Over the last few years we have been casually searching for the perfect place, within budget, to spend our twilight years.
Yesterday, we visited our first boutique ‘50 plus lifestyle resort’. Located 52 km north of home, it is serenely quiet compared to townhouse living with background noise of rail, aircraft, road traffic, and people going about their lives.
The estate is bounded by council owned forest on three sides and is walking distance to a shopping centre.
The complex’s clubhouse, 25 metres lap pool, jacuzzi, bowling green, barbecue area, and outdoor seating are nearing completion.
Lyn showed us around the available options. All reasonably spacious with higher than usual ceilings, fans, air conditioning, larger kitchens than we are used to, and most importantly, detached and single storey.
All had a front garden and a covered porch. Also, alfresco areas at the rear with around 1-3 m to boundary fenced sides and back. We liked the layouts and finishes of the homes.
Lyn let us know the average age of villagers was 60 to 80 years. Unfortunately, finance may be tricky as leasehold property is unpopular with lending establishments.
Even though I pine for seeing the sky from inside our abode, rather than the three storey house next door, perhaps we are 5-10 years too young to reside in a twilight development.
theINFP 
Dear Robert,
Happy mid-May to you and your partner!
You are certainly too young to be living in a retirement home. I remember that Australia’s leading Investigative journalism program entitled “Four Corners” has covered the traps and pitfalls of living in/under some retirement home arrangements or schemes.
FOUR CORNERS airs on Monday nights at 8.30pm on ABC and is repeated on Tuesdays at 10:00am and on Wednesdays at 11:20pm.
By the way, I would like to inform you that my mixed-media offering of “If My Name Were Moon Tonight…” has been greatly extended to twelve stanzas. The number of animations has also increased many times. The post is now covered in eye-catching animations throughout from top to bottom!
The direct link to the post is https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2020/10/10/if-my-name-were-moon-tonight-with-clair-de-lune/
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle
Thank you.
Good morning to you!
Your post reminds me of something related I came across online years ago, called Linton Estate, near Melbourne and Ballarat. The layouts and location looked lovely so I hope the founder was successful in launching it. I’ve never stepped foot in Australia, but I happen to know the name Ballarat because of the charming and fascinating Aussie TV show Dr Blake Mysteries haha, it’s set there I think.
Also, a former gold mining town. I have read it has fine Victorian buildings.
Wow! That sounds wonderful. One of my sons is 56 and planning on retiring in around 8 years. He is working on designing and building a tiny house and to travel half the year and renting the tiny house as a AirBnb while traveling.
My husband would like to live in an RV and constantly tour around Australia.
You entry reminded me of a line in a short story: Mother you are only 70, you look 60, if you move there you will be looked upon as an interloper, and object of suspicions – you will have enemies everywhere!” hohoho
So true.