Meet The Residents – Brian and Margaret
Where did you move from?
Millwater, where we spent eight years in our treasured 221sqm home before moving to The Botanic in December 2021.
What do you love most about The Botanic?
How open it feels here, you can see right through the village and all of its green spaces, which makes such a difference. You don’t feel hemmed in at all – we found other villages felt a little too compact.
Is there a standout feature or something you love most about your Villa at The Botanic?
We were quite taken from our first visit here with the raked ceilings and open, spacious layout of the Villas. We also love that we have the ability to add to our home with custom touches – we’ve installed additional pantry space and a built-in wine fridge to the kitchen. We’ve always felt very supported by The Botanic to personalise our Villa as we wish
What are you enjoying about retired life?
The freedom for us to lock up and leave – sometimes on an impulsive whim – and head off when the special offers drop though the mailbox or online inbox. Knowing our property is secure and safe gives us peace of mind, even when on the other side of the world.
What have you learnt about retirement that you wished you’d known before?
That life can still be filled with excitement and new things. Margaret’s an adrenaline junkie who has ticked off everything from wing-walking to skydiving – and age does not diminish the adrenaline need..!
How do you live a life filled with purpose?
Staying connected! Margaret attends Tai Chi and swims three times a week in The Botanic’s 20m pool, while Brian enjoys the Whisky Appreciation Group and gets involved in numerous village activities. We’ve gained a lot of enjoyment and made many new friends by helping to establish the “Romeos” (Retired Old Men Eating Out) and “Owls” (Older Wiser Ladies), who get together for outings regularly. We both have an active social life outside the village, too!
What’s the best thing about living on the Hibiscus Coast? Being close to our family nearby in Wainui, we can ensure we’re actively involved with our grandchildren. We also care regularly for Holly our ‘grand-dog’ who comes for weekly doggie daycare visits at our place and even the odd weekend stay.
Our Villa’s layout is spacious enough that we can easily host 10 family members around our extendable dining table. Proximity to the bus station is a real plus for our regular trips to the city for meals or shows.
How would you describe the community at The Botanic? We really are a true community, with many firm friends made in the 5 years we have been here. Residents really do look out for each other – particularly if health or other challenges arise. A cuppa and a chat can usually solve the problems of the world!
What’s your advice to retirees thinking about moving to a retirement village? Remember that there is no ‘right’ time to move – but there is a ‘wrong’ time. That is when you have to move and your family says something like “I’m sorry, Mum and Dad, I know you don’t like what we have found for you, but it’s all that we could find.” We decided when and to where we would move; and we are so glad we did. Sooner is definitely better than later!
Has there been anything unexpected about life at The Botanic? With all the maintenance covered there are no surprises. We have clearer sight of our fixed costs and this allows us to save more and not hesitate when we decide to grab a bargain.
What’s your favourite dish or food at The Clubhouse Café? We enjoy the variety of the extensive menu, plus the excellent specials. Margaret loves the wide salad choices and Brian is a fan of the steaks – always dependable and good value. There is a good wine list, too. The Clubhouse staff always make us welcome, and their warmth and attentive service add greatly to our enjoyment.
What is some good advice to live by? Always buy the best you can afford – you will never be disappointed.
