On November 13th, 2018, Kelly headed back to her home in California after a lovely two-week visit here in Kings Point. Kelly is coming back Thursday of this week (June 27th) and staying 12 days. I’m really looking forward to mother-daughter time with her.

The last time Kelly came, I was recently widowed. I’d come down in July and started improving the condo. I had my new bar stools, my new Samsung range and microwave. I had just gotten my new golf cart. My storage cabinets had been built in the room between the garage and kitchen. The bedroom carpet and bedspread had been updated.

But in the past seven months, I’ve made lots of additional condo changes. This time she’ll see my new dishwasher, a new roof over my back patio. New rugs on the patio. I’ve added a pretty palm leaf ceiling fan in my bedroom and hopefully handyman Mark can get a matching one up in her bedroom before she arrives. I also bought a new TV for my master bedroom and less visible is a new high quality mattress.

I have a new freezer in the garage which will be really handy if there’s ever a hurricane and I need to be without power for a few days. The suggestion is to freeze big blocks of ice to use in coolers so I’ll be saving plastic bottles to fill.

Yesterday my new master bedroom furniture (except for the new night stand) were put in place and the old stuff removed.

I’ve added some new plants to my patio and great room.

In the master bathroom I’ve had the towel bars changed and a lovely new light fixture added.

The biggest addition since her last visit is SOPHIE, my tiny dog. I didn’t have Sophie until December 4th. She’s being trained but she still has some accidents. I hope they love each other. Sophie’s playful and fun but there’s no rest when she’s around. She loves to lick. I am trying to break her but she has that little licky tongue working non-stop.

I now work at the Emergency Squad every eight days for half a day. I will leave Kel on her own on July 5th while I volunteer until noon. She can go to the pool, or do whatever she wants.

Another big change to my life is adding new friends. The one I’m closest to is Pat. She’s become a regular in my life. When Evie is here, she and I do a lot together too and Connie is a new friend. Kelly will like them.

I have become part of the “single scene” and go to singles dances. That won’t affect Kelly because obviously I won’t go to any while she’s visiting. My time with her is too precious.

I always want my daughter’s approval especially on things I do to the condo, since this place will eventually be hers. The next time she comes will be at Christmas. She and SIL Dave are going to come for a visit. He’s never been here. I hope he likes it and can see himself fitting in.

I’m really unrealistic. I realize I expect Sophie to answer me. I’ll say something like, “Sophie, do you love me?” and I expect her to answer. Maybe someday she’ll surprise me.

A rain storm in Florida is much much different than the rains I experienced in Michigan. Water doesn’t just come down, it pours out of the sky!

I only remember one storm in Michigan that came close to the rains we experience here.

There’s been a discussion because of a change in rules for clubs in Sun City Center. Some folks have referred to Kings Point as unfriendly because it’s a gated community.

Some have claimed that our HOA fees are too high. Rather than argue the point, I’d like to point out some facts: I pay $480 monthly as a HOA fee in my mid-level 2-br 2-bath 1,500 sq ft condo in Nantucket V. But I feel it’s a bargain. That fee covers my cable TV and wifi, my water, part of my insurance, my lawn care, my condo maintenance (including roof replacement, pest control, painting, paving repair), other expenses toward maintaining our buildings and private roads, our private bus system, and the salaries of our management employees. And because my community is gated, I believe but I haven’t confirmed, that I get a discount on the home-owners’ portion of my insurance.

Also, because the streets in Kings Point are “private,” being a gated community allows me the privilege of driving my golf cart on our streets (provided I have headlights and turn signals) any time I want. I don’t like to drive my car at night but I’m a very careful driver and my vision is very, very good. I am really glad my gated community allows me to use my golf cart to go to after-dark activities.

For that reason, folks who don’t own a car, often live inside our gates. We can go to the club houses, to the pools, the fitness center, dances in clubhouses, card games and bingo, even after dark.

I like the non-gated part of Sun City Center too. Lots of my friends live in SCC. I have thought about living there, but as a recent widow, the gated community gives me greater peace of mind. Everything is taken care of for me. And, as a bonus, I can use my cart after dark which will serve me as I age.

If I ever reach the point when I can’t drive, KP has a great transportation system. Note:
Three of my neighbors on my court are blind. KP allows them to stay mobile.

It’s not for everyone, but for those of us who enjoy the previously mentioned perks, Kings Point gives us a beautiful place to live.

Today I ordered a 7.1 cu. ft Frost-Free Chest Freezer by Black + Decker. My refrigerator hasn’t been working so the KPW insurance repair person brought me a loaner to use. It’s in the garage and I’m glad I have it. I realize there’d be room for a small chest-type freezer especially when the loaner has been removed.

I plan to freeze blocks of ice in case of a hurricane. I can also continue my “hoarding.” I can buy more than two Lean Cuisines at a time. I can stock up on Marie Callendar pot pies when I can get them for $2.00. It should be delivered next Tuesday. That’s the day I work at the Squad but I’ll leave a note on my front door telling the delivery person to put it in my garage. Mark (my handyman) can help me get it in place.

Mark is making a platform to go under the freezer. He’s also making an additional shelf to go in my storage cabinet.

I just discovered a new use for my Amazon Alexa. I live alone and have wondered what would happen if I fell and couldn’t get up. Yes, they sell devices which will summon help for you but you have to have them with you all the time and it would be my luck I wouldn’t have it on. They generally charge about $49 monthly. Here’s where my Amazon Alexa comes in. I just went about 25 feet from one of my Alexa devices and asked Alexa to call a number for me. (I had her dial my house phone). She put the call through easily. And I if I feel it’s necessary, I can buy another couple Echo Dots for about $30 each. I can locate them around the condo and even in the garage. Unlike the commercial help services, there’s no monthly fee. If I ever need to call 911 for help, I’m sure I can yell loud enough for one of my units to hear me and follow my command.

Obviously this was “my solution” and I never suggested that it was better than subscribing to a monitored security system but for me it’s cheaper and the likelihood that it would “be there” if needed is greater for me. (I’m surprised at the number of folks who were critical of my plan and said things like “What if you were unconscious?”)