Seven reasons to upsize your life by downsizing to retirement living

Story sponsored by Ocean Drive - Pozieres Retirement Village.

Retirement. Yes, retirement. That day when we can punch our ticket for the last time and finally be done with the daily grind. How idyllic it will be.

We all know what our retirement will look like. We should anyway. After all, we spend more than 40 years fantasizing about it. But how do you get the best out of it?

It's a serious question. How are you going to make your retirement work for you? How can you reorganize your life to allow you to spend the next 10 to 15 years doing what you've always wanted to, be it playing 18 holes of golf a week or taking long leisurely strolls with your spouse along the beach or even just socializing with other people your own age?

For some the obvious answer is downsizing to a more manageable property in a village that caters for their every need, allowing them to make the best of every minute their twilight years have to offer.

While it is a big life choice, making the change comes with some serious advantages. Here are seven good reasons to downsize for your retirement:

One of the great things about downsizing is that there is less maintenance to worry about, which means you have more time to do the things you want to do.

If you move into a retirement community like Ocean Drive - Pozières Retirement Village, all of the outdoor maintenance is taken care of for you.

Regular housekeeping and in home maintenance can also be arranged if you need it, making your life easier, no matter your circumstances.

It also means less clutter so you can feel comfortable in your own space and enjoy all of the creature comforts village life has to offer.

Another massive advantage of downsizing to a purpose built villa is the ease of modern living.

With plenty of natural light, an open living plan, and everything on a single level, you will notice the difference.

At Ocean Drive - Pozières Retirement Village for example, every residence has been specially designed to make you feel at home.

From the floor-to-ceiling windows to the authentic timber-style flooring and the earthy colour palate, the combine effect is an elegant feeling of luxury and style.

Retirement is meant to be about comfort, having a 21^st century home will allow you to live life to its fullest for years to come.

Another big advantage of downsizing to a retirement village is the savings in your cost of living.

When we retire, our chance to earn an income all but stops. More importantly, it becomes incumbent upon us to make the best of our super, savings, dividends, returns, or old age pension.

That means being conscious of how much we have coming in verse going out. You need to make every dollar work for you.

That's why when you purchase a unit at Ocean Drive - Pozières Retirement Village, you will only pay a recurring fortnightly fee of $223.50, which covers your building insurance, council rates and the maintenance of both common grounds and the exterior of buildings as well as internal property maintenance such as plumbing and electrical.

The fee also covers services such as management and administration costs, emergency calls and garbage removal.

All you will have to pay for is for is your contents insurance, phone and internet, and your gas and electricity bills, which brings us squarely to our next advantage...

One of the biggest household debts all of us face is our seemingly perpetually increasing energy bills. That's why downsizing can have a big reward.

Cooling or heating a smaller unit with a modern design - which takes into consideration factors such as air flow - is going to cost far less than it will with a big, poorly insulated home with plenty of wasted space.

In fact, according to Sustainability Victoria, upgrading to improved technology and downsizing your space can literally save hundreds of dollars a year.

As previously stated, your retirement is all about you. You earned it. So, enjoy it! You have to make the best of every single minute.

That's why Ocean Drive - Pozières Retirement Village is designed so you can do just that. Surrounded by beautiful bushlands and close to both the beach and a vibrant town centre, village life offers residents a relaxed coastal lifestyle with urban convenience.

Conceived by Sydney's Humel Architects, the Hamptons-style outlook of the residences and the communal areas guarantee an abundance of space and natural light. From the state-of-the-art heated pool to the gym and spa, every detail has been carefully considered.

The clubhouse has a function area with space for more than 100 people, as well as a mezzanine/al fresco dining area, where you can sit outside year round and take in the gorgeous views while enjoying a coffee or meal.

The village also has its own on-site hair salon, café and bowling green. If you require additional care, a comprehensive Home Care service is available.

And, if at some point in the future you should need residential care, the brand new 80-bed Arthur Blackburn VC Gardens Aged Care Home is located right next door.

Remaining active in your senior years in vital to both your physical and mental health.

That's why Ocean Drive - Pozières Retirement Village offers everything you need to live a lifestyle as active as you'd like it to be.

There is no shortage of activities to take part in on a daily basis either. In the coming months, when COVID-19 is behind us, you will be able to do everything from aqua-aerobics and gym classes through to bowls, bingo, art classes, bridge and even join the fishing club if you're a keen anglers. Whatever your hobby is, you'll be able to pursue it.

There will also be day trips to the markets, regular dolphin and whale watching trips, and nights out at the Glass House Entertainment Centre.

If none of that floats your boat, you can always keep your brain active by taking up a course at the nearby Community College and TAFE or even just duck next door for 18 holes of golf and couple of schooners.

Perhaps the best thing about a retirement community is exactly that: it's a community.

Downsizing allows you to spend your days with other people who are at the same stage of life you are.

People who understand how precious every moment truly is. People who just want to have a good time.

And, when that somber moment comes when the community loses a member, there is always someone there for you in your time of grief.

Life is better together. So, why not make the best of it?

Ocean Drive - Pozières Retirement Village is now selling. For more information contact RSL LifeCare on (02) 5555 5014 or visit www.oceandrivevillage.com.au

Story sponsored by Ocean Drive - Pozieres Retirement Village.