Published by Ingenia Lifestyle, 28th May 2025.

A place to belong: Rosemary has found more than just a home by starting her new chapter at Ingenia Lifestyle

After living on the Sunshine Coast for most of her life, Rosemary downsized her large home and relocated to Ingenia Lifestyle’s ocean front community, Drift in Bargara. Rosemary was growing tired of driving up the coast to visit her daughter at a time in her life where she was seeking a slower paced lifestyle.

It wasn’t until Rosemary saw a billboard advertising Ingenia Lifestyle Drift that she decided to take the plunge and switch up her retirement.

“I was coming up quite regularly to visit and help my daughter with her family, so it seemed sensible to be up here rather than driving on the highway. I was also over the hustle and bustle of the Sunshine Coast. I felt it was becoming too busy for me.”

Rosemary says her favourite part about living in her new Ingenia home is the sense of community.

“Being surrounded by like-minded people is the best thing about living here. They’re all lovely people and I can’t believe how lucky I am to have such a great bunch of neighbours.”

“Originally, I did look into buying a traditional house locally but then I thought I might be lonely in that house if I don’t know anyone. Ingenia Lifestyle’s offering meant I could be surrounded by lots of people that are now friendly neighbours.”

Rosemary says since downsizing she lives a minimalistic lifestyle and enjoys the benefits of living in an Ingenia home.

“Living in my previous home it was an older style and I had a big yard. I was quite prepared to give it up and begin living a more simplistic lifestyle entering my later years in life.

“It got to the point where it was all getting too much to manage so coming here and having a small garden has been great. The house is the perfect size for me, and I enjoy keeping it simple.”

Alongside the benefits of downsizing, Rosemary also says she loves the coastal lifestyle at Drift.

“The lifestyle is great because my home is right next to the ocean. Living here I can walk two minutes out of the front gate to the headland and the water is just there. Everyday feels like a holiday here.”

As a single woman Rosemary says living in a secure community was a major selling point.

“For an aging person like me, living in a protected community has been great. It means I can feel safe and know my neighbours are looking out for me.”

“There’s always someone helping another resident here it’s incredible. You go past someone’s house and there’s two of them chatting in the garden or someone lending a hand to their neighbour. It’s a wonderful community.”

Rosemary says her neighbours have been supportive during recovery following her knee replacement surgery.

“My neighbours are good people, they leant me a bunch of equipment after my surgery, so I had everything donated to me. There were others living here that also had knee replacements, so they were very supportive and offered me lots of advice and tips.

“You get good quality people in here that genuinely care for your wellbeing and knowing this I feel truly supported and safe. You get the support you need living here.”