Three of my friends and I decided to spend the day in historic St. Augustine. Originally, our idea was to spend the day like a tourist might. So often people take the attractions of their home town for granted and simply don’t appreciate them. We were determined not to let that happen! So, our plan was to visit Potter’s Wax Museum, Castillo de San Marcos, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, the Fountain of Youth, and St. George’s Street. There really are so many fun places to visit within 15 minutes of our St. Augustine golf course community!
 
We met in front of a historic hotel on the bay front. Within five minutes, one of my friends suggested we stop for a glass of champagne. Since we were acting like we were on vacation, it sounded like a great idea! And it was. We sipped champagne in a beautiful courtyard and enjoyed the warm Florida sunshine. Our conversation turned to a quaint little street not far from where we were that was home to local art galleries and boutiques. We decided just to peek in a few before heading to the attractions.
 
After a couple of wonderful hours aimlessly wandering in and out of the shops, we were starving. So we decided to have a late lunch on the balcony of A1A Ale Works, which overlooks the bay. We chatted about all the fine art and fun trinkets we had found. We considered going to the attractions right after lunch, but we were having so much fun, we decided to let the day continue on haphazardly.
 
After lunch, we wandered throughout Old Town admiring the architecture and courtyards. We even stumbled upon the Oldest House! Then, we headed back towards King Street and wandered through some of the larger art galleries. We ended the day with another glass of wine in yet another quaint courtyard. Although we didn’t see a single attraction, I would encourage tourists to spend one of their vacations days in St. Augustine just the way we did! To see more about our day in St. Augustine, view the video blog!

Each month we introduce you to a resident of our St. Augustine golf course community. This month, we are introducing you to Rick Rawald. He is the President of Sysco Jacksonville. (Sysco is the largest food service distribution company in the United States.) Rick lives with his wife, Robin, and their two Persian cats, Bebe and Brandie, in the King & Bear. Their relocation to St. Augustine from Orlando about 10 months ago brought them closer to their daughter, Kim, and their two beautiful grandchildren, Dane who is 23 months and Kendall who is 11 weeks old. They also have a son, Doug, who is engaged to be married and is a lawyer working for the Pentagon after serving our country as a Jag in the Air Force. Meet Rick!

1. What’s your proudest accomplishment?

I am proud of the fact that I have been able to watch my children grow into adults and recognize the important things in life through the influence of my wife while watching over a 300 million dollar company.
 
2. What song evokes the strongest memories for you?

 America the Beautiful. When I hear this song it reminds me of my deceased father whose patriotism was second to none.
 
3. What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen? 

The breaking waves on the Saint Lucia shoreline.
 
4. What’s your favorite movie?

West Side Story due to the fact that I had a role in the movie riding a bike through the park setting the scene for the movie at age 7.
 
5. Where did you go on your last vacation?

Las Vegas at the M resort off of the congestion of the Vegas strip.

Spa Laterra recently re-opened under new management at World Golf Village so I wanted to check it out. I booked an appointment to have the “Age-Defying Fountain of Youth Facial” last Thursday afternoon. I was pretty frazzled when I arrived. I had too much work to do and not enough time to do – and here I was taking a few hours off in the middle of the day! However, as I walked through the breezeway and caught a glimpse of the fountain and the infinity pool in the courtyard beyond, the tension started to ease away. Laterra is simply a beautiful place to be!

As I entered the lobby, I noticed the environment is as soothing as ever. The only change is the signature color is now blue. I think I like it better! I was greeted by a polite gentleman who showed me to the ladies lounge. Once I changed, a lady escorted me to the circular lounge with the rain shower fountain in the middle. Although the setting is impressive, I had seen it before. There was a new touch though…  sitting next to my chaise lounge was a tray with  a warm towel, hot tea and sweet chocolate – just waiting on me. It was this little extra touch that really impressed me. The few minutes I had in the lounge listening to the water fall eased the last of my tension away. When Mary came to get me for my facial, I was in the perfect frame of mind!

The holiday season is here! So we thought it’s a wonderful time to kick off a new photo contest for everyone in The Neighborhoods of World Golf Village. Well, everyone who lives here now – and everyone that wants to live here too – can participate!

This time we are leaving the rules wide open. We just want to see holiday photos that show you and your family celebrating the season. So if that is the entire family in matching sweaters gathered around the Christmas tree, great! Or if it is your precious pooch dressed up with antlers and a red nose, wonderful! Maybe you will want to submit that picture of your darling little one pulling Santa’s beard while screaming his head off… Of course, the photos don’t have to embarass everyone in them! Maybe you want to send in your elegant fireplace or your festive outdoor lights. Any and all holiday photos are welcome to enter the contest.

All you have to do is submit them to pdavidson@davidsonrealtyinc.com between now and December 13. We will post them on our Facebook page on the 17th and voting will go on until the 24th. Then we will announce the winner who will receive a $100 gift card to Target…just in time to buy all those last minute gifts. If you want to learn more, call Peyton at 904.940.5000. Happy Holidays everyone!

Every month our St. Augustine golf community introduces you to one of our fabulous residents. For November, the World Golf Village resident spotlight is on Rick Burke! Rick lives in Royal Pines with his wife Lisa,their twin daughters, Ashley and Megan, and his father-in-law, George Lamneck. They all share their home with George’s very overweight dog, Chief (a pug), along with their dog, Dexter and cat, Tres. Meet Rick!

1. What is your best trait?

Patience (comes with having two 10-year-old girls and a 103-year-old all in the same house).

2. If you could do any job in the world for one day, what would it be?

I would want to be the President of the United States of America. I don’t think I could make any significant difference in just one day but that is true with those who have the job for four years.

3. If you could have lived during one period of time in history, when and where would it be?

It is hard to imagine living in any other time than the present so I would have to pick now.

4. If you had to lose one of your five senses, which would you give up?

I would give up my hearing. If you ask my wife she may think it is already gone.

5. If you had to name the single most important quality of a good mate, what would it be?

Commitment.

6. If you could leave a time capsule the size of a microwave oven to be found centuries from now, what would you put inside?

The capsule would only contain two things, a picture of my family and a letter that states how important love, happiness, and life is.

7. If you could adopt one personality trait from someone you know, what would you take, and from whom?

Recollection, Lisa has a great memory and has the ability to not only vividly recall things from years ago she shomehow keeps everything in our day to day lives in order.

8. If you had to choose the title of your autobiography, what would it be?

Lead by Passion.

9. If you were granted one wish, what would it be?

Unconditional love and happiness for everyone.

10. If you had to change citizenship, which country would you want to become a citizen of?

Australia.

It is time to meet another World Golf Village resident! This month we are introducing you to Kim Hill. Kim and her family – which includes her amazing husband, Chris; her two fabulous princesses, Olivia (4) and Ella (3); and her two Chihuahuas, Gidget and Gizmo – moved to the St. Augustine golf community when she decided to be a stay at home mom. The family loves the peaceful setting of our community! Learn more about Kim…

1. If you had to eat the same meal for the rest of our life, morning, noon, and night, without worrying about nutrition, what would you eat?

Definitely tacos!

2. If you were to be successful in another profession, what would you want to do?

I love fashion; Would love to be a personal shopper. Would be great to purchase designer clothing on someone else’s dime.

3. If you had to eliminate one odor from the earth, which one would you get rid of?

Skunk funk.

4. If you could use only one cosmetic item for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

Would have to be lip gloss; Sunglasses can hide most of your face, but the lips should always look luscious.

5. If you were to be renamed after someone from history, whose name would you want?

Jaqueline Kennedy

Every month, we introduce you to one of the neighbors at World Golf Village. This month we are pleased to introduce you to Vanessa Eskolin. She and her husband, Matt, along with their two-year-old son, Max, have lived in WildWood for the past two and a half years. Her favorite thing about the Jacksonville golf course community is how beautiful and peaceful it is. She also loves seeing the wildlife, especially the deer and turkey that play in her backyard. Meet Vanessa…

1. If you were to have your friends, in private, attribute a single quality to you, what would you want it to be?

A good sense of humor.

2. If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?

Take a trip to Italy with my family.

3. If you could keep only one home appliance, which would you keep?

Washing machine.

4. If you could give your parents one gift, what would you give them?

A trip to Japan to visit my brother. And if I still have lotto money leftover, I would go with them!

There are many wonderful things about living in The Neighborhoods of World Golf Village. Some you can find in many prestigious golf course communities – but most you can only find in WGV! Here are my top 5 favorite things:

5. Even though I don’t play golf, I love riding around in the golf cart watching my friends play…especially when they are playing the back nine of King & Bear. How fabulous is it to spend four hours outside in an absolutely beautiful natural environment without a cell phone to be heard! Add to that a bev cart girl that hands you delicious margaritas as you wander through the ancient live oaks and manicured greens and you have a simply delightful afternoon! By the end of the day you can actually remember what it feels like to relax…

4. I love being able to ride bikes to Caddyshack’s. Although I don’t think it is appropriate for margaritas to be involved in all of my favorite things about WGV, how can they not be mentioned when I am talking about Caddyshack’s? It is great to have a neighborhood restaurant & bar that is right around the corner. And one where it is inevitable that you will run into friendly faces everytime you stop by!

3. I love the nature that surrounds the neighborhoods. It is as if World Golf Village is embraced by a leafy decompression chamber. Driving along the neighborhood streets you exhale as you appreciate the trees – and the wildlife that live among them. From deer to turkey to neighborhood children, World Golf Village provides a beautiful home for us all!

Have you ever noticed how groups of women who have been friends for years and years tend to fall into certain “roles”? Like on Sex in the City, if I said “the smart one” or “the romantic one” you would probably know exactly which characters I was talking about. If you watched The Real Housewives of Orange County, I bet you know which lady is “the ditzy one” and which lady is “the professional one”.  My group of long time girlfriends definitely have our roles within our group too…it is an interesting dynamic to watch.

The reason all of these thoughts popped into my head is because Limelight Theatre’s final play of their 18th season is the Dixie Swim Club. Guess what? It is about five women who became friends in college and who continue to meet each year at the same beach house and share their lives together over the next six decades. Of course, the “roles” ebb and flow through their lives, but for the most part there is the successful one, the sexy one, the tragic one, the caregiving one and the innocent one. Watching how they share and grow and stumble and get back up makes you consider the value of your own friendships and your own identity. Along the way though you laugh quite a bit – and cry just a little too. So grab your group of girlfriends and head to Limelight Theatre this weekend. Because of the show’s huge success during its original run, the Limelight Theatre is offering “held over” performances this Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and this Sunday at 2:00 p.m. After the show, share a glass of wine or two with your friends and try to figure out which “role” you play in your own group! And, if your group is especially interesting just let me know, we may be able to start a Real Housewives of World Golf Village!

Every month, The Neighborhoods of World Golf Village selects a resident from the Jacksonville golf course community to be featured in our blog. Then we ask them a series of random questions so all the neighbors get to know them better! This month we are pleased to introduce you to Eunice Johannesen. Eunice and her husband, Tom, moved to the King & Bear at WGV about five years ago. Since their children are grown and live out-of-state, they recently adopted two Jack Russell puppies, Maggie and Patrick. Meet Eunice…

1. What is your favorite thing about living in WGV?

The beautiful landscaping and overall beauty/impression one gets of the developer’s diligence to the environment.  Other important things are security and the protection that the deed restrictions provide homeowners.  WGV allows us to be active in many ways — golf, walking, biking, swimming and easy access to the beach.

2. What makes a house a home?

A house is a home when it’s filled with comfort and love, good neighbors and friends, which includes many visits from our out-of-state families and friends.

3. What’s your favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner?

The best part of Thanksgiving dinner is having family join our table and cooking all the traditional Thanksgiving foods.  I am especially fond of the stuffing!

4. How will our culture change in the next 100 years?

1.  I believe there will be a decline in population growth. 2.  The greenhouse effect will cause a dying earth with drastic changes in climate affecting all of the people of the world, as well as wild life.  The Arctic and Antarctic ice caps will melt.  3.  I believe space exploration will eventually lead to solar power for the world in the future, decreasing our dependency on oil.  4.  People will continue to feel compassion and love, and have the desire to help each other in times of need. 5.  I can envision the future way wars will be fought will not involve humans being put in harms way, but rather technology will be sophisticated enough by that time to fight wars with robots operated from a safe environment with strategic goals being much more realistic. The ravages of war  will continue.  6.  Hopefully there will be a cure for cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, etc.  In fact, research may very well have developed vaccines for these diseases, and other serious diseases, by that time!