Quote:
Originally Posted by Villages PL
I didn't expect the article to say anything different than what it said. But I can wonder if the reporter/writer may have been a U.S.F graduate, and therefore very upbeat about anything U.S.F. is involved in. She most likely contacted U.S.F. and The Villages to get the story. So she got all the usual PR stuff that we get here in The Villages. I didn't say that I wish for a story that's critical of The Villages. You assumed it. The writer obviously only had once source of information, so what else would one expect?
Do you know all 100,000 residents well enough to speak for them? I think you are reporting your particular experiences or observations. I have had both good and bad experiences, not unlike other communities. Florida is full of "nice" retirement communities, so we are not that unique. But we are bigger of course.
On what do you base your confidence that more seniors are active here? Out of 100,000 residents, how many show up to participate or observe the senior olympic games? Only about 1% of the residents participate and those who show up to watch are close friends or relatives. More often than not the "eating and drinking too much" is not balanced with sufficient physical activity.
So how will we know if it's working? There's a turnover of people moving in and moving out. New people come in and some die, some go to nursing homes, some go to assisted living, and there are those who go back north to live with their children.
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I have said it before, and I will say it again on this issue. Boy Howdy.
There isn't any way to know why the person wrote the article. It was probably of minimum interest to people who don't live here and are young.
There isn't any way that we can tell what percentage of villagers is interested in improving the health of this place. There isn't any way we can change the minds of people who have bad health habits. We are all allowed to do as we wish, either choose healthy things to do or suffer for our wrong choices. It doesn't seem to change anyone's mind to lecture, suggest, harangue and nag, repeat.. It will get the attention of those who agree and aggravate those who don't. (IN MY OPINION)
I think most people really don't strive for living without medicine or for living the longest and I can't agree that they should. Most people have other problems and can't or don't want to concentrate on the perfect diet. They want to live healthily but may not have the oomph or the interest for running or bicycling or working out , and eating what most of us consider an extreme diet, even if someone could guarantee that it would add years to our lives.
Most of us do the best we can considering who we are and how we feel and what we have experienced. Some people are on the path of perfection all of the time. Yep. And some are trying pretty much and some aren't trying.
We are lucky to influence the people we know well.
I have NO idea how many people I speak for. Maybe just me. Yes. Just me.