Parties & Neighbors

At times we thought to ourselves that "nobody else but us lives here on the pond" because we hardly ever see anybody on their patios, except for one guy down the pond that sits on his deck every afternoon.  Last week, our neighbor across the pond called and invited us over for an impromptu wine drinking party.  About 10 other neighbors showed up and we finally met a few of the other people who lived here.  They were all really nice. Some have lived here for over 15 years and still love the place!  The neighbor that held the party move in 1 1/2 years ago and completely redecorated the place, it was gorgeous and amazing what she did inside.  Elly and her hit it off immediately and I am sure they will become good friends in the near future.

Last week the same neighbor taped an invitation to everyone's front door in our little community, called "Country Club Villas", inviting them to an open house.  Last night we went to the open house and found out that a lot of people really do live here!  Its just that they have busy lives also and for lack of a formal get together, they just wave to the neighbors.  The open house provided us an opportunity to meet everyone as well as for all the neighbors to meet each other.  A lot of them had never met before.
 

Open House Condo across the pond from us

I found it also curious that from the open house's patio, a lot of them had difficulty identifying where they lived just across the pond.  They had never seen their own condo from that perspective before.   A few couples we met have lived here for 25 years when the first phase was built (our condo was in the first phase) and are still here.  There was plenty of food, wine and dessert for everyone and even though there were a lot of people, I estimate around 50, there was plenty of room both inside and outside for all.  The weather cooperated, it was 80-85 degrees during the day and the evening cooled off just like it always does from the breeze that swoops in every afternoon making it a little chilly outside.  When we left around 8:00, it was warmer again because the breeze stops, like it always does.  The weather may get a little boring here, but Elly is not complaining!