Sun City Az

I thought some photos of Sun City Az would help in visualizing the article by Findlay. This is still a very active community and the concept has expanded into multiple communities. The population in 2000 was over 38,000 and the community has 11 golf courses, 7 recreation centers for swimming, bowling, billiards, woodshop, fitness center, mini golf and 130 different clubs; evidence of the "all inclusive" community.

For fun...the community is apparently populated with at least some very active retirees. The photos below are the Sun City Poms; a group of ladies aged 61 to 85 who perform in parades and other entertainment venues.

The "Sun City West Jazzy Poms" have defied stereotypes of aging by redefining an American institution ... the cheerleader or "pommie." An elderly cheerleader challenges our cultural attitudes that revere youthful good looks and our expectations that older people are, or ought to be, asexual or socially dormant. We do not naturally conjure up images of 60 to 85 year old cheerleaders- short skirted, legs kicking and synchronized. Yet with grace and energy the Jazzy Poms challenge our notions that the elderly are fearful of aging, fearful of appearing sexy, fearful. As one elderly cheerleader put it, "We have beautiful legs for women our age. We get whistles and propositions. People can't believe our energy. We are not old women. We don't look like old women and in fact we never looked better in our lives. When we are getting whistles we thrive on it. It's nice to have men pay attention to us." Sun City West Jazzy Poms defy aging by putting on the uniform and kicking away our outdated cultural attitudes toward the elderly. - Troy Aossey