Knowing When It Was Time

After 38 years in the same Randpark Ridge home, Chartered clients Cheryl and Martin Jordaan knew it was time to make a change. It was the home where they had raised their children and built much of their family life. But with their children grown and flown, and the day-to-day demands of a large Johannesburg property starting to feel less appealing, they began thinking seriously about what the years ahead would look like.

For Cheryl, moving into a retirement village was never something to fear. Her grandmother had made the move in Durban in the 1970s, and Cheryl saw how positive that choice had been. She had also seen how difficult it could become when people waited too long, and decisions had to be made in response to changing circumstances. “I always said I wanted to go into a retirement village early,” she says. For her, it was not about getting old; it was about being practical, choosing while they still had energy and independence, and not leaving difficult decisions for their children later.

The timing, when it came, was swift. The woman who had been living in the flat above their garage bought her own home, and Cheryl and Martin took it as their sign. They put their house on the market and sold it within three weeks. What had been a conversation suddenly became a reality.

They had spent time in Somerset West before and had even rented in a retirement village to get a feel for the area. After looking at different options in Somerset West, Helderberg Manor soon felt like the right fit. Looking back, Cheryl believes it was exactly where they were meant to be. It is close to shops, doctors, hospitals and town, yet still has mountain views, fresh air and the sea in the distance.

Letting Go of a Long-Time Home

Before they could arrive, though, there was the work of letting go. After nearly four decades in one home, there was plenty to sort through. Furniture, household items, old cameras and things gathered over many years had to be sold, donated or passed on. Cheryl speaks about the process with humour rather than sadness. “Your children don’t want your stuff,” she says, laughing. Piece by piece, they released what no longer needed to come with them.

That does not mean leaving was easy. Their tenant cried as the furniture was packed up. Their son remembered the trees he had climbed as a boy. Their daughter watched the moving van leave on a video call from Canada. It was emotional, but Cheryl says spending two months in Port Alfred before moving into their new home gave them a helpful pause between one life and the next.

Finding Community at Helderberg Manor

When they eventually arrived at Helderberg Manor, the welcome was immediate. A neighbour brought soup and buns. Another arrived with flowers. Someone else brought biscuits. Within days, they had been invited for drinks, introduced to people and drawn into village life. Cheryl describes it as “like going back in time”, a place where neighbours still knock on the door, look out for one another and make newcomers feel included.

A Lighter, Freer Way to Live

Their days now feel lighter. The weight of maintaining a large property and worrying about security has lifted. Cheryl walks freely, sometimes along the beachfront in the early morning. They enjoy the nearby nature reserve, wine farms, restaurants and the simple pleasure of being able to lock up and go. Inside the village, there are groups, gatherings and people with interesting stories to share. Outside it, there is a whole new area to explore.

For Cheryl and Martin, the move has brought more than a smaller home. It has brought relief. They chose where they wanted to live while they were still able to make that decision for themselves. They have found doctors, dentists and specialists, settled into a manageable space and built a new circle of friends. Most importantly, they have not left their children with difficult choices to make on their behalf.

What comes through most clearly when Cheryl speaks is her energy. She talks about their new life with humour, gratitude and such genuine enthusiasm that you cannot help but feel excited for them too. This was not a reluctant move; it was a choice made with clarity, an open mindset and a real sense of possibility.

Cheryl’s Advice to Others

Cheryl’s advice to others is direct. “Pull the trigger,” she says. She knows it can be daunting to leave a long-time home, to sort through decades of belongings and to start again somewhere new. But she also knows what is waiting on the other side: less stress, more ease and a strong sense of community.