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James waves as he goes confidently in the direction of his dreams.

Article written by Karen Lyddane

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., James Dotson grew up in a Christian home. His church life influenced his world “as far back as I can remember.” His young voice, a high tenor, fostered many moments in choir. A friend and James started a small group of singers—a Christian chorale varying in size but never more than 12. His tenor voice added to this four-part harmony singing group. They moved around as the singing engagements dictated. Later, he dropped out of church life but continued to sing with this group.

An invitation to a church to sing provided a moment of listening to a sermon in 1994 that changed his life. James remembers two points: 1) God still loves you, and 2) only God, not you, has the power to change you. These points encouraged James to go into counseling to create the new direction he desired. He decided to dedicate himself to his faith.

Backpacking, an infrequent but favorite activity in former years, is replaced by walking in Nature, which he often does today. James smiled when revealing that he’s recently purchased a mountain bike. It’s today’s version of memorable times with bicycle touring. He hopes to begin riding it this summer. He plans to work soon with a voice coach so his 2nd Tenor voice can be heard again. Movies with powerful stories attract him—he has a collection including those with historical themes. He is especially drawn to movies focusing on the challenges of Black/African American people. Not totally predictable, James also has a copy of “Secretariat.” Museums with the Imax theaters, going to the Holocaust Museum, being with family and friends, all factor-in highly.

James taught Grade 7– through 10, and Physical Education, as a science teacher for a private Christian school. He was friends with a music teacher, and when she decided to form a band, he played the trombone for a brief time.

Of all his life experiences, James counts his time as his mother’s family caregiver as the most fulfilling moment. He thanks God for being able to be with her as she spent her final years before “going to her rest” at the age of 94. He reached higher levels of patience and caring in witnessing his mother’s transition from her home to assisted living to rehabilitation, then long-term care.

James has two main thoughts on living an independent lifestyle. He advises planning for the future as soon as one is able, so that when the time comes, (s)he is as well-prepared as possible. Retirement, for James, gives choice to live as he wishes. For instance, removing the issue of commuting alone frees up time needed for pursuing his interests, such as working with his faith-based, non-profit organization. James wishes to work as long as he can, this fulfills him, rather than just being entertained. He wants to do a lot more and experience life. Making a difference is important.

Bottom line? James devotes himself to his God and prays to “allow me to fulfill your plan.” He is a brother, an uncle, a friend. His many roles and responsibilities combine in embracing life. And that, the simple but complicated effort of embracing life, makes every day a triumph for James.

Article written by Karen Lyddane

Best described as a “travelogue,” Jim and Joanna Sullivans’ journey through life started in New England. They find it amazing that Joanna, from Providence, RI, and Jim, from Boston, MA, ventured across the waters to Germany, where they would meet and join hands. Joanna, at age 22, already showed her adventuring spirit. She was just out of school and left her teaching job in Prince George’s County to go overseas. Her six close friends had gone in different directions and she surprised everyone by packing her suitcases for her new home. Joanna’s family just couldn’t understand why she would do such a thing, after all, she went on her own, alone! Meanwhile, Jim was stationed in Mainz. They decided to socialize in the same group of other single people. The turning point came when Joanna found that John F. Kennedy was coming over. She wanted so much to see him (she’d worked for him as a volunteer when he was a Senator), and Jim had a car…thus their courtship began. After waiting for Jim to come home to Rhode Island, they married during a 12” snowfall, on December 28th.

Their first seven years inspired Jim and Joanna’s globetrotting life. They moved every year, sometimes twice in one year. They lived in New Jersey, Oklahoma, Korea, Rhode Island and Georgia. Moving so much meant minimal possessions-they downsized before they upsized! Jim’s military career was the driving force. Like most military couples, they had no problem balancing career and family. They did what they had to do and didn’t think twice-this was everyone’s mindset. Jim and Joanna feel that their children benefited from learning in many schools. Their four children, Jim III, Patrick, Brendan, and Kerri, are all married. Each has two children of their own, born within four years of each other. Six of eight grandchildren are in college, studying a variety of subjects-they are the number one interest of this busy couple.

Jim counts living in Japan during high school years as formative. Another formative time was the year in which he graduated, was accepted for college, left his family, and went to Indiana. In another significant year, he went to 16 straight Red Sox games. His first “visit” to his alma mater Notre Dame was when he stepped off the train, duffel bag on his back, on his way to meet his new classmates.

Jim rises early and goes to church on most days. He returns to join the Men’s Coffee Club, where they “solve the worlds’ problems, and create more.” He enjoys dinner with his neighbors, but also alone with his wife. He swims three times a week and has become great friends with Cyrus Kanzi, the Pool Instructor. Jim follows team sports; college baseball is his favorite.
Joanna is an avid reader with her choice of genre being fiction and actively participates in a book club. The woodsy paths at her new community often see her walking shoes. The saltwater pool is another source of her exercise. As a child, Joanna played many card games and still does! She’s discovered “Hand and Foot” which is now her favorite. Joanna is very sociable and appreciates her new friendships.

What they like a lot in their new community are the evening concerts. Joanna hadn’t heard bluegrass before she attended a concert and now taps her toe to American Roots music. After discovering their proximity to George Mason University, they are enhancing their lives with all the cultural and educational offerings. They are happy to see familiar performers at GMU, who are often scheduled in their community living room.

The main reason for Jim and Joanna’s move into The Woodlands was to live a lifestyle that freed them up for spending time with their children and grandchildren. Jim and Joanna marvel that their children have been in their professions for 25 years or so, and that they had some part in their success. Wonderful life, family, success in many directions, desire to live life to its fullest-these make up a big part of their reasoning for moving into an independent lifestyle in a community. They moved because they wanted to be free, to live, and believe that The Woodlands was the perfect answer to their considerations.

Article written by Karen Lyddane. Photo given by Lynn Magrum.

Lynn Magrum lived where she was born, in Buffalo, New York, until she was 23. Youth was filled by her large Italian family that expected her to help others. This translated into finding just the right career, and she found it. Nursing school was where she belonged. Oncology and Hospice strongly held Lynn’s heart, where they reside today. In Oncology she could make a difference in her patient’s journey, by managing their physical and mental stresses. After writing her own memoirs, she taught a memoir writing class at Life with Cancer, sharing them with her patients. She taught cancer survivors how to write their own.

A creative touch to motherhood was in naming her daughter. Lynn and Charlie combined the two names of Alissa’s grandmothers, Alice and Teresa, and her daughter became “Alissa.” The name is heard often today, spelled differently, but was not common at all back then.

Achieving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees was challenging, to say the least! Her children were just two and 4 when she determinedly worked through challenges for success. Her husband, Charlie, would come home from work, they’d have a short conversation about their children, then off she would go off to class at George Mason University from 7-10 p.m.  until Eric and Alissa were old enough to go to GMU’s childcare center. So, her degree was a long process-she went back for her Nurse Practitioner degree when Eric and Alissa were in college.  Her career of 59 years was in nursing, with 29 years as a Nurse Practitioner. She worked for a time at Rosswell Park Cancer Institute.

Later in life, Lynn found herself living alone in her 3,000 square foot house. She had a different lifestyle, and didn’t need the responsibilities of it and the large yard. Charlie, her husband, was declining in his health, which forced the decision to move him where he could have increased support as needed.<

Lynn during her nursing career worked at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Schar Cancer Center, Capital Caring Hospice and palliative care and in a private oncology practice.

In 2024, Lynn made another decision-to move into The Woodlands. This freed her up to pursue her goals-she feels that her experience and education are not ready to sit on the shelf!

Lynn has had adventures in hang-gliding and parasailing. Alissa talked her into becoming a triathlete. Lynn did a ½ marathon first, then a triathlon of swimming, biking, and running. Today, Lynn enjoys golfing, walking, leading hikes at Wintergreen and being in Nature. Lynn is in two book clubs, a prayer group, plays Mahjong, and sets one day aside every week to volunteer at Mother of Mercy clinic in Manassas, Virginia. She helps people in need of medical services who are uninsured.

Lynn credits her biggest accomplishment in life to teaching Eric and Alessa the importance of giving to others. Goals are to be Charlie’s advocate and maintain his best quality of life.  An equally important goal is to not let people forget her grandson, Zachary, who died at seven years of Downs Syndrome. She and her family and friends are helping students with Downs Syndrome achieve their higher education dreams, through “Ruby’s Rainbows” scholarship foundation.  In supporting this organization, Lynn supports her own heart! She has a faith that supports every day of her life, and trusts that she is given the wisdom to make the right decisions.

From Lynn: “Don’t wait to do what brings you joy and fulfillment.” “Live life to the fullest!”

In Vietnam, Sophia Bainum first opened her eyes. Years later, aided by her brother-in-law (who worked for the Embassy in Laos), her family went to Thailand so they could eventually live in America. They received refugee status and came to America with green card in hand. Washington, D.C., greeted the family next. They stayed in a house because of a connection to the Embassy. Sophia was sponsored by a Colonel, who found work for her. She learned English by immersion, as there wasn’t time to go to school, as she worked from about 7:30 a.m. to midnight to support her family. Sophia said: “My English does not show my heart.”

One of Sophia’s early jobs was working in food service at Arlington Hospital. Her future husband, Doug Bainum, worked there also, in maintenance. He worked on boilers. Repairing a broken sink in her home was the beginning of a love story that lasted many years. She laughs at the memory of how it took three days to repair that sink! She told her mother about him with the result of asking him to dinner with her family. They faced challenges with her cultural traditionalism and her fear of his family not accepting her. Spending many moments with each other’s family was enjoyable to both. This was the perfect solution! Today, you can hear Sophia in the hallway calling to Robert Bainum, “Her father.”

Marrying Doug was the highlight of her life. Their love opened the doors for many opportunities. After his death, she gave up her single-family home and moved into The Woodlands. Five years later in her new life, she says that it “Is perfect right now.” She has no complaints about anything. Living an independent lifestyle gives her time and energy to see her family often. Sophia loves to wake up every day in her beautiful community- “Why live anywhere else?” She doesn’t have to worry about anything…she just enjoys life!

Friends, errands, and reading her Bible on her phone or computer, are all favorite daily parts of her life. Sophia loves to travel with her church. She really likes to watch YouTube.

Sophia prays that she stays peaceful. She really likes her many Woodlands friends. What one word sums up her independent lifestyle? “Great!”