Aging With Attitude: Jane Schwerin on Style, Confidence, and Living Boldly at Oasis Life Burgundy Estate
Jane Schwerin doesn’t slow down.
From the boardroom at Rabie Property Developers to her home at Oasis Life Burgundy Estate, she brings the same energy, elegance, and attitude to everything she does.
Aging with attitude isn’t about denying getting older. It’s about doing it on your own terms — with confidence, curiosity, and grace.
A Life Built on People First
There’s a quiet authority about Jane that commands attention before she even speaks.
As an employee at Rabie Property Developers, she’s watched the company grow through decades of change and multiple generations of talent.
“People are the driving force behind every success,” she says. “When individuals feel valued, heard, and trusted, they bring their best selves to work. That’s when things flourish.”
She’s navigated big personalities, big projects, and big pressure without losing her calm.
“You learn to breathe through challenges — not everything needs a reaction,” she smiles. “Experience teaches you how to read situations without overreacting. And that good coffee matters.”
She reminds herself that pressure usually means something important is happening.
“You can’t buy experience or maturity, but younger colleagues keep us sharp. They remind us not to get too comfortable.”
That balance keeps teams thriving. It also keeps her energized at the office.
“Older people are often underestimated across industries,” she says. “At Rabie, senior-level experience is seen as an asset. There’s a healthy respect for what older employees bring — perspective, steadiness, and mentorship.”
“At Rabie, it’s never been about age. It’s about attitude and aptitude.”
Younger people bring energy and ideas. Older people bring context and calm.
“When you mix the two, you get magic.”
Finding Home
When her daughter emigrated to Portugal, Jane had to reimagine her own future.
“Suddenly, I could make decisions purely for myself,” she recalls. “I wanted somewhere I’d feel secure, comfortable, and surrounded by good people — somewhere to belong, not just live.”
Choosing Oasis Life Burgundy Estate made sense.
“I’d watched the project take shape from the inside. When I saw the plans, I thought: they’ve thought about everything — even the things you don’t know you need until you live there.”
She has deep admiration for the company’s design philosophy.
“Rabie has really built neighborhoods from the inside out. You can see the amount of thought and planning that goes into every development — it’s not just about constructing buildings, it’s about creating communities.”
What stands out is the attention to landscaping and the overall environment.
“The green spaces, walkways, and natural elements make the developments feel alive and connected.”
“I chose the unit I’m in now because it was the perfect size for me as a single woman — comfortable, manageable, and welcoming. It’s on the first floor, which gives me both security and a lovely view.”
From her balcony she looks across the trees and open space that wrap the estate.
“I love the sense of openness — light, greenery, space. One doesn’t feel boxed in. It’s designed for calm.”
Good design makes you want to move, to interact, to participate in life.
“The environment here energizes you.”
Community, Connection, and a Little Chaos
“Retirement here definitely doesn’t mean slowing down,” she laughs.
“One of our residents regularly says she barely has time for herself because there’s always something happening.”
Between Pilates classes, dinner evenings, and the laughter that rolls out of the Clubhouse, Burgundy Estate hums with life.
“It’s inspiring to see how much energy there is in this village — people here are engaged, busy, curious.”
You start to realize retirement isn’t an ending. It’s a reset.
Healthy living fits naturally into that rhythm.
“My healthy living routine here is really enjoyable. I love swimming in the lovely heated pool, which is both relaxing and great exercise, and I also make it a point to walk around the estate. It makes healthy living feel effortless and enjoyable.”
She also loves that Oasis Life sits within a broader neighborhood.
“I love that it’s not cut off from the world — you see families, cyclists, and kids.”
When asked to describe the community in five words, she fires them off without hesitation:
“Warm, inclusive, connected, relaxed, fun.”
“People look out for each other here. It’s not cliquey — it’s real.”
Family at the Heart
Her children were relieved when she made the move.
“They were really happy I chose to live here. It’s given us all peace of mind.”
Her South African-based grandchildren are regulars.
“They love spending nights and weekends with me — walking around the estate, swimming in the indoor heated aerobics pool, having milkshakes at the restaurant in the Clubhouse.”
“They feel that I live in a resort.”
Jane’s sister lives nearby in Century City and is a weekend fixture.
“We have a very close relationship. We’ll walk, work out in the boutique gym, have coffee and catch up. It’s peaceful here — but never dull.”
Aging With Attitude
What does aging with attitude actually mean?
“It’s not about denying age — it’s about owning it,” Jane says. “Doing life on your own terms, with energy, confidence, and grace.”
“Even as your body changes, your inner self — your humor, curiosity, and emotions — stays very much alive.”
She’s candid about perspective.
“I’ve stopped caring what people think. I’ve stopped apologizing for taking up space or saying no. That’s incredibly freeing.”
Her advice is simple:
“Embrace aging rather than fear it. Stay active, curious, and engaged with life. Maintain a sense of style, humor, and purpose. Challenge stereotypes about what older adults should or shouldn’t do.”
“We no longer need everything to look perfect — our homes, bodies, or plans. We’ve lived enough to know that the cracks are where the light gets in.”
Has she ever been rebellious?
She laughs.
“The most deliciously rebellious thing I ever did? Saying yes when everyone else said no. I booked the trip, stayed up too late, danced barefoot in the kitchen, and laughed until my cheeks hurt.”
That sense of perspective echoes findings from research showing that older adults report the highest levels of life satisfaction because they focus on meaning, not perfection.
“My kids keep saying, ‘Mom, we hope we’re like you at your age.'”
The Style of Self-Belief
“You’ve got to take pride in yourself and how you present to the world,” she says.
“Makeup is my non-negotiable — not vanity, but power.”
“The ritual of getting ready centers me and gives me confidence.”
She treats energy the same way she treats appearance.
“You can’t pour from an empty cup. I’ve learned to take care of my energy the same way I take care of my appearance — both need attention.”
Her beauty philosophy is simple.
“The glow starts from the inside — confidence, kindness, and doing something that makes you feel like you.”
And her humor keeps pace.
“Laughter is everything — it keeps the wrinkles in the right places.”
She admires women who live unapologetically.
“I love women who live boldly, who aren’t afraid of color or standing out.”
That spirit calls to mind style icon Iris Apfel, who once said that style is attitude — about how you live, not just what you wear.
Jane nods to the sentiment.
“Exactly — it’s about intention. Showing up as yourself.”
The Real Glow
Jane’s optimism feels effortless, but it’s deliberate.
“You can’t control age,” she says, “but you can control how you approach it.”
“The secret to aging positively is showing up as your true self, loving the skin you’re in, and never letting society define your worth.”
“Glow comes from confidence, not a number.”
It’s a truth the age-positivity movement has championed for years. Voices like Ken Dychtwald and Dion Chang remind us that reframing aging as growth — not decline — is the cultural shift of our time.
Jane embodies it daily in the way she works, dresses, and connects with others.
“Aging doesn’t have to shrink your world,” she says. “If anything, it expands it. You just see more clearly what matters.”
And her favorite reminder?
“A laugh and a glass of wine with friends works better than any serum.”
“When people meet me, I hope they remember my warmth and the friendly smile I carry — the little things that make connections feel genuine.”
“And, that I always have good shoes.”
For inquiries about Oasis Life Burgundy Estate, please contact:
Claire Strumpher: claire@oasislife.co.za | +27 82 560 6481
or Erna Gerber: erna@oasislife.co.za | +27 83 411 0597
