles. Once the students are gone, I’ll ride back on campus,” she said.

An avid reader, Joyce also takes advantage of the Goleta Valley Library Bookvan, which delivers books to Friendship Manor among other locations in the area. “It’s encouraging to see how many of the seniors take advantage of the bookmobile, so that’s an easy way you don’t have to go to the library,” she said.

Joyce is the only one in her family that lives in California. She raised four children in Ohio,

one of whom she recently lost to cancer. All of her children, 10 grandchildren, and nine

great-grandchildren live across the country in Utah, Arizona, Florida, and Ohio – but none

in the Golden State.

Joyce grew up in Ohio, but originally moved to California with her late husband after they’d

visited their son a couple times.

“After you’re here and experienced the wonderful weather, Ohio isn’t very encouraging,” she said.

"Even though you're old, you keep on learning things."

"I need to listen, but not repeat."

Joyce moved into Friendship Manor following the death of her husband, who also lost his life to cancer. Back at her apartment, she quickly became overwhelmed with trying to cook for herself, especially after her best friend in the complex left. “It became too much."

Since moving to Friendship Manor five or six years ago, she’s appreciated the constant meals and social activity. “I’ve never lived in such a diverse community, which is good for me to learn that. Even though you’re old, you keep on learning things.”

In 2018, Joyce was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of cancer that affects bone marrow. Since then, she’s remained on constant chemotherapy through the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center through Sansum Clinic.

Joyce gave up driving four years ago, so she utilizes Friendship Manor’s complimentary medical van to get downtown for her appointments.

“As we’re here and older, we’re all involved way too much in medical things. Too many doctor’s appointments, too many. To have the medical van take you there and bring you back, that’s a real advantage,” she said.

Joyce also finds comfort in the sense of safety she’s afforded at Friendship Manor. “That’s probably one that you may not even think about when you’re younger, but I’m not wanting to be somewhere where I need to defend myself,” she said.

Prior to retirement, she spent most of her career in nursing, working for Chrysler and then General Electric. She then moved to Human Resources, where she worked for 20 years before moving out to California. After her husband died, she decided she needed to go back to work, and took a position as a nurse at Santa Barbara County’s Main Jail.

After working as the school nurse at San Marcos High School for three years, Joyce decided it was about time to retire. She was 80 years old at the time.

Nowadays, Joyce looks forward to hearing the latest about her kids’ and grandkids’ life and career updates – but she has to remind herself not to share others’ business.

“It’s a balancing act for me to listen and not be the mouthpiece for everybody in the family. I need to listen, but usually not repeat,” she laughed. “It’s their news to tell other people, so I try hard not to pass on.”

As for the younger generation, Joyce is constantly impressed by their heightened independence – something she wishes she’d prioritized a little more at that age. While she’s proud of her 50-year marriage, she feels like she tied the knot too young at just 21 years-old.

“I would have done better in my life, if I had been more independent and then gotten married, as all of you do. And that’s a really admirable way that I see young people looking at life and looking at it for yourself,” she said.

For now, Joyce is soaking in her newfound independence, which she gets just the right amount of at Friendship Manor. “I like being to decide, well I think I’ll more the furniture, I’ll get rid of this,” she laughed, gesturing around her room.

“I don’t have to ask somebody. I decide I want to do this, and I do it.”

"I don't have to ask somebody. I decide I want to do this, and I do it."