Taking the senior bus to Atlantic City

The mandatory activity for the retiree in New Jersey is the experience of taking the senior bus to Atlantic City. Like the trip to Florida during spring break for college students, all seniors are required, by law, to do this pilgrimage at least once a year.

Apparently you have to buy the tickets in advance and on the big day show up at 8:30 at the local senior center ready for bear and the expectation of a rewarding and lucrative day in Atlantic City.

Today the big day is here. Looks like it is going to be cool and damp, no sunshine. Oh well. Got on the bus. No problem. Nice ride. Always fun to see the windmills of old Atlantic City. Back in the day you were greeted at the casino with a roll of quarters. Now it's high tech. Fortunately I was able to find an old Resorts card and it was able to take in the credit for twenty five dollars.

Resorts is nice. Cozy, a little old fashioned, I was reminded how, as a tot, I vacationed with my parents there when it was the old Chalfonte Haddon Hall. There were no televisions in the rooms. You had to go to one of the television parlors, each named for a network. In the NBC room I sang along with my parents and other guests to Sing-a-Long with Mitch.

I digress. My partner and I went to the slots machines. I played on the bus money. Every once in a while there would be fireworks and the machine would explode in sounds as it went into the bonus round. After all the excitement I realized I had won a few dollars.

Walked over to the Hard Rock Cafe. Very modern decor, had an overpriced burger. Slots again. Lost money. Had a free drink from the roving waitress. Yes I know you are supposed to tip them.

Finally we went home, a little lighter in net worth, if not in pounds.
Okay, no big deal. Last time I took the bus to AC we got donuts in the morning, bingo during the ride, and a movie on the way home. Oh well, I'll always have my memories of bus rides past.