This remarkable retirement development in central Florida, 45 minutes north of Orlando was our next stop. A couple friends and I operate an internet forum TalkOfTheVillages.com geared to the 80,000 or so Villages residents and those thousands of Baby Boomers considering settling here. That was shameless promotion for sure, but that is why I am here in The Villages.
Bernie and I set up the camper Friday afternoon at Southern Oaks RV Park, just north of The Villages. (I recommend it highly.) Then we spent the afternoon with a couple dozen of the 12,000 forum members who meet for lunch each month at Crispers, a restaurant. I went to the lunch with a little trepidation, not knowing whether we would be welcomed or run out of town for my actions on the forum. As an administrator, I have had to take some unpopular actions, and I am guessing as many members are O.K. with those actions as are those who are unhappy with my at-times heavy hand. Honest, people, we are only trying to maintain a friendly, civil forum, comfortable for all to use.In all honesty I thought I should make an appearance at the lunch because we were passing by on the way to Savannah, and if it got out I didn't stop I would be scorned.
Oddly, this gregarious bunch opened their arms to us, and we laughed and talked the afternoon away. It ended too soon. No contentious conversation. Warm hand-shakes from the guys, and hugs from the gals. These are people I have known for almost four years only from their online postings and from our messages back and forth. I learned you really do get the feel of personalities from only the written words of their forum posts. I wasn't surprised when I met them. I already knew them.
Our lunch on the restaurant's patio was in the bright Florida sun, under cover, of course. The wind blew gently. And the Crispers staff was hospitable to this bunch. It went on for a couple hours, and I was touched near the end of the lunch when the folks from separate tables on the Crispers patio unexpectedly formed their chairs into one huge circle. It was warm and inviting. These people truly like each other, and they like where they live. I would guess that all have met through the forum, and I was happy to see them enjoying the lunch and enjoying their new lives.
I had read off-hand comments here and there on the forum over the years about how various members had been having some difficulty in making friends after they had dug up their roots all over the country and settled in The Villages. They credited Talk of The Villages with their making new, permanent and great friends. I saw that first-hand. And they chided me for not moving here, but, what can I say? I'm a northern boy with family in northwest Pennsylvania and Canada.
The ring-leader for the lunches is a member who uses the nickname KathieI, a transplant from Los Angeles, and a fun-loving lady behind oversize, attractive sunglasses. True California. She packed up and headed across country, on I-10 I am guessing, 2,460 miles to a new home in the sun. In thunderstorm alley, and KathieI is definitely not fond of those storms. She is outgoing, and many call her the mayor. At other times, others will take the lead for the lunch, if I remember correctly.They use nicknames, but they manage to meet each other in person sooner or later and they learn each other's real names. At the lunches, they still use their screen names. That is how they were identified when I met them.
I have grown fond of the members I have met on-line and in person.
Bernie and I previously met a Canadian couple, Barefoot and Fireboy. They were passing near our home in October and we met for lunch. They live near our son and family north of Toronto. And they made a special trip to the lunch to get together. Barefoot, by the way, originally joined the forum as Barefoot At Last. Then she shortened it. Her husband joined with the name she gave him, Fireboy. He works with the Toronto fire department. They both smile a lot and like to laugh. Their warmth is infectious.And there was Whalen, an outgoing Brooklyn gal. She broke loose from her mah jongg club to come to the lunch. She, of course, was exactly as I had expected. We talked for quite a while. Laughing and enjoying the sun.
I embarrassed myself on the forum and trying to remember bunch of names thrown at me. I know I probably left several out, but, gee, I am surprised that I remembered this many nicknames. (And, by the way, none are coming to my rescue in the forum and identfying the entire group.)
Take a look at the group here.
Each has an interesting story of how he or she ended up at The Villages.
Each was a pleasure to meet.
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