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Proven: ‘Ghetto’ tag in Sun City West confusing

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When my husband and I — six-year residents of Sun City West) — were vetting locations in which to retire back in 2005, there was so much to consider.

Options were as plentiful as there were 55-plus communities in just about every state on our list. Thank goodness for search engines. We could all but take virtual tours of places from the comfort of our home in the Midwest. 

But it was not only all about the housing, and we didn’t need to concern ourselves about a school system. We had already had a list of our needs, wants and those things that, although not at the top of the list, we understood this “perfect” retirement community most likely didn’t exist. In the year before we moved, we rented a home in Sun City West a week at a time for two visits, and rented a golf car as well. Never having even visited Arizona before, my husband and I could have planned many side trips to see the sites  But these were “working” vacations.

The morning after we arrived, the first Recreation Centers of Sun City West building we entered was the Visitors Center and the second was Membership Services. Wow, we found out that Sun City West was so much more than stucco homes, golf courses and palm trees. What is this rec center fee and how is it used? HOAs? Clubs? Sun City West is unincorporated? How does that work?

We knew the Sun Cities are known for their volunteers. How can we get involved? How could we be a part and make our voices heard? We knew some of the history of Sun City West and where the first homes built within the walls were. Homes built between 1978 and 1997, varying floor plans and styles, square footage ranges, varying locations, varying costs. Shared wall?  Green space?  On the golf course? When we took our flight home, we had several pounds of paperwork in our luggage we didn’t have when we arrived, primarily information we got from our inquiries.

But, so much for our story — we all have one if we currently live, or have lived, in Sun City West. My spouse and I did our homework before we made our commitment to the community and purchased our home. What confuses me, are those people who move to Sun City West, then complain about many of the very things that were available for their perusal when they moved here to make the best decision.

To read on social media that people purchase in the section of the community where building first began, then refer to it as “the ghetto” is, well, confusing. With all the choices to be had, why talk down the area of Sun City West in which you chose to live? If that comment isn’t meant to be humor, or fact, then I assume it is derogatory and mean-spirited. Is there some new definition of “ghetto” that I am unaware of? Why get on the blame game wagon because you didn’t do your homework when you moved here?

I volunteered at the Visitors Center for close to three years. I am aware of the resources available if you had only taken the time prior to purchasing. However, there are options — prices of homes are rising; why not sell, move elsewhere and be happy? If you are financially savvy, then it must be assumed funds are available for a move. Give your wrists a rest. Either take ownership of the choices you made, and get on some committees, or quit your beefing. How can a person be both smart and blind-sided? Beats me.

Marcia Proven

Sun City West