Graeme and Juanita don’t do things by halves. Throughout their married life, they have designed and built not one new home, but four. As busy working professionals they opened and ran a successful B&B for 12 years alongside their full-time careers. As avid gardeners they designed and established a garden so fantastic that it won the Canterbury Horticultural Society new garden of the year award. So, it’s no surprise that when it came time to think about retirement living, they went all in.
“I started looking at retirement villages when I was still in my 50s,” explains Juanita. “My friends thought I was mad, but I knew it was going to be a long process. Over eight years, we looked at 18 different retirement villages, from Dunedin to Nelson.
“It was really important to us to find the right one, because we knew this would be the last time we moved house.”
The couple came across The Sterling in Kaiapoi by chance, having visited another village in North Canterbury. “We saw the signs,” explains Graeme, “came for a look and were really impressed with what we saw.”
But there was a problem. “I didn’t want to live in Kaiapoi,” says Juanita, who was born, raised and spent most of her life in and around Christchurch. “All our friends are in Christchurch, our activities are in Christchurch. I still work in Christchurch. I didn’t want to move out here.”
However, having visited The Sterling showhome and seen what villas were available, things started to shift for Juanita. “We were looking for a place that felt right in our hearts and our minds. There were certain things that we needed to have, like security, independence and a long-term care facility so we wouldn’t have to be separated no matter what happens in the future. But more than that, we knew exactly what we wanted when it came to the design of a home. Having designed four homes in our lives, we are very particular about what we like and The Sterling just ticked all of those boxes. This villa was a lot bigger than many of the other places we’d looked at, and when we compared the cost, our heads told us this was the sensible decision.”
The villa’s large footprint, two bathrooms and floor to ceiling windows were all big contributors to Graeme and Juanita’s decision to sign up for their villa at The Sterling. The cathedral ceilings, choice of colourway and the warmth of the home also added to their consideration.
“The all day sun is fantastic,” adds Graeme, pointing to the sliding door that leads out to a neat patio area bathed in sunshine, despite it being a winter’s morning. “The heating and ventilation is very good, too, and I really like how the villas are well spaced, so you’re not right up against your neighbour’s house. It suits us perfectly.”
“We wanted somewhere that felt like home, and from the moment we moved in, this just felt like home,” says Juanita.
Despite their reservations about leaving the city and moving to Kaiapoi, the couple quickly realised it wasn’t nearly as far away as they first thought. “We enjoy Kaiapoi. It only takes us 10 minutes to get to Cranford Street. It’s just so easy with the motorway and it’s actually a very relaxing drive because you’re not stopping and starting all the time.”
It’s so close that the couple have not felt the need to transfer their doctor, dentist, hairdresser and other key service providers to new ones in North Canterbury – they just pop back in to Christchurch when they need them. “People think of the location and think it’s too far to travel, but in actual fact it’s not,” says Juanita.
Fit and active, Graeme and Juanita often leave the car at home and cycle in to the city on their e-bikes, exploring new bike trails and paths together, or heading back to the ones they know and love around Christchurch. In addition to their love of cycling, the couple have enjoyed rekindling old hobbies now that they’re available right on their doorstep at The Sterling. “We’re both enjoying yoga again. Graeme has joined the table tennis group on Mondays, and I can’t believe it, but I’ve actually started line dancing!” exclaims Juanita, who’s always had a love of dance. “We don’t go to all the activities or social gatherings, but the great thing is that they’re there if you want them. You can socialise as much as you like, but there’s absolutely no pressure to join in if you don’t want to.”
“We always said this was a decision that had to capture our hearts and our minds, and both our hearts and minds are very happy here.”
If, like Graeme and Juanita, you’re doing your retirement village homework, give our friendly sales team a no-obligation call today on 0508 783 754 or explore thesterling.co.nz to discover everything we have to offer.
