Gail Cacciola has traveled to the Komodo Islands, coming face-to-face with a Komodo dragon along the way. For Gail, retirement has become a time to see more of the world.
A nurse, university professor, doctorate holder from Columbia University and former parish nurse, Gail spent much of her life educating, caregiving and serving others. After losing her husband, she entered a new chapter and made a decision that would change the way she experienced it: she began traveling alone.
Before that first solo trip, Gail remembers giving herself a simple pep talk: “Buckle up, girl.”
She did.
One trip became many. Gail has trekked through Rwanda to see mountain gorillas and traveled through Indonesia, where her adventures included encounters with orangutans and Komodo dragons. Solo travel became part of the life she wanted to keep living.
That lifestyle also shaped how Gail thought about home. She wanted the freedom to travel without the responsibilities of maintaining a house determining when she could leave, how long she could stay away or what might be waiting when she returned.
Her move to The Arlington of Naples gave her a home base that supports that freedom.
“I don’t think I would have been as brave,” Gail says of traveling if she were still managing her former home. “I would have other things to manage at home.”
Today, Gail can lock her door and go without worrying about home maintenance, storm preparation, or unexpected repairs. When she returns, she comes home to a familiar place and a community of people she knows.
The relationships she has formed at The Arlington have become another important part of her life. Gail describes the community as a “sisterhood and brotherhood” and believes that “forming a family of friends is very important.”
For Gail, preparing for the years ahead has not meant putting adventure behind her. It has given her more freedom to keep exploring.
Her experience also raises questions that extend well beyond solo travel: Who will be part of our lives as we age, and what choices can we make now to stay connected and independent?
Creating a Community Before You Need It
No matter what your family or living situation looks like, independence includes thinking about the people who make up your support system.
Carol Marak, a nationally recognized solo aging strategist, speaker and author of Solo and Smart, helps adults prepare for aging and create strong systems of support. Drawing on her own experience as a family caregiver and solo ager, Marak encourages older adults to look beyond financial and legal planning and consider the people and relationships they may rely on over time.
Who would speak with doctors on your behalf in a medical emergency? Who could help manage bills or finances if you were unable? Who would show up to advocate for your care?
These questions apply whether you live independently, with a spouse or partner, or have family nearby. Thinking about them now allows you to make choices about the future on your own terms.
Gail has already experienced the value of building that community. The friendships she has made are not simply people she may rely on someday. They are part of her life now, whether sharing a meal, attending a lecture, traveling or catching up during the day.
Those everyday connections can become an important part of a support system over time.
Freedom Today, Confidence for Tomorrow
Where you live can also play a role in how you approach the years ahead.
For Gail, The Arlington provides the home base that allows her to travel and enjoy an active life today. As a Life Plan Community, it also offers additional levels of support if her needs change, allowing her to remain among the friendships, routines and community she already knows.
That means Gail can spend less time thinking about what might happen later and more time deciding what she wants to do next.
Right now, that means traveling, learning, and staying connected to the people around her.
Continue the Conversation
Gail’s experience is one example of how decisions about home, relationships and support can shape the way we live as we age.
On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., The Arlington of Naples will host its Solo Aging Event, featuring Carol Marak, nationally recognized solo aging strategist, speaker, and author of Solo and Smart.
Marak will explore considerations and resources for navigating the years ahead, including ways to build a support system and prepare for changing needs.
The conversation is relevant whether you are navigating life independently, planning with a spouse or partner, or simply thinking about your future. The presentation will be followed by a gourmet lunch at The Arlington of Naples.
Registration is required. Reserve your place for The Arlington’s Solo Aging Event. >> LINK TO REGISTER or Call 239-397-2110.
