Both Jack & Beverly Robert and Don & Linda Torrey came to Tropical Palms thinking they would retire to a nice quiet life here. Were they ever wrong – and they couldn’t be happier about it. If fact, they’re enjoying themselves so much, these two first time families have already booked reservations for next year.
Jack and Beverly Robert
When Jack and Beverly Robert came to Tropical Palms for the first time this October, it was their intention to spend their six months with us doing little but taking it easy and relaxing. Things didn’t quite work out the way the couple from Manchester, Connecticut expected.
Jack and Beverly have barely stopped since their arrival. They’ve gotten involved with our Monday, Wednesday and Friday game nights. They’ve been playing Bocce Ball, Miniature Golf and Shuffle Board, and they can’t wait to get a Wii bowling league started.
They’ve also been spending a lot of time visiting and enjoying the nearby parks: Disney World, Sea World, Busch Gardens and the Hard Rock Cafe. Now they’re thinking of volunteering at one of the local community centers or shelters that will earn them a free pass to Disney. It’s been a whirl of activity – and that doesn’t even take into account the time they spend at the pool.
Not that they’re complaining. In fact, they’re having such a good time they’ve already booked a stay for next year. And now Jack’s brother John, who came to spend the holidays with them, enjoyed himself so much he’s decided to join them and booked space for next year.
“Everybody’s always happy and wearing a smile,” is the way Jack describes both Team Members and Residents at the Resort. “It’s made it a pleasure getting to know the people here. Everyone’s from a different place and it’s fun getting to know them. We’ve made some really good friends. In fact, we’ve been talking to some other couples about possibly taking a cruise together later in the year.”
A cruise may be the only way the Roberts can finally relax.
Don and Linda Torrey
Like the Roberts, Don and Linda Torrey are also retired and are spending their first winter at Tropical Palms. Also like the Roberts, the Torreys, from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, are doing so much and enjoying themselves so much that they, too, have already made reservations for next year.
Don found Tropical Palms on the Internet. He’s been an RVer all his life, traveling with his parents as a child. He and his wife continued the lifestyle and over the years they’ve been to dozens of parks all along the eastern seaboard. In all those years they haven’t found one they like nearly as much as they do Tropical Palms.
“Everyone bends over backwards to make your visit memorable,” Don explains. “But what makes Tropical Palms really unique is that here everyone knows your name. It makes you feel like part of the community, part of a family. It’s just fantastic.”
Don and Linda have also been spending a lot of time at Disney, where they bought a season pass that allows them to go as often as they’d like. Don, who describes himself as a “gearhead” because of his love of old classic cars – he’s owned more than 70 – enjoys seeing the car shows at Old Town. “I love the muscle cars,” he says.
They also enjoy taking part in the Aquafit classes at the pool, walking with a group of friends, frequenting the poolside cafe and they’re regular attendees at game nights.
Twice a month they get together with friends. “Each gathering has a different theme. Sometimes it’s dinner, sometimes it’s hors d’oeuvres, sometimes we just brown bag it. But it’s always a good time.” Don says.
They’ve also helped turn the dinners into a fund raising opportunity by creating a Brown Bag auction, where everyone buys a little something and puts it in a brown bag. The bags are then auctioned after dinner. Proceeds go to local charities.
It seems the Torreys, like the Roberts, are having too much fun to start taking it easy just yet.
