As you come off the main road, proceeding past the four way stop in the middle of the little town, tennis courts covered with dark green shrubbery, palm trees and the golf course emerge. The golf course is usually well populated with elderly people, even during quarantine, but I never walk into them and always try to be courteous. This particular morning, I walked past the tennis courts and onto the course as I usually do. I went past one of the bunkers and saw a club that was left behind, most likely the group that was across the road on the next hole, but I chose not to touch it. Down from the next hole came a man in his own cart, with two bags in his cart. He was in a group of four and had come by himself.
“Did you see a putter around here?” he hollered to me as he drove towards me in his old-fashioned snapback golfers hat and rainbow-colored, baseball player looking sunglasses. The ones with the sharp angular edges and brightly colored lenses. After telling him where it was, he got out and headed in the direction of the forgotten club. “Who’s the member by the way? You’re not supposed to be out here, they’re thinking of sending all the kids home anyways,” he inquired with a more aggressive tone in his voice.
“I thought you weren’t allowed to be here alone,” he was now standing up and looking over at me with the putter dangling from his fingers. He was a tall guy and looked to be in great shape for his age, at least 6 foot 3. “I have grandkids at home that cannot come here because there are new rules now, you have to be with the member,” he told me as he hopped in his
turquoise, Cadillac-styled golf cart and drove away towards the club house. Having quarantined for two weeks already, there was nothing for him to be worried about.
From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic it has been clear that the virus, generally, does not affect younger people as much as it does old. The CDC says that if you are over the age of 60 you are much more susceptible to getting the worst of the virus. For a small community in Florida, where I am currently residing, that is quite alarming.
As a result, tensions grew quickly between the younger community of parents and grandchildren that frequently visit the neighborhood and the generally older population of residents that permanently inhabit the area. There was a general notion in the earlier days of the pandemic that younger people were a major reason for the spread of the disease, spring breakers especially.
Airports were a major concern. Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach are the two closest, also two of the most infected places in Florida during mid-March. Located in Jupiter, Florida, the community is just like other small neighborhoods or communes that Florida is commonly home to. A golf course in the center, a place for everyone to eat together, a pool, a croquet field and some other nice accommodations. Everyone who lives there knows all of the other residents and they love to socialize and enjoy the Florida weather. Most people are above the age of 60 and retired from work.
Flying in was easy. I came through Syracuse Airport where no one was worried about the virus, but others traveling from more infected areas frightened the communities in Florida. This community was still active in many ways and wanted to keep it that way by applying new rules that would mitigate large crowds. There are a few accommodations such as the beach, tennis or golf that most seek out in their daily routine. All were controlled in some aspect and major
changes were made. Important amenities like the dining services and golf course were priorities to keep operating and all have stayed open.
“What would I do if I got it?” a tanned elderly woman in her early 70s said to the other gals around her. They discussed from a distance, specifically their golf carts in the parking lot, looking left and right to converse with one another. Not being allowed in the coffee shop, I waited, watched and listened.
“No one should be allowed here anymore,” argued the woman in the blue golf cart with flowing blond hair emerging out of her straw brimmed hat. “I get it, they own houses here, but for our safety we should lock everything down, especially the kids and grandkids. They need to leave,” she liberally shared her thoughts with the others. Her stark attitude came with large pair of sunglasses covering most of her face.
“The hospitals would be overwhelmed,” said the last of the three ladies as she started sipping her coffee.
“There are not many hospitals around, and this community would not handle it well,” the blue cart blond emphasized to the two others. They proceeded to agree on the subject, continuing to chat for a minute about the day’s plans. After saying their “byes” and “see you laters,” they backed up their carts and headed their separate ways.
Seeing groups together in their carts is common. They get out of the house and go to see their best friends that are still around. Besides the talk of coronavirus, the conversations are kept light about daily routine and pleasure.
Spring break 2020 was in full effect the week of March 13. For many college students and people under the age of 25, this was a big party week. Coronavirus only stopped the ones that knew they were going to have trouble getting back home. Most flew from wherever they
were, but many drove as well to limit the risk of spreading or contracting the virus. Massive groups of students chose to come down to Florida to try and party with friends at clubs or on the long, crowded beaches. There was an image painted early on of the young groups gathering in large numbers on the news and social media.
Florida is known for hosting incredible parties, get togethers, weddings and anything else that requires phenomenal weather. That makes it one of the most visited locations for college students going on their spring break trips. Beaches and clubs docked right next door are packed day and night. During the day, everyone is out drinking heavily and enjoying time in the sun. At night, it is the time for going out to clubs and raging to a DJ with the same group that was there during the day.
Although the area of Jupiter is not popularly flooded with spring breakers ready to party on the beach and blast loud music, children and grandchildren of the older residents come to this area every spring break. As a result, the population increases and houses are packed to their capacity.
With the overwhelming pandemic hitting the country, it was the decision of the grandparents to kick all their children out of their houses which made them feel safer. With this virus, it is incredibly hard to know who has the virus because a person can be asymptomatic. However, people can still be carrying and spreading the virus without even knowing it.
The news spread rapidly during the first week of spring break, that’s when grandparents started trying to persuade younger family members to leave without altering their own routines. If you have been down here long enough, the older residents do not have a problem. However, there was a story of some newcomers who went to the market after returning from Europe and
they were met with residents who spotted them and told them to leave. For this small community, that was the closest thing to a fight.
New rules have come into play in this community. It is a neighborhood revolving around a country club so the only ones that can interact there are those who chose to be members. The biggest change is no guests during this time, and if you want to play tennis or golf, you have to be with the person nominated to be the “official” member for the pandemic period. They have not closed down much but adjusted how things are run. Food is just handed to you, there are no lines to wait in. Seating areas have been completely removed. Bars have been closed. If you are wrong, you may get some stares as well.
It was only an adjustment and life was somewhat back on track down here, even “yappy hour” is still in full swing. It’s a time of the evening, right around 5 p.m., when people who have a dog or just want to attend go to the third hole of the golf course and have a little dog party. It’s every single night of the week and drinks are more than welcome. Most just reside to the protection of their cart, but there are definitely some lingerers among the group who wander from cart to cart. “Yappy hour” is not officially scheduled these days, but if you go to the golf course around that time you will find the third hole covered with carts, people and their dogs running around. This evening event is a very nice way for people and their dogs to end the day.
A family down the road asked its youngest members, my friends, to leave for the pandemic.. “Yeah, we have to go back. My grandparents don’t want us here anymore, I think most grandparents are kicking their families out of the house,” a freshman at Bucknell University named Nate explained to me. A regular grandchild in the area, Nate went back earlier than usual.
No one knows how long the virus will continue, but it seems these older folks are enjoying their time without the hassle of the younger population being around. With confirmed
cases rising into the twenty thousand area this week in Florida, residents here are anxious to say the least, but not willing to let this stop them from enjoying their lives at this point. It is safe to say the elderly are nervous when they see a younger person because the thought of possible exposure can mean life or death.