In this issue, we’re highlighting retirement living. To find out first-hand what retirement living is all about,
Channel Mag publisher Aidan Bennett was dispatched to two of the well-known local villages to discover how the menfolk cope with life in a lifestyle village. He visited Rob Arblaster and Brad Meurant at The Poynton in Takapuna, then Bill Scott and Lee Elder at William Sanders, Devonport.
Rob Arblaster and Brad Meurant are well-known north of the Harbour Bridge. Rob played basketball for New Zealand and was also a first-class cricketer for Auckland. Brad was one of New Zealand’s leading rugby coaches, coaching North Harbour and the Chiefs in Super Rugby, and also overseas in South Africa, Ireland, Japan and Georgia.
Rob and Brad were relatively young in the scheme of things (in their late 60s) when they decided on a move to The Poynton with their wives. Rob and his wife Robyn have been at The Poynton for seven years, while Brad and Helen Meurant have lived there for four years. “We had sold our Milford home and trialled apartment living for a year in Takapuna before choosing The Poynton for a range of reasons,” explained Rob. “Robyn was rehabbing from spinal surgery so the one-level, easy-access apartment was perfect. I also liked the fact there would be no lawns to mow and nobody corporate to worry about.”
“Helen and I had an older house in Glenfield and also considered apartment living,” added Brad. “The fact there was no body corp with the retirement village option really appealed to us as well. We were probably considered a little bit young to make that move, but four years on we have absolutely no regrets. We love it!”
Those who knock retirement villages often point to the loss of 20-30% of the capital and the fees as negatives, but that is not the case with Brad and Rob.
“We are all aware of the front-end loaded loss and the future cost of this lifestyle right from the beginning, so we sign up fully aware,” says Rob. “We see this as our final home, so when we have gone the loss isn’t going to be our problem," he laughs.
Both Rob and Brad agree that the fixed-fee deal they have makes things very easy, as they know what their ongoing costs will be. That is most often not the case with a body corporate situation or owning your own home. Brad says a mate of his has just had to spend $120,000 on replacing a roof on his home. Ouch!
“What we have here in many respects is an old-fashioned community," explains Brad. “There is lots of fellowship with people shaking hands and looking one another in the eye. An early concern for us was about living with so many people, but that hasn’t materialised, as our spacious apartment is our own space and we all socialise in the social areas. Having interesting people around – and there are lots of people here who have done really interesting things with their lives – means it’s always interesting.”
Rob plays bowls, darts and table tennis at The Poynton, and they both make as much use of the pool and gym as they can. Brad loves snooker which is popular with the men. He’s leaving bowls to his wife Helen, a recent convert to the game.
Brad says retirement village living is an easy lifestyle.
“The bus is close, so we use our AT cards a lot, going over the bridge etc. We also do lots of walking to Milford and Takapuna. Socially we still do a lot outside the village as well.”
Bill and Lee at William Sanders
Locals will remember the controversy around Ryman building its William Sanders Retirement Village in Devonport. A few years on that’s mostly forgotten; it is now the wonderful home for many, covering independent living and assisted living options as well as having a rest home, dementia care and hospital facilities.
Two men who are enjoying the independent living lifestyle at William Sanders are Bill Scott and Lee Elder.
Bill Scott first moved to Devonport in 1975. On retirement from the textile industry he first moved to Katikati. He then came back to Devonport to a home on Old Lake Road, before moving (around 500 metres away) into the three bedroom Williams Sanders apartment with wife Barbara three years ago.
Lee Elder is relatively new to Devonport. Born and bred in Taranaki he has moved around a bit in a career that has included being a PE teacher, a financial planner, a rest home owner and a life and business coach. Lee and wife Kate moved into their two-bedroom Williams Sanders apartment three years ago.
“We made the move into the village for all the benefits it has delivered,” explained Bill, when quizzed about the decision. “No maintenance was a big one; our home was getting harder to maintain. All our worries as we are getting older are taken care of. Living in an institution did take a bit of adjusting to, but we have.”
For Lee and Kate Elder the two bedroom William Sanders option proved to be a good one.
“We wanted to live in Devonport so a brand new apartment at William Sanders made sense. The price was good, we would still enjoy independent living but with the opportunity to meet new like-minded friends. And that is exactly what has happened. There is great camaraderie and support, and people are always looking after one another.”
Lee started the quiz group at the village and also plays billiards regulary. He also enjoys the gym and pool and getting out to walk around Devonport. Bill supports North Shore Rugby and still plays golf at the Waitemata Golf Club, just a stone's throw away, being a member of the 20-plus Friday ‘Poes’ group. Old fellas golf. He’s a regular user of the pool at William Sanders (four-five times a week).
Both Lee and Bill say they enjoy the bar at William Sanders that is very well run and open four days a week from 4-8pm with a happy hour on Thursdays. They say the café is also popular.
Both see William Sanders Retirement Village as their last move and are happy with their move to the village.
“We are looked after very well with everything here that we need,” says Bill. “Being so comfortable and secure removes the pressure from our children as we get older.”
“The fixed fees we enjoy make things easy as well,” adds Lee. “These are fixed for life, so we know what the lifestyle is costing us now and in the future.”
As was the case with Rob and Brad at The Poynton, Bill and Lee have no issues with losing the percentage of capital value when their apartment is eventually sold.
I know what I’ll be doing in my retirement – Bill, Lee, Rob and Brad have got it good!
