Retirement in The Villages, FL

Freezing ice & snow. Why I moved to Texas, then retired to Florida — in song. The stage was not scary as expected, once it was over.

Bill Myers

Jun 6, 2019·4 min read

Synopsis

• I never did anything like that in my life — not even 5th grade! Like most people, I was terrorized. Now, almost 2 years later and at age 74, I do something almost every week.

Who would have thought

According to my niece, Karaoke in Chicago is mostly drunks singing in front of another bunch of drunks in a bar.

Not so in The Villages.

Nobody is drunk and there are seven Karaoke clubs.

I never did anything like that in my life — not even 5th grade! Like most people, I was terrorized.

My first song was “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” by The Shirelles. Once you start, you don’t have time to think about anything else. I made it to the end without collapsing!

My second, with my own lyrics, was to the tune of Rawhide. I used to sing it to my kids in the car. My daughter was in the audience and sang later with her husband (I don’t have permission to include her picture!).

The lyrics, and my title, are a bit different.

A Winter Song : The Snowbirds
=====> (sung to the tune from the TV show “Rawhide”)

VERSE 1:

Freezin, Freezin, Freezin
All through winter season
I am always freezing
Rawhiiiiiiide…

Through Ice and snow and weather
STUCK to the leather
Wishing a stove was by my side

I’m anticipating
The warmth that will be waiting
Waiting at the end of my slide…

((( fast chorus about the kids )))

Wrap-um-up, Send-um-out, Bring-um-in, Thaw-um-out,
Wrap-um-up, Send-um-out,
- Rawhide
Bring-um-in, Thaw-um-out, Wrap-um-up, Send-um-out,
Bring-um-in, Thaw-um-out,
- Rawhiiiiiiide

VERSE 2:

Buying, buying, buying
Gloves and boots they’re spying
Keep those children trying
Rawhiiiiiiide…

Feed and clothe and brand em
Shopping at random
Thru Wal-Mart and Macy’s far and wide

I’m anticipating
The warmth that will be waiting
Waiting at the end of my slide…

((( fast chorus about the kids )))

Wrap-um-up, Send-um-out, Bring-um-in, Thaw-um-out,
Wrap-um-up, Send-um-out,
- Rawhide
Bring-um-in, Thaw-um-out, Wrap-um-up, Send-um-out,
Bring-um-in, Thaw-um-out,
- Rawhiiiiiiide

VERSE 3: (added November, 2019)

Sliding, sliding, sliding
On the road we’re gliding
In the car we’re riding
Rawhiiiiiiide…

Left and right at random
Many cars in tandem
On roads and driveways far and wide

I’m anticipating
The warmth that will be waiting
Waiting at the end of my slide…

((( fast chorus about the kids )))

Wrap-um-up, Send-um-out, Bring-um-in, Thaw-um-out,
Wrap-um-up, Send-um-out,
- Rawhide
Bring-um-in, Thaw-um-out, Wrap-um-up, Send-um-out,
Bring-um-in, Thaw-um-out,
- Rawhiiiiiiide

This song describes precisely why I moved south — to get warm.

I don’t do Karaoke very often, but it is now out of laziness, not fear.

Other articles about Retirement in The Villages:
Dancing on the Square to Live Concerts — Every Day
	Sit and listen to high energy songs or slow, romantic music. Enjoy a half-price happy hour in a laid back setting.Remarkable Golf Carts of the Villages
	You can easily spend $25,000 on a golf cart! Carts are as important as cars for transportation, status symbols, or reminiscence.Keeping Our Visiting Grandchildren Entertained
	Building memories from unique new experiences. Planning upfront got them away from their cell phones and video games.Poms — The Movie vs. Reality
	Funny, uplifting, well thought out. None of those situations were far-fetched! Some happened to us. Great Movie.Picking Fresh, Tasty Berries in the Spring
	Fresh picked berries from the adjoining farm taste betterHow Many Stars? My Book Review Criteria.
	Inspired by a friend at the Wannabe Writers Club in The Villages.The Challenge: Write an Article on a Given Topic in 4 hours
	Newspaper reporters do this every day. The challenge was issued by Lucy KingCost & Experience of Moving into Our Final Nesting Place when We Retired
	How we saved $11,400 doing some tasks ourselves and using points during the move and remodel, once we decided where to live.Saving for Retirement and Beyond, Stress Free, starting at ANY Age, even if You are Retired
	These techniques may even help you to get out of a mess, retired or not, also if you are younger.