
A Non Believer Converted…
I am writing this as someone who was a non-believer eighteen months ago. When my partner came home and said he had seen the plans for Watermark and that he was very interested, I was quite horrified. There are a few things I said I’d never do. One was buy off the plan, the second was that I didn’t like the idea of retirement villages, and the third objection was living in an apartment building, plus the fact that I didn’t think I was close to being old enough for a retirement village, although I am over 55. Another of my concerns was having to pay levies, but then I realized I would no longer pay land or water rates, nor building insurance and I have no maintenance costs at all. Well, my partner was so annoyed that I wasn’t interested that I thought I should at least meet him half way and have a look. On seeing the plans I have to say I was impressed and agreed to put down the holding deposit, thinking well, if I absolutely hate it, we can drop the whole idea and it’s cost us very little. We have now been living here for three months and to cut a long story short, you couldn’t dig me out. I am still working three, sometimes four days a week, and my partner is still fully employed. The pleasure of walking into our apartment every night, with brand new appliances, superb finishes, always looking like something out of House and Garden (because it’s so easy to care for) can’t be overstated. Besides that, there is the cinema, or, for those who love their sport, the big screen in the cinema to watch football etc. Then there’s the gym, if I’m not fit now, then I never will be, all the equipment is there at my doorstep. We have a putting green, a bowling green, a games room. For those who like bridge, we can have up to ten tables in the games room. It is also there for those who want to drop in and have a game of Scrabble, or a number of other games supplied for the use of residents and their friends. Then there is the snooker room. I’ve never played before, but my partner and I go down after dinner some nights and I try his patience, but it’s fun. We also now have the Castle Cove library and a community centre as part of the complex. Willoughby Council opened this last week. We have a beautiful restaurant, with a commercial kitchen, and, on one of my days off, we had a cooking class. I thought I could cook, but obviously you’re never too old to learn. I certainly couldn’t have produced a delicious three course meal in 45 minutes prior to that lesson. I’m really looking forward to the next one. On the subject of food we also have communal vegetable gardens and are currently waiting for the first crop. All in all, thank you Chris, Enzo and Tony who have developed this property and who have spare no expense to do it well. I look forward to being here for a very long time.