About Us

From heartbreak to the head of the hill… and a damn good flat white along the way.

Hello and welcome, friend —

I’m Alison, proudly known these days as the Queen of Retirement, though I can assure you — it didn’t always feel quite so regal.

Born and raised in Tasmania, I’d never lived anywhere else until my life took a rather unexpected turn about ten years ago. After 25 years of marriage, my husband decided he wanted a new chapter… one that didn’t include me.

And just like that — life as I knew it was gone.

One moment I had a stable marriage, a nice home in a great suburb, a solid super, no debts.
The next? The house was sold. The furniture divided or dumped. And I was standing solo, holding a set of keys to a rental unit and wondering what just happened.

I stayed in Tasmania just long enough to feel the weight of “stuck.”
And then I did something most people wouldn’t dare — I packed up my life, my car, and my courage, and I left. No job waiting. No destination locked in. Just me, a boot full of necessities, and a one-way ticket on the Spirit of Tasmania.

I cried when the ferry pulled out of port.
But I also knew: I was sailing toward something new. I didn’t know what — but I knew I couldn’t do “same old” anymore.

I wandered the coastline for a while. I looked. I listened. I breathed in different air.
And then… I found Yamba.

A beautiful beach town in the Northern Rivers, about 90 minutes from Byron Bay, where the pace slows just enough to let your heart catch up with your life. I found work. I found peace. And eventually, I found a little home in an over-55s lifestyle village.

And that’s where the next chapter truly began.

Living in a lifestyle village is nothing like the brochures. It’s not always easy. It’s not always pretty. But it’s real — and it’s filled with lessons worth sharing.

I started this blog because these villages are popping up everywhere — especially in beautiful regions like this with amazing beaches, restaurants, markets, boutiques, and walking tracks galore.

But here’s the catch:

You can’t just wander in and get a feel for them. Most are gated. Private. Off-limits unless you’re serious.
 

That’s where I come in.

I want to give you a seat at the table — to show you what life is really like inside these communities. The good. The challenging. The “I wish I knew that before” kind of stuff.

Because I’ve been through it.
I’ve navigated the unknown.
I’ve built a new life on my own terms.

And I know you can too.

Whether you’re just starting to consider retirement, ready to relocate, or just here for some honest stories and a laugh — you’re welcome here.

Thanks for being part of the journey.

Welcome to my blog,
Ali – Queen of Retirement 👑