More than the house, they bought the community
by JoAnne Muzzulin
Alma and Dick Davies learned about Albemarle Plantation at the Live South show in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia, and first visited the Plantation in 2007 with Alma’s sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Les McMellon. Alma was a law firm administrator and Dick’s career was in technology sales. Although they had several years before planning to retire, they decided to buy a lot here. When they decided it was time to retire, their plans changed about building a house on their AP property. Alma had previously organized an in-place renovation for her three-floor law firm and then, just a year later, organized a major renovation in their condo. She and Dick agreed that retirement isn’t supposed to be work and building a house sounded too much like living through another renovation, so they purchased their house on Meherrin River Drive in 2012 and then were able to rent it with a two-year lease. However, when they put their beautifully renovated downtown DC condo on the market it sold immediately. Not wanting to wait until their house was unoccupied, they moved to the Plantation and rented a house on Little Circle.
They have found that the best part of living here is the community. Alma and Dick stated that everyone is so pleasant, caring and open that it’s a pleasure to be in the community of Albemarle Plantation.
The day Dick got his NC driver’s license, he went to get a library card. He was “invited” to a Library meeting that afternoon by new the Librarian, Anita Bennett. The meeting’s purpose included ideas to create more value at the library, creating an environment for experimenting with projects, and repurposing through technology to make neat things. Dick is an innovator and sees technology as the way to a better life; hence he is striving to share that vision with the young people here in Perquimans. His philosophy about technology utilization is fascinating and complex but to know more, you’ll just have to have a chat with Dick!
Alma is learning Line Dancing at the Community Center. She is also on the Social Committee. Both she and Dick are avid golfers but never dreamed one day that they would own a golf cart. They also find time for shag dancing and working in the yard. Of course, Dick is involved in activities as a volunteer with the Perquimans County Library.
It is good to have you here, Dick and Alma!