Life Has Just Started: The Teers at VMRC
Hal and Faye have always been travelers. It all started in 1995 when, inspired by a friend, Hal bought him and Faye’s first van. The two had loved hiking, taking any holiday, special occasion, or available vacation time to backpack across the United States. Now, with the couple on four wheels, they were ready to explore even more, visiting almost every state in the continental U.S., many provinces in Canada, and even a few spots in Mexico.
The wanderlust grew, and soon the Teers took on Europe. Faye, a former professor at James Madison University with a doctorate in statistics, spent her summers with JMU’s study abroad program in Paris, London, Antwerp, and more, with Hal tagging along as support. “I enjoyed it probably more than any student did. It was a fabulous experience.”
The couple even lived outside of Geneva for an entire year, traveling to neighboring cities and countries as they taught for the American Graduate School of International Business. Decades of glittering skylines, breathtaking natural views, delicious food, and hair-raising adventures have etched their way into the Teers’ story, and they are just getting started.
The Teers moved to VMRC so they could focus more on what was important to them: building community and collecting even more exciting memories. Now living in VMRC’s Park Gables residence, the Teers finally have the freedom to travel for as long as they please. “I didn’t have to worry about a house to take care of.” Hal sighs in relief. With VMRC, everything was taken care of. In fact, during a three-month trip across Canada, the Teers’ refrigerator had malfunctioned. The couple feared they would have to race home, cutting their trip short. Luckily, VMRC’s diligent staff had taken care of everything, allowing the Teers to not only continue their vacation but actually enjoy it. “It gave us great peace of mind.” Faye asserts, “[VMRC] totally supports our wishes to be able to be on the go and not stop and sit around too much.”
VMRC has also given Hal and Faye the opportunity to swap stories and experiences with their neighbors, gathering inspiration for their next trip. ”You ask if we’ve traveled a lot, and we have, but we’ve talk[ed] to people here and realized we haven’t traveled very much!” Hal laughs, “There are people here who make us look like rookies!” The couple notes that it's very motivational hearing from their fellow residents and that they already started creating a list in their heads for upcoming adventures.
Between the increased ease of travel and the supportive community that surrounds them, the Teers have truly found their home; that is, when they aren't visiting the Rockies or Notre Dame, two more trips the couple is eagerly planning. “Fellow Travelers, this is an ideal set-up!” Faye exclaims, and we would have to agree; VMRC is the place for you.
