security

I moved to Florida from NYC. I moved into a gated community with my cousin. I was aware of a few gated communities in NJ, but never lived in one. I didn't know anything about Florida. Who lived here? What did people do here?

When I went 'home', there was a security code that had to be entered to open the front gate. Then, to get into the apartment safely, you had to open the door, then run to the security box inside and punch in another code. I felt less secure than when I lived in Israel. I kept wondering if we were under attack and by whom.

I've learned a lot over these past 20 years here. I now live in a little gem of a neighborhood in Hollywood. We are like a little village. The complex is a group of one story 'cottages'. I know all my neighbors and see them everyday. We share good times and bad. I am no longer afraid.