Why a Del Webb community is like college

The last time I wrote a column, I was in college. More specifically, I was writing a weekly column for the Daily Vidette, the student newspaper at Illinois State University, where I worked as a features editor.

That got me thinking, how on earth am I going to write a column that readers who live in a senior community will find even remotely appealing? It seemed like a daunting task.

But that’s when the wheels started turning. After a little brainstorming, I had a mini-epiphany and realized something: a Del Webb community is a lot like a college!

No, I haven’t gone to any wild parties here (yet) or taken exams or ran into any mascots, but stay with me on this. Sun City – like a college – is a community of people around the same age living together.

Did you think I was done there? Not at all. These residents, like students, all come from different backgrounds and have different interests. The difference here is that Sun City residents have already gone on to work in their respective fields, while students are still learning how to be professionals.

But back to my metaphor. Every resident here has their own unique interests and talents, and when they meet others with similar interests, they form incredible groups like the Woodchucks, Celtic Club, Sun City Theater Company, and Sun City Historians, among countless others.

Of course, there are no fraternities or sororities here, but, at least in my opinion, that’s a good thing.

Like in college, people of different ethnic origins come together to keep their culture alive. That’s why the Sun Day is constantly buzzing with events from the Polish-, Italian-, and Scandinavian-American clubs, among others.

There are the jocks, who continue to pursue athletics on the softball fields, bowling alleys, golf course, tennis courts, and more. There are those who prefer more casual gatherings around card tables and lawns.

There are the politically-charged people on both sides of the spectrum, though the issues are different. In college it was more centered on tuition costs, the job market after graduation, and drug policy. Here, it’s more on taxes, healthcare, and social security. I guess money is a common thread – it’s important no matter your age.

Unfortunately, there is also the crime. While working as a news reporter in school, I built up a friendly rapport with police officers, as I would be calling them often for stories about crime on campus. That’s one memory I wish wasn’t evoked here, but the recent burglaries have put me on a first-name basis with the Huntley Police Department.

There are the administrators, the rules and regulations, and the issues that come up from those every now and then. I must say, though, that the homes in Sun City and Edgewater are much better maintained than the apartments I would see while walking to and from class.

There are also great events here going on all the time. Residents are kept busy with a wide variety of concerts, presentations, and exhibits to see, just like when I was in school.

However, I have a hard time finding crossover appeal in these events. For example, I think a demonstration on making decorative soap bottles has about as good a shot of drawing in a large college crowd as a concert by Justin Bieber would have in attracting flocks of Sun City residents.

I guess it’s mainly the lifestyle of Sun City that reminds me of college. It’s just tailored to a much different audience. If Sun City and Edgewater residents see it the same way as people my age see college, then I can see why so many people choose to live here and in other Del Webb communities.

The best part is, it lasts even more than four years.

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