But five years later, the 84-year-old swoons like a teenager when she speaks about the relationship she has formed with fellow resident Ray Henderson, 90.
The couple first met through social occasions at the village in Ilam, meeting in groups for tea or a glass of wine and a natter at each other’s apartments.
But as time went by, the pair drifted closer together.
“Even now we ask ourselves how we first got together – we kind of just drifted together,” Dymond said.
“Ray would take me up to the shops if I needed something, and his daughter has a walnut farm, so he took me for a run out there one day.”
But sparks really began to fly when Henderson invited Dymond to go on a cruise with him.
“We didn’t bother mucking around with a dinner date, we just went straight to a cruise,” she said.
“Ray was booking a cruise with his daughter, and quite casually said to me one day: ‘Would you like to come?’ and pointed out, ‘we would have separate cabins, of course.'
“I jokingly said: ‘Why?’ because I am a bit cheeky, and it kind of just went from there.”
“They all said: ‘Go for it.' Everybody has been absolutely fantastic about it and said how lucky we are.
“Now we have been together for three-and-a-half years and been on two cruises together.”
The couple thank their lucky stars that they found each other, and attribute this to living in a retirement village.
“There is no way I would’ve had the opportunity to meet anyone else if I hadn’t moved in here,” Dymond said.
“People seem to think these sorts of feelings only happen to young people, but it happened for us. If anyone had told me it would happen at 80-years-old, I would’ve said: ‘Don’t be so ridiculous,' but I’m really glad that it has.”
With Dymond’s family based overseas, the companionship has also "overwhelmingly helped" combating loneliness, she said.
“It’s a bit easier when there is two of you. Every day I think how lucky I am to have him. And an added bonus is our family don’t have to worry so much, as they know we are looking after each other.”
Dr Maree Todd, Bupa’s geriatrician, said having a good friend, or partner, helps your social well-being and general health.
“It can protect you from things like depression and can have other health benefits by keeping you thinking clearer. We also know that if you’re having fun, you’re more likely to be resilient when adverse events happen,” she said.
“Every day, we work hard to have meaningful interactions, to create activities and build social connectedness - all core things for building friendships and why the opportunities to make new friends is higher in care homes and villages than someone housebound.”
