Moving day is always exciting – especially when it is into a lovely brand-new home at Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront.

For Kerry and Ruth Dean, who moved into the active over-50s lifestyle resort in late October, the first week was spent putting together the homely touches that makes their place just right.

“We got the keys last Wednesday,” said Ruth.

“We timed it because Kerry is a FIFO worker and arranged to be home this week for the move. He’ll be flying out next Wednesday, so today we’ve spent a lot of time at Bunnings shopping for things like pots for the back garden.”

A new three-bedroom home is not the only major milestone the Deans will enjoy this year.

“We’ll be celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary in December,” said Ruth. “Kerry and I met in high school – he was two years ahead of me, but we moved in the same social circles and were friends for many years.”

After growing up in the Northern Territory, the whole family now call Queensland home.

“We have a son and daughter, one lives in Kallangur and the other at Dakabin,” said Ruth. “And my son has a son, and my daughter has a daughter!

“It’s handy living close because I babysit my grandson every fortnight.”

Ruth said it was also lovely to have her parents only 45 minutes away at Buderim.

“I come from a family of seven children, and we all got together for our father’s 80th birthday,” she said.

“I love the fact that we can have the family to our new home to celebrate Christmas. In our family, we take hosting Christmas in turns.

This year will be at my sister’s place but there will be plenty of opportunities in years to come.”

One of the important considerations for the Deans was to have somewhere that would accommodate their brand-new caravan.

“Over the years we’ve travelled a lot overseas and we’ve been to every state in Australia, but now we’re looking forward to heading out on the road and visiting some of the lesser-known destinations and enjoy some camping,” said Ruth.

Moving into Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront not only means a secure place for the caravan, but also a lot more leisure time when Kerry comes home.

“Because Kerry is a FIFO worker, he used to spend a lot of the time at our old place mowing the lawns and doing household maintenance – then he’d have to go back to work,” said Ruth. “Now he can come home and relax more.”

The couple are looking forward to getting to know their neighbours and taking part in more activities as they settle in.

“We were talking about moving to a community like this for a little while and one day we happened to be driving by, so we pulled in to take a look and I’m so glad we did,” said Ruth.

“Kerry is interested in taking up lawn bowls,” said Ruth. “Right now, he’s getting practice at the ten-pin bowling lanes. He’s keen to play because he used to be in a league.”