Retirement living: Travel freely, live fully
Meet Joan and Russell, whose love for adventure, culture and the thrill of travel led them to consider retirement living.
A travel ready retirement
Sunday, 20 October 2024
Harry and Margaret's early retirement and move to The Aerie freed them from home maintenance, giving them more time to travel.
Retirement is a time to celebrate all you’ve accomplished and dive into things you’ve always dreamed of doing. For many, travel is right at the top of that list. But when you’ve got home maintenance, security and other responsibilities on your mind, it can feel like a lot to manage. That’s where retirement living steps in — offering the freedom to explore the world without those extra worries.
Take Harry and Margaret, for example, from The Aerie, Narranbundah. After years of working hard and raising a family, they decided to retire before they hit 60, which gave them the chance to travel and live life on their own terms. What really helped make that decision easy was moving into a retirement village, where they no longer had to stress about things like watering their garden or unexpected home repairs while they were away.
Lock up and leave
Harry and Margaret have always loved to travel, but before moving into their retirement village, it wasn’t as easy to just pick up and go. Margaret recalls, “Retiring before 60 was the best decision for us. We suddenly had time to enjoy hobbies and spend time with friends. Harry even took several trips overseas. I went to a few of them with him but most times I stayed back because long trips were a bit too exhausting for me.”
Harry loved exploring during his solo adventures but he always worried about leaving Margaret at home to manage everything on her own. “I was always conscious of leaving Margaret to manage the garden, animals and any maintenance of the house. While we lived in a reasonable suburb, there were instances where one could feel unsafe like anywhere else. And while we had nice neighbours, it was really only those people who lived close by that we got to know well.”
“Retiring before 60 was the best decision for us. We suddenly had time to enjoy hobbies and spend time with friends.”
Ever since they moved into their retirement village, Harry and Margaret lock the door, tell their neighbours and head off on their next adventure. “Whether it’s a quick trip to Sydney or visiting our daughter in New Zealand, we have complete peace of mind knowing our home is secure and there’s always someone around if anything comes up. There’s no need to worry about maintenance issues or whether the garden will go wild while we’re away – the village takes care of that!”
“We have complete peace of mind knowing our home is secure and there’s always someone around if anything comes up. There’s no need to worry about maintenance issues or whether the garden will go wild while we’re away – the village takes care of that!”
Harry and Margaret lock the door, tell their neighbours and head off on their next adventure
A smart financial move
One of the biggest perks Harry and Margaret found in retirement village living is the financial stability it offers. Instead of worrying about surprise bills for home repairs, they know exactly what their monthly fees cover, allowing them to budget for travel more easily.
“Our admin fees are known in advance and Keyton’s buying power means we get better rates on things like electricity and internet, so we’re able to save more for our adventures. We don’t have to worry about building insurance or major maintenance, either. If something goes wrong, like a power point breaking, we just fill out a form and it’s fixed — no fuss and no cost to us.”
They don't have to worry about building insurance or major maintenance
When they first moved in, Harry recalls, “A sewer blockage (due to dried waste in the pipes) was resolved by the village’s plumber — something that would’ve cost us hundreds of dollars at our old house. We’re also walking distance to shops, cafés and bus routes, so we don’t even have to worry about driving into the city. These things also help keep our costs under control and add up to making more of our retirement funds available for doing the things we like.”
Read the benefits of city retirement living
“We don’t have to worry about building insurance or major maintenance, either. If something goes wrong, like a power point breaking, we just fill out a form and it’s fixed — no fuss and no cost to us.”
A safe and supportive community
But it’s not just the financial side that sold Harry and Margaret on retirement living — it’s the sense of security and community. Apart from feeling reassured that Margaret is surrounded by friendly neighbours when Harry is away, the community has been a game-changer for both of them.
“We have a very involved community. Having said that, you don’t feel compelled to participate in regular activities. There’s a gym, a hobby shed, swimming pool and a golf course over the fence. All are well used. As for the neighbours, we’re not in each other’s pockets, but we know help is across the road,” says Margaret. Without worrying about safety or maintenance, they’ve had more time and energy to focus on what they love. Margaret regularly plays table tennis and uses the pool and the gym. She also enjoys scrabble. Harry plays bridge and attends the occasional happy hour. Both enjoy walking around the suburb. Harry also brews a fine ale or stout which he happily shares with other interested people in the village.
Margaret regularly plays table tennis and uses the pool and the gym
For those who like to be more involved in the village activities, Margaret adds, “There are residents’ and social committees where people can contribute to village life by engaging in the operation of the village. Being on these committees allows you to get some insights into how the village is operated and managed.”
“We have a very involved community. Having said that, you don’t feel compelled to participate in regular activities.”
A confident choice
Harry's advice to help others make the right decision for themselves while considering to move into retirement village is, “The best thing you can do is to think about your current lifestyle and how it might change. If you're like us and want to keep enjoying your hobbies but also have the time and freedom to explore new opportunities — or even travel — then it’s definitely worth considering. Since our move to a retirement village there are so many things that we don’t have to worry about any more. The pricing structure allows us to manage our funds well and has given us so much more freedom and taken away so much of the stress. Just make sure when you choose a retirement village read the contract carefully and get legal advice from a specialist lawyer.”
For more information about the lifestyle and support offered at our retirement villages, call our customer service team on 1800 550 550 or send us an email here.
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