LOVE IS BLOSSOMING FOR TWO UNSUSPECTING HOMEOWNERS AT GEMLIFE PACIFIC PARADISE OVER-50S LIFESTYLE RESORT, WHO JUST HAPPEN TO LIVE NEXT DOOR TO EACH OTHER.
The couple, Margie Smith and John Green, are bringing new meaning to the adage ‘love thy neighbour’ and there couldn’t be two happier souls.
“We first met each other as volunteers for Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland in 2020. John had lost his wife in 2019, and I was divorced, and on this particular day we were at a COTA picnic at Mary Cairncross Park in Maleny,” explained Margie.
John remembered the day well saying it was their first official meeting and as coincidence would have it, both were wearing the same colour red shirt.
“Not only that but when we walked to the car park to get our cars, we were both driving a 2009 Toyota Corolla ZR, same model, make and year, with only one difference – mine was red and Margie’s was black,” he said.
If that wasn’t enough of a sign that the two could be compatible, Margie grew up on a dairy farm in Wiangaree in northern NSW – the same place where John’s daughter and son-in-law had bought a farm.
“I knew straight away it was a match made in heaven,” chuckled John, who stopped on the way home and bought a bottle of red wine.
“I then sat at her front door until she came home and invited me in,” he said.
That was the start of something very special, although neither was in a hurry.
“The relationship was very new when we discovered GemLife Pacific Paradise. The day we visited the resort it just so happened that there were three former display homes going on the market and we loved what was on offer so much that we bought two of them, right next door to each other,” said Margie, who had lived on her own for 26 years since her divorce.
John moved into the resort in December 2020 with Margie following in March 2021.
“It was exciting to be neighbours. We had talked about moving into one house together but having our own homes is suiting us at the moment. We visit each other all the time and feel at home in both, so it doesn’t really matter much,” said Margie.
What does John love about Margie?
“Margie is a three `L’ person – loving, lovable and lovely, and who wouldn’t want that in their life? We walk and cycle together and enjoy romantic walks on the beach as well as a few overnight getaways and a glass of bubbly here and there,” said John.
Keeping happy is now a way of life for the smitten couple, who have the full blessings of their individual families.
Margie has two children and four grandchildren while John has three daughters and eight grandchildren, and all welcome the loved-up couple with open arms.
“Our relationship has brought our two families together and we often share special occasions with them. We both love to cook too so no one goes hungry,” said Margie who is regarded by her family as the pavlova queen.
The couple are also very active at GemLife Pacific Paradise where they started up a cycling group with participants riding up to 23km each time. They also established a gardening group known as the Gardening Gems and regularly travel to garden shows around the country.
They are active in other areas too including the craft group, gym, stretch classes, swimming, and so much more, saying that having fun and being active is their major goal.
“Living here at the resort has given us the perfect atmosphere to further our relationship and we are loving every minute. We live on the best street and are loving life!”