Pics in the Keys

(You can enlarge the photos by clicking on them)

THE KEYS!!

The Keys House!

Our Escorts!

Indian Key!

Indian Key! (Smoking Butt)

The Lighthouse!

Birds by the Sandbar!

The Sandbar!

A Manatee underwater!

The Channels!

Smallest Bar, Key West!

Sloppy Joes! Key West!

Need a bra?

Margaritaville!

Ernst Hemingway!

The Writing Room!

Resting!

The Hemingway Residence!

Mile 0!

Key Deer!

Local transportation. Key West!

Sunset in the Keys!

Dinner at the sunset!

Contender 39'

Local Bandit!

Coconut Thief!

Pics of the Keys

The Keys with Chip and Barbara (Plus a visit with Jackie and Fran)

3/30/009 - 4/2/2009

On Monday 3/30 we followed Chip and Barbara to their house in the Keys. They have been going to the Keys for most of their lives and know very much about all of the areas. We parked the RV in their driveway and, moved up, in our accommodations for three nights.

During our short visit we were able to take a great boat ride of the area and a full day car ride to mile marker 0 in Key West. The accommodations were excellent, the company was marvelous, the weather was super, the food was great, and the time was too short. Chip and Barbara have a true "Keys" house that couldn't be nicer. You can walk off the deck and climb into your boat and be in the Gulf in five minutes. We were able to see some of the local attractions by boat, visit Indian Key, an historic site that is now a state park, and just cruise the beautiful waters of the keys. Chip introduced us to many of the things that are unique to the Keys and was an excellent tour guide.

Tuesday we headed for Key West and were able to walk the shops, visit Ernest Hemingway's home, as well as many of the local attractions. We had a great day and enjoyed every minute of it. Wednesday we went to breakfast by boat and cruised to other areas.

Our hosts were really great, and the accommodations were the best. Thank you Chip and Barbara for your marvelous hospitality. It is a joy to have you guys as friends.

On Wednesday night Eileen and I visited with her cousin Jackie and his wife Fran who coincidentally, winter, about six miles from where we were staying. Eileen hadn't seen Jackie for 32 years. The amazing thing is that everyone looks exactly the same, give or take some minor aging. We had a great visit at their condo, followed by a good dinner at one of the local favorite restaurants.

The Keys, what a great place. Thanx again Chip and Barbara.

Life is truly Good! Friends and family!!

Bill and Eileen

Pics From Fort Lauderdale

Cruise Ships in Fort Lauderdale Harbor

Chip and Barbara's Cruise Ship "The D & D"

Chip and Barbara on their fishing craft. A beautiful ship!!

The rest of the crew!!

A Fort Lauderdale resident found in the bushes.

Chip relaxing in one of the sales models.

Jose and Mercedes!!

Nice smiles!!

My new driver!!

Plantation Florida - (Chip and Barbara, Jose and Mercedes)

3/27/009 - 3/30/009

On March 27th we left the Villages and headed for Plantation Fla., which is right outside Fort Lauderdale. We met up with Chip and Barbara. We met at their house, which is marvelous, and went out to dinner at a local seafood place. Their house is in a very nice neighborhood on a small island. The next night after touring Fort Lauderdale and looking at some houses we had a chance to take a ride in the funmobile (a customized golf cart) and meet some of their nice neighbors.

On Sunday the 29th we met up with Jose and Mercedes (Charter members of the TOF Group).
After a visit in the RV we went out for our first Cuban dinner. The meal was marvelous and the company was great. Jose and Mercedes have a interior decorating business in the area and by coincidence they live less than a mile from Chip and Barbara. It was a great visit and we need to begin planning another trip with the "Ton of Fun" group. Thanks for the intro to a new culinary taste.

On Monday morning we once again met up with Chip and Barbara and headed south to their super house in the Keys. Wait to you see the pics of that place.

Plantation and the surrounding area was super. Some of the houses we toured were in neighborhoods that the Miami Dolphins coach lives in and were really really big. We had a nice day.

Life is Great!!

Bill and Eileen

Pics From The Villages

The Sales Office! The Villages!

Customized Transportation!

The Transportation Pool!

The Quinns at Home!!

The neighbors!! Preparing for the Easter Parade!!

Connie and Linda!

The Quinns and Eileen in one of the town centers.

Downtown!

Mel and Judy in the RV!

The Villages (Tom and Mary Ellen - Connie and Linda - Mel and Judy)

3/23/2009 - 3/27/2009

On Monday 3/23 we left St Augustine and drove southwest to Wildwood, Florida. We took a campground right off of I75 which was about 15 minutes from The Villages. This community is one of the most unique places we have ever been. It is a 55 and older community (so we barely qualify) that has been designed to provide everything you will ever need for your retirement. It is a planned community that is currently building 300 to 350 homes per month (down from over 500 per month). The homes are different sizes and prices levels providing something for every economic level. We saw homes from $ 130k to $ 1.1 million.

The land area is about 10 square miles and the homes are build in connected individual communities. Each community has golf courses, activity centers, Tennis courts, bacchi courts, basketball, etc. etc. etc. Basically anything you can think of is there except maybe a ski slope.

Their are over 1000 clubs that you can join, and if you have an interest the doesn't have a club all yo need is 5 people and the villages will support you to form your own club. There is entertainment every night of the year with a happy hour that starts at 5:00 pm. The golf is free on the executive courses and a small fee on the championship courses. Each of the town centers has all the shopping you will ever need.

This is really and amazing concept that interests us. I played golf while Eileen and Mary Ellen looked at houses. We attended a 50's - 60's show one night and had a great deal of time to catch up with Tom and Mary Ellen Quinn who own a very nice home here.

They are from NH and many of their friends rent places during the Snowbird season. We had dinner at the Quinn's with Mel and Judy, and we were able to visit Connie and Linda other friends from the Granite State.

It was great to catch up with everyone and the hospitality and tour guiding by the Quinn's was marvelous. We are very intrigued by this entire concept and it appears the value here is very good. We have already decided that we need to explore this further.

Life just keeps getting Better. Enjoy!!

Bill and Eileen