This is a collection of images from a portrait of Sun City in its 50th year. Sun City is 14 square miles of a retirement paradise: of palm-tree lined streets, each with a golf cart lane; 11 golf courses; seven recreation centers; three country clubs; and 16 shopping centers. The 42,500 residents have a lot to keep busy. Pat Hafey describes Sun City as a best-kept secret as he lawn bowls with friends. “It’s like recess seven days a week. You wake up in the morning and it’s not ‘Gotta, gotta, should,’ it’s ‘What do I want to do today? What do I want to play today?’” To live in Sun City, one person in the home must be 55+; no one younger than 19 can stay year-round. Why have a reminder of age when you’re heading to cheerleading practice in the morning, lawn bowling after lunch, metalworking before dinner and a singles dance before bed?
