Friday – Wednesday, February 28-March 5, 2014
it was a relaxing and interesting week, visiting friends and relatives and welcoming mom to Florida!
On Friday, we visited friends at their home in The Villages in central Florida. The Villages is a planned retirement community which has grown to about 150,000 people!! It is an unbelievable complex of neighborhoods around 3 central “Town Squares”. The town square is a central gathering place for entertainment, retail shops, restaurants, movie theaters, etc. We were amazed by the activity level—almost like a cruise ship with people milling around enjoying a band, car show, shopping, eating, etc. Golf carts and walking are the preferred method of transportation (easier to find a parking spot for a golf cart). In this complex there are 40 golf courses, and I don’t know how many tennis courts and pools. We have heard a lot about The Villages, and it was good to find out more about it—it was a very impressive place, and a great visit and dinner with friends!
On Saturday w
e headed south, landing at Harbor Lakes RV Park in Port Charlotte, FL, which is the closest RV park to Englewood that we could find. On the way we stopped at a great outlet mall to get a shopping fix. Didn’t find much (hope I’m not getting rusty from lack of practice), but enjoyed the outdoor shopping in February!
On Sunday, we went to mass at San Pe
dro church, not too far from the campground, and on the way saw an interesting sight…an elephant in a truck! Still not sure what it was all about, but funny to see.
We then
travelled to Englewood and met up with cousins Carolyn & Sue, and enjoyed rumrunners at the Lock & Key restaurant, and a good meal of soft shell crab!
On Monday we went to the Tervis factory. Although the factory doesn’t provide tours, we found out som
e interesting info about the company, which was founded in the 50’s by a couple of Detroit engineers named Cotter and Davis. The Tervis name came from the last three letters of each of their names! Ter-Vis=Tervis! I think everyone has owned at least one Tervis tumbler. The best part is that they are made in America, and guaranteed for life! At the factory store, we were able to exchange our three cloudy tumblers for brand new shiny ones. The clerk told us that sunscreen products often etch the surface, and even lemon juice can etch the surface if left for a period of time. Thank goodness we don’t have to quit drinking vodka tonics with lemon in our Tervis tumblers—we just have to rinse them out!
On Tuesday, Mom finally arrived. Hello, Florida! She hasn’t stopped smiling since! 
Her plane was a little late, but had only about 30 passengers, so no waiting for luggage, and we had time to stop for the annual Shamrock Shake at McDonald’s on the way to the condo. The weather has been warm, a little humid, but much better than Indiana weather!
Wednesday 
started out foggy, and the surf was pounding, but the sun finally came out, burned off the fog, and also burned a few sunbathers (including me). Spot had a great day on the beach too, chasing waves and birds and enjoying all the new smells.
Mom’s oys
ter craving was satisfied at the Myakka Oyster Bar, where we toasted to another fun Florida visit. We will get an early start home on Thursday morning.
Until next year…Goodbye Florida!
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