A few years ago the first homes went up in The Palms of Manasota. Another 52 apartments, an assisted living facility, maybe even a nursing home lie in the future. Half a decade ago, cynics didn't think Laing would be able to make his dream a reality. Dorr, a retired Episcopal priest, decided to take a chance. Today, it is an uncommonly close-knit place.
Neighbors wander in and out of one another's homes for coffee or just to chat.
Dorr and Wagener often double-date with the lesbian couple next door. When they go out to the staid Palmetto restaurants, they're frequently mistaken for two straight couples. A few weeks ago, Laing died of cancer. But he will remain in the community he founded. Across the country, developers of gay and lesbian retirement facilities look to the Palms as a leader.