Barb and her husband Wid were looking for a 55+ community in Michigan. “We go to Florida in our RV for four to five months in the winter and wanted the peace of mind of having neighbors and management to keep an eye on our place,” said Barb. They searched online for “55+ communities” and found the Bluffs on Manistee Lake. They had previously camped in Manistee, so the next time they were in the area, they stopped and checked out the models.

According to Barb, “We fell in love with the Lake House model because it had an open-concept kitchen, dining room and living room … and the décor was beachy looking.” They customized the home to accommodate Wid, who is handicapped. “We have wider doors, higher toilets, a roll-in shower and wide steps coming in from the garage that he can use safely with his walker. I loved the choices I had available to me to decorate it. Maurine and Jamie were very helpful with design ideas and adapting our home for my husband.”

They chose a site that overlooks Manistee Lake, and added a deck and garage. Barb commented, “Every day, we are so blessed to just look at the lake and the ships that come in, and relax in our retirement years! Plus, our three children have enjoyed coming up to visit and use the pool, hot tub and clubhouse. We love the Bluffs!”