For the record, there must be an ugly we vs. them mentality between retired Villagers and the indigenous population that serves them.
Among the indigenous population there may be a discussion of contempt and resentment that can be pretty strong and boil over in outright abuse with not too much provocation --- "I have to be nice to these people all the time but nobody's nice to me" --- in a word "envy" -- and, I've had to work like a dog all my life and into the grave and who are these people to live such a lifestyle???"
(This may be a variation on the "income inequality" situation, which has truth to it because of dishonest money ("inflation") and dishonest banking, but that's another conversation).
That attitude can be reinforcing in Village-employee social circles and get ugly at slight provocation. One of the ingenious things of the Villages is the Charter School -- I'm sure that lifts the attitude and quality of service measurably.
Maybe on thing to do is ask the Handyman "do you have a child in the Charter School"?
Meanwhile, frankly, someone with too much envy/resentment of the Villager circumstances might simply not be a good person to be employed in Villages services. "If you're going to express your envy and resentment about Villager circumstances, then maybe you shouldn't work here."
Another is asking not to engage in "those dumb northerners" talk because that's where the reinforcement comes from.
Better service comes with tipping -- maybe the Handyman industry should announce beforehand they take tips?
But back in the here and now, I just had 2 almost identical bad-treatments (weeks of no-communication silence) from two well known Villages handymen and I figure the only way of doing something about it is to complain to them about it -- i.e. "Would YOU like to be treated like that in a Handyman engagement?"
Meanwhile, for those fortunate enough to have Villages life to the fullest extent -- enjoy! (not me, yet; I'm absentee and have 3 years to go).
Cheers,
PG
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