Tag Archives: golf

Is your Social Network Growing?

Retirement, , , , , ,

It’s inevitable, the more time on your hands, the more you want to reach out to people.  It’s just basic human nature to want to share stories and noteworthy experiences.  Now with all of this new instant communication technology at our fingertips, we can text, email, Skype message, Facebook message, Facebook post etc.  and always keep in touch with those who make a difference in our lives.

Sure we all made acquaintances with business co-workers and perhaps met after work for drinks to gossip.   But that was work related.  Once you leave the work place, we might manage to keep in touch with a few of these co-workers but typically that network would tend to decline over the years.  What then?  There’s always the option of retreating to the couch to hibernate.  That might work for some people, but that’s just sad!  People need to connect with people.  We need to enjoy each other’s company.  We need to smile and laugh until it we cry.

The Super Bowl

What better opportunity is there for a gathering of friends and family than hosting or being at a Super Bowl party?  With only one common objective,  to watch a football game while munching on some great food and sharing stories with a group of people.  Some people you will meet for the first time and who knows they could then be part of your growing social network.  I was at a Super Bowl party last night and despite the blowout game result, we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and of course the food.

Friends and Family Forever

I have to admit that since my retirement my social network has grown exponentially.  I never realized that my work was so time consuming.  I never really made the effort to grow my social network back then.  Today, it’s so much easier to meet new people and stay connected.  However, family is always first.  It’s so important to be involved with your family and to help out whenever there is a need.  That connection has to be forever.

Moving to an Active Lifestyle Community has proven to be a game changer for making new acquaintances and new friends.  So many people, with similar interests, are willing to share their experiences.  Many are willing to mentor you and to provide guidance for new life adventures.  It’s just so amazing to me how we can open up to each other, so willingly and easily. I really cherish it.

Perhaps the best example I can share with you is how friendships can be created by simply volunteering for something.  I volunteered to set up an invitational senior men’s golf league at our local golf course.  It wasn’t a big league, only 20 players with 10 spares.  After one full season, I can truly say, it was a blast.  There’s something about a little match play competition and a group of men together.  We all had grown our social network to another level.  As spring approaches this year, our league will be expanding to 24 players with 12 spares (already a 20% growth).  Without any doubt there will be even more kidding and laughing.  Even better, more friends for life.

Hunter’s Pointe – The Residences

Retirement, , , ,

Hunters Pointe The ResidencesAs mentioned in my previous post, I would like to explore some of the various Adult or Active Lifestyle Communities to find out first hand what attracts new residents to these communities.  My first such community is Hunter’s Pointe – The Residences, situated in Welland, Ontario.

I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful homes in the Hunter’s Pointe community when I played golf at the Hunter’s Pointe golf course.  So after a challenging 18 holes of golf, my wife and I decided to drop by the sales centre and take the tour. We were not disappointed.  The model homes were presented with first class upgrades and left us with a lasting impression to say the least.  That was the beginning of our search for an Active Lifestyle Community.   In the following months we must have visited at least 8 of these Adult Lifestyle Communities in Ontario.

I decided to email Hunter’s Pointe – The Residences to see if I could talk to someone about posting an article on what attracted their new residents.  Thanks to Wendy Wontner, the sales associate at Hunter’s Pointe – The Residences, who was gracious enough to answer a few key questions.

What are your customers and potential customers telling you about their wish list when looking at Active Lifestyle Communities?

Customers are looking for programs and recreation facilities available for those who want to be more active and sociable .  New residents are tending to be younger (in the upper 50’s to mid 60’s). They like the 150 kms of hiking trails that are nearby not to mention the championship 18 hole golf course that is absolutely beautiful along with its large club house.  Customers are looking for single story bungalows or townhouses that are both affordable and equipped with all of the conveniences needed.

What motivated your customers to move to your Active Lifestyle Community?

Many were about to become empty nesters and wanted or needed to downsize from their larger homes in the big city.  They wanted to move away from the hustle and bustle from larger neighbourhoods and to seek out people with common interests.  They were really looking for an increased sense of security and a more peaceful life. They wanted to move to a smaller community with a village type setting with access to nearby restaurants and retail outlets. They were aware of the 150 residents who had already located here and heard about some of their successful lifestyle transformations.

Moving from a larger home in the city had provided them with sufficient funding to purchase a new home at Hunter’s Pointe.  Customers had actually moved from as far away as Vancouver, Ottawa, Huntsville, Montreal as well as from the Greater Toronto Area.

What’s the typical story behind your customers moving to an your Adult Lifestyle Community?

The typical story would involve a couple in their late 50’s to mid 60’s who have finally decided to downsize and move to a smaller community where they can relax and join in to various activities.  They love the location because they can secure cheap flights, just across the border, to the southern USA states for their winter getaways.

They are blown away by the size of the Recreation Centre and the amazing golf course next door, not to mention being in the middle of Niagara wine country.  They are fully aware that a new home builder, Luchetta Homes, has taken over and has plans to build another 250 bungalow and townhouse style homes, in the 1500 square foot range, over the next several years.  This provides a number of choices for anyone who is downsizing.  They are secure in understanding this community is a going concern and will keep on improving.

Hunter’s Pointe – The Residences is well worth the visit.  Many thanks again to Wendy Wontner for her contribution to this post.  If you are in the search for an Adult Lifestyle Community, I would urge you to take the tour with Wendy.