Banal .. Open to any topic on and off topics etc

[Lance]

As has been said Dot, lots to be weary of when looking at these setups.
Talk to lots of existing residents and take note of their comments.
Salesmen are there to do a job.
Residents will probably tell you if they had a job done on them.
Talk to as many residents as you can.

[Greynomad]

Dot,
Sounds a lot like the setup at Casino.
Would there be room for G's own workshop (not a shared one) & your m/h to park on your site? (Not in a yard well out of your sight, but not that of thieves!)
Besides, how would you cope, almost literally bumping elbows with your neighbours. You'd have to remember to close your blinds & not yell too loudly when you get excited...
Nah. Give it a miss.
That's why we moved from Melbourne. Too close for too long. And we lived on a "normal" housing development where everyone owned their own little slice of dirt! Not an "Over 55s" development, which is still officially a caravan park.
Needed somewhere to spread out & collect more Big Boys' Toys for my PlayPen.

[Dot]

I have been told so many times lately to look ahead at what will be our needs. If we stay here and one pops off, then this place is far too much to handle, it is now with the 2 of us. There is so much to be done all the time and that is keeping us slaves to the place. We also want to travel more, the last trip away we paid a garden maintenance place but as usual it was not done. The place we looked at is along the lines of Casino and there is a lock up place for boats and RV's. Like I said we are just looking at options at this point in time, if you know G you will know he will pull everything apart to see if it would suit us or not so don't panic just yet

[SteveW]

Some of us couldn't be happier, Dot.

[Greynomad]

We're looking ahead, too. But had enough of close neighbours... wanted SPACE!
Got it now: 1.25 acres!
House about same size/vintage as one we left (which was on 0.3 acre - a long thin block with neighbours just as close as those on 650 sq m blocks... except neighbour over back fence ).
Plans drawn for renovations to the two bathrooms (ours is bigger than an en-suite) to accommodate no-step showers wide enough for a wheelchair or home-care assistant. Grab-rails already installed.
Have already renovated kitchen to remove upright stove in favour of a (no-stooping) wall oven & built-in m/wave at a sensible height for SWMBO.
All kitchen cupboards converted to drawers to eliminate groping in the back on bended knee.
Working to modify gardens with reduced mowing & new watering system so it can be operated solo if/when needed.
We plan to remain here until removed in pine sleeping bag.

[Dot]

Yes Steve your place is just so perfect for you two esp Bron The place we looked at in Victor H was tooooooo close together, at least the ones at Goolwa had some space around and between the houses, G thought that the 2 car garage places would enable him to have his tools in half of it. The men's shed is there so people don't have power tools of every description going at all hrs of the day and night which is a good point. No kids, no vroom vroom or party's going on all night so there are good points.
Ray we also have an irrigation system but the dam plants and trees need trimming and mulching, grass to be cut, weeds to be controlled, mowers to be serviced, paint work on the outside to be done here and there and on it goes plus the house here is too big. Rates and insurances going out of control and so the list goes on. Plus no family or rellies to call on.

[Greynomad]

Ray we also have an irrigation system but the dam plants and trees need trimming and mulching, grass to be cut, weeds to be controlled, mowers to be serviced, paint work on the outside to be done here and there and on it goes plus the house here is too big. Rates and insurances going out of control and so the list goes on. Plus no family or rellies to call on.

Even when we were close enough, Son & Heir was reluctant to drop in & mow. (The only 'grass' at his place is plastic stuff on nature strip )
We have a bloque who comes to prune our (lots of) roses, and Council-subsidised handyman service to clean gutters, windows, prune hedges, do other stuff as required. He's offered to use ride-on if I'm incapacitated (again). Have taught SWMBO, but she uses lots of fuel re-mowing to get to another missed patch. Used it myself again today for first time since fracturing my NoF in August in WA!
(SWMBO is away for a long w/e... a surprise for her on return... )
Local tradies also know us now, & give us a 'Seniors Discount'.
We'll manage.
Hey, we celebrated 3 years in Rutherglen on 15th Jan! Doesn't time fly when you're having fun?!

[Lance]

The topic of how to downsize is an issue we all should consider as we slow down.
Probably worth it's own thread huh ?

[Greynomad]

The topic of how to downsize is an issue we all should consider as we slow down.
Probably worth it's own thread huh ?

Agree, Lance!

[Lance]

viewtopic.php?f=33&t=4876

I just started one.