by John G. Kelly
B.Com., D.PIR., LL.B.,M.S.Sc., M.A. (Jud.Admin.), F.CIS.
john@activeretirement.ca ; www.johngkelly.ca
Your home is your first place. It’s where, to coin a phrase, you feel right at home. Or it should be. If it isn’t then you need to give some serious thought as to where that first place could be. For me, it’s historic Saint Andrews by the Sea, on the Bay of Fundy. It’s a “naturally occurring retirement community” (NORC)[1] with an eclectic mix of the “5s”
(45s,55s,65s,75s+). We have a modular customized home designed for spacious one-floor living with a view of the majestic bay. It has a full-scale basement that includes a stained-glass studio for my wife who can pursue her artistic passion, a regulation tournament pool table for me to indulge in my teenage hobby sport, and a fully equipped guest suite for guests or a live-in caretaker, if and when the need for one arises. NORCs provide you with that opportunity to build that dream home that you always knew you would feel right at home in.
The second place that everyone needs to have access to is a workplace that enables you to be productive. Ideally, that should be in a location that doesn’t entail a 1-2 hour commute in bumper-to-bumper traffic that makes you feel tired and tuckered out before you even get down to work at the start of the day. Saint Andrews is experiencing an influx of new residents in the mid “5s” who are eliminating the commute factor by working from home. It’s interesting to see first-hand just how many creative middle-management and “encore career” opportunities there are for qualified exec types who decide to leave the burbs and office towers behind and engage in remote work from that place where they feel right at home[2].
Of course, if you’re in the high “5” category and retired, like me, that second place is access to a health and wellness centre to keep physically and mentally fit. I do have a treadmill in my basement to keep me in shape when the weather is cold or inclement. However, what is a popular daily occurrence for many high “5” retirees is power walking on the many trails that surround the town or just cruising through the historic town plat and reading the heritage plaques posted on the sides the many heritage designated homes. It’s a great way to become acculturated to this idyllic community.
The third place is the active community space for leisure and relaxation. Saint Andrews has a nationally ranked 18-hole golf course. There is a community arena with an auditorium and curling rink. If you’re a boater or “wannabe” sailor join the yacht club. You’re never going to experience more than a two-week wait for a musical concert, theatre, or movie night. There are summer, fall, and winter festival gala weeks where you binge out on a retinue of afternoon and evening concerts. Saint Andrews is a summer tourist mecca so there’s never a lack of leisure or entertainment events.
But if you value some leisure time on your own just take that “15 minute” walk along Water Street and drop by the home brewpub for a pint on the veranda and enjoy the view of the bay. Or if you’re an early bird strut or drive down to the end of the town plat on the edge of the bay and join the others who watch the majestic morning sunrise over Deer Island and shine daylight on all of Saint Andrews. That will make your third place your first place at the start of your day.
[1] Hunt, M. E., & Gunter-Hunt, G. (1986). Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities. Journal of Housing For the Elderly, 3(3–4), 3–22. https://doi.org/10.1300/J081V03N03_02
[2] Marriage – The rise of the remote husband. The Economist. April 6th 2024 at P.17