Deborah and Jay Thanner

We met in high school in Maryland and our 45 years together has taken us from Baltimore all the way to Amsterdam, Netherlands and back again. We lived in Wake Forest and eventually moved to Wilmington, North Carolina where we have found our final stop at Del Webb Riverlights.

Wanting to be near the ocean, we first explored “active” communities in Florida where we quickly learned of the benefits of a Del Webb community. The combination of Del Webb and proximity to the ocean led us to Wilmington where we found Del Webb Riverlights.

In July of 2017 we first visited Del Webb Riverlights, which was still in its initial construction phase, and we became more and more convinced that Del Webb Riverlights was a great choice for us. Because Del Webb Riverlights competes with many, many active communities up and down the coast, we decided to visit them all and compare the benefits of each. In the end, we wound up where they started--at Del Webb Riverlights--for three very good reasons: 1) design and features of our new home and lot, 2) the amenities, and 3) location.

Riverlights is minutes from downtown Wilmington yet convenient to the very best of coastal Carolina. It’s a short ride to Wrightsville and Carolina Beaches, while just beyond are Kure and Ft. Fisher, which features a ferry to Southport with access to Oak Island and Bald Head Island. Wilmington is “Senior Friendly”. Certainly there is a nightlife culture that appeals to the young-at-heart, but more importantly Wilmington is home to brilliant museums, theater, and music venues. Its parks include public areas for walking and relaxing, but Wilmington is also home to the magnificent Airlie Gardens and the New Hanover County Arboretum.

It’s easy to think of Del Webb Riverlights as an “active community” because it literally is. From pickle-ball to bocce to water aerobics there is enough to keep everyone happy and healthy. One of our favorite aspects of living at Riverlights is the opportunity to participate in the clubs and activities organized by the Del Webb Riverlights Lifestyle Director, Barbara Morton. We have especially loved our affiliation with Arts & Carafes, which meets once per month to have a few laughs with our new friends and neighbors, and make some art. While doing that we also have a golden opportunity to share our good fortune with the greater community. Our first effort to help others was to provide school supplies to the children at a local elementary school where I volunteer once per week to Ms. Crangle’s second grade class. We also raised money for hurricane relief efforts after Florence passed by.

Del Webb Wilmington at Riverlights truly feels like home-sweet-home.