Let me tell you I’m someone who hates mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, fixing leaky toilets, and all the other chores that go with ownership. Not only do I hate doing these things, I find it stressful hiring people to do them for me. In our quiet mixed-age rental complex I can relax because everything is done for me.

It’s funny, when people first learn that my wife and I live in a rental apartment, the conversation usually becomes a little strained as they tactfully fish for the disastrous circumstance that caused our downfall from homeownership. After all there are only two kinds of people - those who own their home and those who want to. Right? Wrong! Since we moved into the Harbour Club three years ago, where I dock my boat in its private marina, I’ve met young people who say they prefer renting and seniors, who previously owned a home, that say they would never ever buy another again. In addition to rental living being easier, these seniors realize that when the time comes it will be much simpler for their families to settle their affairs compared to the added complexities when a house is involved.

While it makes sense for families needing lots of space to own a home, once empty-nesting is reached, I’d like those people, and particularly seniors, who find homeownership burdensome to know that renting can be a sensible choice – a choice to be proud of.