More than half a century later, they are still together and will celebrate their 58th wedding anniversary on Feb. 24. They joke that they were married in 1950 so it would be an easy year to remember.

At Tallgrass Creek they are known for being together a lot and for always, always holding hands. The secret to the success of their long marriage, they say, is compromise.

“We just get along,” Norma Corbin says. “When we’re together, I give in to him or he gives in to me.”

“We just seem to tolerate each other, and we have a lot of things that we like to do together,” Carl Corbin says.

Usually on Valentine’s Day, Carl Corbin celebrates by taking his wife out to dinner. That will happen this year too, he says, and now they just have to walk down the hall to the Blue Sky Restaurant for great food and, if they want, a table for two.

Mutually surpassed
Rev. Paul Doering borrows a quote from Abraham Lincoln to explain the secret to a good relationship: “To recognize that each personality mutually surpasses each other.”

With an attitude like that, it’s easy to understand the 53-year-old marriage between Paul and Dorcas Doering.

They met in Chicago when Paul Doering was in his final year of seminary. She says she wasn’t so sure about dating a Lutheran pastor, because her father was also a pastor.

But she was charmed, and they had many common interests in things like classical music, books, current events, and politics. As they talk, classical music is playing on the radio in their apartment home.

“We were also comfortable pursuing our separate paths,” Dorcas Doering says. “I enjoyed volunteer pursuits and women’s issues. Paul enjoyed outdoor activities and his ham radio.”

Any advice for couples considering getting married?

“Love one another and respect each other,” he says.

“Carefully look at your two backgrounds to make sure you have things in common,” she adds.

Family love following instinct
Erickson Retirement Communities was in their background—the Doerings had relatives at Greenspring in Virginia and Riderwood in Maryland.

“Erickson was not unknown to us; we were quick to jump on the bandwagon,” Dorcas Doering says.

When they learned that Erickson was opening Tallgrass Creek, they knew it would be the right place for them to continue their love story. The Doerings, who have lived in Overland Park since 1994, moved to Tallgrass Creek in November.

1. You can have your privacy, but friends are just a short walk away.
2. You can eat dinner with a different person every night of the week.
3. There’s always someone who shares your interests—clubs from ballroom dancing to knitting have formed.
4. Off-campus cultural events like dinners and plays are just downtown.
5. You can spend a day at the spa alone, with a friend, or with a group.
6. You can meet other animal lovers at the dog park. 
7. You can have good conversation about the morning newspaper over a hot cup of coffee at the Audubon Café.
8. You can meet new friends for lunch in the Sunflower Bistro and stay for an afternoon of playing pool.
9. You can hop on the Tallgrass Creek shuttle and go on a shopping outing.
10. You can plan a vacation, learn to cook a delicious appetizer, or do some wine tasting at the Center for Continuous Learning programs.