With some 7000 plus posts on Talk of Sun City, I've had made than my share of comments on topics far and wide. In the end, the vast majority have been directed at and about Sun City. I try not to make it personal and more often than not, i succeed. Not always, but most often. We've watched over the years the deterioration of that sense of community that Sun City was built on. I would argue it wasn't intentional, but whether it was or wasn't isn't all that important. What matters most is the question, can we get it back? Can we restore that sense of belonging that created buy-in over those early years? It would be no small task, but it is easily doable. The challenge is it won't happen by accident. Nope, in my opinion it will take a targeted, purposeful approach where it becomes one of our primary goals. As i watch events unfold around us, i don't get that sense of urgency required to make that happen. Maybe the reality is i am one of a small minority who thinks that's important. If that's the case, so be it. As i mentioned to Dave this morning, my message has never changed; either we believe those of us living here are part of the solution, or we're not. Which is the perfect segue to address some of the comments made regarding those of us who have volunteered and tried to do their small part. Speaking for myself, i'm just a guy who happens to have chosen Sun City as my final resting place. No more, no less. One of the lessons both Ben Roloff and i learned as we scoured the pages of Sun City's history was this: The community has been filled with just guys and just gals (women if you prefer), who were opinionated and deeply invested in their new found "active way of life." And in each and every case, the old adage fits perfectly: that and a $5 bill can get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks (updated for inflationary purposes). The point is no one person, man, woman or DEVCO employee was responsible for what Sun City became. John Meeker had the greatest impact, but even he understood, the only chance Sun City had was if those living here accepted the enormous responsibility that came with ownership. Once "incorporation" was voted down in 1964, the dream of us becoming a city was dashed. He knew how critical it was for us/him to create that sense of community that would at least give us a chance to survive. Even he appeared to be stunned at how well it worked. Those moving here loved the community. They were willing to do things they never did back home (where they came from). The numbers of volunteers was staggering and the organizations, churches, clubs and civic groups grew beyond a point anyone could grasp. Truly, "The City of Volunteers." In the end, our successes were all about men and women accepting the role of caretakers. While our history is filled with names and stories, none of them are any more important than the next. They were and are just guys, just gals who loved what they found, what they had and what they were asked to do. The point here, as it always has been and hopefully always will be, is each of us living here are just cogs in the wheel that helps Sun City remain as special, and as unique as it is. It's always been about the collective of a community committed to a better way of life. And as always; this is just one guy's opinion.
