Living Well, Living Boldly: A Week in the Life of Two Twin Oaks Residents
What does daily life look like at 55+ Twin Oaks in Hollister, California? We're pulling back the curtain to give you a glimpse into a typical week for residents Sara and Joel. Discover how our community members make the most of resort-style living in beautiful Hollister.
Monday: Fresh Starts & Friendly Faces
Self-Care Morning
After a short stroll from her home, Sara joins an 8:30 am Qi Gong class. Though she’s just a beginner, she’s come to deeply appreciate the stress-reducing mind-body movement practice. After class, she relaxes in the soothing warm waters of the poolside spa, then meets Joel for a cup of coffee in the club lounge, where they chat with neighbors about their weekends.
At 11 am, Joel heads out to the pickleball court for lighthearted Social Play. He’s become quite the pickleball enthusiast since moving to Twin Oaks.
Into the Past in an Afternoon
Sara and Joel head to nearby San Juan Bautista to check out antique stores and enjoy lunch on the beautiful garden patio at the iconic Mexican restaurant, Jardines de San Juan. It’s a gorgeous day in the valley. After lunch, they explore the State Historic Park at the Mission San Juan Bautista and admire the rose garden in full bloom.
TGIM
Monday night is Cards & Game Night in the Club lounge. With the help of one of the warm and encouraging club organizers, Sara learns a new game—Chickenfoot. She loves the convivial club.
Joel relaxes on the Club loggia with some fellow wine enthusiasts, sharing their latest discoveries from a Carmel Valley wine-tasting excursion organized by the Cannery Club the previous week. It’s a beautiful,l warm evening as the sunset reflects on the calm waters of the resort pool.
Tuesday: Eat, Play, Love!
Morning Movement
Tuesday kicks off with a Zumba55 class in The Cannery Club's movement studio. The high energy class is taught by an instructor who has tailored it for 55+ fitness. With high ceilings and natural light flooding the space, the class puts Sara in a great mood to enjoy the day.
In class, she spots Erin, an engaging single woman who recently bought a home in Twin Oaks, choosing it for social connection and a sense of security. Sara and Erin plan a shopping trip to Carmel the following week.
Joel hits the fitness studio, with its state-of-the-art Technogym equipment. A personal trainer created a program for him, and he’s been following it faithfully. “When your gym is just a block away, it’s a lot easier to stay in shape,” he observes to Sara.
Dog Day Afternoon
It’s time for Rufus, their Jack Russell terrier, to get a bath—something that used to be an ordeal. Sara is glad to have the Pet Spa at the Cannery Club, thoughtfully created for self-service dog washing—and drying. She grabs the pet shampoo and a towel, and they head out. On the way to the club, they run into Meredith, just leaving the pet spa with her Lab, Stanley. The dogs and the humans exchange greetings.
Plant-based Culinary Class & Dinner
Sara and Joel attend a heart-healthy cooking class in the Cannery Club’s showcase demonstration kitchen. The Twin Oaks Lifestyle team, led by the full-time Club Manager and supported by professional management organization Blue Star Resort & Golf, coordinates a remarkable array of engaging educational programs. The activity calendar rivals some of the largest clubs in 55+ communities.
Today, the Club Manager has brought in a registered dietician and nutritionist for the workshop. The interactive, hands-on session features farm-to-table recipes with super-fresh ingredients from local San Benito County farms. At the end of the class, everyone shares the healthy dishes they’ve prepared and enjoys a convivial meal together. Sara and Joel go home inspired, planning a dinner party for next week—in their own beautiful chef’s kitchen.
Wednesday: Pedals to Petals
Morning: Backroads Biking
Joel and Sara join a casual morning e-bike tour organized by the Cannery Club. A local outfitter trailers in e-bikes for everyone. The group heads out for a scenic cruise through the peaceful backroads, rolling hills, and oak-studded vineyards of Hollister. They’re both energized by the fresh air and sunshine. Everyone has brought picnic lunches, which they enjoy at scenic Leal vineyards. (Their daughter Taylor, who lives just an hour away in San Jose, has been eyeing the winery as a possible wedding venue.)
Afternoon: Hollister Farmer’s Market
Sara heads to historic downtown Hollister for the weekly Farmer’s Market, where she picks up some amazingly fresh local produce—they’re so lucky to live in the salad bowl of the nation—as well as gorgeous cut flowers.
Garden Club
Sara didn’t think she'd be able to indulge her passion for gardening when it was time to downsize. But to her delight, she has the perfect amount of space to put her unique touch on her Twin Oaks yard, while still enjoying a low-maintenance lifestyle. After several outings with the Grow Wild Garden Club at Twin Oaks, the latest to a nearby flower farm, she’s inspired to start growing dahlias.
She’s having a great time turning the home’s spacious covered loggia into a true outdoor room, accessorizing it with furniture, rugs, and beautiful succulents. She’s glad they opted for the stacking sliders, which create seamless indoor-outdoor flow between the open plan living area and loggia, where the gas fireplace Joel chose as an upgrade feels extra cozy on cool nights.
Winery Wednesday
Living in the heart of one of the world’s great winegrowing regions is a dream come true for Joel, a real wine aficionado. Today’s group excursion is to Calera, the legendary Central Coast winery less than twenty minutes from Twin Oaks. They enjoy a special rosé flight while taking in the spectacular views of the Diablo Range. On the way back, they stop at Eden Rift Winery, a stunning historic vineyard established in 1849, to pick up a special bottle of Pinot Noir for dinner.
They discuss joining an upcoming trip to Europe, organized by Blue Star.
Thursday: Club Life
Morning: Aqua Fitness
The refreshing resort pool has opened for the season and is the setting for a great water workout. Sara finishes with some laps in the pool, then relaxes on a lounge chair with her morning coffee. The last time she was able to do something like this was on vacation—it’s hard to believe she now enjoys that resort lifestyle every day!
Pickleball Tournament
Thursday morning brings friendly competition at the Twin Oaks pickleball courts. Joel can’t believe it, but he’s hooked. The tournament draws players of all skill levels, and the energy is electric. Joel partners with a neighbor he met at one of the regular pickleball clinics, and they make it to the semifinals.
Evening: Bocce Ball and Happy Hour
As the afternoon sun casts a golden glow over the community, residents gather for bocce ball followed by an impromptu happy hour at The Cannery Club. The 4,300-square-foot clubhouse provides plenty of gathering space, and tonight Peter, a retired music teacher, brings out his guitar for live music.
Friday: Hiking the Park, Painting the Town
Morning: Hiking Club Meetup
Sara and Joel join the Twin Oaks hiking club for a morning excursion to Pinnacles National Park, just 30 minutes from Twin Oaks. The group enjoys the trails through the stunning red rock formations and even catches a glimpse of magnificent California Condors soaring overhead. The spring wildflowers are at their peak, and Sara snaps dozens of pictures to share on her Instagram. (“Wait—are you in Sedona?” comments one of her friends, unable to believe the scenery in her shots.)
Afternoon: Art Club
Sara joins the Creative Club for an afternoon of art-making. Today they're working on a group project: beautiful centerpieces for the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend event. The club meets frequently, and members range from seasoned artists to complete beginners—everyone’s welcome. Sara has been working on her landscape painting technique, and takes her watercolor sketchbook with her most days. She’s finally getting to enjoy regular creative expression!
Evening: A Weekend Dance Party
It seems like they’ve danced more since they moved to Twin Oaks than they have in the last twenty years. The energy in this community has surprised them both—there’s a real sense of joie de vivre. Tonight’s party features another live band on the poolside loggia and a food truck in front of the Cannery Club, serving amazing burgers and fries. Knowing a perfect pairing when he sees one, Joel grabs a bottle of De Rose Vineyards Zin from his private Cannery Club beverage locker, and they drink a toast to their amazing new lifestyle as the sun goes down.
Saturday: Wildlife and Family Life
Morning: Exploring the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary
After a rendezvous at the Cannery Club, a group caravans to Monterey Bay, just 30 miles away. Joel and Sara used to spend a special weekend every year in Monterey. They can hardly believe this magnificent region is now in their backyard.
They explore the scenic strand at Moss Landing State Beach, spotting dolphins in the surf and whales just offshore. Then the group heads to Kayak Connection to rent kayaks, and they paddle through the wildlife sanctuary of Elkhorn Slough, with sea otters frolicking just feet away. Sara, an avid birder, spots great blue herons and dozens of egrets along the shore. Afterward , they enjoy the best fish tacos of their lives on the harborside deck at Moss Landing’s Sea Harvest. Then it’s just a 30-minute drive back to Twin Oaks.
Evening: Kicking Back at Home
Daughter Taylor arrives from San Jose. She loves coming to Twin Oaks for a getaway from her stressful job in Silicon Valley. She’s spending the night in Joel and Sara’s beautiful guest room, located at the opposite end of the house from the primary suite, which gives everyone plenty of privacy. Taylor admires the beautiful full bath adjacent to the guest room, complimenting her mom on her gorgeous tile choices.
Her brother Chase, who also lives in the Bay Area, looks forward to bringing his wife and kids to Twin Oaks in the summer for some afternoons at the pool. The Cannery Club offers plenty of family-friendly events and activities, especially during holiday weekends, while still ensuring plenty of tranquility for residents. This year’s Easter egg hunt was a big hit with the grands, and Sara wonders what the Club has planned next. She really appreciates that her 55+ community is so welcoming to family.
Joel prepares dinner in the modern kitchen with its central island, using fresh seafood from the fish market in Moss Landing and fresh garlic from Bertuccio’s, the farmstand just around the corner. The home’s open-concept floor plan allows him to chat with his wife and daughter as they relax in the living room. Later, they move to the covered loggia to enjoy dessert al fresco by candlelight—indoor-outdoor living at its finest.
Sunday: Books & Brews
The Book Club
Sara attends her third Twin Oaks book club meeting. This month, they're discussing East of Eden, the John Steinbeck classic set in the Monterey Bay Area. The previous week, there was a Twin Oaks excursion to the National Steinbeck Center, a fascinating museum in Salinas. This week, for Friday Night Flicks at the Cannery Club, they’ll watch the film adaptation of the novel, starring James Dean. (The lineup of films has been really fun—classics like Grease and The Sound of Music, mixed with more recent releases.)
The Brew Club
Like a lot of guys, Joel found it hard to create social connections after retiring. But the profusion of clubs at Twin Oaks has made it easy to get to know people and make new friends. Joel joins his fellow brewing enthusiasts of the Brew Crew to work on a new craft beer, which should be ready for the holidays. He’s been trying his hand at all kinds of brewing and fermentation with the group, one of the nearly two dozen vibrant Member-Led Clubs in his new community.
Simple Pleasures
Joel and Sara take Rufus for a walk around the neighborhood, admiring their neighbors’ front yard landscaping ideas and stopping to chat. Even though all the homes are single-level, Sara appreciates how the variety of architectural styles prevents Twin Oaks from having the “cookie-cutter” effect of other 55+ developments they looked at. Another selling point was the fact that there are just 168 homes in their gated enclave, making it possible to meet virtually everyone. They love the sense of belonging and security they have at Twin Oaks. This is the best decision they have ever made.
Ready to experience incredible weeks like this yourself? Learn more about the Twin Oaks Lifestyle.
Call us at (831) 800-2334, book a tour online, or visit our website at twinoakshollister.com to join our interest list. Our final construction phases are beginning, and there’s still time to customize your new home if you’re in contract by the end of 2025.
We’re located just south of Hazel Hawkins Hospital along Airline Highway in Hollister, California—less than an hour from San Jose and 30 miles from Monterey Bay.