Keep Your Shower Water Tight

by Robert Colen

A few weeks ago, an On Top of the World homeowner came to the customer service department with the concern that mold was growing in her master bedroom closet. Since On Top of the World has state licensed mold inspectors on staff, we arranged to go out and take a look. Our findings are a lesson on required routine maintenance that most homeowners seldom do.

When our inspectors visited the home, the mold-damaged drywall in the master bedroom closet had already been cut out by the homeowner. However, the mold growing on the inside wall was still visible and the floor inside the wall was still wet. How did the water get in the closet to begin with? Suddenly, it became clear...the master bathroom shower is on the other side of the closet. When we inspected the shower, the first thing we noticed were the cracks in the grout along the bottom of the wall and the corners. That's where the water was coming from! 

The shower water was leaking through the cracks in the grout, saturating the closet wall and floor behind the tile and ultimately fostering mold growth. It's known that mold needs moisture to grow so even though the closet wall can be repaired, if the cause of the leak in the shower is not fixed, mold will continue to appear.

This problem can happen in any home where tile, grout and caulk protect a sub wall. The solution to keeping your shower water tight? We recommend a bath and tile caulk be applied to the corners and base of the tile all around the shower or tub at least once per year. To properly apply new caulking, the old caulking should first be removed. Bath and tile caulking is available at Lowe's or Home Depot. 

So when you're done reading this blog, get up and check the grouting in your shower to see if it needs caulking. It will prevent mold from growing inside your home and it will also save you money!

Robert Colen is the Warranty Supervisor for On Top of the World Communities.

Biological Age vs Chronological Age

by Cammy Dennis

Perceptions of aging are influenced by many things. Our thoughts and feelings about the aging process are impacted by our culture, societal views and the media. As we age and contemplate wellness, it is very important to remember that the concept of chronological age is not nearly as important as your biological age.

Your biological age, which reflects the state of your well being, is a comparison to other people of the same chronological or actual age. Biological age is a reflection of many health considerations. For example: disease risk factors, changes in the physical structure of the body as well as changes in the performance of motor skills and sensory awareness.

One of the most positive influences on our health, or our biological age, is our lifestyle. People who exercise regularly and make an effort to eat nutrient-rich foods are very likely to have a biological age that is lower than their chronological age. On the other hand, those who are less active or sedentary and do not eat a healthy diet might have a biological age that is higher than their chronological age.

Everyone ages, but our lifestyle can make a remarkable difference between our chronological and biological age. A 70 year-old person who is healthy, active and engaged might very well have a body and mind that is closer to a 60 year-old person. There are numerous studies supporting the relationship between a healthy physical and emotional state and longevity. Our age, or rather a number, should not define who we are or what we are capable of.

I continue to be amazed and inspired by the On Top of the World residents who are world travelers, tireless volunteers and competitive athletes. Our birthday will greet us every year, but it's never too late to lower your biological age.


Cammy Dennis is the Fitness Director for On Top of the World Communities and The Ranch Fitness Center & Spa.

Popular Resident Club Has Successful Yearly Event!

12th Annual RC Flyers Fun Fly-In • October 6, 2012
by M. Keith Nadel

The On Top of the World Communities (OTOW) resident run RC Flyers Club opened their 12th Annual Fun Fly-In not with planes but with sophisticated helicopters whose dazzling acrobatics made the spectators of this coveted event gasp with amazement. 

Thirty-three flyers and their planes arrived from all over Florida including Orlando, Crystal River, Dunnellon, Eustis, Chiefland, Newberry, Archer, Mt. Plymouth, Deland, Mateo, Morriston, The Villages, Maitland, Clermont, Trenton, as well as the Ocala Model Flying Club. Approximately 30 of the 33 actually flew their crafts, 12 were OTOW RC Flyers Club members and 21 were from other areas.

The windsock located at the OTOW RC Airplane Field was a model of decorum...no wind whatsoever. Superior flying conditions; the same for spectators. As atmospheric conditions improved, spectators arrived, the parking crew assigned spaces, planes were exposed and placed on the starting tables. 

Following their flights, 23 planes were observed by the crowd and judged for the quality of their craftsmanship. Three were chosen for prizes by pilots. The $100 first place prize went to Gary West of the Ocala Model Flying Club who presented a FW-190 (Stuka) with a 102-inch wingspan. The $50 second place award was presented to Jerry Luyck from the OTOW RC Flyers Club who flew a JU 87-DZ with a wingspan of 102 inches. Al Ward of the RC Association of Central Florida was awarded the third place prize of $25 for his Bronco (OB-10) whose wingspan was 90 inches.

The entire affair was beautifully synchronized and credited to the acumen of the event chairman, contest director and astute announcer.

M. Keith Nadel is a resident of OTOW and contributor to the OTOW World News.