Four Days

My head is spinning from my four day venture into central Florida to explore "active adult" communities and The Villages in particular.  I can see why Villagers have trouble describing "the bubble" they live in.  It is far, far more than a bunch of downsized homes and a recreation center with a big swimming pool and a gaggle of senior citizens playing shuffleboard or golfing. 

Oh no!  It is truly Disneyland for Adults.  Picture three Town Centers - an Old Western Cattle Town (Frontierland), a quaint Beachside Village circa 1900 and an Old Spanish town (California in the 1800s).  All filled with adorable eating establishments and businesses with places to park your golf cart, congregate, stroll and people watch.  All three are perfectly detailed and decorated to correspond with your fantasy of perfection.  The prices are surprising normal too and each Town Center hosts free live entertainment Every Single Solitary night of the week. I must admit I am hooked.  I took the bait, drank the Kool-Aid and am ready to make a Life Change and hi-tail to the Villages for my golden retirement years. 

What reeled me in?  Lots of things but these were the three top deciders:

1) Friday night services at Temple Shalom.  About 100 people attended and many came up to introduce themselves and kibbitz with us visitors.  They gave us "calling cards" with their contact information and told us to call them with any questions. They all love living in The Villages!

2) The Weekly Recreation Newsletter that is thicker than the Sunday Miami Herald.  Maj Jong every single day (of course) but also an Osteoporosis Support Group and Bone Builders low-impact strength training,  a Chai Club and oodles of other things I might like to do or try. Not to the mention the even thicker catalog of "lifelong learning" opportunities.

3) The one hour trolley ride/tour through the perfect neighborhoods and the 60 golf courses (31 free!), small, medium and large rec centers, pools and shopping centers.  Plenty of "normal" stores like Ross and Walmart too and even (gasp) a D'Lites.

Hello Villages.  Hold on, I'm coming!