Author: RS Editor

Eastlands Mature Lifestyle Estate in Benoni North combines luxurious sectional title investment homes with premium wellness, healthcare, and frail care services within a secure and picturesque setting. Geared towards active and self-reliant individuals aged 50 and above, Eastlands offers a valuable asset promising a rewarding lifestyle and long-term financial returns. The Lifestyle Centre prioritises health and fitness with amenities like pools, a gym, and a bowling green, while the Healthcare and Wellness Centre, managed by CareLife, ensures residents’ future healthcare needs are met with a homely touch. Eastlands also provides convenient services such as pet-friendly units, a restaurant, and robust security measures, making it an appealing choice for retirees and property investors alike.

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Meet Eastland residents – Nico and Ellen Martins

Nico and Ellen Martins, residents of Eastlands Mature Lifestyle Estate in Benoni North, moved to this over-50s community in March 2018 after thorough research on retirement choices. They were attracted to the peaceful countryside environment of the estate, as well as its proximity to both the airport and city amenities. The flexibility of choosing from various building plans, ranging from one and two-bedroom units to three and four-bedroom free-standing houses, was another factor in their decision-making process. Nico and Ellen also considered the estate’s comprehensive facilities, including home-based care, health and frail care services, security, home and garden maintenance, and a restaurant.

Before becoming Eastlands residents, Nico and Ellen had spent 31 years in their Glenvista, Johannesburg home, cherishing that period in their life journey. However, recognising the need for lifestyle changes in preparation for the future, they moved to Eastlands. Despite their attachment to their former area, the absence of Mature Lifestyle Centres comparable to Eastlands led them to make the move.

They particularly appreciate the beautifully maintained gardens with ponds and walkways and the convenience of housekeeping, laundry, and gardening maintenance services. The estate’s friendly residents and the opportunity to enjoy walks in the adjacent farming areas are added bonuses. The estate offers a well-established library, a boardroom for business meetings, and a restaurant with an extensive à la carte menu, daily buffet meals, and a bar service. The restaurant also hosts regular functions for entertainment and private resident gatherings.

In terms of their social life within the estate, while they continue to work from home several days a week, Nico and Ellen find comfort in knowing that numerous social activities are available when they choose to partake. They often go on motorcycle rides with a small group and frequently organise dinner gatherings with their close friends from the estate at the restaurant.

The estate offers a wide range of activities, including bowls, table tennis, bingo, quiz nights, card games, and fitness classes. There are also opportunities for gardening and crafting, including a hobby room for sewing, knitting, and crafting enthusiasts. When time allows, Ellen enjoys attending the Courage Girls, who arrange coffee mornings and host interesting speakers.

When asked if they had any additional insights to offer, they recommended that anyone contemplating a move to Eastlands should start by visiting the estate and enjoying a meal at the restaurant. For them, living in the countryside is a blessing, although shopping centres may be a bit farther away. However, the estate offers a weekly shuttle service to a shopping mall and an airport drop-off service. Eastlands is ready for possible water issues with large water tanks, and the Lifestyle Centre is not affected by loadshedding as it has its own generator and solar power.

We firmly believe that achieving balance is fundamental to a successful retirement. Life encompasses various facets, and neglecting one can have a ripple effect on others. In the hustle and bustle of life, attaining balance often feels like an uphill battle; some areas are given more attention than others.

There is a fantastic quote by Jana Kingsford that says, “Balance is not something you find; it’s something you create.” Achieving balance is not passive; it requires active effort and conscious choices.

That’s why we have identified eight essential elements that form the foundation of a more balanced and meaningful retirement: work, give-back, relationships, money, learning, health, purpose and play.

It’s often a good idea to check in with yourself and reflect on how balanced your life is. As a reminder, let’s dive deeper into each area of the Wheel of Balance and explore what they encompass.

1. Work

Work in retirement goes beyond financial rewards and working 9-5! It’s about finding meaningful engagements that bring a sense of purpose to your life. Whether pursuing a passion project, starting a new venture, mentoring people or starting a side hustle, work adds structure and a sense of contribution to your retirement journey.

2. Give-back

Giving back is not limited to charity work; it’s about making a positive impact and leaving a legacy. It can involve volunteering, mentoring, or supporting causes that resonate with your values. Giving back to others lifts our spirits, makes us happier and makes our lives richer.

3. Relationships

True wealth lies in the people you share your life with. Cultivating and maintaining meaningful relationships and nurturing connections with family, friends, and community all lead to a fulfilling retirement.

4. Money

Money plays a significant role in retirement, but it’s not just about accumulating wealth. It’s about understanding your financial resources, managing them wisely, and aligning them with your desired lifestyle. Is your money serving you, or are you serving it?

5. Learning

Retirement is an ideal time to continue learning and expanding your knowledge. It could involve pursuing new interests and acquiring new skills. Embracing a curious and growth-oriented mindset keeps your mind active.

6. Health

Prioritising your physical and mental well-being is crucial. Regular exercise, healthy habits, and self-care practices ensure you have the energy and vitality to fully embrace life’s adventures.

7. Purpose

As we navigate through the various stages of life, our sense of purpose naturally evolves and transforms. With each stage, our priorities, values, and aspirations transform, guiding us towards new paths and allowing us to embrace the ever-changing nature of our purpose.

8. Play

Embracing play and leisure activities brings joy, relaxation, and a sense of rejuvenation. It’s about engaging in hobbies, creative pursuits, and experiences that bring you happiness and allow you to fully embrace the present moment.

Want to know how balanced your life is? Click here to take the Balance Test.

At the beginning of 2022, we were looking forward to hosting a combination of in-person and online events, and connecting with our clients – and the year didn’t disappoint.

We kicked off the year with a client vision boarding event which was a fantastic opportunity to set our goals and vision for the year. This was followed by The Jeremy Gardiner roadshow, which began in February with in-person events held in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and Knysna.

Our first planned hybrid event was with Gareth Crocker; however, the Covid numbers increased dramatically, and the decision was made to make it online only, much to everyone’s disappointment. We have certainly not been short of great speakers this year, and clients enjoyed talks from Sean Brokensha — The Music Guru; Steven Sidley, who unpacked the world of Bitcoin for us; and Bruce Whitfield, who discussed how to thrive on the edge of chaos. Our Women’s Day event was a talk from author Helen Nicholson about her book Mindfulness: How to Stay Sane in an Insane World. Peter van Kets: adventurer, inspirational speaker and author inspired clients, regaling them with tales from his numerous extreme adventures and reminding us about the importance of leaving a legacy.

Financial markets have been a great cause for concern, so twice we hosted Victoria Reuvers, Managing Director, Morningstar Investment Management South Africa, who gave us market updates. Jeremy Gardiner, Director at Ninety-One, closed off the online events for the year in November, where he shared his insights into what the real concerns and opportunities are, and what is just noise.

It was wonderful to see our clients on the bowling green and golf course again this year. Bowls have once again proved very popular, and we have enjoyed three bowls days at the Bryanston Sports Club. A few clients have subsequently taken up bowls, which has been so encouraging to see. Our golf league is gaining momentum again, and we hosted golf days at Parkview, Wanderers and Randpark.

A new addition to our events this year was Bucket Wheel® Wednesday which we launched in June. We wanted to host smaller, more intimate events centred around the Balance Wheel, and they have proved extremely popular. Our first guest speaker was Alistair Meredith from Strauss & Co. who discussed a century of South African art in ten pictures. This was followed by a morning spent making sandwiches for Mandela Day in July, a walk around the Wilds in August, a writing workshop with Hamilton Wende in September, and a musical trip down memory lane with Sean Brokensha in October. Our final Bucket Wheel® Wednesday event for the year is a book club with Kate Sidley, where she will share her top picks for December reads, just in time for the holidays.

We are ending the year with a nostalgic trip around Johannesburg on the Red Bus, followed by lunch at Chartered.

We look forward to seeing you at our events in 2023!

We had hoped that 2021 would mean we could go back to our in-person events, but sadly it was not to be. Despite this, we still managed to host some fantastic online events that were topical, inspirational, informative, entertaining, and most importantly, relevant to the times we are living in.

We kicked off the year with Mandy Wiener, who enthralled us with tales from her book The Whistleblowers, where she spoke about the people who have courageously come forward to expose corruption and wrongdoing.

As it became glaringly apparent that face-to-face events were unlikely, we organised the first of two quiz nights for the year, hosted by Lynda Smith and Frank Davis. The quiz nights provided some light relief and a chance for clients to connect. Donations after each quiz night were made to African Food for Thought and Vulpro, respectively.

Kim Potgieter’s new book Midlife Money Makeover was launched at the beginning of May. Kim firmly believes her book is a reality due to the wisdom, insight and lessons that clients have taught her over the years. To celebrate, we hosted an event where Kim was in conversation with Maya Fisher-French discussing what it takes to live purposefully. We realised the importance of self-care while navigating life in a pandemic, so we hosted a Women’s Wellness event where Image Consultant Wendy Hind and Makeup Artist Holly Petersen shared some tips and tricks on looking and feeling great.

Kevin Lings joined us in June and presented us with a global and local economic overview. In the throes of yet another lockdown, we planned to host events that would provide some light relief and allow us all to have a bit of fun. Sean Brokensha, The Music Guru, took us on a musical
journey that traced the evolution and revolution of music in our country and how the sound of the new South Africa was born. TV presenter, author and safari guide James Hendry delighted and entertained us by sharing the story of humanity’s tumultuous relationship with wilderness
during his presentation, Plugged into the Wild.

We will always remember July 2021 as a tumultuous one in our country’s history. We all felt rattled by the events taking place. In order to try and make sense of what was happening, we hosted an event with thought leader and renowned scientist Prof. Anthony Turton, who shared his reflections on our young democracy, with particular attention to understanding the complexities of the events that took place in July.

In August we celebrated Women’s Day with Nikki Bush, who gave us tips and valuable insights on how to bloom through disruptive times. During this month, we also hosted Director of NinetyOne, Jeremy Gardiner, who shared his invaluable insight into the impact that the disruptions were likely to have on our investments, our economy, and the country we live in and love.

We kicked off Spring with an event hosted by Dr Karin Lourens, Nicci Wright and Richard Pierce, highlighting the plight of the world’s most trafficked mammal, the pangolin. This was followed by a session with Ida Doyer, a sensory integration occupational therapist, who took us on an enlightening journey around our response to the environment around us through the seven senses.

Renowned political commentator Justice Malala was our guest speaker in October, and his insights into the political landscape of South Africa and the elections were sobering. Given the events of the past year, we have realised what a necessary skill resilience is, so we decided to end October off by hosting endurance athlete, author and brain cancer survivor, Richard Wright who inspired us with his story of endurance, passion, heartbreak and triumph of the human spirit over crippling adversity.

Evita Bezuidenhout entertained us at our final event of the year – Evita Adapts and Does Not Dye.

Thank you to all clients who joined us at these events. We look forward to hosting a combination of in-person and hybrid events in 2022.