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Originally Posted by Seasonal
Within the next year, the wife and I plan to retire and purchase a second home in Florida. Another set of snow birds, yeah! 
We have driven through the Villages and love the new homes available online but we have one thought that keeps us away. I wanted to ask about this to see if our thought is correct or way off base.
"Oh the humanity!" is our thought. Once we left our new Village home, all we would encounter is a crush of people. Decide to go food shopping, crowds. Golfing or swimming, people everywhere. Enjoy a beer and music on the square and it's like a day at Disney. Wherever you are standing, you are in the way.
We are are looking to slow down some. Enjoy the warm weather with our little dogs without giving up all privacy.
We will certainly rent something in the Villages and other areas in Florida for a month or two prior to purchasing anything but the thought around the crowds is our concern.
I've read this forum for years and enjoy the conversation. Thought I would state our concern, seeking comments. |
Where do you live now? What are you used to? Due to the traffic this time of year, there are several times a day when turning left from Morse Blvd. into the Tierra del Sol postal station parking lot is difficult. I may have to wait an entire minute for several dozen cars and carts to pass because they get held up at the light at San Marino, then arrive at my turn in a long stream. Big deal. The very worst traffic in The Villages at the busiest time of year is much lighter than average traffic year round in most sizable American cities. As for residential streets? I’d guess my street gets on average thirty cars an hour. Some areas get even less. Have you ever driven in Los Angeles or New York or Boston? I taught for 34 years at a university in tiny Kutztown, Pennsylvania, population 5,000. During the school year it gets much more traffic than The Villages at its worst. So at the busiest season during the busiest parts of day, driving Morse from 441 to 466 takes an extra minute. Big deal! It’s not going to be a problem.
As for the town squares, do you want to dance? Go there tonight and you can easily dance with no one within ten feet of you. You may have to walk a little slower because more people are around the square and in carts and lawn chairs outside of it, but if you cross the street you can go for a run at that time without getting in anyone’s way. It’s not nearly as crowded as walking on TImes Square in New York, much less going to see the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. Is it more crowded this time of year? Yes. But entirely bearable.
Yes, restaurants are more crowded right now. I’ve walked away from places that tell me it will be a 45 minute wait. Part of the problem is that there may be dozens of empty tables, but that is due to social distancing, and there are fewer employees, so it takes longer. However, I’ve always managed to go to some other restaurant in the area and get in at once. It helps to be flexible. Also, next winter, when all the tables are available, it will be easier to get seated.
The Villages, apart from this, is delightfully relaxed and a wonderful place to retire. My biggest problem is that at Sam’s Club, lots of people seem to be there for a pleasant stroll, whereas I want to get what I need and get out.