Lessons From Those Who Have Been There

 So, here we are in Arizona in November.  We've always tried to design our life around our extended family, so that our kids can have some quality memories with their grandparents, aunts and uncles.  Most of our "vacations" are wherever our family lives, which is how both Matt and I grew up.  We've found that there are always interesting things to do wherever we end up.  So, this year we've chosen Arizona for our November getaway.  It's warm when Idaho is getting cold and we can spend some quality time with Grandma Ann and Papa Ed.  They set us up in a rental across the street from them in an "over 55" community.  As we arrived after our three days of travel, we found them enjoying a glass of wine with friends for the daily happy hour.  We arrived at our rental which turns out to be a one bedroom mobile home.  It took a little time to get used to, but we've discovered that it's not so bad to bump into each other and sleep all kids in one room (after all, we've done that all summer in our cabin).  

Grandma and Ed's Arizona place

Our rental in the "park".  Uncle Jim's place

A few lessons learned......
1.  After you retire, you can party like you did in college (but with more
     confidence).
2.  We are the same at any age.  We gossip about our friends, we like to play and we have dreams.   
3.  Some old folks are very rule bound and some throw all the rules to the wind (until something something happens that affects their lives).


We hadn't known that there would be so many rules for young kids when we booked our month here.  At the pool, there is 1.  no splashing  2.  no jumping  3.  no running  4.  no one under 18 in the hot tub.

Making the most of a beautiful pool, we've learned the best hours not to bug anyone is  at lunch.  All to ourselves out there.  We even splash.

 Highlight of the trip, driving Papa Ed's golf cart (me, officially driving of course) while we made our way to the pool 

4.  Everyone's got a story.  If you take the time to listen, you'll hear some  

      amazing ones and understand more why people become who they are.   

5.  We are all way to quick to judge.  

6.  Age does not define what you can and cannot do.   It's all about choice.  

I recently met a 70-year-old woman who, through our conversation, I discovered was a national marathon champion for her age. She has run in over 40 of them, but recently tried triathlons with her daughter.  She invited me to do a 10K run with her in the mountains.  I declined at first, because I'm out of running shape, but after a few days of running, I'm contemplating taking her up on it.  Who gets to run along side a 70-year-old  national marathon champion? I'm so inspired.   

One other thing we've learned living here with the 55 and above crowd.  Be a defensive driver/walker/biker. Don't assume that the drivers look before they back up.  Most don't.  

Kids aren't allowed on the pickle ball courts, hitting cages or dog park (kidding on that one).  However, we've been personally invited to do all those things by the residents.  So, even though there are rules, even this crowd knows that they must be broken at times.  The boys are becoming amazing pickle ball players.