The curious theory about cars with loofahs on the roof

One of the fastest growing cities in the United States, even faster than Los Angeles or New York, is located in central Florida. This is where a curious phenomenon has been spotted all over the place: parked cars with loofahs on the roof. What does it mean? Why is this attracting so much attention?

The Villages is a community of 76,000 inhabitants that was created in 1972. Since then it has grown at a steady pace, despite the peculiarity of being an exclusive place for retirees: in order to live there, one must be 55 or older.

In The Villages, golf carts and cars share the space like equals. Interestingly, many of these vehicles have a loofah or a pool noodle on the roof, a particular ornament that has unleashed a curious rumor.

It all started when Tora, a local drag queen and tiktoker, uploaded a video showing several residents of The Villages purchasing loofahs, followed by a series of images of cars and golf carts with loofahs on the roof.

A curious theory

These images, which have garnered more than six million views, gave rise to a curious theory: that drivers were supposedly using these shower accessories to inform other people that they were willing to swap partners.

There is even a Reddit thread that explains the meaning of each color, claiming that the residents of The Villages were imitating the code that the LGBTQI+ community started using in the 1970s when, by means of handkerchiefs that hung in their pants pockets, they announced their sentimental status and preferences to those in the know.

The truth about the loofahs

However, the story behind the cars with loofahs on their roofs is a bit different. On the local blog, called Inside the Bubble, they explain the whole thing: in short, retirees place this sign on their vehicles in order to remember where they parked.

Some, instead of loofahs, use pool noodles that they place on the car antennas or on the roof bars of their vehicle. This technique is especially useful when most cars are the same color or very similar (as is the case with golf carts) and drivers want something that helps them find theirs easily, not unlike the labels or ribbons that many people put on their suitcases in order to spot them quickly at the airport.

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