The sound of retirement is music to Julia Van Ochten's ears.

And she should know.

Music has been part of the longtime real estate agent's life since she was five and her mom signed her up to learn piano.

By the time she was 17, she had received her performance certification; at 18, she earned her teacher's degree.

Forty-six years later, though she still enjoys tickling the ivories, she's looking forward to her first house hunt in decades where she doesn't have to factor in her 1976 grand piano.

"For 30 years, I've been buying living rooms to fit a piano," she says, her laughter at the thought echoing through the all-but-empty Roper Street abode she's called home for the past 13 years.

"I plan to play more, but I don't need to play on a grand piano. I can play on an upright."

Van Ochten and her husband, Henry – her high school sweetheart – are packing up to start life anew in Nova Scotia, a province where they'll still have family nearby and an ocean to enjoy.

The move opens the door to more affordable property, which translates into more opportunities to travel – a big part of Van Ochten's retirement itinerary.

It's not that she hasn't seen her share of the world. As a member of Soroptimists International of White Rock, Van Ochten has been to Japan, the Philippines and throughout western Canada, to name a few highlights.

Her list of places to visit, or visit again, in the coming years includes Europe, Quebec City and New York.

In her 28 years with Soroptimists, Van Ochten served as regional governor for Western Canada, and on SI's fund development council, including two years as chair. There, she and four other women had oversight of the organization's $16 million endowment fund.

Van Ochten joined Soroptimists in 1982. It was her first introduction to service club involvement, and one she doesn't regret.

"The ability to belong to an international organization was very appealing," she says, citing the power to effect change that a group working together can have. "As one person, you don't always feel like you're really doing anything."

The women-focused group fundraises throughout the year to support high school graduates and women returning to school to better support their families. Funds raised by the local chapter have also benefited numerous charities over the years, including Peace Arch Hospital, Atira Women's Resource Centre and White Rock Hospice Society.

The latter is another cause close to Van Ochten's heart. As a member of the society's board of directors, she was a driving force behind the establishment of its 24 Avenue thrift store, a revenue-generating endeavour that has paid off for the society.

Surrounded by boxes, Van Ochten says she will miss the people she has forged connections with on the Semiahmoo Peninsula. But she won't miss the craziness of the real estate schedule she's kept since 1989. The idea of being able to set her own pace is beyond appealing.

She'll remain a member-at-large of the local Soroptimist group, with high hopes that more women will step forward to add their skills, interest and efforts to the cause.