A travel ready retirement
Harry and Margaret's early retirement and move to The Aerie freed them from home maintenance, giving them more time to travel.
Retirement living: Travel freely, live fully
Monday, 28 October 2024
Meet Joan and Russell, whose love for adventure, culture and the thrill of travel led them to consider retirement living.
In their early 70s they decided to downsize from their large family home and embrace retirement village life. Ever since they moved to The Aerie at Narrabundah they say it has ended up being the best choice for their lifestyle — and their future adventures!
Don't wait for later
They figured out that the best time to move wasn’t when they were too old to adapt to new surroundings, neighbours or the challenges of downsizing. Instead, they decided to make the leap while they were still physically and mentally fit. “My husband and I knew we wanted to move from a large home with swimming pool and expansive garden in our early 70s. We were inspired to move into a retirement village. We wanted to enjoy the process rather than dread it. We wanted to tackle clearing out our home, organise garage sales and make renovation decisions with ease before selling it — tasks that could have felt overwhelming down the line. We didn’t want to put that burden on our kids. It was important for us to handle it ourselves while we still could,” Joan shares.
"We wanted to tackle clearing out our home, organise garage sales and make renovation decisions with ease before selling it — tasks that could have felt overwhelming down the line."
Freedom to travel
One of the best things about village life? Peace of mind! With just a small home to care for, Joan and Russell found that garden and home maintenance became a breeze. “We love that we don’t have to spend our weekends mowing the lawn anymore or focus on maintenance and renovations as we did in our family home,” says Joan. Plus, the village community offered security and support, which was a huge relief. “Knowing our home is safe when we’re away gives us the freedom to travel more often and for longer. We can finally explore without those nagging ‘what ifs’ that used to mess with our travel plans!” Russell shared.
“Knowing our home is safe when we’re away gives us the freedom to travel more often and for longer."
Joan and Russel love snorkeling in remote places like Indonesia, Fiji and the Maldives.
Financial planning with travel in mind
Selling their big home opened up a world of financial freedom for Joan and Russell, allowing them to budget for travel. They’ve enjoyed snorkeling in amazing places like Indonesia, Fiji and the Maldives. “With a simplified lifestyle and fixed monthly costs at The Aerie, we can put more money toward planning our dream vacations,” Russell shares. “It’s all about making the most of this time in our lives! We love being able to explore new places without worrying about breaking the bank!” Joan added.
“With a simplified lifestyle and fixed monthly costs we can put more money toward planning our dream vacations.”
Village perks for downtime
When they aren't off exploring the world, Joan and Russell are busy soaking up all the perks of village life. They love their daily swims in the indoor heated pool, friendly matches of 8 ball pool games and social events like the Melbourne Cup luncheons. “There’s always something happening at the clubhouse! With so many activities, we feel active and connected. Plus, the modern amenities make everyday living a breeze. Cooking is so much more enjoyable with these gadgets! It really is the good life here!” Joan shares.
“There’s always something happening at the clubhouse! With so many activities, we feel active and connected.”
The couple loves the clubhouse because of the social events hosted here
Why consider a retirement village early?
Moving into a retirement village while you’re still able to enjoy it is crucial. For Joan and Russell, it meant living life to the fullest without any burdens holding them back. They stay active with their favorite hobbies — like going to the gym, joining craft groups and hitting the golf course and have built a social network that really boosts their quality of life. Their advice for anyone who loves to travel but is unsure about making the move? “Do it while you're able. Time marches on and we have to march with it. Life in a retirement village means you have no responsibilities outside the village and commitments except necessary doctor's checkups.”
“Do it while you're able. Time marches on and we have to march with it.”
When you choose to move into a retirement village you are able to do things you love without the responsibilities that used to tie you down. Whether it’s budgeting for trips, managing a smaller space or having a supportive community waiting for you when you return, moving into a retirement village can give you the freedom to live life to the fullest. So, why wait?
Learn more about The Aerie at Narrabundah.
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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