The Sunshine, Rain, Lightning, and Hurricane State

.....Yesterday I wrote about the nutritional habits of seniors in South Florida, and today I will continue to delineate the activities indigenous to this area by residents of the numerous condominium communities that have more social unions flourishing than do a month's worth of Facebook or Twitter entries. About 98% of the retirees who now live here are from Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Pittsburgh. Those who come from any other area of the country are about as sparse as Democrats at a Tea Party rally. It appears, as well, that these retirees divide themselves into various condominiums according to their religiosity--such as Jewish condos, Protestant condos, Catholic condos, and who knows? Perhaps Islamic condos. Most Jewish condos are located on the East coast of Florida; most of the others on the West coast and Boynton Beach. Talk of "birds of a feather flocking together!" However, keep in mind that those living on the West coast must come East if they want a bagel.

.....Now I can't speak for the activities at other condo communities, but at ours--here at Huntington Lakes in Delray Beach--we have the New England Club, the Greater Philadelphia Club (Lesser than Greater Philadelphians, I assume, are excluded), the Pittsburgh Club, the Boomers' Club (for those under 80), the New Generation Club (for seniors with Gregorian calendars or inflated egos), the Men's Club (a sexist organization), the Singles Club (with mostly women, of course). Now, we also have clubs for athletic types such as the Ping Pong Club, the Shuffleboard Club, the Canasta Club and the Paddle Ball Club. We offer, if you can believe it, a Snowbird Club which meets every first Sunday at 10:30am in the ballroom. In the summer months attendees at this club's meetings are about as sparse as Palestinians at a Passover Seder. And thanks to Snowbirds we get our restaurants back.

.....But then there are the specialty clubs like the Anglers Club for those who are hooked on fishing; the Duplicate Bridge Club--confusing because there is really only one; the Computer Club (often in need of a grandchild); the Library Club; the Billiard League (really? A whole league?) with experts to cue members how to play. For those seniors with some sporting blood and leftover agility there is the Tennis Club, the Golf Club, two Bowling Clubs for members with balls, and the Outside Volleyball Club (there really is no indoor club). And finally, there are the artsy clubs such as the Dance Club, the Choral Society, the Library Club, the Karaoke Club (practice for cruising, I suppose), the Wood Sculpters Club, a splinter group, and for those with thespian bents, there is the Theater Workshop.

.....But not everything is confined to the reservation. For those who wish to embark on other endeavors, there are the slot machines, poker, and blackjack tables at local casinos--Las Vegas style. Who needs the Strip? And for seniors about to retire, don't forget that down here we have Disney World, Sea World, Lion Safari Country, Key West, and a gigantic oil slick to keep you from bathing and therefore safe from shark bites and pelican poop. Come on down! Bring a friend.

"Man shall not live by bread alone." (Matthew IV)

.....Since this is a blog, or as I prefer it to be called, a journal basically about seniors who have retired and living in Florida, I would be remiss if I did not report for posterity at least one of the orgiastic activities that this segment of society indulges in. And I don't use the word "orgiastic" in the sense of frenzied sexual activity (there is no such thing here), nor a night of bacchanalian revelry. Oh, no. I refer to its substitute--the unbridled and wanton desire for food--and especially for the "early bird" attractions of local restaurants. The early bird is the preferred method of dining by retirees in condoland. The requirement is usually to be seated before 6pm. And the attraction is the discounted prices of the entrees. Its a legitimate activity, especially for those living merely on social security. For those who are more financially endowed the attraction is the voluminous choices of fare.

.....The primary incentive for lunch is the lure of "Buy one salad, get one at half price if you buy a beverage." Or, "Get a mini-nova platter with a dollar off and a free six-pack of Immodium tablets." The catch of discounted breakfasts is that you must be seated before 11am--the time I usually get out of bed. The evening meals involve a cornucopia of delectable chefs' creations of many countries' cultural food identities, such as Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Mexican, Cuban, or perhaps, Australian steaks consumed in Outback. However, if you are in a hurry to make the show in the clubhouse, you dine dismally at Wendy's, McDonald's, Burger King, or Kentucky Fried.

.....And to tell the truth, most homes maintain immaculately clean ovens. On Easter, Passover, and Thanksgiving there are always luscious spreads at Too-Jays or Flakowitz. But on Mothers' Days, Fathers' Days, Birthdays, and Anniversaries, if you aren't taken for lobster at Chinese Gardens or The Station House, you are liable to be mightily disappointed. So then, if one decides to retire to South Florida, the only nutritional motto that is acceptable is "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow ye diet."

INDEPENDENCE DAY 2010

..... So here I am about to celebrate my 86th Fourth of July with a dinner of hot dogs, French fries, and a diet coke, and I always get that burst of patriotism when I see and hear the explosion of fireworks in the evening. But I don't get that feeling when I think of how sparse patriotism appears to be in America at this point in her history; how divided the country is in its perception of what direction we need to be taking on a myriad of difficulties--the economy, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the oil devastating our shores, our divisions on immigration and global warming, and our relationships with foreign countries.

.....This is the only country that deliberately started with a good idea, born in a Revolution and fired by patriotism. Whatever happened to “patriotism”? When President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, instead of evidential patriotic pride that an American was chosen, there appeared much wringing of hands, more gorges rising, more lamentation and dismay, more cringing editorials, more letters to the editor from know-nothings and racists, than any show of patriotism that I could uncover at the time.

…..One would think that we were in an irate foreign country because one of theirs was not chosen. And whatever happened to “…and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea”? Like Petrucchio in “Kiss me Kate” I asked myself, “Where is the life that late I led?” I remember the patriotic fervor that once swept over our country in WWII instead of the rancor that envelops it now. Naval commander Stephen Decatur, in a toast given at a banquet in Norfolk, Virginia said, "Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations, may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong." Perhaps this is somewhat chauvinistic, so what’s wrong with a little chauvinism now and then? It's merely patriotism taken to the very edge. Only the recent performance of our soccer team in the World Cup seemed to draw together Americans of every persuasion. But that's not good enough.

…..Adlai Stevenson once said that ".....America is more than a geographical fact; it is a political and moral fact, the first community in which men set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality." And Teddy Roosevelt felt that “.....This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.” I hope to live to see that happen by some future Independence Day.