On my trip down to Florida over the weekend I was introduced to a new lifestyle. A lifestyle in which I hope to never actually live, but maybe visit every once in a while. While driving to The Villages, about an hour North of Royal Highlands, my parents pointed out different communities they had first looked at when deciding to move to Florida.
I ask, “What didn't you like about The Villages?”
Their response, “It's too big for what we're looking for.”
“The houses are too big, or the community?” I ask.
“Mainly the community.”
I had no idea what I was about to encounter.
We first pull into The Villages and I'm expecting another replica of Royal Highlands, only with a different specialization.
This is going to be very hard to explain, it is more of an experience – but try to picture Pleasantville, only with golf carts for vehicles and an older generation. They have the housing developments, just like Royal Highlands, but then on top of that they have their own grocery store, hospital, movie theater, strip malls, gazebos for live entertainment and dancing, historic looking town squares, all within a gated community.
Our reasoning for going to The Villages on Friday was to attend Happy Hour. They have live music and Happy Hour every single day from 5-6pm. I wish I had my camera with me Friday night. I missed so many great picture opportunities. There were line dancers galore, friendly faces EVERYWHERE, older people getting drunk on 2 glasses of wine within 40 minutes, oh wait, that was my Gram... I have never seen so many active AARP members in one space. This is completely different from my usual setting at work.
During Happy Hour I turn to my dad and ask if we can come back again tomorrow so I can get some pictures. He pretty much just laughed, but we did. And Gram came along again because the wine was really good.
I got some pretty great shots of:
Souped-up golf carts.
Golf cart parking.
Couples in love and dancing.
Even mom and I boogied a bit.
My parents enjoying some wine.
Kids (a RARE scene) contemplating jumping.
I also learned that you can pretty much get away with anything...
Eating foot long hot dogs with everything on it.
Wearing pink jump suits.
Pushing your husband/wife around the dance floor.
Dance like nobodies watching
The only picture I really wish I had was the numerous geri-couples out there, holding hands.
Both nights, all I could hear in my head when we were leaving was Adam Sandler singing, “I wanna grow old with you.”
I can't wait to grow old with Ben...
3 comments:
I can wait. I kinda enjoy being young...
This is the cutest/funniest thing I've seen in a while. A++ blog content!
My aunt and uncle used to live in The Villages. I went to visit them once and I'm not sure I've recovered yet - it's a slice of America that still scares me. They actually left because there were "too many cliques". I guess my relatives weren't the cool kids.
I had a good hamburger there though.
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