Civilization

For the last month, we have been out in the woods. Communication with family was limited, social conversation consisted of telling the wildlife they didn’t have to run away from us, and we only caught up on news when we went to town to get Wi-Fi. State parks are beautiful, and inexpensive, but my last blog was a little dry because, after talking about the hiking and biking and paddling, there’s really not much else going on. 

Unless some unusual coloured deer shows up, or sometthing.

New week, new campground.

We are now at Travelers Rest RV Resort just north of Tampa. The only woods to be found are on the golf course. I mean the trees, not the clubs.

But the social life! This resort puts out a real newspaper every Friday, and the centerfold section has 112 activities that anyone can participate in. That doesn’t even include the dozen or so “highlights” on the front page that are not regular weekly events. Nor does it include the spontaneous happy hours that pop up, frequently.

Just plotting out our days on the calendar takes us back to the days of children and having too many things to do but not enough time.

The residents are extremely friendly, and are an active, out-going bunch. All the activities listed are run by volunteers and everyone seems willing to lend a hand. We have already been encouraged to come out and try our hand at pickleball – which appears to be a form of ping-pong on a tennis court.

This resort is not just a community; it is a town in its own rights.  It has its own water tower, a fire station, and a real post office. I did mention the newspaper, right? There are about a thousand residents, of which only a couple of hundred stay all year around.  I was told that in the winter 25% are Canadians, and I believe it, based on the license plates I see in the parking lots.

This place started out as an exclusive Airstream park, but in order to stay viable, started letting in other brands  a decade or so ago. A good percentage of the trailers are still Airstreams, even if the owners have now settled into sites with park models or sunrooms. We decided to try out this place because of our connections with other Airstream owners, who insisted it was the best place to wait out the winter months.

The resort certainly caters to its residents. Just outside of a complete laundry room is a set of clothes lines in a drying area. In all the campgrounds I’ve seen, this is a first for me. It’s a discrete fenced in spot, and I was thrilled to be able to dry my clothes outside in the Florida sun.

There is a large hall where they hold dances and have entertainment every week. Three other buildings provide room for aerobics, computer classes, card or board games, singing groups, and a class to learn clogging (tap dancing) among other things. There is a small cafe on the premises called the Snack Shack where they offer low priced lunches, and coffee is provided every morning in the grand hall. Free if you bring your own mug.

We have a golf course right on the grounds, a tennis court, a heated pool and a hot tub.

And just in case you get too busy keeping up with all the things to do that you don’t make it to the grocery store, they hold a market with fresh fruits and veggies three times a week right inside the campground.

We had planned to use this campground as a place to stay while we explore places like Tampa, and the Gulf shore off western Florida.  Now it looks like we will have to make room in our social calendar if we want to check those places out.

So if you’ll excuse me, I’m on my way to ballroom dance class…..

W