A Day in the Life of Retirement in Hobe Sound
(Even if I’m Not Quite Retired Yet)
Let’s get one thing out in the open. I’m not retired. Not yet, anyway. I still work full-time as a Food & Dining Editor, juggle creative content design projects, and sell real estate in Hobe Sound. But here’s the kicker, I could pull the plug tomorrow if I wanted to. And if weekends are any indication, I already know exactly what retirement in Hobe Sound looks like. For me, it involves an early Peloton sweat workout, pruning palm fronds and watering plants for my cool down. During the day, I'll be hanging at the pool reading a good book, and as the night winds down, golf cart parades, cocktails in carports, and the occasional neighbor tackling a lawn ornament.
Peloton, Palms, and YouTube University
I start every morning like I’m training for something. I'm either cycling on the Peloton like I’m trying out for the Tour de France or lifting weights in sync with a Peloton trainer screaming at me through my TV. Afterward, I wander outside with my pruning shears to remind my Areca Palms who’s boss. Southern Florida, Hobe Sound palms don’t grow politely, they stage daily coups and reactively double in size overnight. My morning cool down involves taming tropical plants, hacking them with pruning saws & commercial grade shears, hauling them to the bin, and telling myself, “This is why people move to Florida.”
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After playing George of the Jungle, I usually end up sitting at my laptop, hammering out another epic blog post for your entertainment, tweaking my website, or diving into Canva, Photoshop or Figma developing works of creative genius. I’ve learned to use these tools like a pro, thanks to my publishing gig.
Meanwhile, YouTube plays in the background. My subscriptions range from videos touting the “Best Cruise Ship Lines” to “Hidden Canva Features That Will Change Your Life.”
Keeping Finances at Bay
Here’s the thing about retirement, you’ve got to be smart with your money if you want more fun in your life. That’s where the UPSIDE app comes in. It’s my secret weapon for gas, groceries, and dining. Just last month, Fresh Market had an 18% cash back offer. I stacked that with their weekly sale and walked out with Dungeness crab legs for $7.99 a pound. Go ahead, put that in your pipe and smoke it. UPSIDE pays you back in cash or gift cards. There are a handful of gas stations that offer up to .25¢ a gallon back too. This adds up. And I'm not one for sharing links unless it's worth it. If you do decide to download UPSIDE with my link, I'll get a whopping .10¢ each time one of you uses it for gas. (Kim Crawford math = 80 signups for one bottle of off label wine)
Even Taco Bell throws out occasional offers up to 29% back in my area. That’s strictly “desperation only” since I’m trying to eat healthy, but 29% is 29%.
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And then there’s ALDI. If you’re not shopping there in retirement, you’re missing out. Not only is their produce great, their wines are basically undercover name brands wrapped in house labels. I’m 99% sure I scored Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc for $8.99 a bottle. The label doesn’t say it, but my taste buds know the vineyard. ALDI is the unsung hero of retirement budgeting. We don't have Trader Joe's here. That being said, there is one on PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens. And you just can't beat their $2 buck Chuck, which, thanks to inflation is now in the $5 range. Never-the-less, I still love their frozen foods and cheese selection. So I make the 40 minute trek south a few times a year with my insulated bags in tow.
I'm actually laughing so hard right now. I had no idea you could actually purchase Kim Crawford on Amazon. If you're an avid blog follower of mine, you know I supplement my wine budget with affiliate marketing. Yet here I am telling you to buy the off label stuff at ALDI. LOLOLOLOL - but in the event you do want to over pay for the same wine, drop me a bottle (staying hip with kids slang - Urban Dictionary says it means "do me a favor"), and go ahead and order from my little link above.
Weekend Golf Carts, Friends, and Football
By midday, I’m firing off a few texts: “What’s cooking today?” In Hobe Sound, that question can mean smoked ribs, a shrimp boil, a crock pot of Skyline Chili, or simply whose house has the coldest beer and biggest TV.
More often than not, it involves golf carts. And listen, golf cart culture here is no joke. It’s a competitive sport. Neighbors outdo each other with neon lights, sound systems, and paint jobs. One street plays Van Halen, the next blasts Nat King Cole, and the mash-up somehow works. And then there’s Jill, my crazy ass neighbor who once leapt off the back of my golf cart to tackle a statue in someone’s yard, another time to dance around a display of kiddie cars. Don’t ask me why - but if you dare, click the video to the left for a peak. That’s just Saturday in Hobe Sound.
Football games rotate between houses, or we head to the Moose Lodge where everyone knows your name and your drink order. The Moose is part bar, part community hub, and part comedy show depending on who’s in attendance.
Pools, Bingo, and Food Trucks
The community clubhouse at Heritage Ridge is the beating heart of retirement here. Forget the clichés of shuffleboard-only communities (though yes, we have shuffleboard leagues). The activity calendar is overflowing.
Bingo? A surprisingly ruthless sport where $15 buys you a pack of cards and add-ons make you feel like you’re gambling at the Hard Rock. Just last night, I took down 2 games and walked out with an extra $75 in my pocket. And we all know math - that's 8 bottles of ALDI Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc (or if you're desperate and have to go to Publix via golf cart - 4 bottles of the "real" Crawford). Karaoke nights? A mix of “should be on The Voice” and “Lord help us.”
Our geo-thermally heated pool, which is a fancy way of saying it’s always spa-perfect. Then there are themed parties, “Jazz Under the Stars,” and food truck rallies where you can grab tacos, lobster rolls, or gourmet donuts without ever leaving your neighborhood.
Billiards tournaments, poker nights, shuffleboard clubs, season here is like adult summer camp with cocktails. And let's not forget about the Heritage Ridge golf course and clubhouse. They've got a full bar and decent menu, bar seating as well as indoor and covered outdoor seating overlooking the putting green and 10th tee.
Fraternities and Beyond
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Retirement in Hobe Sound comes with a healthy dose of games, from Mahjong nights, Texas Hold'em to Bunco. Exploring beyond the community clubhouse zone, The Moose Lodge and VFW both host poker nights that are equal parts social gathering and competition. Buy-ins are reasonable and the games are usually run by decent dealers who know the rules and keep chaos at bay.
For those who like their poker a little more serious, there’s always the Card House or the Kennel Club. That’s where the real cash games go down, and yes, it’s every bit as exciting as it sounds.
Cocktails, Carports, and Carport Concerts
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Evenings in Hobe Sound usually drift toward the carport. Whether it's congregating over cocktails and cheese boards or breaking out a PA system and inviting fellow musicians for an impromptu jam session, you'll soon discover that carports aren't for cars. Before long, you’ve got a dozen people gathered around, folding chairs in one hand and a drink in the other, talking football, fishing, neighborhood gossip, or who really should have won at bingo.
My personal oasis is strung with Edison lights, neon signs, a few TVs tuned into the NFL channel and a decent sound bar / subwoofer setup. I've built out 2 bars and have a nice bar height nautical theme painted table and chairs for puzzles or game nights. I've even painted the inside of the screened area behind the carport a deep navy blue which really sets off the chalk painted furnishings.
Admittedly, I'm a huge Ohio State fan. So I've embellished the area with OSU flags and a strategically placed "O" sticker dead center in my neighbor's Michigan State lawn ornament statue thingy which happens to be pointed right at my house. Given the fact that I've kept her poor, neglected plants alive for the past year, I bet she gives me a hall pass on this stunt. You have to admit, it's pretty funny if you're aware of the ongoing rivalry of Michigan State and Ohio State.
Why Hobe Sound?
People ask me all the time, why Hobe Sound? Because it’s paradise without the pretense. It’s quieter than Palm Beach, friendlier than Jupiter, and still small-town enough that neighbors wave when you drive by. And quite frankly, after a failed marriage to Satan in Palm Beach Gardens, I made the mistake of moving to Jupiter's Abacoa neighborhood after the split. And it took Covid and a pack of feral neighborhood kids annoying me to the point of moving north. Absolutely no regrets. Hobe Sound reminds me of Jupiter 30+ years ago. A small, quaint town with a friendly vibe. It's location is a short, beautiful ride through Jonathan Dickinson State Park to Jupiter and a 20 minute drive north to downtown Stuart. I'm 5 minutes from a handful of waterfront bars and restaurants, live music and a VFW. I can ride my golf cart to the Dollar General for a 6 pack of beer, or grab an over priced bottle of (you guessed it) Kim Crawford at the local Publix. If you must know, ALDI is 10 minutes north on US Highway 1 in Stuart. Plan accordingly! LOL
If you're looking for the perfect mix of fun, relaxation, and community, Hobe Sound is truly one of the best places to plant your roots. And unlike bigger cities, you’re not fighting traffic or tourists just to enjoy it. You’re living it every single day.
Retirement, Rehearsed
So sure, I’m still working. But weekends in Hobe Sound are my preview of retirement. Honestly, I think I’ve got it nailed down already.
When I finally do pull the plug on full-time work, I won’t be slowing down. I’ll be too busy trimming palms, chasing down Jill before she tackles another lawn statue, and cashing in my UPSIDE rewards for the next round of crab legs. Retirement in Hobe Sound isn’t about getting old. It’s about living out loud, Florida style.
Thinking of moving to Hobe Sound?
Hobe Sound may be a small town, but it’s bursting with activities for every type of visitor. From beaches and biking to dining and live music, there’s always something new to discover. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or looking for your next great adventure close to home, Hobe Sound delivers.
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Denise Copeland is a longtime local expert with 30+ years of experience helping buyers and sellers navigate the Martin and Palm Beach County real estate markets with confidence and ease. She's also the FOOD & DINING editor at a south Florida magazine - My Living Magazine at Ocean Media, which publishes 112 community magazines throughout Palm Beach, Martin, Okeechobee and Indian River Counties. (So yeah, there's that too. Eat some food or buy a house from me already.)
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Denise Copeland
Licensed Real Estate Professional since 1991
NextGen Realty Services
ph: 561-308-0007
www.TheCopelandTeam.com
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