After one year of home ownership, we are definitely in the glass is more than half full camp. Nothing in life anywhere is perfect, but I am not complaining about anything in the Villages. Here is the quickest summary I can provide:
1. The Villages is beautiful, I think it is almost pristine. They take great care of it, do not build things on the cheap, they have preserved many areas, there is almost no litter, they plant flowers four times a year. It's a gorgeous place to live.
2. The people really are great. Folks are friendly, it's easy to strike up conversation, we are all here for primarily the same reason, I love the people here.
3. The Villages is safe. I feel safe and secure here and don't worry about my wife going anywhere. I'm sure there is some crime, but it's as safe a place as I have ever been in my life. And the older we get, that's reassuring.
We were looking at both new and pre-owned. The Villages put some of the Lifestyle homes on sale right next to Brownwood, and we bought the same home that we had stayed in for our Lifestyle visit. Of all the places we could have bought, we actually had a week's experience living in this house. It is so close to Publix and all kids of shopping and restaurants. It is literally 2 minutes from Brownwood via golf car, and within walking distance or a cart ride from the big Villages Health building.
If you are into an active 55+ community with so much to do, I don't think there is a better place in this country than The Villages. And I honestly think the majority of folks who live here agree with this. Good luck, it's major step in life but you will hear many people say the only regret they have is they didn't do it sooner.
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