“Rocks and water are my thing,” says Lois Baucke.

A keen gardener, two-time winner of Waiheke Island’s Garden of the Year and former trustee of the renowned Whangārei Quarry Gardens, Lois knows a thing or two about creating beautiful outdoor spaces.

Until recently, her canvas was a quarter-acre property in Northland. Now, she has a new project in mind: the 17m² balcony of her apartment at Awatere Retirement Village.

“They’ve allowed me to bring my water features with me. I’ve donated one to Awatere and I’ve got another one to be assembled on my balcony.”

Image - A resident enjoying the communal vege garden at Awatere.

For Lois, downsizing certainly doesn’t mean giving up the things she loves.

“There’s a lot you can do with a balcony. I’m quite excited about that, it’s like having an external continuation of my apartment.”

After 22 years in Whangārei, Lois decided to return to Hamilton to be closer to family, who she happily says “spoil me”.

She began considering Retirement Living after losing her partner, Alan, in 2023. Initially, she gave herself two years before making a decision.

“I got to 18 months and thought, ‘What am I waiting two years for?’”

Awatere wasn’t immediately the frontrunner. In fact, Lois admits her first impression was quite different.

“My first impressions were that it was a five-star hotel,” she laughs. “It was very homely, but I just felt that I could think I was here for a stay and not permanently.”,

It was on her second visit that things began to change.

“When I came back the second time, talking with everyone here, the staff and people were so welcoming.”

Image - A resident enjoying the hospitality at the Awatere cafe.

Now settled in, it’s that friendliness that continues to stand out.

Having lived on lifestyle blocks, including running a B&B on several acres, Lois had wondered whether moving into an apartment would leave her feeling hemmed in. Then she walked into an apartment on Awatere’s top floor.

“They brought me up to the top floor, and I looked out the window and I thought, ‘That’s me.’ It was just like that.”

Large windows and expansive views gave Lois the sense of openness she was looking for.

“I can see cars going across on River Road and canoes going up and down the Waikato River on the weekends. I’ve got a lot to look at.”

But the outlook from her apartment wasn’t the only one that mattered.

A regular gym user and Pilates enthusiast, long-serving Rotarian, theatre volunteer and member of a travel group, Lois wanted to live among people who shared her positive approach to life.

“I think part of the reason I chose Awatere is because it fits with my belief that you are as well and as able as you believe you are. I find here that the people I have met are active and outgoing. They give you an uplift.”

Lois is already thinking about new clubs to join and opportunities to volunteer in Hamilton.

“You get a good feeling when you can do something for other people. It gives you more confidence in yourself and better well-being. I would like to put back into Hamilton because it’s something I believe in.”

Image - Awatere at sunset.

While Lois has plenty planned for the years ahead, she also took a practical approach to choosing her new home.

“I know that one day I may become unwell and cannot live in this apartment. So, I looked at the care centre. I think it’s a wise thing to do when you’re looking for a village.”

Seeing Awatere’s care centre gave Lois another kind of reassurance.

“The care centre is amazing. The lounge with the big schist fireplace, which looks out into green and trees. It’s very well set up.”

For Lois, simply knowing what may be available in the future helps her enjoy the present with greater confidence.

“I think it’s important for your own security. Not physically, but in your mind, to know that next step, where you’re going and what it looks like.”

Image - Residents socialising at Awatere

Just four weeks after moving in, life at Awatere is quickly taking shape.

Lois is planning a midwinter Christmas with her nieces and nephews, making use of the village lounge and outdoor area for a family get-together. Her new settee has arrived, a nephew is helping install her treasured water feature, and there are already resident dinners to look forward to.

There are gardens to plan, people to meet, opportunities to explore and a city Lois is looking forward to contributing to once again.

After 22 years away, Lois has returned to Hamilton and found somewhere that gives her the space to enjoy life her way.

At Awatere, she’s putting down new roots and flourishing.