| For those who do not want to live in a | | | | the resort clubhouse, pool and exercise room. There |
| master-planned community or buy real estate when it | | | | is also a $30 a month lot lease fee. Additional options |
| comes to retirement time, the Village of La Casa del | | | | include a screen room and air conditioning (add $1,000 |
| Sol in Davenport, Florida (population 2,200) offers a | | | | per year) and a cottage with a view of the lake (add |
| nice alternative to the spiffy, new retirement | | | | $300 per year). Utilities are paid by each cottage |
| communities popping up everywhere by providing | | | | resident. All cottages are non-smoking. |
| small, cozy rental cottages on a yearly lease. This | | | | La Casa del Sol prides itself on its sense of |
| affordable community is age-restricted, but not all | | | | community and has a number of regularly scheduled |
| residents live here year-round. Many residents are | | | | activities, including bingo, bridge games, dance lessons |
| snowbirds and only reside in La Casa del Sol during | | | | and movie night, as well as occasional ice cream |
| the winter months. | | | | socials, theme dinners, barbecues, pancake |
| Once used as housing by employees of Walt Disney | | | | breakfasts and holiday events. The community also |
| World, the more than 300 cottages are now nestled | | | | has a putting green, a horseshoe pit, a shuffleboard |
| in orange groves and next to Lake Saint Charles, | | | | facility and a clubhouse with large pool, a hot tub, |
| forty-five miles southwest of Orlando. All of the | | | | billiards, a meeting room, an exercise room and a |
| cottages are leased, so no long term-commitment is | | | | small library. This area is a popular tourist destination |
| required, and the management company takes care | | | | so there are many nearby attractions In addition to |
| of all maintenance issues, a definite plus for those | | | | Walt Disney World, Cypress Gardens, Sea World and |
| who like to do some traveling throughout the year. | | | | Busch Gardens are within an hour drive. |
| The grounds are also completely maintained by the | | | | For the best selection of cottages, late winter and |
| management staff. The community has a casual feel | | | | early spring (now) is the ideal time to put in a |
| and is well-kept, although the grounds are a little | | | | reservation for a standard June 1st to May 31st |
| bedraggled, but it does not have the manicured look | | | | lease. Call 1-800-597-1255 for more information. |
| or ambiance of many higher-end, master-planned | | | | Of the 2,200 people live in Davenport, and nearly half |
| retirement developments. | | | | of the them are age 45 or better. This area is |
| Each private cottage comes semi-furnished and has a | | | | popular with British tourists who come to visit Disney |
| standard bedroom (with a Queen size bed), a | | | | World, which is just 10 miles away. Summer |
| bathroom, a living room with a Murphy bed and a | | | | temperatures are usually in the 90s, with lots of |
| kitchen (with a dishwasher, stove, refrigerator, | | | | humidity, and winters are mild, with temperatures in |
| microwave, table, dishes and small appliances). The | | | | the 50s and 60s. |
| yearly lease is $4,600 and includes unlimited use of | | | | |