In a world where many approach retirement with caution, Rita Collins stands out as a beacon of proactive living and boundless curiosity. A former teacher, entrepreneur, and world traveler, Rita recently shared her remarkable story in an interview with Steve Gurney of the Positive Aging Community. Now a resident at Roland Park Place, a life plan community in Baltimore, Maryland, Rita's path to this new chapter is as unconventional as it is inspiring. Her tale weaves together global moves, innovative businesses, and a deep commitment to community—offering valuable lessons for anyone navigating the complexities of aging.Rita's story begins with a lifelong love of exploration. From her twenties onward, she has lived in eight U.S. states and two countries overseas, embracing change as an opportunity rather than a challenge. Her professional life has been equally diverse in her sixties, she sought a fresh adventure. Living in rural Montana—a town of just 1,500 people—she dreamed of opening a bookstore. Recognizing that a traditional brick-and-mortar shop wouldn't thrive in such a small market, she innovated: a traveling bookstore housed in a van. This wasn't Rita's first foray into entrepreneurship. In the early 1990s, shortly after moving to Montana, she co-founded a nonprofit to address gaps in arts, adult education, and social services in her community. Rita's move to Montana in the early 1990s stemmed from visits to friends and the affordability of land at the time. She and her then-husband bought property while living in Portland, Oregon, eventually relocating full-time. There, she taught at a community college, built deep community ties through her nonprofit, and immersed herself in local life. But after a decade, personal challenges—a failing marriage and the events of 9/11—prompted another shift. Seeking a fresh start, she took an eight year overseas adventure with teaching job in Romania (two years), then in the Czech Republic (six years). Upon returning to Montana, Rita launched her traveling bookstore, which became a success. Rita approached her relocation with the same planning prowess she applies to everything. She created a spreadsheet of criteria: an urban setting for walkability, a nonprofit organization for financial stability, onsite management, and no affiliation with a large corporation. As a lifeplan/continuing care retirement community (CCRC), it needed to offer seamless transitions to assisted living or memory care if needed—eliminating future upheavals.Leveraging her bookstore travels, Rita visited potential communities in Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Baltimore. Roland Park Place emerged as the clear winner. "Hands down, it met all my criteria," she says. Life at Roland Park Place balances independence with community support. With about 250 residents in independent living, spanning ages from the sixties to over 100, the population is diverse in interests and backgrounds. Rita appreciates the arts programming—concerts, painting, music—and the administration's responsiveness. For Rita, the move was about more than convenience; it was about building a network proactively. As a solo ager without close family ties mentioned in the interview, she values having a ready community for potential health changes. "I wanted to develop that community before it was a necessity," she explains, contrasting it with those who move later in life and struggle to form bonds. The CCRC model ensures continuity: "All of that is on campus and would be seamless."At the heart of Rita's story is St. Rita's Traveling Bookstore (/saintritasbooks.com), now in its 11th year. Housed in a high-top van stocked with 700-800 volumes organized by category, it's a portable haven for readers.

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