For decades, retirement was described with clichés: golden years, slowing down, a vibrant new chapter. But none of these capture what today’s over-60s actually want — or how they’re actually living today — in a dynamic, purposeful, and age-positive manner.
At Oasis Life, we see firsthand that this generation is healthier, more independent, and more connected than ever before. They want security, independence, and a curated lifestyle — not labels. And they deserve to keep the lifestyle they’ve worked so hard to achieve.
The Retirement Crisis Narrative
Global surveys highlight growing anxiety around retirement:
- – 70% of people 50+ are considering delaying retirement
- – Nearly 1 in 3 retirees are thinking about returning to work
- – Top concerns: not enough savings, inflation, financial uncertainty
For many, retirement has been something to fear rather than something to look forward to. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Why This Generation Won’t Buy the Clichés
Today’s retirees aren’t slowing down. They’re working, creating, traveling, and contributing in ways that defy outdated labels.
“People aren’t looking to slow down. They’re looking for security, independence, and the freedom to keep living their lives — and that’s what we’ve built Oasis Life around.”
— Glyn Taylor, CEO of Oasis Life
Ana-Maria Delgado, one of the first buyers at Oasis Life Sunningdale, puts it best. After 23 years in real estate, (and, still going!), she surprised colleagues by choosing Life Rights over traditional property ownership.
“Against all advice from fellow agents, I chose Oasis Life. I’ve spent my life investing for the future — now I’m investing in how I want to live.”
Her decision followed a life-changing accident: “A horrific accident in Botswana last year — where by rights, I shouldn’t have survived — changed everything. It shifted my perspective. When I got back, I decided I was going to live the rest of my life to the fullest.”
From Retirement Crisis to Retirement Opportunity
When Oasis Life Constantia launched, the estate was oversubscribed almost immediately. That response proves something critical:
- – Build in the right location, and people will move
- – Offer lifestyle and hospitality, and they’ll respond
- – Provide certainty through Life Rights, and families will engage quickly
As Ana-Maria explains: “When you add up what you’re already paying separately — security, gym, nurse, garden, insurance — the levy replaces and consolidates those things. It’s simple.”
She sees it as a trade-up in lifestyle:
“The only thing I’ve retired from is cleaning a big house. That time is now mine — and I’ll be spending it doing things I love.”
The Language We Need
If we keep describing later life with clichés, we’ll keep underselling what it can be.
The Oasis Life model and Life Right approach has proven itself — first at Clara Anna Fontein, then Burgundy Estate, and now at Constantia and Sunningdale. Ana-Maria’s family lives at Oasis Life Burgundy Estate, so she was familiar with the Oasis Life brand and confident in how it would deliver a new estate at Sunningdale.
Our residents and buyers like Ana-Maria show what aging positively really looks like, with Ana-Maria saying,“There’s companionship here. There’s the Clubhouse, the activities, the chance to start your own groups. And a restaurant where I know I’ll meet other single people and expand my circle of friends. The only thing I’ve retired from is the constant cleaning and looking after a big house. That time is now mine — and I’ll be spending it doing things I love.”
As Glyn reflects: “When we launched Constantia, it was oversubscribed almost instantly. That told us everything we needed to know about the demand for lifestyle-driven estates in familiar suburbs. When you get the model right, people move quickly.”
The Bigger Picture
Delayed retirement isn’t just an individual challenge — it’s a societal one. Homes aren’t freed up for younger families. Community bonds weaken. Healthcare risks rise.
But when people move into lifestyle estates designed around dignity and independence, the opposite happens:
- – Homes re-enter the market
- – Communities strengthen
- – Families gain peace of mind
- – Residents thrive with safety, support, and connection
This is the real opportunity: to shift the retirement narrative from fear to freedom.
From Fear to Freedom in Retirement
The remarkable rate of sale for retirement at Oasis Life Constantia — along with a waiting list — and the strong reception to Oasis Life Sunningdale proves the point: when we listen to what people truly want, the market doesn’t just respond — it acts immediately.
It’s time to retire the clichés that never fit in the first place. Because this isn’t about winding down. It’s about living well, on your own terms, and keeping the lifestyle you’ve worked for — and deserve.
Download the latest issue of Oasis Life’s quarterly publication, Ripple, to explore our estates, hear more from residents and buyers like Ana-Maria at Oasis Life Sunningdale, and discover how Oasis Life is rethinking inspirational retirement living in Cape Town.
DOWNLOAD OUR MAGAZINE HERE: https://bit.ly/TheMuseIssue
