Yep we have been on “radio silence” since returning from our magnificent Alaskan adventure to the Arctic Ocean with Bigfoot and Elkhorn last year. Our Blog has be quiet….like crickets…, no even crickets make noise. Together with Virgil and Delores, we snow birded at the SKP Resort in Wauchula, FL for the winter to see if we liked the park and it’s inhabitants. The SKP Resort is a co-op Escapees park https://fl-skp-resort.org/ that is run by all volunteers. This concept is exactly what we like, as we like to be involved and socialize, so we are here on a “test run” if we want to buy-in to Shangri-la.
Before I get started, I feel compelled to try to put you in the same frame of mind as ours when we first encountered this Resort and its’ people. Not only is the Resort beautiful and well laid out, there are many, many people who are 75-93 years old that are doing daily activities as you and me (well, truth me told, way more than me). The WiKi definition of Shangri-la is a fictional place in Asia’s Kunlun Mountains described in the 1933 novel Lost Horizon by English author James Hilton. Hilton portrays Shangri-La as a mystical, harmonious valley, gently guided from a lamasery (who is the Chef Lama), enclosed in the western end of the Kunlun Mountains. Shangri-La has become synonymous with any earthly paradise, particularly a mythical Himalayan utopia – an enduringly happy land, isolated from the world. In the novel, the people who live in Shangri-La are almost immortal, living hundreds of years beyond the normal lifespan and only very slowly aging in appearance. Well there you have it, some explorers like Ponce De Leon (and tourists) flocked to St. Augustine or the island of Bimini in search of the fountain of youth. Whereas the land that citrus and cattle occupy is good for the soul. Okay, I’m “snapping” my fingers now, back to our story…
Ann Marie and I put our name on the “wait list” to buy an RV lot here in January 2018. Virgil and Delores did the same shortly after that. It typically takes 5-8 years to get an RV lot, as there are only 126 sites. We are now #8 on the list, (the Lannings’ are #21) so we should be able to buy a lot in the winter of 2023-24. Some lots are all grass, others have concrete parking pads and some may have concrete patios. Each site has 20/30/50 amp electricity along with water and sewer hookups and can have a 126sq ft storage building. The amount of “improvements” to the lot helps determine the lot price.
After we buy a lot, we will continue to travel our great country as we have the past 8 years, so we will use the Resort as our “home base”. When we take our “Gypsy” off lot and explore, the lot will go into the Resort’s rental pool for other RVers to use. Wait… who is “Gypsy” you ask? Well after 9 years, we have named our Cedar Creek “Gypsy” which of course is pulled by the BFT (there is a story behind the name that I will get to due time). Okay, now you are in the know. In due time we will move Bigfoot and Frankie down to the Resort and use the Bigfoot for short trips. You do remember “Frankie” don’t you?
We stayed at “Shangri-La” from December 1, to April 1st and we are happy to report that both Ann Marie and I had a great time at the Resort. Shangri-La is a well laid-out Resort with beautiful palm trees and well manicured green grass areas. It is located in the middle of cattle, citrus, and blueberry country in SW Florida. Less than a hours drive to Bradenton beaches on the gulf and less than 2 hours to Fort Pierce on the Atlantic side. A two lane road that meanders through the Florida countryside takes us to some small cities that have everything we would need, without the hustle and bustle of four lanners and tourists. BTW, I can’t take credit for the name “Shangri-La” , as one of the members (Kenny) at the resort welcomes everyone by saying “Shangri-La” as the park is paradise.
A week after we arrived at the Resort, Virgil was asked if he wanted to be one of two park attendants for the season. He accepted with a part time work schedule. Delores worked the office every other weekend. So now we know people in high places with them working at HQ!
At the resort, The “Fun n Sun” committee is in charge of activities (“reindeer games”) and events. They do a fantastic job of organizing volunteers for all the various events. From the “Blind-Folded” Golf Car Races (yes, there is a story to be told about this), a Spaghetti dinner, Luau dinner and dance, a low country boil and dance, and oh by the way, we had a blast dancing! I know this won’t be a surprise to some of you, but Ann Marie and I volunteered to cook the low country boil for about 110 hungry Shangri-la-lin-ins! The kitchen at the clubhouse has a restaurant grade kitchen, much like what we are used to at either the Lodge or the Shrine club. Deb is a wonderful woman who is overall in charge of kitchen and is super organized and she was there every step of the way. Breakfast is made to order every Monday for a nominal fee. There are sign-up sheets for crafts, going out to lunch, and a bunch of activities to keep one as busy as one would like. Here Ann Marie found Fiber n threads classes, painting wine glasses, and decorating oyster shells and I found two new hobbies: Ukulele and wood carving.
Upon our arrival at the Resort, I saw a signup sheet for Ukulele lessons, and I thought, “why not”? I used to play the violin in the ninth grade and sucked (there is a story behind that too). So I bought a new Tenor Uke, went to Ukulele lessons every Monday, and a music jam every Friday for 16 weeks. Ann Marie was one of our biggest supporters always in attendance listening, applauding, and crocheting. Mike and Rosie are members of the Resort and are musicians who graciously and patiently taught many of us how to play the Uke and we had a terrific time. After about 8 weeks our Uke group grew to over 28 musicians and Mike and Rosie coronated us as the Ukulele Orchestra of Wauchula (UOW)! We really enjoyed participating with the UOW and impromptu jam sessions outside at the firepit or under our awning.
Ann Marie bought a “She-Shed”, a 12 foot Clam screened room that we setup right next to Gypsy. This is where she spent hours creating oyster shell ornaments. She made beach-themed, Christmas, and many awesome designs. The Resort had an auction to raise $$ and weeks later a craft show, both of which she did very good at with her wares.
We are currently in Statesboro, Georgia for the month to see our family before we embark upon another journey. Our journey this year is going up the north east coast to Canadian Maritimes and Newfoundland.
Virgil and Delores will be returning back to Indiana to take care of their property and see their family. Then this winter we will get back together again and embark upon our eighth winter of traveling together.
We met so many awesome people at the SKP Resort we can’t wait to become members.
Stay tune for more information where we are going, with who, and with what.
Oh, BTW, I turned 65 while in Shangri-La, but I still feel like I’m 64.
