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Northwest Living By Rebecca Teagarden
A Final Nesting PlaceCozy, convenient and flexible, Liz Taylor's house is ready for the rest of her life
LIZ TAYLOR IS a specialist in matters of aging and long-term care. But, do not be fooled, there is not a thing retiring about her. And when she talks about her final nesting place, Taylor, 60, is whizzing through her woodsy Bainbridge Island cottage pointing out the possibility of this and that, punching out her words as she goes. "Let's talk about what the boomers need to think about as 77 million of us grow old — in a society that's not at all prepared," she says. "It's not one thing, but a combination — and more attitude and planning than architectural. When I see older people moving into two- and three-story humongous houses all around me, I think living on one level is probably the most important thing you can do to age in place. "That, and exercise!" Scampering on, she's eager to show off another room in her single-story home on a rural island acre. Taylor, who writes a weekly column called Growing Older for this newspaper, heeds her own words. She walks two to three miles a day, often with her German shepherd-mix, Abby, or on her way to and from the ferry, a mile down the road. She's got big plans for her little house on the island. Those include function, flexibility, beauty and efficiency. Taylor bought what she calls a "shack" 16 years ago. She moved part of it north 60 feet, adding on a bedroom suite, dining room, study and garage. Most recently she transformed the main living space — kitchen, living room, bedroom and dining room — with a warm, comfortable Tuscan flair in olive, golds, reds and plum. While the house is now 1,300 square feet, Taylor lives in 900. The bedroom suite is held in reserve as a future bed and breakfast. Aging with grace and Liz Here are Taylor's rules for aging gracefully, which, she points out, "don't require a big, fat 401k to do": 1. Keep social. Older people with no family need to create a network of friends that act as family. In addition, stay active by volunteering, taking classes or learning something new. 2. Develop good coping skills. "This is the most important thing as you age." 3. Exercise. Start with a walk around the block or down the hall. Taylor walks two to three miles a day. She also has a lively garden that helps with weight training and muscle tone. 4. Eat well. Make sure that what you eat is nutritious. (It's OK to reward yourself with a glass of good red wine.) It was tough — financially and to endure the chaos of remodeling — but the result, she says, is that "my house became like a big hug." Much of the credit for the cozy goes to interior decorator and "finder of great antiques, colors, fabrics," Paula Nolta of Paisley Place on the island. "I live on a budget. I don't sit around here eating bon bons, you know. But when my parents died I came into some money. I shouldn't have spent it on this (my financial planner went bananas!), but now I'm almost ready for the rest of my life." "Almost" means Taylor wants to make her property available to friends, perhaps building two or three more small houses there so the group can care for each other or possibly share a caregiver. Taylor would offer part of her house, either the main house or the B&B suite, to the caregiver. She hopes that attractive housing will attract more caregiving candidates. To pay for the help, Taylor bought long-term-care insurance seven years ago. She also serves on an island task force planning for Bainbridge's growth over the next 20 years. She is working to change island zoning and sewer ordinances to permit such huddled housing. In the meantime, Taylor has already put her home to the test. She became ill a year ago and needed a walker. She is pleased to report that her house came through with "flying colors." Rebecca Teagarden is assistant editor of Pacific Northwest magazine. Mike Siegel is a Seattle Times staff photographer.
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