In years gone by, retirement was often considered a time when one withdrew from the workforce, settled into a life of rest and sought quiet comfort.

Today’s older adults are redefining this notion of retirement. They are pursuing new passions, hobbies and interests as they create fulfilled lives rich with meaning and opportunity.

No one is more reflective of this new perspective than Pat and Murray, who recently moved into Tapestry at Village Gate West. Although retired from their work for many years now, Pat and Murray are as busy and engaged with life as they ever have been.

Three days a week Pat and Murray participate in online courses taught by esteemed university professors that offer engaging lectures on everything from Russian literature to modern-day politics.

As active churchgoers, they relish the friends and neighbours they greet (now online) during service and when attending the Women’s and Men’s Clubs. Murray has been an avid winemaker for years, and both he and Pat enjoy the delicious “red and white” fruits of his labour!

The active wellness calendar and social ambience at Tapestry at Village Gate West were two of the key reasons Pat and Murray decided to move-in.

“We loved the fact that Tapestry was a smaller community that had lots of activity going on,” says Pat. “We toured several communities, but we really liked the ‘feel’ of Tapestry at Village Gate West and the fact it was located in the neighbourhood we have lived in for 37 years.”

“We knew this move was a great opportunity for us,” adds Murray. “We wanted to make the decision ourselves and select the community we felt was right for us.”

Although residents for only a short time, Pat and Murray already feel right home at Tapestry. They are looking forward to meeting more of their friends and neighbours, and taking full advantage of the community’s exceptional amenities.

Their beautiful suite is a lovely reflection of their wonderful life together and the history they have shared.

Married for 63 years, Pat and Murray pursued individual careers but combined their talent, experience and knowledge to form their own counselling service after identifying a gap in support for parents raising teenagers.

It was a labour of love for the parents of two teenage daughters who understood the importance of helping others navigate what could be very challenging years. Pat and Murray also channeled their wisdom into a book they co-wrote, “Living With Teens and Surviving.”

“As a school counsellor, I saw the need with the kids I was dealing with,” says Murray. “We stepped into a void and offered courses and programs for many years.”

When they finally stopped working, Pat and Murray became avid travellers, literally spending more time overseas than at home. They had a particular passion for Australia and New Zealand where they spent seven weeks at one time and enjoyed the adventure of cruising around the world.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted everyone’s travel plans, for now, Pat and Murray are very content to be at home and living in their new community.

“You know…there’s never really a right time to move,” says Murray. “But once you make the decision and choose where you want to be, you won’t look back. We are happy with our choice and very glad we made the move when we did.”