Goodbye Fast Pace, Hello Relaxation

Gone are the days of hustle and bustle for Ted and Bonita Johnson. Today, they much prefer lounging in the sunroom of their Smith Mountain Lake home with a good book in hand or boating on the sparkling waters.

The couple retired in 2007 from the Washington, DC area and their vacation home at Smith Mountain Lake became their permanent one. They had visited the area 10 years ago, fell in love with it, and eventually bought a home that they have since renovated and expanded.

Pre-retirement, “we knew we wanted to live on water and had thought about the Outer Banks,” Ted explains. “But the lake is beautiful and so clear; it’s wonderful.”

“We chose it over the beach because we like the change of seasons,” Bonita adds. “We love the mountains and are constantly in awe of how gorgeous the scenery is around here.”

The Johnsons take advantage of the many activities available around the lake; Ted enjoys golf and Bonita is a volunteer for the Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour. They joined Waterfront Golf & Country Club and laud the opportunities available through their church. Bonita acknowledges it would be easy to “hunker down” in the house after retiring, but she and Ted knew that was not the lifestyle for them.

“You go from a lifestyle of nonstop to a lifestyle of a different pace,” Ted says. “You get used to the traveling, working, raising a family, but you have to be willing to give up the fast pace, which I had no problem with.”

He suggests taking up a few hobbies and, of course, enjoying the company of your spouse. The two plan many activities and outings together.

“We have lunch together now,” Bonita laughs. “We never really got to do that before.”

Recently, the Johnsons have been substitute teaching for Bedford County schools. Next fall, Bonita will teach a pre-K class three mornings a week.

“We live somewhere where there’s plenty to do,” Ted says, “but the winters can get nippy. It’s nice to get out and work with young people” during the colder seasons.