My Mother-in-Law (the Worlds best, not that I'm prejudiced) moved successfully from a retired dairy farm (no longer a working dairy farm, just raising cattle) to agisting her property on a lease/buy arrangement.

 

Eventually, when it came time to sell, she moved into the nearest city, which happens to be Warrnambool, where she lives comfortably and cosily in a two-bedroom unit with a pocket handkerchief front and backyard.

 

What made the move so successful?  Well, Betty was ready for it, her dear, dear husband had died just a few years before (although I am assured this is not a requirement!), and she could not manage even agistment ** by herself, and none of her seven children were interested.

 

Warrnambool was only 10 minutes drive away, and she made sure that she had disposed of the majority of her possessions beforehand to various children.  With part of the money from the Farm sale, she bought new furniture and her unit (so she owns it freehold). 

 

Betty limits her animal companions to a cat that came from the Farm and a goldfish given to her by a thoughtful grandchild.

 

She is located centrally both in terms of visitation by friends and relatives, and because she has never learned how to drive, is within walking distance of the CBD and a gas station that has a few groceries in emergencies.  She walks to the gas station every day for her newspaper, although she could have it delivered if she chose.

 

Betty keeps herself busy not just with her walking.  She is a member of Probus (as a former business owner), the Country Women's Association, and also learns craft at a small and friendly local group.

 

She regularly visits the state capital, Melbourne, to see her brother and a couple of her children, which she does by rail, and later this year plans to go to Brisbane by rail and air for her youngest son's fortieth birthday.  Peter recently moved to Brisbane.

 

Betty has succeeded in her change because she has an attitude of cheerful persistence.  She felt the loss of her husband, Keith, keenly, as he was her best friend.  Betty is still coming to terms with the loss, but the move has certainly helped, as it provided severance, which is what she required to deal with her feelings.

 

Naturally, she also misses the Farm, but with her busy lifestyle, doing the things she wants to do, the ache has lessened considerably.

"Agisting" and "agistment" means that one leases land to put on one's stock, as in cattle, sheep or horses having a place to live that does not belong to the owner of the stock.  Sometimes agisting includes the owner of the land feeding and generally taking care of the stock, most times, that is one's own purview.