Retirement Living Quest

 "Not all those who wander are lost".
J.R.R. Tolkien, Fellowship of the Ring

     The last nine days, Joe and I have been on a quest.  We are in pursuit of a locale in which to reside as we live out our retirement years.  First we want to pin down a location to spend the remainder of our active lives.  We have fairly certainly decided on Tennessee, although Georgia was brought up during Easter Sunday brunch.  Once we choose a development/ community then we will actually go house hunting.  As we look through all our options, we have been doing a lot of talking about what would work best for us, with both our interests in mind.  An activity/recreation center and a
wellness/fitness complex are at the
top of our list, with walking paths and green space next important.  A lake would be great too.  We want a neighborhood feel but to also have nature at our doorstep.  A golf course and equestrian center as part of the development are not necessary.  If there are fairly close golf courses and a boarding/riding stable with access to bridle trails, we would be ecstatic.

     Joe and I climbed into the Expedition to embarked on our expedition, at 5:15 Saturday morning.  I hadn't gone to bed until 12:30, so needed to sleep (a few times) in the car.  I tried to get this sun photo in southern Illinois, and
                                                     minutes later we hit dense fog, really
slowing us down.  As we skirted Clarksville (TN), we stopped for gas and I took over the helm for 90 min.  Approaching Fairfield Glade, near Crossville TN, the sun light on this church steeple caught my eye. 





     As late as I had stayed up, carefully packing everything, I realized I had left my cell phone behind.  It was going to make it tricky to communicate with Joe when we were going in two different directions. 





     Once we arrived at Fairfield Glade, the first order of business was to get me to Wildwood Stables where I had a 2:00 reservation for a trail ride.  This is Penny, a quiet little Paso Fino I rode.


     Larry, the guy in the cowboy hat, is a boarder at this stable, who just likes to hang out at the barn and help out.



     Judy, the 70 year old barn manager was our trail guide.




     We went up and down the hills and crossed this large creek two times and rode through several others.

     Three other girls were with our group and a boarder from the stable, who brought up the rear.





We rode over this old rock quarry...

and along Daddy creek, which looked more like a river to me.




     The trails were rocky, wet and muddy because it had rained a lot the previous day.  But the horses were very surefooted.







     We saw the 13th green of Dorchester Golf Course...






and this cute little family cemetery.  The lady on the paint is the boarder.


     This is a view of the barn from the cemetery.  I rode in the back of the group when we turned and headed for the barn. 




     We did a fair amount of trotting in the open field and I was able to get Penny to gait when I reined her in and got her collected.  I didn't realize this could be done with neck reins rather than direct reigns.  Now I want to try this with my horses.

     Joe, who had been touring Fairfield Glade Community with a realtor, while I was on the 75 minute trail ride, returned to pick me up. 

     Then we made a "quick" (3 hour total drive) side tour and went to Long Branch Lakes outside of Spencer TN.  These are the rustic gates to pass through to get into this 5,000 acre development. 

     The pool had this waterfall feature and overlooked one of the lakes.  There was a very nice barn, but no fitness center, community building or golf course.  The main meeting place was the General store with restaurant, and there was a discovery center.








     This was a very un-developed community, a bit too secluded and
off the beaten path for us.

     The roads were gravel and we even had to ford this creek to get to the barn.  I did not care for the windy, hilly drive that actually made me a little car sick.

     We arrived back at Fairfield Glade in the dark, ate at one of the club house restaurants, and came "home" to our resort villa.  

     Waking Easter Sunday, we could see one of the five golf courses from our villa.  It was cool, cloudy and dreary, so there was very little human traffic out our window.  I think I'd rather have a view of woods or lake, to watch nature, not golfers. 

     The Wellness Center was closed because of the holiday but we did go to the Community Center to swim and sit in the hot tub.  We went to the main club house and ate a huge Easter buffet for lunch.

     I dropped Joe off to golf, and hoped the heavy rains would hold off until he was done with 18 holes.  I went for a little drive around, noticing that it was quite curvy and hilly here. 




     Waiting for it to clear off, I kept busy researching and looking at possible communities in which we can retire.



     I finally decided to hit the trail and go for a walk... and even followed the rules and stayed off the golf cart paths.








     There was a nice (over two mile) trail I took.  It did drizzle, off and on, so I returned quite wet.  Our villa had a washer and dryer, so I did a load of our
                                                     wet, dirty clothing. 

     We drove into Crossville and around the downtown area to get a feel of the town, and then had dinner at Ruby Tuesdays.  My grilled spaghetti squash and asparagus were to die for. 

     I have noticed, while on vacation, that my heart has calmed down.  Knowing my heart is fine, and not having to worry about the farm, has been
a big help too.  Monday morning we
were on the road again, this time headed for Bluffton SC.  It was a long, windy, curvy, hilly, pass through the mountains... again making me a bit car sick.  And with speedy Gonzales Joe at the wheel, it got my old ticker jumping for awhile.  I was definitely sick of the car by the time we arrived at Bob and Marge's at 4pm.  They live in the Sun City retirement community just outside of Hilton Head.     

     Their house faces a lagoon so we sat on the back lanai, catching up and watching many different birds and an alligator. 



     After a few drinks and grilled hamburgers, it was off in the golf cart for a tour of some of the many facilities they have access to.

     Bob drove, Marge navigated, and Joe and I hung on in back.  Sun City is a huge Del-Webb development with tons of sports and activities to offer its residents.










     Tuesday and Wednesday were beautiful days, sunny and in the low 70's.  Joe, Bob and I walked the 1 mile nature trail.

        Do you see what I see?












     Then we went to the pool, and swam laps and sat in the hot tub.






     We ate a very satisfying lunch on our way to Hilton Head and then drove to Sea Pines and looked around Harbor Town.





     It took quite awhile to find a parking place so that the four of us could walk out on the boardwalk.






 







     We saw the 18th hole, where they were already setting up the grand stands for the Heritage Golf Tournament in a few weeks.

Next we were off to Coligney Beach.





     It was a beautiful sunny day but the breeze off the ocean was cold.  So we headed back inland, to Bob and Marge's, where it was 10 degrees warmer. 


     Bob did a little fishing while the lagoon gator watched from the water...




     ...and we watched from the shore.


     After a long, careful search for a restaurant, we went to what ended up being a disappointment, especially for the fish lovers.  I was not dissatisfied but felt bad for the others.

     Marge fixed a big breakfast Wednesday and then Bob had to go to work at Lowe's.  Marge drove us over to their friend's, Joanie and Dennis.  Joe went to play 18 holes with Dennis and us ladies went for a drive.  Unfortunately I forgot my camera so have no photos of the neat things we saw and did.  We went to the Palmetto Bluff Plantation and had a delicious lunch (with some tasty adult beverages) under the beautiful huge old live oaks.  We walked around, ducking into
                                                     some shops and a museum.  Then
we drove to Old Town Bluffton and went into some antique/souvenir shops.
    
     Once "home" Marge drove me to the nature trail that I quickly walked and then to the pool where we met Joe and sat in the hot tub.  Joanie and Dennis joined us for dinner and Bob made it home in time for desert while we watched American Idol.  

     After another great breakfast (bacon and eggs) by Marge, we had to say our farewells and hit the road before 8am Thursday.  It was a long, dreary, seven hour drive to Vonore, with rain falling most of the time.  At least the southern mountain pass was not bad at all, although around Atlanta the road was crowded.  The white in this woodland is not flower blossoms, but dead leaves.  I have enjoyed their beauty throughout Georgia and Tennessee.

     We meet with Rarity Bay realtors (a husband and wife team who briefly showed us around last December ) and took a more extensive toured of the neighborhoods while it was still drizzling.  We had thought this golf and equestrian complex was going to be the place for us.  We viewed the cheapest homes (the minimum house size is 2000 sq/ft) and some of the more affordable and smaller condominiums.  We decided this community is just too pricy, while also being spread out, and very undeveloped; and there was no indoor pool, hot tub, or walking track.  The 18 hole golf course is absolutely beautiful; the barn, pastures and riding areas are wonderful and all the views are breath taking.  So it was a disappointing realization that it wasn't doable.  We drove back to the town of Vonore and had dinner at a little diner near our hotel.

     It was clearing off Friday morning but too wet to "play" outside.  (My trail ride was cancelled and Joe's golf was put on hold.)  So, we managed to meet with the realtor early.  We drove through part of the 5,500 acre wooded village, started back in 1986, and saw some beautiful homes that were in our price range.







     Joe got in 18 holes of golf and I joined him, as a spectator, for the first 9 holes. It was a beautiful course.


      Steve, a local guy, caught up to us and joined Joe because play ahead of us was moving slowly.  He was full of good information about Tellico Village and the area.





  I had a chance to watch wildlife.




     There were a bunch of huge koi in this pond, and some turtles too.



     While the guys finished the back nine, I sat on the marina dock, in the sun, and read my book.




     Do you see what I see? 





     Tellico lake is a 16,000 acre lake made by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which decided to dam up the Little Tennessee River at its confluence with the Tennessee River. Tellico Dam was completed 11/79.

     These old silos are a long ways up-stream from the dam, and show the remains of farm land that now lies at the bottom of the lake.

     Our hotel was in Lenoir, where we ate dinner and agreed that Tellico Village is at the top of our list for now.

     We were in the Expedition heading down I-40 towards our last retirement destination before 8am Saturday.  It was a quick 2 hour drive to Mt. Juliet, and we gained an hour of time, so decided to look at local parks and boarding stables first.

     We went on a nice 1 mile hike at Long Hunter State Park.








     The sun was increasing in intensity and warming the day.  And we did find a nice little old barn and boarding stable that was very reasonably priced. 



     Next we went to Providence, a huge development, in which the Lake Providence Del Webb Retirement Village is located. You can see the little 15 acre lake to the far right on this map.  The light blue to the far left is a shopping complex 2 miles away.

     The actual retirement community is a gated, age restricted village of only 315 acres, with just over 1000 home sites and already 85% complete.




     We walked on a paved path around the lake and frighten several turtles, but this one, into the water.  In this community, the houses are very close together and wooded views are at a premium, but the housing would be new and at the top end of our budget.  I love that it has over 5 miles of paved, lighted, and mostly level walking paths.  Lots of folks were riding bikes, and fitness complex was awesome.

     After a light lunch, we met with the sales representative and got all the information we had questions to.



     Then Joe dropped me off at Rock Bottom Stables (a 54 stall barn and riding complex) where I watched a Horse Show, the Paso Fino Obstacle Challenge.

     There were 10 obstacles and probably 30 participants.  It was open to all breeds but was primarily Paso Finos.







     I talked with some wonderful horse people, saw many beautiful horses,


and great runs through the course.






 This stable would be a little farther away, a little pricier, but still affordable.

     Joe drove around the area getting a feel of the "neighborhood" and looking for golf courses.  He picked me back up and we went to our hotel.  He watched basketball (final 4) and I worked on this blog.  Between games, we went to dinner at a loud sports bar.

     Just after 7:00 Sunday morning, we started our trek north, arriving home at 2pm.  We are so thankful for God's blessings of a safe and wonderful ten
                                                                                   day vacation
and search for our next home location.  It was so good to return to the farm.  There is no place like home, but just where that is going to be after Joe retires in a year, remains to be seen.