Hoozhapalooza

Disclaimer and full disclosure: The only reason for this entry is to show off the new word I coined. Since this seems to be important, it is, to the best of my knowledge, original and unplagiarized, and offered for free use to those who need it or can employ it appropriately, and those people know who they are.

We love our timeshare weeks. We must, because we bought our first one 36 years ago, have expanded to 5 weeks and have never traded for another place. It’s even part of the message for our (antediluvian) land line answering machine: “....And we don’t want to sell our timeshare weeks.” Ours is not a point-based system, but actual weeks at specific condos. Neither have we ever been able to use all our weeks (since we expanded past two), but have a long list of people interested in renting out the unused time.

The concept is not for everyone, but it worked for us, giving us a time and place that required minimal planning and a different yet familiar feel. We have our favorite restaurants, activities, and services that we can look forward to each summer. As a teacher, I didn’t have flexible vacation time; it was summer or not, for the most part. 

However, there is a down side. Time shares attract, shall we say, an eclectic clientele, including people of, ummm, different tastes and approaches to life. Which is generally fine, as we are firm believers in a live and let live approach to others. 

Week 29 here at the Redington Ambassador, however, does offer an eye-rolling challenge each year, as manifested by an ever expanding tent city on the beach from a local Tampa crew. The beer flows freely from early morning ‘til late at night, rivaling and actually easily beating the house-party weekends at my first college, because those only started on Thursday and pretty much petered out by Sunday afternoon. This beach party lasts all week. 

They do have a good (and loud) time, I must admit. And even as the numbers expand of this Hoozhapalooza^© (apologies to the Real Hoosiers of Indiana [new reality show?], except those responsible for inflicting Mike Pence on us), authorities and the condo association itself have reduced the hours and noise levels of dissipation by padlocking the pool at 11 p.m. to ensure it and the hot tub stay closed and encouraging police visits after midnight, when some revelers retreat to their balconies to continue their various forms of therapy.

There are lots of things you can control, just not your neighbors so much. And really, things have gradually improved over the last 3-4 years. Just one more thing to think about.