The beauty of Sun City

Discussion in 'Sun City General Discussions' started by BPearson, Nov 10, 2017.

  1. BPearson

    BPearson Well-Known Member

    This is a fascinating time for me right now. Since the day i found Sun City, my life changed. I was a flaming workaholic and let my job define who i was and what i did. Sun City changed all of that. I had found a destination that fit with an ideology i embraced. Collectively, those buying here helped create a viable utopian idea.

    Sounds a bit melodramatic, but it was the kind of setting that seemed like the perfect place to spend the rest of my life. Sun City was that special, that unique.

    What made it different from the hundreds, if not thousands of other age restricted communities was the infrastructure that had been built by those who came before us. Those buying here in the 60's were called pioneers. Through the 18 years till sellout, the Del E Webb Development Corporation (DEVCO) worked and walked hand in hand to help shape a community that would be self-sustaining and self-fulfilling.

    There were countless speed bumps along the way. My good friend Ben Roloff does several classes for the Life Long Learning Club on them and they are always enlightening and fun. Whether it's the 25 year battle over incorporation or the struggles over being in the Peoria school district, they are must attend sessions.

    Through all of those fights and then the ever evolving challenges that came when DEVCO left us to our own devices, Sun City has been a work in process. The infrastructure has included a dozen or more organizations that all serve to enhance our way of life. Without a local governing body (ie: mayor, city council and all the trappings that go with it), those that built the community understood the need to create supporting organizations that would fill the spaces that would keep us special, different.

    For most people living here, they don't pay much attention to many of the organizations, hell a good number have no idea they even exist. And if they do, they in all likelihood have never read their founding documents like their articles of incorporation or their by-laws. Why should they?

    For some of us though, understanding our organizational infrastructure and history is the key to knowing how Sun City works and why it has been successful for 57 years. Little in life happens by accident, most outcomes are dictated by doing the right things at the right time.

    I would hope this thread allows folks to share their thoughts on what they love about Sun City. I've just barely scratched the surface on mine, and frankly there is way more to this than just the boring details of what the communities governing documents say. Rather than just dumping out my frustrations, my goal is to try and embrace the good in the community while at the same point looking at the downside that comes from this kind of setting.

    Hopefully others will join in and share their thoughts, if not, i will plow forward with mine.
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2017
  2. BPearson

    BPearson Well-Known Member

    Got to disagree a bit E, some of the newer ones are nothing short of spectacular. We have done a nice job, but don't hold a candle to the over the top ones. Of course, the difference is their fees can run $100 to $200 a month and more.

    As i mentioned above, there were ugly and tumultuous fights in Sun City over the years. The two most notable were the school board wars and the the battle over whether to incorporate or not. It was often heated and hateful. If you have read any of the history, you know people were polarized and principled. They fought for what they felt was the right direction for Sun City.

    From my perspective, i think both outcomes were a plus. No school district taxes is a bonus we all enjoy. And i've long argued had we incorporated, Sun City wouldn't be what we are today; just another local municipality with tons of high paid services.

    In the end, the organizations in the community often tried to walk the line regarding some of these more dicey matters. Early on they were front and center but because people were split on direction they found it safer to just try and put out information.
    Ultimately they stayed on task of what their governing documents called for and that was to work to enhance the lifestyle of the residents/members living within the white walls.

    That's why the founders of our community were so brilliant, as non-profit organizations, they shaped their articles of incorporation and by-laws to insure that boards over time couldn't stray from their mission or purpose. So why does any of this matter?
     
  3. BPearson

    BPearson Well-Known Member

    Before we delve further, let me just list the things that once made Sun City special to and for me:

    1). We were self-governed and each of us owning a home here had the opportunity to do as much or as little as they wanted to do.

    2). The structure of the community was built around an ideology that as long as the residents took ownership, it would always maintain the integrity of value and values.

    3). The history of Sun City contained the blueprint for generations to come to build on our success.

    Unlike so many that have bought here, it wasn't the rec centers, the golf courses, the clubs and unlimited activities that were the magnet for me. No question, the cleanliness, the quiet easy lifestyle and the serenity found inside the walls mattered, but it wasn't the driving force behind it.

    I simply loved a community where we we could work together to make Sun City a better place. Where the organizations were put in place to enhance our retirement and help us when we needed a hand. A concept where it didn't matter what you did, what you had or who you were, but that we all were part and parcel of a big picture community that enjoyed a quality way of life as we aged.

    Amazing how after near on 15 years here that can all be flushed down the toilet.
     
  4. aggie

    aggie Well-Known Member

    Having known you for the past 15 years.....I've got no idea where this thread is heading:confusion: RCSC, SC CAN, MCSO, SCHOA, SC Posse, SC Fire & Medical, ROC????? And so many more entities to cause the urge to flush. Hope your day improves as we do live in a very special place.
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2017
  5. BPearson

    BPearson Well-Known Member

    Like you and the spouse aggie, i got involved from the day i/we got here. Both second generation, we had the benefit of knowing what we were buying into; knew that we could contribute and knew without it, in a small way, Sun City would change.

    You are right, there's lots of opportunities to sour over. A quick snapshot for me is: Visitor Center as both a volunteer and board member. SCHOA and the complete rebuild we did was remarkable.
    Three years at the Museum, two as president. All the writing for the 50th anniversary. Three years on the RCSC board and a like number of years as the president of the Sun City Foundation. A number of committee assignments, club officer positions and a volunteer for Meals on Wheels.

    On top of that, hundreds of thousands of words promoting Sun City on websites and the 5 magazines i did; dozens of speeches, countless tours, worked with radio, television and newspaper people who were doing stories on Sun City and all because it was the right thing to do. Every time i stepped to a mic to ask a question or make a point, it was about making Sun City a better place.

    And today, all of that feels like a waste of time and energy. But alas, off to a lawn bowling tournament, where maybe the anger and frustration will subside for at least a bit.
     
  6. BPearson

    BPearson Well-Known Member

    Geez E, i must be slipping. There was a time when there was never mistaking what i said; prided myself on being clear and concise...i must be slipping.

    No question the POSSE is a real asset to Sun City, but my days of giving are over. I've learned my lesson the hard way. Too bad.
     

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