Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen
Podcasts AirTalk
Leisureville
solid blue rectangular banner
()
AirTalk Tile 2024
Jun 2, 2008
Leisureville
Imagine a utopian society with music streaming from lampposts and golf carts providing all transportation. Well, "The happiest place on Earth" might not be Disneyland, it might just be gated retirement communities. Developers are buying and gating massive plots of land in warm climates and installing aesthetically pleasing downtown centers designed by Universal. But these developments don't allow for children, and indeed segregate themselves from much of the outside world. In his new book "Leisureville: Adventures in America's Retirement Utopias," author Andrew Blechman explores beyond the facade of these surreal communities. Larry speaks with Blechman about what stirred his interest in the subject as well as the benefits and drawbacks of living in paradise, removed from society.

Imagine a utopian society with music streaming from lampposts and golf carts providing all transportation. Well, "The happiest place on Earth" might not be Disneyland, it might just be gated retirement communities. Developers are buying and gating massive plots of land in warm climates and installing aesthetically pleasing downtown centers designed by Universal. But these developments don't allow for children, and indeed segregate themselves from much of the outside world. In his new book "Leisureville: Adventures in America's Retirement Utopias," author Andrew Blechman explores beyond the facade of these surreal communities. Larry speaks with Blechman about what stirred his interest in the subject as well as the benefits and drawbacks of living in paradise, removed from society.

Imagine a utopian society with music streaming from lampposts and golf carts providing all transportation. Well, "The happiest place on Earth" might not be Disneyland, it might just be gated retirement communities. Developers are buying and gating massive plots of land in warm climates and installing aesthetically pleasing downtown centers designed by Universal. But these developments don't allow for children, and indeed segregate themselves from much of the outside world. In his new book "Leisureville: Adventures in America's Retirement Utopias," author Andrew Blechman explores beyond the facade of these surreal communities. Larry speaks with Blechman about what stirred his interest in the subject as well as the benefits and drawbacks of living in paradise, removed from society.

Credits
Host, AirTalk
Host, Morning Edition, AirTalk Friday, The L.A. Report A.M. Edition
Senior Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Associate Producer, AirTalk & FilmWeek
Associate Producer, AirTalk
Apprentice News Clerk, AirTalk
Apprentice News Clerk, FilmWeek