[manaboutown]

Where I live now in Southern California my membership at 24 hour Fitness runs $15/month. I can go to any gym in the chain. They all have literally tons of free weights, a variety of numerous cardio machines, offer free exercise classes and much more. They also offer well educated personal trainers for a charge if one so desires.

On my visits to The Villages I found the regional center fitness centers expensive, especially for what they offered. They only had a token amount of free weights, a handful of cardio machines, lacked any place to stretch and had no adjoining showers or restrooms. They reminded me of what many hotels offer their guests just so they can advertise they have exercise facilities.

The only MVP site at the time was in SS, a good long drive from where I was staying in Mallory and it was closed the Sunday morning I drove up to try it out! I found it impossible to maintain my normal level of conditioning during my stays in The Villages. The rec center rooms were crowded and frequently only 20 minutes were allowed on a cardio machine as people were waiting to use them - and this was in October, not snowbird season. 20 minutes is what it takes to get warmed up. 20 minutes is not a meaningful amount of time for a decent cardio workout which should go at least 45 minutes.

Although I have enjoyed my visits to The Villages and I still may end up purchasing a home there the lack of a convenient, reasonably priced decent gym was a total downer for me.