CAMP Connect

Check it out! The July-August issue of AARP magazine contains a story titled "Dream Towns" which reports on five cities it has picked as best places to retire.Along with Las Cruces, N.M.; Charleston, S.C.; Memphis, TN.; and St. George, UT, Rehoboth Beach, DE figured favorably in AARP’s criteria which included cost of living, weather, recreational opportunities and livability (defined as access to transportation and health care). The article goes on to mention Rehoboth Beach’s lifestyle perks. But get this! AARP’s stated "lifestyle perk" is being able to walk to everything in downtown. Now as the in-town folks will certainly agree, this is a perk. But let’s talk about lifestyle! The AARP people spent time in Rehoboth Beach. The retired couple featured in the Rehoboth Beach section of the article spent an extended length of time standing in front of the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center. The diversity of the community was not a secret to anyone involved!

AARP extends its member benefits to spouses AND partners. Why would it choose to say nothing about the diversity of the community? Why have this glaring omission in this otherwise factual article? I have been truly puzzled by this.

Here is the conclusion that I have reached. It is about me not AARP. I have become so connected to the Rehoboth Beach community that I can’t entertain the thought that you just wouldn’t "tell it like it is." I no longer think that there is a negative to saying "gay and lesbian" residents. I don’t just mean among our community. I operate from a base of safety and security among family, friends and neighbors now. I don’t censor my speech or my pronouns. It seems foreign and perhaps untruthful when that is done. To omit an item of information that would be helpful to AARP’s readers, straight or gay seems so very unnecessary.

What I need to remember is that in many places other than Rehoboth Beach, people are not comfortable even reporting the existence of a diverse community. Unfortunately, we haven’t reached the point as a nation that we can take the "comfort zone" that we enjoy here as a given. If we were writing the article or serving as the editor, the story would be slightly different. For now, I’ll just have to be content in knowing that AARP concurs with me that I made a good decision moving to Rehoboth Beach. CAMP Rehoboth can’t take credit for the tax advantages we enjoy in Delaware but we sure are here trying to increase that "comfort zone".

Founders’ Circle

Thank you all so much! Your generosity has brought the Founders’ Circle Capital Campaign to an astounding $1,100,428.60 pledged with $842,129.30 of those pledges being fulfilled to date.

If you have not yet joined, please consider becoming a stakeholder along with more than 785 of your friends and neighbors. (Your Delaware tax savings will make the contribution easier to give.) Remember, after Labor Day weekend the Founders’ Circle will close and your opportunity to become a part of this truly historical happening will be gone.

Consider giving an honorary membership in the Founders’ Circle to a family member or friend. You will be making an investment in our community, plus it’s a great tax deduction. CAMP Rehoboth is a 501(c)(3) organization and contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.