By Setarreh Massihzadegan
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

When Willette Wood began contemplating a move to Brooksby Village in Peabody, she had no idea that her cousin, Les Johnson, was already moving in. But when she found out, Wood and her husband took Johnson up on the offer to visit for lunch in his new home.

“We saw the apartment finished and furnished,” Wood recalls. “It was wonderful. We thought it was great [and] the lifestyle was great. It just seemed like a very nice place to be.”

The Woods, who were living in Reading, Mass., moved in seven years ago— about a year after the Johnsons. Like others who choose to call Brooksby home, the Woods did so foremost for the lifestyle that came with it; but just as retirement is often a time to be closer to family, they agree that having family in their community is a bonus.

“It’s very nice to have some family here,” Wood says. After having seen the community at a family Christmas dinner in one of Brooksby’s private dining rooms, another of Wood’s cousins later moved in as well.

Calculated moves
While Wood and Johnson had separated after growing up together as children, sisters Ellen and Agnes Smyth were living together when they decided to make the move to Brooksby.

“We are so delighted we made the decision to come, because we think it has everything. The mix of people is nice, and the best thing of all is they get along so well,” Ellen Smyth says.

Like the people at Brooksby, the Smyths also complement one another.

“My sister is more apt to go out and go to the meetings. Then she comes back and tells me what it’s all about,” Agnes Smyth says. “This way I learn from my sister what’s going on [at Brooksby].”

But Ellen Smyth says her sister keeps her informed by reading the newspaper and relaying what is happening elsewhere.

“My sister is the greatest person that ever lived,” Ellen Smyth says.