Quote:
Originally Posted by B & G
How is north of 466 deteriorating? I will be visiting TV in July and was going to look at some of the homes for sale north of 466.
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Actually, my husband PREFERRED ***north of 466, where we stayed during month of November....after the initial 4 day lifestyle visit in Creekside Landing near Lake Sumter Landing (which I loved). I liked all those villages near the Sweet Bay supermarket area.....and near the cottages at L.S.L.
***At first, we thought it would be too far away from everything, but truthfully, it was not. How we ended up in Marion County, above 466, was that hubby wanted a pool home and it was the only one I could find at the time.
The neighbors did seem older, some elderly but everyone waved or said hello and even loved to see our little grandbaby in her stroller....when they visited for Thanksgiving week. It seemed quite normal and nice and quiet.
We were on the Nancy Lopez golf course......and the shopping in Mulberry Grove was fairly close by......as well as all the shopping and restaurants off 466......by car.
When we'd go down to Lake Sumter Landing to the restaurants, the trip back didn't seem too long (not as long as we had originally thought). We would make a right off of 466 and pass the POLO GROUNDS, lots of horses, etc.
It was quite a pretty ride. Keep going up Buena Vista Blvd....and soon enough you are in Marion County. Everything beautifully manicured, lush green grass, flowers like Gracie always comments on....just terrific landscaping.
As far as the neighbors being in their 70's and 80's.......didn't bother us.
Everything was as neat as it possibly could be. Coming from New England where zoning is pretty lax, we've seen it all and the Villages was beautiful.
We also saw all of the other villages, new and old......all very pretty.
We left with a great impression. Our visit was just to "get the lay of the land" so to speak. We thought the entire place would be humongous.
It was more manageable than we thought it would be.....however, the first day was a nightmare, getting lost on those roundabouts, back and forth over the bridge......but that was after a very long day of travel.
The only thing I thought odd was the telephone receptionist who called several times up to Vermont, saying "We want to get you out into the community". To me, that sounded like we were in an assisted living nursing home type place. (just kidding).....but.....again, we still have all of our marbles and hopefully, free will to do as we wish. Again, not everyone goes there to party hardy.
Some just love the homes and the ambience of living in a beautiful place. I'm sure if a survey was done as to those who do not go for the "lifestyle" of active 55+ as advertised.......many would raise their hands. We enjoyed just reading our kindles by the poolside under the birdcage off the lanai with super views of the golf course. Now our son and daughter in law loved zipping around in the golf carts, the golf couse, etc. and we ALL LOVED THE RESTAURANTS and Lake Sumter Landing boardwalk, etc............plus touring around to see all the new homes, etc.
All 4 of our adult children, which includes the two in law spouses, as well as the three grandchildren who can talk......have said they will spend all their holidays with us if we ever moved to THE VILLAGES.........snow gets old after awhile......not to mention traveling in it for holidays, on mountain roads.
The Villages has a lot going for it.........hopefully, people are allowed to express differing opinions. As for the Democrats vs. the Republicans, I've heard that from people up north who feel they could never move to TV if they were Democrats. Sad. Like someone else said, religion and politics actually shouldn't come up in conversation as you can never please everyone.
I think the KOOL AID reference comes from the old book and movie "The Stepford Wives" not the Jim Jones massacre tragedy. It was also used in reference to the Casey Anthony tribulations. As far as the Stepford Wives, anyone who watched Desperate Housewives, Bree (Brie?) would be a typical Stepford Wife role model. Now, we definitely do NOT want to move to Wisteria Lane........but the Villages would be great, somwhere down the road...for as another person said, we are not interested in selling our home for peanuts in this downsized real estate market....up here at least....where homes remain on the market for years and decades even.
We will return and we will stay in different villages to get the feel for all of them....before making our ultimate decision.
p.s. As for the author of Leisureville........he was coming from a different time in his life......a new father, he wanted his child to have that homey neighborly feel of the older "grandparents" in the neighborhood, just as we had when ours were growing up in a small town. I read it and don't recall him wanting to live there in the Villages himself........he just went to visit his old neighbors from across the way who had relocated to TV. No, he was not a prize winning author....but it was his opinion and take on his own personal visit. We go through different stages in our lives and things change.
Our son had told his wife that he could picture himself retiring to TV in 15 more years. He was impressed with the high energy physically fit seniors he saw cycling and the dragon boat races, etc......etc., etc.......he's 40; has traveled the entire world, each and every continent.......so it's quite high praise coming from him, for The Villages.
But even the younger neighborhoods will eventually turn into the type we rented in...as people get into their late 70's and 80's and hopefully beyond.