Roz,
Welcome....it is a wonderful place; congrats on your decision.
Be sure to read the 6 page or so document you received with the deed restrictions...basically the convenants. Everybody pays the amenity fee. Some of the older areas do not have the bond; CDD maintenance fees can also be different in some of the older areas. There are some surrounding housing developments that are for all ages, but, the are not part of the Villages nor are they entitled to use our amenities.
Here's a website to start....this page has some history, but, also check out some of the other links on CDD website:
http://www.districtgov.org/slcdd/home.asp
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Maryland (DC Suburbs) - first 51 years

The Villages - next 51 years