The Ocala Lifestyle: In our blogs, we feature many elements of the Ocala lifestyle. Among them are home design, planned communities, nature, the arts, dining, theater and sporting activities. Our town sits at the center of a county whose economy is largely dependent on the equine industry. As we have pointed out elsewhere, this industry brings $3 billion in revenue into our community annually. However, The World Equestrian Center will finally open its doors in early 2021 and will impact our economy as no other single business ever has. It is expected to trigger a growth never before experienced here. As a result, the W.E.C. will cause the contribution of the equine industry to more than triple over a period of a few years. Of course, we will continue to report on both the W.E.C. and the equine industry in our posts. But Ocala is more than a focal point for the equine industry. It sits at the center of a network of parks and nature reserves. The largest of these is the Ocala National Forest, a network of lakes and treed landscapes that is home to a wide variety of wild inhabitants. Here you can hike, boat, fish and enjoy lounging in natural spring waters. The arts participate integrally in the local economy as well. Therefore, we will feature shows at the Appleton Museum of Art and other galleries, local studios of famed artists and art fairs. We will also take note of performances by the local symphony, plays of interest and performances by other musicians. Finally, we may blog about local networking events, clubs, charitable fundraisers and much more. Please join us weekly to find out what’s happening. | |