Today I kept an appointment at the retirement community that I am moving to this year. For all resident applicants, a cognitive assessment is required; it was administered by the community nurse. I scored 30 out of 30.

I also got another look at the apartment that has been 'on hold' for me after a fashion. It is still technically occupied by the current owners; but for reasons of their own, they have emptied the space and cleaned it up, and it appears as new as it was when they began to occupy it.

The purpose of looking again was to determine if I wanted any of the changes to which I have a right as the next occupant. There were two:
I need an airconditioner for the bedroom, in which the window faces west; and I chose a very pale pink color to paint the walls. But the kitchen appliances are going to remain, and so is the carpet. One of the staff pointed out that the carpet change is usually the thing that takes the longest anyway, so with the paint job, it shouldn't take all that long to get the place ready.

People ask me if I am ready, and I'm not sure; I've been preparing for months, but it's happening rather fast now.
Oh, and I put down earnest money, it amounts to 10 per cent of the entrance fee to the retirement community. So, although I'm not there yet, I'm "in".