[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by raynan

Us full-timers grin and bear it because this is when the commercial areas make their money to sustain them the rest of the year. It can be frustrating but you will learn to go to everything super early, find restaurants off campus or adjust your dining schedule to real early or really late, shop at the supermarket during dinner time when others are at the restaurants. We eat breakfast late, skip lunch and have a really early dinner and my husband will snack later. Once you meet your neighbors have driveway parties, coffee hours, book clubs, card games, bunco, mahjong groups at home and rotate hosts. Being flexible keeps you sane.

I would like to add that you are experiencing the snowbird phenomena. and sorry to say, prior planning might have avoided, some of this disappointment.
I have experience a longer wait at one restaurant, but tend to eat home.

I wouldn't give up on TV because when the snowbirds leave, everything goes back to normal. I am going to take up golf, but after the snowbirds leave, as getting a tee time, must be much harder. It's really not crowded except for the snowbird season. Some people might disagree with my last statement but coming from NY, everything requires patience.