There is life after sixty five

This book is not intended to be a definitive work on either retirement or retirement village life; nor is it intended to be a comprehensive guide to successful ageing; it is by and large a tongue in cheek glimpse of the pitfalls, challenges and opportunities inherent in communal living. Hopefully, it will direct readers to the many resources available to people approaching their twilight years. It is based on my experiences of managing, living in, and consulting for, retirement and lifestyle villages, and is an attempt to assist those approaching retirement age, or even those already retired. It seeks to highlight characteristics of village life, as well as to provide glimpses of how ageing can be managed and optimised. Although it is written in the context of South African legislation and circumstances, its relevance is universal.

Readers may find that certain subjects are included in more than one chapter albeit in a different form or context. This is due mainly to the fact that the book initially comprised a series of individual articles written at different times; it is also attributable to the fact that while the importance of a theme may warrant a brief inclusion in one chapter, it could comprise the entire topic of discussion in another.

The resources included in the appendices are not comprehensive and the remarks and recommendations listed are based purely on my personal preferences. I make no excuses for them other than to recommend that you approach retirement decisions from your personal perspective. Many retired people face similar problems; circumstances, however, differ from person to person and as a consequence what is appropriate for one may not work for another. At the end of the day, each of us is responsible for our own future.

The book is intended as a guide to planning and optimising your journey into a period which unfortunately leaves little room for error. The limited time frame and diminishing resources that often accompany twilight years, making it imperative that you get it right the first time. Many people arrive at this stage having given little thought to how they will engage with retirement. But even if you have gone through life aimlessly with scant thought for the future; even if part of your motivation for choosing this particular book, relates to the fact that you are unprepared for retirement…there is good news! There are things that you can do; there are steps that you can take in order to improve your quality of life. Even if it is literally one of the last things that you do, it needs to be planned and positively approached – if not for yourself, then at least for your partner. Retirement, unlike our earlier years, does not allow us the luxury of an ad hoc, impromptu approach to life. I hope that having read this book you will be encouraged to keep pedalling, for whilst retirement is certainly not for sissies, it can be one of the most fulfilling periods of your life!

Testimonies

"Thank you for affording me such splendid reading pleasure!
Your FANTASTIC book titled "There is Life after 65" is exceptionally well-written, collated and extremely helpful. Full of powerful messages and wisdom, it is the most enthralling non-fiction book I have read during my 72 years"
- Errol Pilley

"Written by one of the most incredible men I have ever met!"
- Cath Brady