[Aces4]

Originally Posted by Blueblaze

This is where Villagers go to vent, right? Here's my vent.

I'm walking my dog through the big open space under the high wires, next to the Mulberry dog park, way up North. This is the only area big enough that people routinely let their dog run off their leash, and my dog likes to find a stick for me to throw. Yes, it's technically illegal. But so is using the area as your free driving range. Today, there are three guys saving themselves a whole $5 by using the space to shoot golf balls -- despite the nice range at Nancy Lopez, less than half a mile away at the other end of the MMP. I don't know why people wealthy enough to retire to Florida care about saving $5 on something so stupid. I don't even care if they do it at the dog park. Just don't aim your damned golf ball at my dog because you're annoyed at having to wait a whole minute for us to clear the area!

Two of the guys were courteous, waved, and quit shooting as we crossed the lawn. But the jerk directly in our path to the woods at the far end, just kept shooting. When we got close, he started obviously aiming at my dog, and nearly managed to bean him on the head (wish I could hit a chip shot like that!). So I started picking up his balls and throwing them back at him. His smart-ass response? "Thanks, I needed a caddy". Things went downhill from there, and could easily have ended in blows. We just stood there yelling at each other for a bit, while the 85-year-old fart threatened to "kick my ass". I finally turned away and walked on into the woods, leaving him calling me a coward and yelling insults at my back. I don't think I've come that close to a fist fight since 8th grade.

This is such a nice place to live the other 9 months of the year, but even up North, people just get mean this time of year. Was the guy a snowbird? We have a bunch, even up this far North, but usually not that old. I think it's just the overcrowding that turns people into such jerks in the Winter (although being a jerk may be that guy's mission in life). Still, it's enough to make me think maybe we should have chosen one of the thousands of less-popular retirement communities in Florida.

"Friendliest Home Town"? Not today.

Probably the first step to "Friendliest Home Town" is to leash your dog. You were straight out wrong not doing that. If your dog wants to run, get a longer leash or go to the dog park.

However, that character aiming golf balls at you and your dog sounds demented. It's a strange world and there is no such place with complete friendliness. Maybe The Villages is better than some.