A Profitable Day

There are two large Del Webb over-55 communities in this area. One is Sun City Palm Desert, whch is about 15 years old and the other is Sun City Shadow Hills, which is about 2-1/2 years old with more homes still being built. We drove through the Palm Desert location yesterday and were impressed with the grounds, the quality of the homes, etc. We didn't stop in at the office, because there are no homes for sale at present except for a few resale homes which are represented by independent realtors. The Shadow Hills community is quite close, so we decided to take a look. Del Webb pioneered the idea of over-55 communities when they built the nation's first such development in 1961. They are now the country's largest homebuilder. We met a very nice man (our third Boston connection: he used to live in Framingham) who showed us around the different models. These homes are really gorgeous, reasonably priced, and have amenities that would cost a fortune on the east coast. The construction is solid, the materials are top quality, and the surroundings are beautiful. At such time that I no longer have to work (will that day ever come?) it is something we would definitely think about. Of course, as long as Mom is living it is not an option. She would absolutely hate it here, and we would never ask her to move. But it's something we like to keep in mind for "someday."

Out of curiosity more than anything else we visited the two new casinos just outside of Palm Desert. I really don't like casinos, and I think gambling is just about the most boring activity I can think of, but it's sort of like a car accident: it's fascinating to watch. Philip spent some time playing blackjack (he is very good at it) and won about $100 at a $5 table. He said he finally had to quit because he was getting tired! I won a whopping $5 at the penny slot machines. Talk about a no-brain activity! But it was kind of fun in its own way.

The ducks who live on the golf course just outside our villa now come up to the glass doors in the morning and watch us, I guess hoping we'll either come out or let them in. They are so funny. When they wake up in the early morning we can hear them quacking outside.

Our cell phone has been found. It was in the limo, wedged into the back seat. They're going to FedEx it to us so we won't have to go through the hassle of getting another phone.