Two members of a Zoom needlepoint group are moving to Siena Lakes

North Naples, FL - When Elaine Soffer, a self-described longtime needle pointer, saw on Facebook that a needlepoint group was going to meet virtually to teach some new stitches, she was all in. “I thought it sounded very interesting because I’m always trying to learn something new,” says Elaine. “But more than that, the woman was talking about techniques and different threads, and I just felt there was a lot for me to learn.”

During the Zoom call, Elaine was able to meet other women in the virtual room. She recalls that they began discussing where they would get their needlepoint creations finished— meaning to have it professionally framed, made into a pillow, or something else.

A few of the women from South Florida began talking about Needlepoint in Paradise, which is the place Elaine uses. Elaine clicked with Diane Goldstein, another woman on the call. In no time, they set up a call for after the needlepoint group.

“We had a phone call, chatted with each other, and decided to meet for coffee one day,” recalls Elaine. Their initial meeting spot was, of course, N Needlepoint in Paradise.

“We just went off to a coffee shop and found out that both of us had tons of things in common, and a new friendship for both of us just blossomed!” They also realized that they were both moving to Siena Lakes.

Soon-to-be neighbors

Before they learned that they were both moving to Siena Lakes, Elaine and Diane found out that they have quite a lot more in common: they’re both middle children in their families, they both grew up in the Philadelphia area (Elaine in Philly, and Diane from nearby New Jersey), both women are proficient in using computers and various computer programs, and they’re both ardent feminists with similar political views.

Diane says that she was so happy when she found out that Elaine would be moving to Siena Lakes as well.

“I was very excited because here it was, somebody I had already seen and somebody who I had something in common with, and because I knew no one [else] coming into Siena Lakes,” says Diane.

“Elaine is so active; she knew plenty of people, but I didn’t know anyone. I was so happy to find somebody that I sort of ‘knew.’ Now that we’ve met for coffee and then lunch, a friendship has developed—a very important friendship to me because we do share so much in common.”

And if this weren’t all already serendipitous enough, Elaine and Diane are both moving in during Phase 1 of the community opening.

While both women are looking forward to being able to spend more time together at Siena Lakes, Diane says that she’s also anticipating “not having to make dinner every night, having a new place to live, meeting lots of new people, not having to worry about a house, and enjoying the things within Siena Lakes that made me choose it.”

Elaine and Diane are glad that they’re moving into Siena Lakes sooner rather than later. They’ve both known people who waited too long to move to a retirement community and then couldn’t enjoy all the amenities that they could have if they had relocated some years earlier.

Not surprisingly, the women have already talked about starting a needlepoint club, among other things.

“We’re all looking forward to being in a place where we can mature together,” says Diane. Elaine says while laughing, “We’ll just be pioneers here, plowing through everything!”

Want to learn more about this vibrant new community? Call 1-800-980-1762.

Siena Lakes is situated on a scenic, 29-acre campus just minutes from downtown Naples and will feature luxurious one-level apartment homes, many with views of the community's lakes and water features. Residents can choose from a variety of one and two bedroom floor plans that can all be customized to match their personal preferences.

Written by Michele Wojciechowski