We recently sat down for a chat with Sunny, a resident of The Baldwin, to learn about how she came to live here, what her experience has been like, how she’s taking advantage of the APEX program, and how choosing this modern Life Plan Community gives her peace of mind for the future.
BB: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us, Sunny. Why don’t we start with how you came to live at The Baldwin?
Sunny: Several years ago, my husband and I moved from California to Massachusetts to be near our son in North Andover. He and his wife both worked and they had three little children, so we wanted to help them. I didn’t even know this type of place existed until one day I got an invitation in the mail from a CCRC in Massachusetts. We went there and I thought the idea was very good, but we didn’t like that place.
We knew we might need health care in the future, so we wanted to explore the idea. Our grandchildren went to the preschool that’s adjacent to Edgewood, so we visited Edgewood and then we heard about The Baldwin.
BB: Did you do a lot of research before making your decision?
Sunny: We didn’t do much research. We had only seen three other places, including Edgewood, and we chose The Baldwin because it was going to be brand-new. It’s also only 25 minutes away from our son’s house. We put down our deposit and then watched as it was built. Choosing The Baldwin, we could not have done any better. I cannot believe our luck!
BB: How did you feel about moving to a community where you didn’t know anyone?
Sunny: I am Korean but have been in the U.S. since I was 21. Being Asian and coming to New Hampshire from California, I wasn’t sure if we would fit in. I was a little bit apprehensive, but residents at The Baldwin are such open people with open minds. I didn’t feel any prejudice at all. Two years later, we are still here and we’re not going anywhere. This really is my community and I love it! All the residents say that. We really like the way people work together here.
BB: Did the availability of on-site health care influence your decision to choose The Baldwin?
Sunny: Yes, it did. It’s good to know that we have a plan in place. It’s a worry off our minds because we know, if one or both of us need care, we can go [to Orchard Inn] and it will be easy to still spend time together. That’s why we decided to move to a [Life Plan Community].
It has also been a benefit to me in ways I didn’t necessarily expect. In 2024, I fell while hiking and broke ten bones. In November 2025, I fell again and broke two bones in my arm and a rib. Both times I have been able to get my physical and occupational therapy right here at The Baldwin. I don’t even have to go outside. It’s so convenient!
BB: You’re very active and take advantage of many of the APEX programs at The Baldwin. Will you tell us about that?
Sunny: When we first moved here, one of the residents came up with the idea of having a small orchard because The Baldwin is named for a type of apple that was grown on this land. I joined the orchard committee, and that was my first involvement.
After that, I started looking into other activities. I’m a big hiker, and I competed in triathlons when I was younger, so I sign up for most of the exercise classes here. Sometimes I do two or three in a day including yoga, aqua aerobics, and more. The classes are good exercise; they’re also a good place to meet all the neighbors.
In the pool, we have water aerobics classes and beachball volleyball games that are so much fun! The fitness center here is also very good. The machines are easy to set and adjust. You don’t have to move any weights; you just push a button to change the resistance. My husband goes to the fitness center at 5:30 every morning and exercises for 90 minutes. He loves it!
Some residents walk inside the building — especially this time of year because it’s cold outside. And some people like to sit in the pedestrian bridge and take a “sun bath,” enjoying the beautiful light.
BB: We know whole-person wellness includes mental and emotional well-being as well as physical. Do you participate in groups or programs beyond fitness?
Sunny: I like to play games to keep my brain healthy and engaged. I play mahjong with a group every Monday. There are all kinds of game groups you can choose from. There are also knitting, crocheting and quilting groups, book clubs, art classes — too many to name. I’m not involved in those, but that’s what’s nice — you can pick and choose what you enjoy.
For example, I attend some of the lifelong learning lectures. There are very interesting subjects. The person who organizes the lectures gets input from residents about what topics we’d like to learn about. I’ve attended lectures on the roles of women throughout history and one on art history. We also have movie nights, but I don’t do as many of the evening programs because my husband and I are both early risers.
BB: It sounds like you’re never at a loss for something fun or interesting to do. If someone else is considering moving to The Baldwin, what would you tell them?
Sunny: A nice building is good. A convenient location is important. But the community we have built here is just amazing. There are almost 300 people here with a variety of backgrounds. People are so energetic and have so many good ideas to enhance the community and to help each other. We’ve completed several projects together, including the orchard, and we’re working on more. It’s really exciting and I love being part of it!
To learn more about Community Life at The Baldwin or to schedule a personal tour, call 603.699.0100 or use our contact form.