Dashboard alternative for new OS versions?

How do I get the functionality of the dashboard back? I know it's been discontinued but I need a space where I can easily access notes, calendar, calculator, etc. with one gesture. The notification center does not have this, and the widgets are too large anyway. Having a desktop as a space for this doesn't work either because it forgets everything on restart. Is there a way to reconfigure something so that I don't have to open a bunch of apps?