Quote:
Originally Posted by kofficer
Wait a minute, what happened to TV being about the friendliness of the people. Isn't this why you move to TV? I know we have been looking forward to being able to enjoy some of the many activities we see listed when we come to TV, and it appears you are saving, that probably won't happen, unless we fight to get in?? Because that would totally be a deal breaker for me. My husband and I are are both on the shy side, and if this is true, this is not the place for us.
Lee in Tampa, for now.
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Lee, while I like reading TOTV to find out various things like tried and true service providers (home improvement, handymen, painters, etc.) and retail/restaurant reviews, a few negative posters here on TOTV are not representative of the whole of TV nor is it representative of your new TV neighborhood nor the people who gather at the recreation facilities/activities for a given sport or activity. We bought a CYV in a 3-year-old neighborhood, and as soon as we looked at the CYV the second time, all our neighbors came over to say hi and welcome us into the neighborhood. We are still amazed at how we soon had more friends after several weeks of owning our place and not even living full-time here yet, than we had after years in our last place in the midwest.
We are constantly busy with a full social calendar of things to do with our neighbors, their friends, friends of friends, people we meet at the town squares in the evening, and friends in our home state clubs,etc. Everywhere we go in TV, people are extremely friendly and welcoming. It's only about once in 4 months that we encounter a person who does not want to talk and be friendly (or acts like you have no right to start a conversation with them...seeming downright rude), but we figure that is because they come from a place where people simply do not "neighbor" or they're just bitter and "who needs 'em anyway?".
PTurner's post above about being new to the water aerobics class is pretty typical, I'd say, about joining in on recreation and other activities. Let's face it.....most of us are parents and we women, especially, are used to caring for others and we remember what it was like being "the new kid in school" or moving and taking our own kids to a new sports team or whatever practice. And.......
We all remember what it was like stepping up to the golf tee after having only a few beginner lessons/clinics, and not wanting to look like a total moron (which in golf....can last for the next 30 years.....looked like a moron teeing off just yesterday!)
As for this "clique" thing being discussed here, I think it has more to do with identities of posters and those of us who do not want to put our personal information and identity out here. Unknown identities here sometimes get questioned.....but there are good reasons to remain anonymous.
Many of us are not retired yet, and are employed or looking for a job, and we do not want our opinions--especially the political ones--scrutinized by our boss or potential employer who is vindictive. (I've had very few bosses who are NOT vindictive.) It's very easy to google somebody and read about them if you are an employer ready to hire somebody, and for years now, there have been advisories in business journals about "mining companies" that gather dirt about a person online in social networking sites, and then that information is kept in databases for paid background checking.
I can't imagine for even 2 seconds putting my picture and name, etc. here, and I don't like Facebook for that reason either, even though a person can keep their info as closed and private as they want. There are always hackers and break-ins to Facebook pages. Just the other day, I got a private message from a Facebook friend (or at least the hacker USED my FB friend's account), and the thing was so full x-rated filth that I wanted to vomit. I reported it to FB and closed off my info and privacy settings even more.
If I were you, I would rely on what I see in the actual neighborhood where I'm considering buying...go for a walk there in the evening or early morning, and talk to people who are out talking in the driveways, walking their dog etc. Also, go to the neighborhood pools and just lounge for awhile....that is one of the best places to meet people! I think most people like to meet the new people moving in, and it's interesting to learn about the experiences of people moving here from so many varying places.