“It’s not the house or any of the things inside; it’s the people that matter,” says Garland Scott about why he moved to Plantation Village. 

Having relocated a number of times - together with his wife Carolyn of 55 years - and traveled extensively for work and pleasure, Garland (“Scotty” to his friends) did not feel a sense of attachment to any one specific house or town.

Instead, he wanted the freedom to travel and be unencumbered by all of the maintenance that comes with owning a home. Realizing a life plan community would provide the security of nearby high-quality health care, as well as access to numerous amenities and the freedom to travel, Scotty and Carolyn toured 10 communities before deciding on Plantation Village.

“The sense of community that we found here was really unlike anywhere else,” Carolyn noted.
“This place is full of former leaders, business owners and veterans,” Scotty added. “Their diverse backgrounds and depth of experience add a lot of richness and complexity to the community here.”

Considering they have visited five of seven continents - with extended jaunts in Australia and England - Scotty and Carolyn are well-versed in the global community and different cultural backgrounds. 

Originally from North Carolina, they spent almost 30 years in Los Angeles, where Scotty taught Engineering at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and Carolyn worked as a nurse. They have been retired since 2000 and have two children: a daughter who lives in South Carolina near Cherry Grove, where they still own a home, and a son in Louisville, Kentucky. 

For many years, Scotty and Carolyn traveled around helping their son raise their grandchildren, but when the grandkids got older, they decided it was time to find a place that fit their lifestyle. That’s what brought
them to Plantation Village from Kentucky six months ago - and they haven’t looked back. 

The couple’s love for helping others and the sense of freedom that comes with maintenance-free living are sentiments they share in common with Ann Robins, a 30-year Wilmington resident originally from Rhine, New York.

Ann enjoys spending her days in the Plantation Village wood shop, where she rehabilitates a variety of wooden boxes, decorative pieces and curios to donate for sale in The Davis gift shop, which helps pay for The Davis community’s operational costs.

Creating art for a cause is just one of many interests for Ann, a member of The Writer’s Club and The Toastmasters. She has also donated many hours of time and effort to help the Historic Preservation Society, a cause close to her heart as someone who worked tirelessly to rehabilitate and maintain a well-loved, iconic property on Front Street. 

Having lived in the home for many years, she credits the experience for giving her a passion for landscape design and gardening that continues today. As a result, Ann can often be found outside in the community garden checking on her prized moon flowers, a fragrant type of flowering vine that only blooms at night.

Never one to stop moving for long, she gets up early every morning to study philosophy and the latest environmental issues. It’s an indication of her forward-thinking outlook and lifelong focus on self-improvement, as an award-winning writer who was first published in the 1940s discussing the feasibility of a woman president.

“If you don’t keep learning then you’re moving backwards because the Earth is always changing,” said Ann, a native of Rhine, New York, with a chuckle. 

She has been an avid environmentalist and conservationist for many years and has three children.  

It’s all about people at Plantation Village, which is why we’ve chosen to highlight the achievements and unique backgrounds of some of our residents in the last few articles.  Many life plan communities offer great amenities similar to ours, but our dedicated associates’ laser-like focus on exceptional service and our diverse, friendly residents are what set us apart. 

To set up a guided tour of our wonderful and dynamic community, give me a call at (910) 821-8036.  You are also welcome to simply stop by or visit us on the web at www.PlantationVillageRC.com.

Lisa Polanski is the director of marketing at Plantation Village. Plantation Village is a non-profit continuing care retirement community that offers independent living on a 56-acre campus in Porters Neck, just minutes from downtown Wilmington and area beaches. Residents enjoy first-class services in a wide variety of home styles, from one- and two-bedroom apartments to cottage homes and two-bedroom villas. Plantation Village is managed by Life Care Services™, the nation’s third-largest elder care management company. For more information, visit plantationvillagerc.com.