Retirement should be an investment in lifestyle

Story sponsored by Ocean Drive - Pozieres Retirement Village.

Warren Buffet once said: "When it comes to investments, price is what you pay but value is what you get for it."

This was certainly true for Canberra couple Grant and Barbara Dreghorn who recently made the decision to leave their home in Kingston in search of a life of relaxation on the mid-north coast.

They purchased a villa in the brand new Pozières Retirement Village on Ocean Drive - just a stone's throw from the beach - and say they couldn't be happier with their decision.

The couple are among the first residents to enjoy the state of the art facilities, which includes a pool, spa, bowling green, gym, on site hair salon, cafe and a stunning clubhouse, among others.

They say everybody is incredibly friendly and that there is already a real sense of community forming between all of the new neighbours.

"It's wonderful! We absolutely love it! At the moment there is only about five other couples but everyone is really happy with it," Barbara explained.

"We get together with the other couples every couple of weeks to have a few drinks on a Friday afternoon," she continued.

"Everyone is so friendly all of the time. Whenever we walk around the village there is always someone who wants to stop and have a chat with you."

"We're also always doing little favours for other people too," Grant added.

"Like, we're about to go and post a letter for a couple who have less mobility than we do. We also walk their dog for them too."

The couple made the move back in March after a lot of consideration. They looked at a number of different towns and cities across the country - and just as many retirement communities - but when they discovered Pozières they knew they'd found their new home.

Not only was it a pet friendly community - which meant their two beloved rescues Kit and Larry would be welcome - they also felt RSL's values aligned with their own.

They also liked the fact that the village was set up in a way that felt functional, comfortable and homely, instead of looking like a resort holiday resort.

Since moving in, the Dreghorns say they couldn't be happier with the experience. Both had nothing but praise for RSL LifeCare and their village manager Cathy, who they say has been "wonderful" to them.

In fact, the couple say Pozières is so beautiful that after inviting some friends up to stay with them - who were also looking to relocate to a retirement community - that they were so impressed, they went home and cancelled their down payment on a unit in another village and instead moved to Port Macquarie.

"It's just such an amazing place," Barbara said.

"You walk in (to your villa) and you just see these huge windows and doors and it is so light and airy, it is just a beautiful feeling," she continued.

"They've also got so many plans for the future. They're going to bring in things like water aerobics, tai-chi, craft group, a book club and a men's shed. So there are lots of things in the future to look forward to."

The couple also love Port Macquarie. They make multiple trips a week down to the beach and into town for long leisurely strolls.

They also like that when things get back to normal (after COVID-19) they will be able to catch direct flights to Sydney and Brisbane, as travelling is one of their great passions.

Grant says while buying the villa will inevitably see his nest egg shrink over time - in the traditional sense - it will also pay dividends in quality of life.

He and Barbara aren't concerned about depreciation or capital gains. At the end of the day, for them, it is an investment in a lifestyle and that is the way they approach it.

Plus, he says, village life also allows you to save money in other places. All of their maintenance costs are taken care as part of a weekly fee, so too are their council rates and building insurances.

"All we have to worry to really worry about is the electricity bill. So, it is a very predictable cost structure, which helps us to budget," Grant said.

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

Story sponsored by Ocean Drive - Pozieres Retirement Village.