After over 40 years in the Bay Area, I knew it was time for something different. My home in Pleasanton had served me well, but after six decades of wear and tear, it was starting to show its age— and so was the lifestyle.

I wanted more than just a new house; I wanted a fresh chapter. Something that felt vibrant.

Energizing. Connected.

I had always dreamed of a brand-new, energy efficient home where I wouldn’t have to constantly worry about repairs. But more than that, I longed for community—real community. The kind where neighbors become friends and there’s always something fun on the calendar. In Pleasanton, it felt like everyone was either too busy or in a different life stage. I missed the spontaneous “Hey, want to grab dinner?” kind of connections.

So I began my search.

I toured several 55+ communities across Northern California.

While some were nice on paper, in person they felt… quiet. Almost too quiet. I’d drive through and not see a soul. That wasn’t what I was looking for. I wanted life, laughter, and activity.

That changed the day I visited Trilogy Bickford.

For over a year, I looked at several 55+ communities majority of them I drove around and didn’t see anybody, and didn’t feel the energy I was looking for. My friend— who also happened to be my real estate agent— drove up with me to the Bickford Masterplan in the hills outside Sacramento.

As soon as we came over the ridge and I saw the views, I turned to her and said, “This is it.” And it was. From that moment, everything just felt right.

Since moving in, the difference has been night and day. This place is buzzing with energy.

People wave as you drive by. We help each other out. One of my neighbors even helped me decorate the new shelves around my fireplace! There’s a friendliness and warmth here that’s hard to describe unless you’ve experienced it.

Social life at Trilogy Bickford is thriving. I am a social human being. I thrive on that. Here, I drive down the hill, see my neighbors walking and we all wave at each other. I love that. I recently had some shelves built around my fireplace, and my neighbor came over to help me decorate. Some of my neighbors went on a month-long cruise recently and when they got back, they said, “We are never going away for that long again because we missed everyone!” We have paint-and-sip nights, trivia competitions, Pilates classes, and even wine glass painting coming up next Friday. It’s exactly what I was craving—an active, connected lifestyle without the congestion and noise of the Bay Area.

The surrounding area is beautiful too. I love being so close to downtown Lincoln, Auburn, and even Tahoe. The pace is slower here, more peaceful. And yet, there’s still plenty to do. We even have a lifestyle director, Michael, who plans events like happy hours and bunco nights—but the community is so close knit, we often organize our own get-togethers.

Recently, 25 of us went out for dinner together—and the conversation never stopped.

We’re all counting down the days until the private homeowners’ club opens.

Between the pool, the restaurant, and all the social spaces, it’s going to be the cherry on top of what already feels like a dream life.

Honestly, I feel lucky every single day. Moving to Trilogy -Bickford wasn’t just about downsizing or retiring—it was about upgrading my life. And I’ve never felt more at home.

To learn more about this community visit Trilogy55Sac.com or call (916) 665-4270.

Content provided by Trilogy by Shea Homes.