Testimonial 18

I love my neighbors

When I am asked about Academy Village I say, "I love my house, I love the mountains and desert, and I love my neighbors".  I say it because it is true.  It is the first place that I have ever lived where I knew all my neighbors and counted them among my friends.

Being here in the Rincon Valley beyond the city limits is an extra bonus for me.  I am an astronomer and I enjoy the clear view of the sky that the village provides.

As an astronomer, I had long been familiar with Southern Arizona and its mountain top observatories, and so had my family.   My wife Mary and I had often talked about Tucson as a place to retire.  When Henry Koffler told us about his plans for the Arizona Senior Academy and Academy Village, we knew that it was the place to make our final home.  It was a long wait, but in October of 2000 we moved into our new house.  There was only one other resident at that time and we both watched anxiously for the arrival of new Pioneers.   What we did not know is what a sense of camaraderie would develop.  Each new resident brought something unique to the community.  Now we are nearly one hundred and we look forward to sharing our Village spirit with each new arrival.

Why Academy Village became such a wonderful place to live is a bit of a puzzle to me, but perhaps an important factor is the casual living, which is characteristic of the Southwest.  It nurtures humility, warmth, and informality.

Author : Art Code, Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin, and Adjunct Professor, University of Arizona.