Bonita Bay Now Winter 2021 | Page 27

DAN SHEETS HAD been visiting the Bonita Springs / Naples area from Cleveland for many years before deciding to buy there . “ I had several friends who owned second homes in the region ,” he recalls . “ As an avid golfer , I thought it was a great place to play and escape the cold .” He began visiting with his then-fiancée , Marcia Coimbra . “ We knew this is where we wanted to spend the winter months ,” he says .
With retirement on the horizon , Dan and Marcia looked at different communities before deciding to purchase a condo at Bonita Bay ’ s newly built Sea Glass high-rise in 2018 . “ At the time , it had everything we were looking for ,” Dan notes . “ Plus , Bonita Bay has five magnificent golf courses , incredible amenities , and is just beautiful .”
Dan and Marcia were married in 2017 at the Ritz Carlton in Naples , and Marcia ended up convincing her parents and sister , who were living in Scottsdale , Arizona , to join her in Florida . “ She found Angela Lutzi Dellatorè and Scott Dellatorè to help them with their move ,” Dan says . “ They did an amazing job , and we were very impressed with their efforts .” So , when the Sheets wanted to make a change in their living arrangements , they called on Angela and Scott . “ After living the condo life for a couple of years , we realized we wanted a place that had outdoor space and offered a quieter environment ,” Dan says . condo or a multimillion-dollar house , you will find it here . And what ’ s so great about that is that the community attracts a diverse group of authentic , down-to-earth people . We love that .”
The Sheets also appreciate their natural surroundings . From its early planning stages , more than half of Bonita Bay ’ s acreage was set aside for natural areas and open space , and residential neighborhoods were situated to take advantage of preserved nature without impacting it . According to the community ’ s website :
Precise land management limits pesticide and herbicide use to preserve , rather than disturb , the natural food chain on the golf courses and in common areas . Fertilizer use is also limited to avoid ground and surface water contamination .
“ We love taking walks and seeing all kinds of wildlife ,” Dan says . The community boasts a host of reptiles , amphibians , fish , and small mammals .
Even during the COVID pandemic , Bonita Bay continues to offer options for an active lifestyle . “ When things were locked down , we turned one of our bedrooms into an exercise room ,” Dan says . “ In addition , we could still take our bikes out and enjoy all the beauty our community has to offer .”
The Dellatorès found them a four-bedroom / four-bath ranchstyle house in Bonita Bay ’ s Creekside neighborhood . Creekside is comprised of approximately 100 single-family upper-tier luxury homes . There are many styles of home to choose from in Bonita Bay , and they vary in architectural style — from traditional Florida-style cracker homes to classic Mediterraneanstyle homes . The Creekside neighborhood is near Spring Creek Park and the Bonita Bay walking path system .
With their condo in escrow , the Sheets closed on their new house in December . “ We love that the property is closer to the gate , the Bonita Bay Club , and restaurants ,” Dan notes . Both fitness enthusiasts , the couple take advantage of the miles of pathways by walking , running , and biking . “ We also go to the fitness center quite a bit ,” says Dan . “ I ’ d say we work out at least once a day .”
Dan says he plays golf at least four days a week . “ I ’ m a member of five golf groups with whom I play and socialize ,” he says . Marcia is taking golf lessons and learning to play alongside Dan . Though each day offers a different itinerary , Dan says there is plenty to do for the active couple . “ When we ’ re not playing golf or working out , we like to make the 30-minute drive to Naples to dine and shop ,” Dan says . “ There are plenty of art festivals here , so sometimes we ’ ll drive out , have some dinner , and enjoy the local festivals .” They also participate in the Bonita Bay Club ’ s variety of special events . “ We enjoy wine tastings ,” he says . “ Recently we attended a Napa Valley Wine dinner .”
Dan loves the fact that Bonita Bay offers something for everyone . “ It ’ s a beautiful community , tastefully designed without being ostentatious ,” he observes . “ Whether you ’ re looking for a small
ILOVEBONITABAY . COM • 27