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Visiting The Villages


The current Mrs. Blythe roped me into escorting her to see her sister and brother-in-law two weekends ago.  I like an adventure as much as the next guy, even if it means a stop to see people.  As you all know, I'm a people person.  Ask anyone.  Whenever I've ever been around them: past, way-way past and present, there's always been a kind of gender segregation.  The guys are with the guys and the women are with the women.  I've never liked that set-up because then it means that instead of being a 4th, and can sit back and muse, I'm thrust into a couple deal and forced to actually engage in conversation.  It can be draining.  

But I like Bill, and really, always have.  He has always been decent to me and tends to be a talker, thus relieving me of the responsibility.  Besides, Bill and I share a passion.  He has around 10 old cars and I have one, too.  They live in The Villages, about 3 hours away from where I am incarcerated.

For those not aware of The Villages, it is a sprawling mega retirement city a family started in the 60's.  They are building at a phenomenal rate: 185 new homes per month.  The population is 125,000 and Forbes has listed it as one of the best 25 Places To Retire two years running.  They have 48 golf courses and three community hubs.  It is a golf cart community.  I couldn't afford their front door.  But I digress. 

                                                        







Golf carts here even have their own roads, separate from cars.  




In the Community Center is a military museum, of sorts.  It's pretty neat.  The painting above is the work of Dwight Eisenhower.  He finished it and didn't like the unbalanced look of it so gave it to his White House valet. 





This is the leather case that Eisenhower used all through the War.  It is likely it contained some of the most important war documents, secrets and plans.







On the way back we stopped at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.  Field after field of the single white marble stones.  There are a couple of Medal of Honor winners here and each one sacrificed something to provide us with our freedoms.  Let's not blow it.

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