[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by ColdNoMore

On a slight tangent, at what point/distance does continued outlying development from Da Family...can no longer be considered 'The Villages?'

The distance/differences, between Lady Lake/Leesburg/Fruitland Park, which are all different towns...is less than what we have between say Spanish Springs and Fenney now.

Recognizing of course, that the branding and the address of 'The Villages' is a huge selling point, I can't help but wonder...if that might change in the future?

How big can an island be? I think as long as the connectivity can be supported and that some scene on community can be maintained it will continue to grow. There is now and will continue to be a decoupling of the areas but not so much as to divide the development. I live near Brownwood, what happens in Spanish Springs or Mulberry Grove, or for that matter even Lake Sumter Landing, while of interest, is of little concern to me most days. The same can be said for those living in other areas about were I live.

What holds it all together is the diversity of people and interests in all the areas and that brings them together. I run the Drone Flyers Club and we have members from all areas of The Villages and we consider ourselves both friends and neighbors, regardless of the mile between. There is no community that is centered around one activity (baseball, boating, knitting, etc.) but yet these are communities that are internally connected to themselves through friendships while externally connected to the rest of The Villages through their activities and interests and subsequent friendships.

As long as we as residents hold the community together it can grow substantially larger without harm. It is when we start trying to divide and elevate ourselves, one area being better than another instead of just different and unique, that's when The Villages will start to become "too big" and will fail as a community. Yes the developer has built the buildings, golf courses, and the houses; but they build and move on, that's their station. It is the residents that have and will continue to make The Villages the great community that it is.

Perhaps I'm looking at things through rose colored glasses. I prefer to look at the positive aspects of living here, the friendships, community, and active lifestyle it has to offer, and not dwell on what I have no power over. Is it perfect, no far from it, but having lived all around the country and abroad, I can tell you it's pretty darn good and better than most anywhere else. An incredible place to retire.