I know i have been a tad remiss in posting of late, but as i mentioned to the administrator, i struggle with how to interact at times. This isn't the first site i have been involved with where my opinions were so far afield from a poster that it turned into an ugly mess. Cilvility is always key and as is often stated, critisize the idea, not the individual. That of course sounds great, but when you see read the same tired arguments, based mostly on spurious claims, it becomes challenging. So rather than taking the low road, i almost always opt to look at the positive. The awesome news is in Sun City, nearly everything is positive. I often carry on about the history and to fail to understand how we came to be, insures we fail to appreciate just how special Sun City is. I was just watching a clip of our new marketing video's and in it i said; "no one was born here." Virtually everyone has moved here from somewhere else. Our home towns, our previous work lives and friends, virtually everything is "back there" (wherever there is for you). Yet the vast majoriy of us move to Sun City and fall in love with it. What's so powerful is it doesn't take much; a couple of days in the community and from almost those first days we come to understand this is where we want to be, Imagine that happening anywhere else, (maybe places we couldn't afford to live). I'm always intrigued to find people who fail to grasp the beauty of a self-governed community. Where people look for the negative, rather than all of the good things. The fact is, for 53 years Sun City has been run remarkably well, has the lowest cost for the most amenties and is being rebuilt without burdening those who can least afford it. Have their been things i don't agree with? Yup; and when i don't like it, i work to fix/change it. It's how it has worked since its existence. Does it get any better than that?
You bring such positive input to this site and I have never read a post of yours that was not above the belt. We all have our disagreements, but why must we attack each other over issues? Some people will always look for a fist fight instead of solutions. You seem to me like a problem solver, not a problem maker. I love the fact that we are self governed and how much we accomplish. I watch other HOA's we have property in fall into chaos. This is such a delightful place to camp. Let us always keep it civil....one step at a time and perhaps the entire country will follow our footsteps....
Interesting you say that about being a "model" for the rest of the country Fiona. As you may know i am president of the Sun City Foundation. We have been trying to rebuild it and do more than just pay rec fees for those who have outlived their resources. It's been a long slow process but we are making minor improvements. In any event, we brought in a woman from Denver to facilitate a four hour planning session. She's built two fifty million dollars foundations and we wanted her insight as we looked at our own situation. In preperation, she read volumes on the community. The session was awesome and at the end, she said Sun City could in fact be an inspiration to the country. The very idea that we did it ourselves without relying on the government would almost be a foreign concept in todays reliant society. Not sure where the Foundation will go, but if we make half the inroads on the ideas we are working on, it will be a tremendous step forward.
Fantastic news BPearson. I would also love to take a peek at the new marketing video. I was at the walking pool and almost fainted with fear that I would be in the background...looking like a giant gumball with legs. But the filming crew did a great job and so much equipment to dismantle.
Thinking about people here who have outlived their resources...have any considerations of grouping some families together? I know most of us want our independence but we have such affordable housing here and assisted living costs are through the roof. Wondering what ideas you are bouncing around...I think it is wonderful you are working on these things.
There hasn't Fiona and literally it would be in violation of our CC&R's. There are a number of group homes where they house seniors outside the walls, but it wouldn't be allowed in Sun City. There was a study back in the mid 80's by a Southern University that analyzed Sun City. They said it was near on perfect for seniors other than the failure for continuing care. Within 10 years a half a dozen independent living, assisted living and full on nursing care evolved and filled the niche. The problem is of course as you pointed out...very expensive. As far as the new marketing videos, they have not been edited down yet to a finished product.
Do you mean these half dozen places are within Sun City or outside of it? The rules do not allow such a place inside the wall? Assisted living can be a big problem anyway. It's not regulated so it's hard to control or determine the quality, despite the high cost. The future does need something somewhere.
