Creative Everyday

This year my boyfriend and I are snowbirds, seasonal residents living in West Palm Beach, Florida for several months to escape the cold up North.  We are living in an independent senior living community which is very contemporary with exquisite art on all the walls and beautiful furnishings. Posh. It lets the residents know, by its environment, that they are special and it is very expensive to live here.  Lemon/lime flavored water is available in one corridor, and oranges/grapefruit water in another. If you decide to venture outside, the concierge will arrange a car to take you and bring you back when you’re ready to return.

On the way to the main dining room, you pass by a smaller room filled with many walkers, wheelchairs and scooters that are stored during mealtimes.  An attendant will return your equipment to you, at your table, after your dining experience.

The average age of residents, we’ve been told, is 91, and as expected, there are fewer men than women.  The women are beautifully dressed every night, hair coiffed with coordinated makeup and jewelry. You can tell by the variety and quality of clothing that they have enjoyed a good life before this one in senior living.

There is a dress code that restricts blue jeans and requires men to wear collared shirts in the Dining Room at dinnertime.  On Friday nights, men must also wear a jacket, which is optional on Saturdays.

My handsome boyfriend and I usually dine at a table for two twice a day, at lunch and dinner, every day.  The table has a clear view of most of the hustle and bustle in the dining room.   Many of the people belong to cliques and regularly sit together at tables of six.

Tonight, I counted more than fifty women and only nine men.  Only a few of the men are coupled with a woman. I decided that the women must be missing male companionship and asked my boyfriend if he would be willing to share his companionship.   He let me know that he would consider it for $$ because he is not willing to do it for free.

He is tall and handsome, unencumbered by walkers or scooters. His athletic quality and level of fitness keep his sharing services in demand. Soft-spoken with a professional decorum, he will easily satisfy a lady’s companionship expectations. Note that he will always choose to use utensils no matter how easily the food might find its way to his mouth with fingertips. 

We agreed on some details and rules:

                  Sharing is restricted to the main dining room and the adjacent bar area.

All arrangements are for the short term.

                  Meals must be in accordance with his pescatarian food preferences.

No alcohol is to be consumed because he wants to save his brain cells for his post-90 decade.

                  Companionship at lunch costs less than at dinner.

Companionship at lunch and dinner is a possibility, but costs extra $$.

A change of attire costs extra $$.     

He is available for happy hours when followed by a meal, and this costs extra $$.

                Before and/or after dinner drinks cost extra $$.

                  Two dates can be arranged, but not on consecutive days.

                  Special occasions cost extra $$ and corsages are an option.

                  Formal attire, beyond a tie and jacket, can be arranged and cost extra $$.

                  He can wear a tie, but since he only brought one, this requirement is limited.

Mealtime Discussions:

Topics can be preselected for $$.

He is available to discuss many topics.

Discussions about national politics and religion are off limits.

Familiarity is restricted and expressly forbidden.

No touching, and that includes handholding.

No dancing under any circumstances.

Gifts and Tips:

Not required. He will not be impressed with your generosity.

Must be approved in advance.  This right is restricted to me, the lender.

Photography:

Cell phone photos are available and included in the service package when it is the companion by himself.

Group photos cost extra $$.