Some people are glass half-full types, others have glass half-empty outlooks. Then there’s Joanne (Jo) Morgan. Not only is her glass half-full, but it holds really good wine that she thoroughly enjoys!

The retired psychologist lives in Uniting AgeWell’s Queenborough Rise retirement living village in her two-bedroomed apartment with its stunning views of Sandy Bay, Lambert Gully and Mount Wellington. Jo has a large shared patio where she houses her pot plants and spends many happy hours listening to the birds singing in the gum trees and watching the sea mist rolling in and the fog rolling out.

“I love it here,” she says. “The other day I watched the cruise ship I went on, going up the River Derwent. It was fantastic!”

The view is so spectacular that Jo even installed remote controlled blinds in her bedroom so she can open them and gaze out at the picture postcard setting without getting out of bed in the morning

The 66-year-old used to work as a psychologist in schools and then later in private practice with older war veterans and those in the defence force, and has text-book as well as lived experience of what is important in life.

“You don’t stop playing because you grow old,” she explains. “You grow old because you stop playing.”

There’s certainly a lot of joy in her life. “Retirement living villages offer the best of both worlds – an instant circle of like-minded friends without living in each other’s pockets,” Jo states. “The residents here are wonderful, I have made a lot of really good mates.”

The residents are a thoroughly sociable lot. They have regular happy hour sessions and Jo is in charge of organising movie get-togethers where everyone turns up armed to the teeth with popcorn and beverages while she provides the ice cream.

Jo is also a member of the Hobart Red Hatters – a group of women who don red hats and purple dresses and live by the mantra of ‘growing old disgracefully.’ “We go to movies and dinner, we go on travel trips together and for walks… We are all really good friends having a pretty marvellous time,” laughs Jo.

But despite her positivity, one thing Jo thoroughly dislikes, is moving house. With her three children and grandchildren scattered across Australia and in the US, Jo downsized from her large family house with its equally large garden and looked around for a smaller home that suited her needs. She initially looked at houses but had a niggling worry she might end up with a party-animal neighbour who played blaring music 24/7.

She found herself gravitating towards retirement villages where she would be with other like-minded people and visited a number before popping in to inspect Queenborough Rise. It was an ‘aha’ moment, and hours later she had signed up and moved in during February 2024.

Another plus factor in Jo’s book is that she need never move again. The independent retirement village is on the same premises as Queenborough Rise Community, so if she ever needs to transition into residential aged care, it’s right there. Jo is also delighted it is close to public transport should the time come that she no longer feels comfortable driving her car.

In the meantime though, she’s in great health and has plans to travel extensively. “I just have to lock up my apartment and go!” Jo says. “There’s no hassle, no fuss – it’s great.”

Her views mirror those of the many residents living in Uniting AgeWell’s retirement living villages across both Tasmania and Victoria. The feeling of not only belonging but being supported in a village atmosphere, while retaining your independence. The best of both worlds.

If waking up to breathtaking views, sharing a drink during happy hour or enjoying watching a movie with the cheerful crew at Queensborough Rise independent living village is your thing, learn more about retirement living at Uniting AgeWell.