My sister and her husband recently “downsized” from a two-bedroom condo to a two-bedroom single-wide in a gated Tucson trailer community. She says, “We’re trailer part trash and proud of it!”

Everyone gets around in golf carts that have absolutely no golf equipment in them. She was so relieved when the “snow birds” headed back north for the summer. She describes golf cart traffic jams of inconsiderate temporary residents who part on the sidewalk at the post office or take up two parking spaces. As she speaks, her eyes take on a maniacal gleam. It is clear that the year-round residents have little love for the “snow birds.”

Lately all is quiet. No traffic jams when the mail is delivered, no parking on the sidewalk. Life has settled again into a placid routine. A part of me empathizes, but then I remember reading: “The quietest place on earth is a cemetery.” Are the residents of her community in training for that? I wonder…