I'm sure you've said that yourself. It seems to be a pretty
common theme in this complicated time we live in. Glenn Morrissette of To
Simplify and Gary Arndt of Everything, Everywhere, two of the
nomadic bloggers I follow, regularly seem to express this or similar
sentiments. Believe it or not, it takes a lot to live a simple, frugal,
nomadic, free lifestyle. I know! You're saying, "Stop complaining, you
don't have a "rut job," fixed residence, spouse/family, etc. to be
responsible for" . . . and you're right! But, that doesn't mean there
aren't responsibilities and matters that have to be addressed even for someone
who is "living free."
I have soooooo many photos I've been taking. Gary Arndt has
to plan time off the road just to go through and edit all his photos and I'm in
complete accord with Gary. Glenn, who used to post something everyday while on
the road has started to cut back to every other day or even every three days
most of the time now. Some of his posts consist of only photos with little or
no text. Now, I love writing, but it takes some concentrated and focused time
to write something that's both meaningful (I hope) and comprehensible. Adding
some photos takes additional time. So, it starts to become a series of choices
I have to make. Do I roll on and see things, meet interesting people,
experience new things including wonderful new local eateries or do I sit
somewhere in My McVansion and write, write, write. I'm looking for the balance,
friends. I know it exists.
Today, as I compose this shorter than usual post, I'm in the
parking lot of the Walmart Motor Inn (bring your own accommodations) on
Wedgewood Lane in The Villages. The Villages, for those not from or familiar
with Florida or not of retirement age (over 55) is the fastest growing
retirement community in the U.S. It's located in central Florida, north of
Orlando, south of Gainesville and roughly equal distance from the Atlantic
coast and the Gulf coast. The current population of The Villages is slightly
north of 100,000 folks - all 55 or older. It was the vision of a man who
started it about 40 years ago and since his passing is run by his family. This
guy saw what the Baby Boomer generation was going to want long before they knew
what they were going to want. It's darn near about as perfect a small city as
anyone could imagine. There is so much to do here that once someone moves here,
it's likely they'll never want to leave and travel anywhere else. That may be a
bit of an exaggeration. But, I've heard more than a few people say that. It was
pretty darn fantastic when I was here about nine years ago and it's only gotten
bigger and better since then, even through the real estate bubble busting and
the recession.
So, yesterday I enjoyed lunch with an old friend who moved
here from Winchester, Virginia ten years ago. I had dinner with another old
friend who moved here from Winchester, last evening. It was great catching up
with both of them and they are both completely happy with their lives here in
The Villages. It turned a bit chilly yesterday with mist and some rain. Today
it's a bit chillier, yet and it's overcast, rainy and misty, again. Shortly,
I'm going to pull up tent stakes and head around The Villages on a little
reconnaissance mission to capture photos of all the points of interest
including the new (third) town center that has been constructed, or better
stated is under construction, yet. If it grows like the other two, it will be a
very large little town with all kinds of shopping and entertainment. And each
town has a town square where there is live entertainment every evening, 365
days a year. I'm also going to stop at The Villages own radio station and plug
my friend, Mickey Bo's, Rock N Roll Revue radio program he's syndicating.
From here I'm heading back over toward the Gulf coast for a
few days and hope the weather will warm back up and get sunny again. I'll be
meeting some more new friends over there, enjoying their company and attempting
to get caught up on some writing and photo editing.
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