We’ve found the perfect community to call home in Tallahassee

Just over a year ago, we made the move to a new 55 and over community in Tallahassee called Camellia Oaks. In choosing this housing development, we looked forward to the amenities. The land was not clear- cut so the homes were built amongst beautiful live oaks, azaleas, and camellias.

We get to enjoy the beauty of Buck Lake while our grounds are maintained by the association, including lawn and pool care. We have a dock, pickleball and bocce ball courts and an old home renovated into a clubhouse with a gym, commercial kitchen, dining area, and several rooms in which to socialize. It was just what we needed.

Who wouldn’t like it? But even though we have a HOA with a management company, there are always unforeseen issues that arise for any property this size. Today, over a year later, we have experienced many pleasant surprises and our new home is so much more than we ever expected.

This new place we call home is a community filled with residents who have the time and are willing, able, and knowledgeable enough to step up and fill in with the jobs that need to be done. They don’t need recognition or a pat on the back. They work together to solve the problems because they care. A widow might ask whether her garage door pad needs a battery because it is not working. Immediately, a neighbor will not only respond with her question, but he will say it needs a new battery and volunteer to come over with one to replace it. One of our irrigation pipes was accidently hit by the landscaping company and needed a quick fix. Two of our neighbors heard about it and went to work to repair it.

Sometimes it can be as simple as taking your trash to the curb when you’re out of town or noticing that a neighbor could use a hand with a heavy item. No matter whether the task is big or small, we are all in this together, looking out for one another.

Camellia Oaks is a beautiful hidden treasure for its natural beauty, but more importantly, the treasure is in the people who live here. Those individuals who give Camellia Oaks a true sense of community and make it a great place to call home.

Pat Grant is a retired teacher and former military spouse for 27 years. She is originally from Mount Kisco, New York, but after residing here for over 22 years, she is proud to call Tallahassee home.

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