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18 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | OCTOBER 2016 By Alan Siegel, Resident Take a good look at the picture of this long haired drummer. Could be any kid trying to make it in the music business. He was about 19 in this picture. Now look at the picture below. Recognize him? Or look at the picture on the top of page 4. Recognize him now? It's our General Manager, Greg Rainier. So how does a rock and roll drummer end up managing a Del Webb community? As Greg confided to me, "No kid in high school says I want to grow up to be a property manager." Amen to that. So, I repeat, how does a rock and roll drummer end up as a General Manager in a Del Webb community? Greg was born, grew up and went to high school here in southern California in Culver City. He enrolled in a trade school to become an electrical contractor, but he kept getting lured back into the music scene. He had drums. He had a garage. He had friends who played other instruments and they formed a band. And they got gigs. And then more gigs and even an agent. At the age of 21, Greg was actually making money as a drummer. He joined the musicians union. When he was 20, Greg also got married. Shortly thereafter, he and his wife had a baby. The musician, the husband and the father kept pounding the drums but he also had to get a real job. He also started working in maintenance at a condominium HOA in Culver City, until another music gig popped up. Greg kept playing the drums and doing maintenance until his second child was born when Greg was 25. It didn't look like music would be able to support his growing family, so Greg got serious about real work, and became a Certified Property Manager and then a General Manager, supervising 22 people at a condominium high rise. Eventually, Greg ended up here at Solera Diamond Valley. Greg is the only person I know who has gone to every high school reunion his class has had. He sometimes even plays in the band at those functions. Greg has two children and two grandchildren. Greg will turn 60 in November. In his words, he will be "officially old." No, Greg, officially old is either 62 when you can take early social security or 65 when you can get Medicare. 60? You're still just a kid. Look at the pictures. You're not old, you're just aging. Your hearing must be going. Your eyesight must be going. So when you grab your drumsticks, make sure that they're not from a chicken. WHO'S IN CHARGE? PART 1