The Villages

     Some places just have to be seen to actually get an understanding of the scope.  This area called "The Villages" is one of those places.  It sprawls across three counties and covers an area about 25 miles long and ten miles wide.  Most of it is populated by over 55 folks, although some of the villages are for families.  The homes vary greatly in size and cost.  Some "Village" development communities are pretty large, some are pretty small.  Interspersed among the houses are nine-hole golf courses - 22 at last count - and swimming pools.

     The villages are clustered around three town squares - each one with a theme.  Last night we were at the Spanish Springs square - lots of adobe buildings, fountains, iron work.  Today we visited a square with a western theme with bronze statues of wild horses and lots of log buidings.  The third square is on a lake with a boardwalk, sunken ship, bridges, and sea shells.    Some of the buidings are given a fake history and have plaques on the front telling the visitor that it was built in 1855 by an oil barron, for example.  The architecture and decor is done to the "nth" degree to fit with the story.  It is all very "Disney does retirement world."   The themes certainly add character to the neighborhoods and avoids the cookie cutter appearnce that some new developments can have.

     The landscaping is beautiful with annuals blooming everywhere and replaced four times a year.  Clusters of nice restaurants and shops all housed in appropriately themed buildings surround the town squares.  Miles and miles of paths wind around the villages, past the golf courses and swimming pools and through tunnels to take the thousands of golfcart driving seniors to their dozens of hobby classes, exercise workouts, music and dance sessions, and clubs for every special interest under the sun.  It is a busy place.

      And yet it is peaceful.  Acres of green space.  Big live oak trees.  Porches and rocking chairs.  Outdoor bars and restaurants.  Walking paths and lots of benches.  I enjoyed a peaceful morning sipping coffee on Ed and Betty's big porch watching the golfers meander past.  We finally pulled ourselves away from the porch and took a tour, had a great lunch buffet, and then napped the rest of the afternoon away to the sound of a thunderstorm.

     Reaxed to a state of almost complete inertia, we wandered back to the porch for some wine and cheese and then had another delicious home cooked dinner finished with Caramel Apple cake.  I am so spoiled!  It has been a great break.  Tomorrow we head for Sanibel and the troops arrive for their week of fun.