A Busy Day for a Change
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382104)
Rockingham, Australia
February 16, 2017 4:56pm CST
Today will be a busy day in our terms. We have accepted an invitation to view a retirement village in Bunbury, Western Australia, about 30kms away. We have no intentions of selling up any time soon but at 70, we need to start considering our options. Once we can no longer drive, we won't be able to stay here. And they are giving us free morning tea so what's not too like?
In the afternoon I'm going to our writing group meeting. The group has grown in size lately and we have 12 to 15 at our meetings. I haven't done the homework yet but it's only 6am here – plenty of time yet!
In the evening we'll be going to our social lawn bowls evening. Last week, bowls was cancelled because of the rain we were having but tomorrow looks like being a lovely evening. Hopefully I'll be able to get to most myLot posts before we leave for Bunbury. Must remember to take my camera.
22 people like this
21 responses
@xFiacre (14786)
• Ireland
17 Feb 17
@JudyEv There are those who sell their houses and just cruise continually. If you choose judiciously you can catch inexpensive cruises and you have all your meals, entertainment, company, security, doctor all included in the price. You even have a chaplain to look after you if you fall I'll, pop your clogs or suffer any other such misfortune. It works out cheaper than a retirement home. I have a friend who is a retired but very active church minister and he has landed a job as ship chaplain and gets free food and board for him and his wife in return for one Sunday service a week and one hour a day visiting anyone who falls ill.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 17
@xFiacre There are 'reward' schemes once you've been with the same cruise line a few times too. Great job for your friend as a chaplain. I wonder what we could offer? We met a couple who ran the bridge sessions and some older single men who were employed to look after (dance with) older single women. But I don't think the QMII needs a bus converted.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153530)
• India
17 Feb 17
Nothing like keeping oneself busy. I wonder what I would do if I had nothing to keep me occupied.
That idea of shifting to a home for seniors seems good provided that home is where you home will be.
3 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
16 Feb 17
You seem to be so active and busy, can't imagine your being in a place that has the word "retirement" attached to it.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Feb 17
Basically we could be just as active somewhere else. These villages even have places to store your caravan or motor-home so you can go traipsing off if you want to.
@DeborahDiane (40847)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 Feb 17
@JudyEv - Since I write a retirement blog here in the U.S., I will be curious to hear what you learn about the retirement community in Australia. Are they pretty much the same as ours? Let me know what you think.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40847)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 Feb 17
@JudyEv - I'll look forward to your post. Tag me in it, so I don't miss it!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Feb 17
The photo is less than 12 months ago but I chose it very carefully. 
Vince turns 70 in April. I married a toyboy but something went wrong in the intervening years. 
Vince turns 70 in April. I married a toyboy but something went wrong in the intervening years. 
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Feb 17
Yes. We need to make sure you understand exactly what we are buying into. Hopefully we won't need to move for a good few years yet.
@Juliaacv (56257)
• Canada
16 Feb 17
Its smart of you both to keep your options open and to be aware of what they are.
This downsizing that we are doing is proving to be very difficult on my husband.
He has a lot of large tools-a table saw, grinder, drill press.......but he hasn't used them in years and I'm trying to remind him that he doesn't need them and he can sell them, but you know what a relationship a man develops with his tools over the years-jeez!
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (56257)
• Canada
18 Feb 17
@JudyEv He has his larger tools, the table saw and some other things on individual stands, the table saw is on a wheeled little stand so you can push it back against the wall when its not in use. But I don't think that he's turned it on in the last 5 years, we have most of our stuff hired out these days.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Feb 17
This concerns me a bit too. We really would need to get rid of a lot of tools before we shift. The garage has quite a bit of storage but some of our stuff is quite bulky, just like your husbands. And certainly it is hard for them to part with these things.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
17 Feb 17
true, it would be good to have a goal of a where in mind already
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
20 Feb 17
@JudyEv especially one that big
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (24026)
• United Kingdom
17 Feb 17
Well there is no harm in having a look to see if it is something you would like. It would be a lot easier on you living in such a community and getting established there while you are still very active. You lead quite a busy life and I think that is what keeps people going! Taking a look won't be a waste of time!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Feb 17
That is exactly our thinking. We will look at more than one and try to get as much information as we can about what's available.
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
17 Feb 17
Busy day. Hope it was successful!
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
17 Feb 17
That certainly sounds a busy day....your camera captures interesting pics.
2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
17 Feb 17
Sounds like you have a busy day a head of you. No dont forget your camera. We will be looking forward to seeing any pictures that you take.
2 people like this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
17 Feb 17
Sounds quite enjoyable! Have a great day!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Feb 17
Thanks it was a good day. We're just heading off to bed now.
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Feb 17
That is true. We need to be mentally alert enough to read and understand the fine print before putting our signature to anything. One of these types of villages was in the news recently. The owners sold the land to developers who served the residents with eviction notices as they wanted to pull down the units and put in high-rise apartments. You do need to be very careful about what you sign.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174482)
• United States
18 Feb 17
I hope you do find a retirement community you and your hubby like, Judy. (I knew you were older than me, but would have never guessed you were 70 years old, hon!)
Uhm... I hope you don't mind, but I wanted to tell you that I wrote about my first love on one of Raja's threads. I thought some of my friends might like the glimpse into that part of my life. (Be warned, I cried while writing it. sishy has replied to it, also crying. I didn't mean to make anyone cry, but... well, anyway... I forgot to add you to the list of people I called to that thread, but didn't want you to miss out.)
Here is the link to that thread:
Thank you.
Okay, so everyone at some point fall in love with someone. I read few making a point that we never forget our first love in Mylot as well. That interests me to...
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174482)
• United States
18 Feb 17
@JudyEv You are very welcome, Judy.
Have you been looking into retirement communities long or is this the first one? (I haven't noticed you talking about it, but I know I miss a lot of your threads.)
If you get to that link, great! If not, don't worry about it. 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 17
@DaddyEvil We went to a Seniors Expo and got put on a few lists. This is the first one we've agreed to visit.
@AutumnSnow (4583)
•
16 Feb 17
Sounds like it was a good day. Have a relaxing evening.
2 people like this
