The retirement villages of 30 to 40 years ago have changed dramatically. In the past, these were often perceived as slow-paced places where retirees were pushed into small units in villages and largely forgotten.

Fast forwarded to present-day and retirement villages have evolved substantially from that bygone era. Today’s boutique retirement villages, such as Oak Tree are thriving communities that are aspirational and exciting. They are carefully designed to incorporate a worry-free, lower-maintenance lifestyle that allows you to spend more time doing the things you love.

If you believe that retirement villages are only for those old, frail, and grey, you need to think again. When Susan Hilton was looking for an over-55s community to call home, she didn’t think anywhere with ‘retirement’ in its name would suit – because she wasn’t retired. So, when a friend suggested she consider Oak Tree Retirement Village Goodna, she was very unsure – until she had a look for herself.

I’m still working with no plans of slowing down

A Brisbane hairdressing salon owner, Susan was looking for an over-55’s community to move to after selling her large residential home. Part of the motivation for Susan’s move was the change in neighbourhood at her old home. Where she once felt close to the community in her street, over time her neighbours had moved away, and she felt disconnected. And so when a friend suggested she consider an Oak Tree Retirement Village she organised a tour.

“I immediately liked the look of the place,” Susan recalls.

“It had a really nice feel about it and wasn’t sterile like some of the other places I’d visited. But before I went too far, I had two questions for the village manager. ‘Do I have to be retired? And can I bring my dog?’ When I got a ‘no’ to being retired and a ‘yes’ to the dog I was suddenly very interested.”

Susan then found the villa that she wanted, with a large area out the back that suited her interest in gardening and also her dog, Harry.