Kerry credits his own life-long savings habit to his father. It has meant he had enough saved to retire owning freehold property – and retire early at age 62. He looked forward to buying a yacht and teaching his partner David to sail.
It wasn’t too soon for me,” Kerry declares. “The pressure of my job as Radio NZ Concert Auckland manager was getting greater, and then I had a heart attack six weeks after I retired. Actually, I should have stayed on a bit longer – if I’d had my heart attack on the job, I would have got nine months sick leave!”
Finally buying that yacht
For Kerry, who’s now nearly 80, the heart attack and subsequent triple by-pass served as a wake-up call. He and David changed to a low-fat diet and began to swim regularly. Then, although Kerry’s health scare delayed it, he finally bought that yacht he always hankered after.
Kerry also finished building his model railway, fully occupying a small basement room with a table covered with bridges, tunnels and villages amongst hills, valleys and detailed artificial vegetation. His grandchildren were fascinated and delighted.
“I have three sons and three grandchildren. David has three children and three grandchildren too, and between us we have any number of step-grandchildren. It’s good to keep in touch with them – young people are so extraordinarily invigorating,” Kerry says.
Building a new house by the sea
While living on the North Shore had its advantages, Kerry’s yacht was berthed all the way out at Gulf Harbour, the tip of the Whangapaoroa Peninsula. The long drive there and back just for a day’s yachting began to feel like a grind, and their Birkenhead home seemed too big, with too many stairs and difficult to heat.
“We decided to build a one-story home in a new subdivision at Gulf Harbour. It’s everything we both wanted – a friendly community of people of all ages and walks of life. It’s near the sea, close to my yacht, with a beautiful view over the golf course. Plus it’s fully insulated and double-glazed. David takes the ferry into town – at first for work, and now he’s over 65, for free!” Kerry laughs.
A deep love of music
One of Kerry’s chief joys is a “fabulous musical performance.” He himself plays the organ, considered by many as organ expert. He joined the committee to restore the Auckland Town Hall organ to its former glory, and travelled to Germany to research and source just the right instrument.
Kerry also loves choral music and is a long-standing member of GALS (Gay and Lesbian Singers).
“I love to sing, and the joy of singing harmony. I’m hoping GALS will take on the challenge of performing the Faure Requiem this year. It’s not easy, but it’s fabulous to sing, and I think we’re ready.”
While the heart attack is now a fading memory for Kerry, approaching 80 has brought other issues. Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis last year, he suffered a great deal of pain and contracted pneumonia as well. He’s better now, and even reducing the steroid treatment gradually. Although his doctor recently detected ‘pre-leukaemia’ in his blood.
“I can’t dwell on ill health,” Kerry declares. “I keep busy, ride an electric bike for exercise, and never say die. My father used to say, ‘I wouldn’t be dead for quids!’ Well, neither would I. There’s still so much more to enjoy.”
Kerry’s Freetirement snapshot:
Kerry, nearly 80, as busy as ever with hobbies and friends
The best part about retirement: “I have freedom – to order my life how I want it to be. I’m out of the city, and near the sea. Heaven.”
The hardest part about retirement: “I have to be real, so someone else doesn’t have to clear up the mess when I’m gone. There’s no room in our new house for my model railway or tools, so I have to get rid of them, and that’s hard. I’m building one last model table for our littlest grandson – he’s train-mad.”
His advice for the best Freetirement: “Get up and get out. Other people make the difference, so find your village, and look towards interests you may have forgotten. Keep contact with a range of ages and nurture a positive outlook.”