FROM THE EDITOR

ALTHOUGH retirement is a word I try to steer away from, because today’s concept of retirement is very different from how our parents conceived it, there is no getting away from a simple fact: if we're lucky to live that long, we will all reach a time in our lives when we physically cannot work any more, and thus cannot earn a living. This might already be at age 65, when employers are obliged by law to “retire” us. But it is increasingly likely to be at a more advanced age. Why? Either because you cannot afford to retire at 65 and are forced to find some means of continuing to earn an income, or simply because you’re still relatively healthy and want to carry on doing what has brought you fulfilment and satisfaction throughout your life.

But even for those healthy, happy, fulfilled people who seem to go on forever, there comes a time when they have to hang up their boots and say “Enough is enough”. And it’s then when you need to be financially secure, when you could do without having to keep up the maintenance on your home, for example, and when you need the healthcare support that will be increasingly necessary as you age.

So for many, a retirement village provides an ideal solution. And not only when you get to that tipping point. In fact, retirement specialists recommend that you move into one sooner rather than later, so that you can enjoy all the benefits and activities such community living has to offer while still continuing to work until you hang your boots up for good and enjoy a well-deserved rest.

Martin Hesse

Retirement: It’s nice to get out of the rat race, but you have to learn to get along with less cheese.

– GENE PERRET writer and producer