Reynolds Plantation on Lake Oconee

After nearly 30 years in “The City That Never Sleeps,” Dr. Pankaj Amin and his wife, Neena, decided it was time for a complete lifestyle change.  As frequent travelers and part-time residents of Baroda, India, where both grew up, the Amins have seen much of the world.  Just not as much of the southern part of the United States.

“I had heard so much about ‘Southern Hospitality,’ but never actually experienced it,” Neena Amin says.  “We had never driven south of (Washington) D.C.”

When Dr. Amin retired after 24 years in a solo private practice in both Brooklyn and New York City, where Neena was office manager, they wanted to find a way to enjoy life and, most importantly, relax.  Their home in Sands Point, N.Y., was not the answer.  Both avid golfers, the Amins were first intrigued by Reynolds Plantation after seeing the golf community featured in a magazine.  They decided to pay the community a visit in 2003.

After enjoying a round of golf on the Great Waters course, the Amins were stuck needing transportation back to their cottage.  Some Reynolds members struck up a conversation and offered them a ride – in their boat, which provided an authentic introduction to “Reynolds Plantation hospitality.”  Although they didn’t purchase a home right away, this experience at the Lake Oconee community stayed with them.

While they were leaving their New York home, the Amins were determined to remain close to their family.  At the time, their son, Anand, was living in Atlanta while attending Emory University, while daughter Kavita lived in New Jersey with her husband, Brian, and the Amins’ young grandchildren, Calvin and Jaya.

Given their previous experience at Reynolds Plantation, an appreciation for the luxurious golf community and its proximity to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the Amins knew their search for a new home in the U.S. was over.

A move to the South, which the Amins made in 2005, might seem like a bit of culture shock for those who have never experienced the southern lifestyle.  Learning to say “ya’ll” and having complete strangers wave to you – nicely – can be a shock to the system.  Then there’s the food – and always plenty of it.  Sweet tea, shrimp n’ grits, or fried green tomatoes are unheard of to many, while to Southerners they’re part of culinary living.

There is much more to the southern way of life, however, than the table fare for those that live south of the Mason-Dixon.  There’s a culture.  A deep-seeded idea of being “good” to strangers, partnered with long-standing traditions of delicious food, architectural gems and rich history.  And for the Amins, it was just the right recipe.

“In the end, it boiled down to the people,” says Dr. Amin.  “I think that’s just what makes this community so special.”

“I’ve found the southern lifestyle to be comparable to the Indian way of life,” explains Neena.  “It has that same warmth.”

Their home in India serves as a winter retreat.  Built in 1945, they live in the former home of Dr. Amin’s maternal grandmother.

“It has indeed been a wonderful experience to go back after all these years and find friends who went to school and college with us that are still in Baroda,” says Neena.  “We also have a large family and are involved in social events.  We attend many fundraisers, weddings, classical Indian music events and charity golf tournaments.”

Come springtime, when the Amins make their return to Reynolds, dinner parties and other social gatherings keep their agenda full, with Neena sharing her own special Indian recipes in return for a taste of southern flair.

Although the Amins are “truly enjoying winding down at Reynolds,” you can find Neena at her weekly yoga class and taking part in her international book club.  She is also interested in sparking interest in her native culture within the Reynolds communities (she is founder and former president of the Five Towns Indian Association in New York).

As for Dr. Amin, when he’s not enjoying the spoils of retirement he can be found enjoying the spoils of nature.  Two of his favorite hobbies – gardening and bird watching – keep him occupied most days.  He hopes to reenergize and take on a new challenge, but for now, he is working on his golf game.

All their friendly neighbors … well, they’re just a bonus.

It’s been more than 30 years since the Amins made their first trip to America, looking to start a new life together.  Now, it’s as though they’re starting anew all over again.  And they are enjoying every minute of it.