Life after Retirement - The Leisure World Way

There’s a group of people living at Leisure World we call the Early Birds. That’s because most every morning they are standing outside the Fitness Center at 5 am waiting for the doors to open so they can begin their workouts. Some came to lose weight and did -- up to 60 pounds. And now they want to keep it off. Some have always worked out and they want to stay in shape. Others want to get in shape. Some came because of a physical problem and continued on after the problem was fixed. No matter why they come, there’s a reason they come so early. They discovered it’s fun.

It’s fun because of the camaraderie. The chatter is non-stop. Some would say the chatter emanates from one source – we all know who that is – but he will remain unnamed. Good natured insults, or perhaps we should call it razzing, are standard fare. No one is immune. Everyone is fair game. Advice is free flowing. Who’s the best roofer? How do I get the squirrels out of my garage? Who’s the best eye doctor in town? Whatever the problem, somebody has advice to offer --- whether you want it or not. Most could cut their “workout” time in half if they just knocked off the chatter. But what’s the fun in that?

The early morning workout is just the start of their active day. When Ray Cilva isn’t dancing a polka, he’s in the woodworking room turning out scroll-sawing and wood-burning art good enough to win prizes at the Arizona Association of Fine Woodworking’s annual show.

Our Australian naval officer, John Naughton, has won the gold medal in the mile swim in the Senior Arizona Olympics. When he’s not in the water, he’s on his motorcycle which he rode across the country last year. On a less strenuous note, he also founded a singing group, The Interludes, which entertains at many Leisure World functions.

Our professional ball player is seemingly on the go at all times. He’s won a number of archery awards in Senior Traditional Archery tournaments in Arizona. He hunts wild game with a camera, capturing images of the bear, deer, elk, coyotes, and javelinas he encounters while roaming Arizona’s deserts and forests. He’s fished most of Arizona’s lakes and camped in the forests and deserts with his wife.

You may have encountered Ken McQueen trying to maintain some semblance of order as a volunteer at the Phoenix Open, or as security officer at the San Francisco Giants spring training games. He’s also an AARP volunteer helping people with their income taxes.

In an unusual twist, our lady mining consultant, Colleen Odnokon and her husband Larry planned for retirement by building a summer retreat way up north. It’s a 1400 sq. ft. log lodge on a tiny island in the middle of a lake in northern Saskatchewan. This rock island has no roads, water, or electricity. Access is by boat or helicopter. Our Canadian couple had to drill holes in solid rock to insert the steel stilts on which the house was built. They installed solar panels for power and a reverse osmosis system to filter water from the lake. This year they plan to build a 60-ft. windmill to generate more reliable power. With only one other house on the island, you might think our couple is quite isolated. Not necessarily. Most of their “neighbors” reside on ten small islands scattered throughout the large lake. Visitation is by boat. If you are wondering what kind of social life they could possible have, you should know that the residents have dubbed their tiny archipelago the “Bacardi Islands!”

Our bowling housewife has been Queen of the Red Hats for the past eight years. This women’s group recently took all the house mothers at Sun Shine Acres out to lunch in recognition of their outstanding work. Sun Shine Acres is a home for children whose parents can’t take care of them. These house mothers live full time in the complex and have raised over 1000 kids from very trying circumstances.

When Arlene Ott arrived in Leisure World five years ago, she had never played tennis before. She took it up with a vengeance and reached the 4.0-level, the highest level in senior tennis. She has won both doubles and mixed doubles tournaments in the East Valley Senior Tennis League.

Tom and Lois Russell are avid collectors. He collects and repairs antique clocks, while Lois collects antique dolls. Her collection numbers about 200, some as old as 150 years.

Where do these people get the energy to do all this stuff? Some might say it starts with early morning workouts at the Leisure World Fitness Center.

Active adults come from all over to live an active adult lifestyle in Leisure World in Arizona. One of the attractions is that the community is in a continual mode of re-invention to keep is facilities and amenities fresh. One example, is the creation of walking trails which are on most boomer's wish list. The community is a fully equipped for the digital age with a modern computer classroom and lab, numerous hot spots and lots of special interest groups and facilities. The community can be seen on YouTube.

Leisure World Arizona is an active adult community in Mesa, Arizona. The secure community is home to over 4,100 residents who enjoy a golf resort lifestyle, whether they play golf or enjoy other pastimes. The residents of this gate-guarded community have access to a host of activities and modern facilities. As a 55+ secure community, up to 20% of homes are available for 45+ adults. To learn more about the active adult lifestyle:

• Email us at DVD@leisureworldarizona.com for a free DVD, or

• Visit our website, or

• Call the on-site Real Estate Department at (480) 832-7451.

John Latus is a resident of Leisure World in the winter and of Cape Cod in the summer. He is an active member of several of Leisure World’s groups including: Writers Club, Billiards, Tennis and the Computer Club. He has just finished his first novel, Sebastian and Oscar, about jazz pianist Oscar Peterson meeting Johann Sebastian Bach and is shopping for a publisher. 

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