America More Divided ~ The Gated Community Lifestyle

The major question, I think, that people should ask before buying into the gated community life style  is, “Do the gates really keep crime rates down?”

Monday, June 9th… seven days into my summer vacation from teaching high school economics, I’ve just returned from my morning constitutional with Tuck.  Tuck is our seven-year-old, yellow, cocker mix dog. He and I have walked most mornings while it’s still cool this week.  We went south on the cart path this morning along the fifteenth fairway at ThornTree Country Club, over the bridge that crosses the water hazard on sixteen, north then along seventeen, then briefly along a narrow street with modest to, what some would regard as being opulent, garden homes on either side.  We crossed over again past a new home with a small swimming pool and palm trees onto the cart path, this time paralleling the fourteenth fairway.  Sometimes we see neighbors enjoying the morning fresh out on their narrow patios in what passes for back yards.  We wave and exchange good mornings. Past the fourteenth green and a well-shaded area of huge pecan trees, we proceeded between two very upscale homes and across the street once again.

Rarely are there any golfers out this early, so we’re not in anyone’s way. And I always carry a plastic bag should Tuck need to respond to nature’s call.

Finally, Tuck and I were in the homestretch back along the fifteenth fairway again. Here I always let Tuck off his leash since, by now, he’s always too pooped to chase after any of the many bunnies or red squirrels that we see most mornings — they do torment him so. Besides, by now, if he needed to go, he’s already gone.

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