Vic Jines—From Pecans to St. James Place
Leaving the home you’ve spent a good portion of your life in is never easy. More than likely, you made memories that will last a lifetime. But even with all that, there comes a time for many of us when we realize it’s time for a change. Vic Jines made that decision when he moved to St. James Place on June 2nd, 2022.
Under any circumstances, letting go of a 3,000-square-foot home located on seven acres of a 14-acre family-owned spread in Gonzales, LA (known as the “Jambalaya Capital of the World”) would be difficult. In Vic’s case it must have been even more difficult, given that since his retirement from Gulf Oil, Vic turned a good portion of his land into a pecan farm or, more appropriately, as a memorial to his maternal grandfather.
It all began with 60 seedlings Vic’s mother-in-law gave him from her own pecan tree. Along with the seedlings, Vic bought five different varieties of pecan trees. Determined to make his memorial a fitting tribute, he took the seedlings to the LSU Department of Agriculture and learned how to graft them. Even after planting the seedlings, he noticed there was still a lot of space between the trees. So, he added 30 more pecan trees, bringing the number to 90. Vic also vowed to never sell the pecans. He would only give them to family, friends, neighbors and their families. He remembers with pleasure having buckets for the kids, seeing the delight on their faces as they filled them.
With 90 trees you’d think he must have had a lot of help. But long-time retiree Vic didn’t seem to want or need any. Dividing the acreage over four days, he would first clear the land by removing limbs, loading them in a cart and dropping them in a burn pile. Then he mowed the rest of the grounds until close to sundown. Following that Vic began the process of picking the pecans, shelling them and building drying racks where they would remain for three to four weeks before he began sharing them. When asked what the hardest part of maintaining the farm was Vic said, “none of it.”
For him, it was all about family. Vic treasures the memories of visiting his grandparents, remembering how his grandfather would let the young Vic drive the four to five miles down the road to the farm (while his grandfather shifted gears). There were two huge pecan trees on his grandfather’s farm. Vic vividly recalls he and his grandfather picking the pecans together. His grandmother and mother would make pies and pecan candies, baking them into cakes and roasting them with salt and butter. For Vic, creating his memorial was simply something he could do to honor his grandfather. |
With all this history behind his home, what made Vic decide it was time to make a move? After all, there were not only the trees but the barn he’d built himself, his woodworking and model plane shop, which he also built, along with his wife’s gardening shop. And unlike many of us, Vic actually enjoyed cutting the grass and keeping the house up. His wife’s family also lived on a part of the land. It was comforting to be close to them, especially after his wife passed away.
But Vic was getting lonely. His daughters told him if he wanted to move they’d support whatever he decided. So, Vic started looking at retirement communities. In addition to Baton Rouge, he toured options in San Antonio, TX and Gonzales.
Why did Vic choose St. James Place? “One big factor,” he says, “was the friendliness of the residents and staff.” They made him feel welcome and at home from day one. The location of St. James Place was also important. Baton Rouge is half an hour from Gonzales, keeping him close to the farm and family.
And for Vic, downsizing was not a problem. He happily invited his family to come to the house and take their pick of furniture and memorabilia, after which he contacted a local charity, donating three loads of items. Vic says he was actually relieved to part with his belongings. “It was great when the family was home and we entertained,” he says, “but over the years it all became more than I needed.”
Now that Vic is settled in at St. James Place, he’s thrilled to, once again, be surrounded by people. He loves how convenient the location is, the social opportunities and having his own space to relax and play games on his iPad. He also appreciates the fresh fruit available for breakfast, as well as the salads and soups.
Another plus for Vic is his ability to walk around the campus every day. He goes to the gym twice a week, participates in John Lopez’s Brains and Balance classes, which are designed to strengthen the mind and core, and he has started playing Hearts once a week with a group of men on campus. In fact, Vic and the other Hearts players were having such a great time they recently increased the games to twice a week. And, as Vic says, “everyone is always smiling and visiting each other.”
There’s an expression made famous in the title of a book by author Thomas Wolfe — you can’t go home again. In Vic’s case, however, that’s not quite accurate. While he’s extremely happy with his move to St. James Place and has taken to his new social life with a passion, Vic also found a way to enjoy his new lifestyle while not quite letting go of his old one. Recently, he gifted the farm to his oldest daughter, Brenda, meaning, he gets the life he wanted at St. James Place and he can go home again any time he likes. That’s truly having it all.
If you’d like to see what makes St. James Place home for so many seniors seeking an active retirement, call (225) 314-5857, to arrange a personal tour