Bob and Carol Nylund who have been coming to Fort Lauderdale for over 40 years always dreamed about living in Victoria Park. It finally happened in November 2023 when their house was on the market.

“It has everything you want. We love it here,” Bob stated. “We were drawn to Fort Lauderdale for the boating,” Carol replied.

“We have been coming down here for a long time,” Bob said. It started with some timeshares. “It was an easy and inexpensive way to have a vacation.”

They were living in their condo in Las Olas Isles before moving to their current home in Victoria Park.

Carol stated, “It’s a dream come true. Sometimes, I am just like I can’t believe this. The neighborhood is so happy and friendly. We walk down the street, and we’re like this is like Disneyland.”

Bob and Carol are from Southern New Jersey and still have a home on the water in Atlantic City. They really enjoy boating and being on the water.

They met twenty-five years ago on July Fourth at Trump Marina in Atlantic City.

“When we met, he said he owned a marina, and I said that I love boats. That started it off,” Carol explained.

Bob and his brother, George, own a marina that is in Tuckerton, N.J.

“We had so many similarities,” Bob explained. “I was always on the water, and it was just something that I loved. Since I was 10 years old, I was in a 14 foot boat with an outboard. Then, I worked on boats.”

Carol was in education and taught first grade primarily for 25 years and then became a reading specialist where her focus was on early intervention and dyslexia. “I was in charge of the elementary reading and literary departments for my district,” Carol explained. “It was the highlight of my whole career, and I secured grants that gave out thousands of books to children in need.”

When they are not on their boat, they enjoy family time with their children and grandchildren. They have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Bella. Bob is an avid golfer, and Carol is a yoga instructor who loves all kinds of fitness. They also like working on the restoration of their new home, which was built in 1932.

They once restored a dilapidated house boat and lived there every summer for five years. Bob’s dad once told them, “It’s good to have a project.”

“A prefect day for us is when we successfully finish a home project and end the day with some wine in the pool,” Carol said.

They love going to many local restaurants by boat. Some of their favorite places include Shooters, Casa Sensei, Luigi’s, Foxy Brown’s and the Boathouse at the Riverside Hotel. They really like Whiskey Creek.

As with so many residents, Victoria Park is a special place for Bob and Carol. They are grateful and appreciative to be living here. “It really worked out,” Bob stated. “It is such a nice lifestyle. It is beautiful with all of the trees. I also like the neighborhood feel, and we feel safe.”

Back in New Jersey, Carol described, “I would go to sleep when I had a rough day, and I would just picture Victoria Park and an old house with a porch and me there. “That was my go to sleep moment. I believe in manifestation.”

Carol’s dream is now a reality.