A widower of eight years, George was tired of rattling round in his Pakuranga family home. The lawns needed mowing, the swimming pool upkeep was relentless, and the sprawling gardens demanded his constant attention.
“The place was just too big for one person, and too lonely as well,” he says.
Passionate about living life to the full, earlier this year the retired builder embarked on an exciting new chapter, trading in the family property for retirement village living. And he couldn’t be happier.
“The kids always joked that when the time came, they’d just put me in a wheelchair and wheel me down the hill, and that’s basically what we did! It’s absolutely marvelous, I should have done this long ago.”
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The first resident to move into Metlifecare Edgewater’s spanking new apartment development, George is now living a life most Kiwi blokes long for.
“I work out at the village gym three times a week, I go to happy hour every Friday night, and I’ve joined the Beers, Blokes and Banter group, which is basically a bunch of guys who get together and tell lies! I may not be able to remember everyone’s names yet, but I feel like I’m part of a community.”
With a corner apartment that faces north, gets all day sun and has fantastic views, the grandfather of seven reckons he’s “Top of the Town”.
George Nuku. Photo / Supplied.
“That’s what I call my place, because I’m on the top floor. My old house was in Marriott Road, so in essence I’ve moved from The Marriott to the Top of the Town!”
The best part? “Bob, the guy I go to the gym with, is a music lover like me. He comes over to my apartment and we play everything from Pavarotti to Pink Floyd. At the moment I’m the only one living on my floor so we can really turn it up.”
George says transitioning into his new home has been a breeze thanks to the excellent – and welcoming - village staff. His family are pretty pleased too.
“A couple of my teenage grandkids came to stay recently. When they went back home their dad asked them what pop’s new place was like. They said, ‘it’s awesome, he’s moved into a resort!’.”
