Quote:
Originally Posted by senior citizen
I think any of us would be lucky to have Gracie as a neighbor, and she just might change your mind. She's been through it all and made a great adjustment, twice. Gracie has a good head on her shoulders.
In our one month rental, one of the next door neighbors came over to welcome us and offer his help if needed. The others were just indoors most of the the time. Others "waved" as we drove by. In the lifestyle visit home there really were no neighbors, just "visitors" like ourselves.
Everyone kept to themselves. They appeared to be aged 55 and up to our age of 67 at the time.
Those we met in the restaurants were very friendly.....and all the hostesses, etc. told us their stories of how they moved down to TV and some stated where they "wished" they had stayed or moved to, such as the Carolina beaches. Everyone missed the beaches....or the mountains.
When everyone heard we were from Vermont, they said that they would never leave Vermont as it was so beautiful.......which it is. And SAFE.
The one thing that slightly "turned us off" was the older woman who kept calling from the sales office saying "We want to get you out into the community"...........like we couldn't get ourselves to where we wanted to go? It slightly smacked of Stepford Wives. I can see how that correlation has been applied by others in the past. It also slightly reminded me of my deceased mom's "senior citizen club" where the nurses and activity assistants kept a close eye on those who attended daily.
Maybe we are too independent living up here in Vermont for 43+ years where people know their own minds and do not need a "cruise director".
TV sells itself. It's beautiful. For those who buy into that "lifestyle jargon" I'm sure it is a dream come true. But for more independent retirees, it's just "different" from what we have been used to, to say the very least. Also, too many rules and regulations. We've owned a lot of homes during our marriage..........and still have our brains, thankfully, so would have preferred less phone calls.
Not everyone wants to be physically active 24/7. Some are the more creative type, working with their hands, etc. or minds......and I do realize there are clubs for all of that.........which is great. We also find it hard to believe that everyone is out golfing in 100% HUMIDITY and 95 degrees temps with a heat index of God only knows what.....with intense sun.
We can't even take the heat up here.
As someone else said, the first visit is OVERWHELMING and most folks are exhausted from a long day of airports, picking up rental cars, getting lost on the roundabouts to really care about "getting into the community".....we needed a long rest first. Just us. Again, we are not 49 years old anymore. I've had many people private message me to say the same exact thing........and the simple fact that TV was so OVERWHELMING and tiring (esp. if one came from a small town), that they felt it "would not be in the cards" based on one spouse or the other's initial impression. My husband, who was lacking his nicotine fix after a day of traveling........did actually like the place. However, he hates THE HEAT AND THE HUMIDITY. Again, been there, done that.
On one hand we can see the advantages which are many.......but on the other hand it is very expensive to move..........only to return back north, yet again.
Wintering down there seems to be the solution..........esp. since I found out that most people do return north for the late spring and summers...and only rent for the winters.
The "younger generation" LOVES THE VILLAGES.........but we are no longer the younger generation. Really really doubt if we'd be in those squares at night.
Others our age, family members and friends of ours, who also visited..........say it is "artificial". It all depends upon where you are coming from.
WE thought it was lovely to look at. But it would take many more visits, other than SIX WEEKS to come to an ultimate yes or no.
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I am confused by your reference to an "older woman who called from the sales office". I have NEVER heard of anyone calling from the sales office with a request to "get you out into the community", . I wonder if it was an MLS person who got wind you were renting. They can be annoyingly persistent. Not so the sales staff from The Villages.
I bet that everyone will agree with me on that..I am an avid reader of this forum and have talked to a lot of people over five years and have never heard of anyone being harassed or even bothered slightly by the sales staff from The Villages. That is one of the things that "sold" me on this place. No one has to "sell" you anything and the sales staff only come when called.
I am the perfect example of someone who was not interested EVER in moving to Florida and stopped by for a brief visit with old friends and they took us on a tour and gave us a Kool refreshing drink. I was in love and so was Sweetie.
Don't forget to go in SEVERAL of the rec centers, the decor is just amazing in all of them and different in each. Go to several pools, both adult and family and chat with folks; all you need say is .." I am new here. What do you think of The Villages.
And stop by our house. We will be glad to drive you around, Ugotme.
I am pretty sure you will love it here.
I do NOT work for The Villages, I do not know the Morses and I don't think I have a chip embedded in me anywhere.
I am just so glad to be alive everyday I wake up here and...well...
come see for yourself.