Over the last two weeks I’ve been road-tripping through Florida. As I was driving homeward via the central part of the state, I decided to see the infamous “Villages,” described variously as having the highest concentration of golf carts, Trump-supporters, and STD’s in the country.

According to Wikipedia, the development known as “The Villages” consists of a 32 square-mile land area with 55 golf courses, 100 recreation centers, and dozens of entertainment venues. It has approximately 750 miles of roads, most private. The median home price is $367K, and the average down payment on a purchase is 27%, the highest in the country. During the 2010-2020 census period, it was the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country. Residents are 98% white, and virtually all over 55 and retired.

I wanted to see the development because an friend of mind had told me that her brother lived there, in a gated community, with nine guns…all loaded and readily at hand in various rooms of his house. The irony of living in fear within a sea of white skin, in a gated community located in possibly the safest, most patrolled and protected community in the country seems to have been lost on the guy.

My preconception was of a bunch of rich, angry, conservative white guys oblivious to their own privilege. But then, maybe I jump to conclusions. So, I determined to gather data by stopping for a sandwich and beer in one of the several “community squares,” commercial areas lined for several blocks by upscale retail, music venues, green and grassy gathering areas, and outdoor restaurants. I began by chatting up my barstool neighbor, a guy who’d moved there from California because the “queers are running everything there.” From what I could tell, his days consist of going to bars and playing golf. When I said it seemed boring, he said, “Oh no. You get tired of this place, there is always “Gators,” or the “Sports Nook” or….” Zoom, right over his head.

I spoke also to various friends of his who dropped by to chat and learned that The Villages is home to the largest American Legion post in the world (Wikipedia notes it has the highest veteran population in the U.S. except for military bases.) On my way out of town, I made a coffee stop and spoke to four guys in a Starbucks. They were reveling in the latest evidence that Biden had checked out mentally and various of the military and White House staff were taking pity on him.

So, rich-angry-white-guys or not, I certainly want no part of it. Whatever you think of their politics and lifestyle choice, it’s evident they enjoy living in a culturally homogeneous and supportive environment among others who think just like they do; that they are well-beyond merely “privileged” but seem to have little awareness of it, and seem to feel limited responsibility for giving back something to the society that has given them so much.

Not my style…

.