Williams Family: We Love Where We Live

 

Do most people choose where they live?  Do most people love where they live?  Our answer is "Yes!" to both!

We purchased our ground floor 3-bedroom/2-bath 1,442 square feet condo in August 2021 as an investment property, knowing that we would eventually want to live here full time.  The condo was inhabited by tenants in the midst of a year-long lease.  With the purchase came a relationship with a management company, which was peace of mind since we lived quite a distance away and had no experience with rental units, leases, etc.  Our decisions were based on need/wants in the future and location.  We chose were we wanted to live!

And, we love where we live, not just for the location and amenities, but for the people.  

In the last week, we have played dominoes with a group of friends and traveled to the beach with a friend.  Yesterday, we were on our way to the car and I forgot my phone.  The husband returned to retrieve the phone and found me hugging with a neighbor in the street.  Jodi, an active grandmother from Michigan and retired physical therapist caught up on her way to walk the lake. Our conversation ended with an embrace.  

At the pool yesterday, great conversations and connections with friends and neighbors.  Fran came to the pool to get a break from packing for her upcoming Alaskan cruise.  Linda, who likes to the pool to be a bit warmer, got in the pool for the first time of the season and had been painting furniture and redecorating her lanai. She was off to EPCOT for dinner. Joanne did her walking/breaststroke laps without a smear in her lipstick.  Jack came to the pool as I was drying off and asked if I was there by myself and I told him Todd had left a few minutes ago.  Jack shared his productive day and I cheered his ending the week with triumph.  Dave and Mary Ann enjoyed the pool and were off to Disney Springs to take in music or a movie. 

Last night, the husband returned from a late night walk with Sadie and said, "I love where we live."  I asked him what made him say that.  His reply was about feeling safe.  Our community does have 24 hour on-site security, but is not "gated" per say.  There are 5 entrances/exits into the community and one is controlled with a gate that requires a car sticker/sensor.  This is more about controlling through traffic.  Security responds to any concerns and monitors parking, clubhouse, pool, etc.  They notice unusual happenings and know many residents and families by name.  Vice Versa is true, too!  Vivian, who was on duty yesterday, was looking forward to bowling after her shift. 

Lakeside at Lakes of Windermere

Our community is occupied by 60% owners of units and 40% tenants.  Some owners live in Lakeside full time and some have other homes--in Norway, Houston, Indiana, New York, Chicago, St. Louis to name a few.  All tenants have to apply and be approved by the HOA Board with leases renewed and reviewed annually.  If a tenant has violations for noise, parking, disturbances, etc., the HOA Board will not renew the lease and the owner will have to find new tenants. 

It has been 13 months since we moved and we love where we live!

How To Keep Kids Safe While On A Walt Disney World Vacation

Is it safe inside here, mom?  Take a picture!

Mouseplanet.com’s Parent Panel offered various views and opinions about keeping kids safe at Walt Disney World, and while on vacation in general, in light of some recent incidents involving children at both the Resorts and on a Disney ship—click here if you want to read their discussion.  The Mouseplanet discussion continued with the husband and I strategizing about how to balance safety and still promote the boy’s confidence and independence.  Oh, what a fine line we parents walk;  almost like a gangplank!

Let me begin with a bit of a parent brag about our ten year old’s independence (I have no idea where it comes from –insert eye rolling here).  Two recent examples:  last week-end, I was working the concession stand as a volunteer at a local theater event.  The boy came too as he wanted to see the show.  I have him money for his ticket.  He purchased his ticket, held onto it until the theater opened, found his own seat (not the front row, but middle of the theater), and proceeded to watch the show.  I found him about 15 minutes after the show started and he did not want me to sit with him.  He was enjoying the show on his own.  I returned to the concession stand at intermission and then back to the theater when the money had been counted, only to be informed again, that he wanted to sit by himself.  Got it!  I could have dropped him off with ticket money and he would have been fine!  Then last night, he was invited to a birthday party held at a local bowling alley.  We pulled up in the car and he was ready to jump out and head in with a “see you later.”  I was several steps behind as I wanted to make contact with the parents and see if they needed anything.  Nope, he was good and I was dismissed.  Him not needing us is a good sign, I know, but each time there is a little heart twinge just the same.  I guess all those twinges now will make it easier when he leaves with the car, leaves for college, etc.

So, how do we balance the boy’s confidence and independence at the most magical place on earth that he is very familiar with and still keep him safe?

The Mouseplanet parent panel had a theme in it’s responses about swimming and that was not swimming alone.  Well, we would agree in most cases and we are sure that works well when there are siblings.  We have a singleton; a singleton who knows how to swim.  I remember when were in Moab, Utah, on our Adventures by Disney tour and the boy took off to the pool with us a few steps behind, and he jumped in to the amazement, concern, and worry of some of our traveling group already at the pool.  They looked to us as how to respond and we were just fine and so was the boy.  They were relieved when they knew he could swim.  Now, we don’t send him to the Disney resort pool by himself, but we may not be swimming right beside him either.  Is he within eye sight and ear shot?  Yes. 

Now, at the parks, he has been gradually gaining more independence, riding some rides by himself, while we ride too in another vehicle or seat.  If he asked to go by himself on say, Magic Carpets of Aladdin, we would most likely say yes and wait for him at the exit and only if it meant following Disney’s ride rules and restrictions.  When we go into a shop, I know he will stay nearby and we exit the shop together.  I am comfortable with him going to the restroom by himself while in a restaurant or when we take a bathroom break at the parks, having a designated meeting space of course.  And, I’m certain that tether of independence will continue to be stretched with each of our trips as he grows older.

Some other general things we do to keep him safe include:

• A label on the inside of his shirt in the back with my cell phone number.  When is ready to have his own phone, this will go away I suspect.
• Matching shirts—they really do come in handy.
• The boy knows how to identify Cast Members and is comfortable asking them for help.
• Designated meeting spot in case we become separated. 
• The husband and I each have our phones just in case.  But honey, I can’t answer it when my hands are full carrying a tray of food.  Okay?
• Familiarity with the parks, resort, etc. are very helpful.  When we leave Japan in EPCOT and the boy wants to go to Germany, we know he can get there on his own and we can follow.

Each family and parent has to figure out the balance for themselves and what works for their children.  If our child was less confident, then our strategies may be different.  Oh, growing up is so hard, no wonder Peter Pan was not going to do it.  I don’t blame him one bit!

Have your own safety strategies?  Let us know by posting a comment.

Staying Safe and Well On Your Disney Vacation

I’ve heard the stories, and probably, so have you of illnesses and injuries while on vacation.  Taking a Disney vacation is no exception even though safety is an operating pillar for Disney.  And, while we have been pretty fortunate so far—other than a the boy scraping off part of his eyebrow in a fall, there are some things we do to help keep us safe and well during a Disney vacation.

As a mom, I want to keep my family healthy at home and while traveling.  Our daily regimen consists of a balanced diet, plenty of sleep, and an odorless garlic tab for each of us to support immune health.  Regular hand washing and cleaning of common surfaces minimize germ spread. 

That same daily routine goes with us on the road.  I also keep wipes in any bag or backpack we are carrying.  So, as soon as we get on an airplane, the surfaces get wiped down and the air blower above our head gets turned off.  The wipes come out again at our resort or in our stateroom to wipe down TV remotes, telephones, door and sink handles, etc.  A can of Lysol works, too, but due to TSA regulations, it would have to be packed in our checked luggage, but if you are traveling by car you are all set. 

Wipes work great to clean hands before eating and on the Disney ships, wipes are provided to guests prior to entering the dining rooms.

Like most of you, I too want to get the most out of every moment of our Disney vacations, yet getting enough sleep each night will actually help me do that in the long run.  I can’t say we get 8 hours each night, but other than the last night which typically requires an early morning for Magical Express pick-up, we get enough sleep to keep us healthy.  Besides, the boy and I turn into pumpkins around 10:00 pm anyway, so it is best to just get us to bed.

Be Prepared is the Boy Scout motto and I agree.  We have a bag-o-supplies that goes with us in our luggage that contains various medicines—antacids, antidiarrhea medication, pain reliever/fever reducer, motion sickness, antibiotic ointment, first aid kit, etc.  When the boy was younger, we packed children’s versions, too, but he can now swallow a pill so the regular strength pain reliever/fever reducer can be used by all of us if needed. 

I remember when the boy fell and scraped his eyebrow on the cruise ship, I whipped out a first aid kit from the bag I was taking on our shore excursion and fixed him right up.  Our tablemates, who happened to be going on the same shore excursion, were impressed with our preparedness.  The first aid kit travels with us into the parks, too.

Another way to ward off potential illness while traveling is to make sure you are eating and drinking enough and the right things while away from home.  It is easy to order soda with every meal and fries instead of veggies or fruit.  We make a conscious effort to order water with our other drinks and milk, especially for the boy.  Disney makes it easy to add great fruit and veggies to your meals.  One of our tips was to order the adult counter service meal with a side of apple slices (they didn’t come with the kids meal) and the kids meal with a side of fries and them swap and share so that everyone got some of both.

Speaking of vegetables, on one of our cruises, the husband made mention that he very much appreciated asparagus, as it was a side for a dish in one of the restaurants on the ship.  Our tablemates decided to share their asparagus with him and seeing that, our server brought him a whole plate of asparagus.  On another cruise, the boy wanted some steamed broccoli to eat with his pizza one day by the pool.  A Cast Member heard this and brought him a plate full of broccoli.  Yummy vegetables!

Packing for the weather and elements is another preventative strategy.  We were at an amusement park just yesterday and I overheard a lady talking on the phone saying that when she had left her home in the morning it was chilly and overcast.  The sun was out and it was hot and she was dressed in jeans and had even brought a sweater.  She was not prepared.  On our first trip to Walt Disney World, the weather in November we experienced an unusual cold snap that we weren’t prepared for, so the boy wore the same long sleeve t-shirt under his other clothes for a few days in a row and I bought Mickey Mouse gloves that I still use.  Now, jackets are on our packing list and there are gloves in the pockets of the jackets we pack.  Packing the appropriate gear can also be helpful in case someone does get sick—having enough clean clothes in case of an accident or spill, or even having laundry supplies just in case.  Prior to the convenience of Purex laundry sheets and now the laundry “pods”, I would pack a baby food jar with powder dish soap that could be used for cleaning mugs or doing laundry and because it was powder, it could go in our carry-on luggage.

Staying safe is also part of staying aware—of surroundings, etc.  We have witnessed the unsuspecting guest take a misstep or two or the child that accidentally gets separated from their family.  We make labels with our name and cell phone number and put them inside the back of the boy’s shirt—under the tag—daily.  He knows to show it to a Cast Member if he ever gets separated from us.  We also take a picture of him each morning and usually, he is wearing the same thing we are!  Another benefit of wearing matching shirts!

We do the same thing with our luggage tags, as I don’t want our home address on display on our luggage while we are traveling.  So, instead, our luggage tags have our last name and cell phone number, since we have our cell phones with us while we travel.

Staying safe and well adds to the enjoyment of any vacation, but especially a Disney vacation!

Traveling Safely

Our family was headed to the local mall for a community event when the boy informed us that he likes to travel the world.  Yep.  He does, and so do his parents.  He got his first taste of travel at the wee age of 3 weeks old when he took his first flight.  This got me thinking about travel safety.

Safety at Home:  We make sure things stay safe at home by making sure the mail and newspapers are either stopped or brought in daily.  If it’s winter, we hire someone to shovel snow from the driveway and sidewalks.  It it’s summer; we do the same for mowing the lawn.  And, we leave some lights on or on a timer. 

We have someone come to our house four times a day to take care of our pets.  We love that someone is in our house while we are gone and she takes care of the mail, newspapers, even the garbage.

We also make sure that our luggage tags just have our name and cell phone number, not address.  Nothing like advertising the address to others while you aren’t at home!  Same goes for magazines that we might take with us and read.  I don’t leave them in the airplane seat pocket when I’m done if our address is printed on the cover.  I have noticed lately that many magazines come with the address on a label attached to plastic wrap around the magazine—no address on the magazine itself.  Start looking for my leftover magazines on planes!

Safety While on the Road (or in the air):  We make sure our vehicle is in good condition and ready to make the journey.  We also travel with a cooler, if by car.  Even if flying, we carry on snacks.  We make sure we have proper identification, car insurance information, medical insurance information, trip insurance information, airline telephone numbers, and destination numbers.  Typically, I program all telephone numbers into my phone.

We leave a detailed itinerary with family and friends that includes arrival and departure dates, flight numbers, and the telephone number and address of our destination(s).  It is also a good idea, if traveling internationally, to leave a copy of Passports with a trusted friend, in case your gets lost or stolen.  The copy can be faxed to a needed location.

Packing travel guides for your destination can also be helpful.  When we cruise, we take a Disney Cruise Line travel guide in case our shore excursion is canceled and we need to pick a new one, or we want to see the layout for another ship when making a reservation.  We do the same for Walt Disney World and have done the same when traveling to Universal and SeaWorld.  Even though we have studied before we go, it is helpful to have a guide handy for any last minute questions or planning.

If flying, we abide by all TSA regulations for checked bags and carry on allowances.  The last thing I want is to be delayed due to luggage weights or security issues.  We also keep our luggage secure before checking it for flights.

Safety at our Destination:  Traveling with a child means taking extra care for safety and security while traveling, even with one as seasoned as ours.  We try to make sure he is as familiar as he can be with the destination.  We research, look at pictures, read books, and watch videos before our trips.  We are also specific about where to go and who to go to for help or assistance, if we become separated.  I also put a label in the back of his shirt, under the tag, that has my name and cell phone.  If we were to become separated, he can share that information with someone who can assist him without making it visible to everyone.

I also take a picture of him daily so that if something were to happen, I have a recent photo that includes what he was wearing.  When we wear matching shirts, it is even easier to remember! 

Both the husband and I carry our cell phones, and keep them charged, in case we become separated from each other.

We also pack necessary medicines, first aid treatments, and a change of clothes for the boy. . . just in case.  We also bring copies of all prescriptions including eye glass and contact prescriptions, just in case.

Most destinations have items in case of emergency but it may not be the brand or type you and your family members are used to using.  If brand, size, type, and convenience are important to you, then be prepared by packing your own.

While making these safety preparations may seem like a hassle, the peace of mind that comes when we are prepared is, in my opinion, worth it.  We have been the ones who have needed assistance because we weren’t prepared, and we have been the ones to offer assistance to others who weren’t prepared.  For me, it’s best to be prepared. 

Happy and safe travels!