do fulltimers travel outside their own village?

[bfdretired]

the villages is so large and there is so many options to choose from town centers,golf courses,places to eat,shopping etc ......but day to day do you use the same pool or rec center? or is every day an adventure?....are you welcome at other rec centers?...do you only visit the nearest town center?....do you shop with the golf cart or use the car.......
thanks for any help

[jnieman]

Hi:

We tend to go to the neighborhood pool closest to our home and many of the parties we go to are at the regional rec center nearest our home, but you are welcome at any of them except the priority pools where you need a membership. We shop at the Colony shopping center because it is closest to our house. We travel by golf cart to get our groceries. Sometimes we eat at the restaurants there also. We travel to the square a couple of times a month in our golf cart (used to go more often, been here 6 years). We will travel all over the villages to a restaurant whether it requires a car or not doesn't matter where the restaurant is, it doesn't deter us from going. We also visit several restaurants outside the Villages. We shop for most everything on line (Amazon) except for clothes and we drive to Bealls or Belks. Sometimes we go to Orlando for something special. We eat at the country clubs nearest our house Mallory and Hemmingways more often than the others, but we do go to the others quite often especially when there is a special like lobster night at Glenview. We also eat at the restaurants in Sumter landing and we go by golf cart. We belong to a few clubs that meet once a month and entertain in our home once or twice a month. We play golf approx 3 days a week and go to lunch or dinner afterwards. Hope this helps.

[perrjojo]

the villages is so large and there is so many options to choose from town centers,golf courses,places to eat,shopping etc ......but day to day do you use the same pool or rec center? or is every day an adventure?....are you welcome at other rec centers?...do you only visit the nearest town center?....do you shop with the golf cart or use the car.......
thanks for any help
Do you travel outside of your immediate neighborhood now? It will be the same here. Of course we travel out of our village and all over the state. Do we mostly do things closest to home? Of course. You will likely find that most activities take place in private homes and fewer at rec centers. As far as golf goes... .you play wherever you can get a time you want and that means all over.

[Villages PL]

the villages is so large and there is so many options to choose from town centers,golf courses,places to eat,shopping etc ......but day to day do you use the same pool or rec center? or is every day an adventure?....are you welcome at other rec centers?...do you only visit the nearest town center?....do you shop with the golf cart or use the car.......
thanks for any help

Every day is an adventure. If I see something in the newspaper about something special going on, I might decide to go to it. But my favorite square, which happens to be the closest, is Lake Sumter Landing. I like the theater and the boardwalk.

As far as transportation, I always use my car because I like being comfortable with the air conditioning in summer and heat in winter. Plus it's safer with seat belts and airbags etc.. I would hate to be traveling in a golf cart during a thunder storm. Yeeoow! :22yikes:

[Wandatime]

We stay close by for the day to day stuff, walking, swimming, groceries, but go from one end of The Villages to the other if there is something special we'd like to enjoy. We'll go "off campus" as well for a couple of restaurants or for some of our shopping.

[cbh1975]

I guess we like adventure!

We tend to go to the same pool, but only because it's right down the street. We go to whichever rec center has activities we want to participate in. We usually take our golf cart for grocery shopping, but will take the car if we're going to multiple stores. We go to whichever town square has music/activities we want to attend. We'll take the cart to restaurants, unless it happens to be one that isn't golf cart accessible, or rainy, or cold. We'll take the car in that case. We're all over the place, and really...The Villages doesn't seem that big once you get here and learn your way around! :-)

We also travel outside of The Villages, usually either to the Gulf coast, or Orlando. I'm a huge Disney fan, so we'll head down there occasionally, as well.
There are tons to places to visit and things to do--both inside and outside The Villages. I intend to enjoy every bit of it!

[bfdretired]

thanks to all the posters.....somewhere in totv i saw a comment about some villages being quieter or not as social.....or are all of the villages equally social?

thanks again

[senior citizen]

.....................

[jblum315]

New Villages tend to be social - garage parties, open houses, etc. Then people start to make friends in other villages as well as their own. But many villages or neighborhoods have "clubs" that hold regular events in their rec center.

[Bogie Shooter]

Although we are not there yet, I totally agree with your second paragraph,
100%. We also used our car daily.......both to explore, shop, visit the model homes, etc. and eat at the restaurants at Lake Sumter Landing where we also, like you, enjoyed the boardwalk. Very much so.

However, for the most part........during our October/November there, we never went to the pools as the home we rented had one and it was just nice to have the privacy (on the golf course).........ditto for when our son, daughter in law and grandbaby visited........obviously we were bound to her napping and feeding schedule, so it was perfect. Serene and quiet.

After reading earlier about the rude people in the one pool (rudeness to the hearing impaired woman; bunch of "ladies" acting like immature schoolgirls) I totally KNOW we want our own pool.............for sure.

My husband has said all along, that probably we'd end up staying in our own neighborhood "generally"; the one we were in was quiet, small but had whatever we needed.

We also are big Amazon shoppers, in addition to using other big name online shopping venues which are definitely our "cup of tea" as opposed to hoofing it through shopping malls.

We are creatures of habit, so I'm assuming that will not change much after almost 50 years of marriage. If anything, we would drive to the Gulf Coast and also the Atlantic Coast.......to the beaches.

p.s. Husband (and son as well) did enjoy driving the golf cart around the neighborhood but it would be much too hot to use it for any great distance.

Guess we are spoiled by the comfort of air conditioning, our automobile and as you mentioned, the safety of airbags and seatbelts.

We saw too much speeding plus ambulances running constantly when we were in the Lifestyle Visit home on Merryweather Way, facing the lake where the sun set each evening.......not sure what that main road was called.

We could see through the white picket fence to several roads and the emergency vehicles, with their sirens blaring.....constantly on the run to rescue someone.......I think they were green....but maybe not.

This is not a big issue in The Villages! And certainly not a constant event.

[njbchbum]

thanks to all the posters.....somewhere in totv i saw a comment about some villages being quieter or not as social.....or are all of the villages equally social?

thanks again

Some posters here try to paint those of us who live in the historic villages as more quiet and less social.

The quiet nature of our villages lies in the fact that we do not suffer from the traffic that one finds in other neighborhoods. I doubt you would ever find anyone standing in their drvieway with a radar gun as happens in another! ;)

Another factor re quiet is the respect most of us have for our neighbors and visitors - you won't usually hear tvs/radios blaring from outdoor lanais and pool areas...partying - for sure, but not necessarily anything over-the-top. And while we have our share of dogs throughout the neighborhoods, they seem to happy pets and do not spend the day or night barking about anything; even they don't complain! ;)

Not as social? HOOEY! We were the new kids on the block several years ago so first off we introduced ourselves to the neighbor on either side of the house. After the house was furnished and welcoming - we threw a 'come and meet us' driveway party! I walked up/down the street to deliver computer printed invites, met most everyone that way and then enjoyed hosting a well-attended event in our driveway - complete with house tours. If for no other reason, folks came to see how we furnished the house!

5 years later - most ever nieghbor watches out for our property while we are away and we get reports from them, too! They are the sweetest neighbors!

What have I had reinforced for me each winter in the villages - that whatever you give you will receive two times over - at least!

[Bogie Shooter]

the villages is so large and there is so many options to choose from town centers,golf courses,places to eat,shopping etc ......but day to day do you use the same pool or rec center? or is every day an adventure?....are you welcome at other rec centers?...do you only visit the nearest town center?....do you shop with the golf cart or use the car.......
thanks for any help

This is an active lifestyle community..........................not an old folks home!

[downeaster]

the villages is so large and there is so many options to choose from town centers,golf courses,places to eat,shopping etc ......but day to day do you use the same pool or rec center? or is every day an adventure?....are you welcome at other rec centers?...do you only visit the nearest town center?....do you shop with the golf cart or use the car.......
thanks for any help

are you welcome at other rec centers? Absolutely. All rec centers are for the benefit of all residents.

do you only visit the nearest town center? Nope, visit them all.

do you shop with the golf cart or use the car? Depends on the weather and/or distance. Too hot, too cold, too wet, we take the car. If it is more than a thirty minute drive by cart we take the car. The longer we live here, and the older we get, we use the car more and cart less. We don't drive the cart after dark.

[NotGolfer]

I have to ask the OP....do you stay in your neighborhood w/out venturing out, where you live now?? The Villages is made up of neighborhoods with names...hence the name "villages". When it was 1st created it was small w/out a lot of amenities. From what I've heard, back in the day, folks had to go to Leesburg or Ocala to do ALL of their shopping (groceries etc). Now we don't need to do that. Certainly each neighborhood has it's own pool and district rec. center with it's pool that's devoted to families (for when the kids/grandkids come to visit. We also have sports pools that are for residents only. The squares (I think) were built to give us a "home-town" feel. IF you haven't visited...then you must as we just can't describe it here in a way that gives it justice. You "have to" experience it for yourself!

[senior citizen]

..............................

[senior citizen]

......................................

[DianeM]

Gee didn't they tell you that you get fitted with an ankle monitor when you move into a Village so you can't leave it? Of course we go outside of our respective Villages. This is not a prison.

[Bogie Shooter]

They were when we were there......the emergency vehicles, whatever they are called in Florida, were "on the run" constantly, responding to numerous accidents or health events....or both.........very loud. Again, we were near Lake Sumter Landing on Merryweather Way. Could actually see them from the back lanai and yard.

We both thought that either people were having a lot of heart attacks that particular FOUR DAYS or else there were numerous accidents.

Once we moved to our private rental home in Calumet Grove, we no longer heard the emergency responder's sirens.
It was supremely quiet in that quadrant of The Villages.......

Wasn't it you who once complained about my large print (which I inadvertently had turned on due to my poor eyesight???)

To say that sirens were constantly being sounded was just too much of an exaggeration to not comment on.
I don't recall complaining about any large print.

[Bogie Shooter]

So, if it's only for the active younger retirees, say from 40 (being the younger spouses of the 55+ group) what becomes of those 70 and over, 80 and over, 90 and over......? Pray tell.

I think I already know. This movie we saw when we were "young and super active" always comes to mind. In fact, my husband and I kid about it all the time..........that's how we will end up.....slowly moving towards that big panoramic movie screen with the gorgeous scenery...........and then what? I don't think it's a wood chipper machine. Hopefully not.

I think I still prefer to exit on "my own terms"......not gliding into oblivion......

SOYLENT GREEN:
""Richard Fleischer directed this nightmarish science fiction vision of an over-populated world, based on the novel by Harry Harrison."

"In 2022, New York City is a town bursting at the seams with a 40-million-plus population. "

"Food is in short supply, and most of the population's food source comes from synthetics manufactured in local factories -- the dinner selections being a choice between Soylent Red, Soylent Yellow, or Soylent Green."

"When William Simonson (Joseph Cotten), an upper-echelon executive in the Soylent Company, is found murdered, police detective Thorn (Charlton Heston) is sent in to investigate the case. Helping him out researching the case is Thorn's old friend Sol Roth (Edward G. Robinson, in his final film role). "

"As they investigate the environs of a succession of mad-from-hunger New Yorkers and the luxuriously rich digs of the lucky few, Thorn uncovers the terrible truth about the real ingredients of Soylent Green. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi "

SPOILER ALERT: Close your eyes.

Soylent Green is People.

Yikes.





















I did not say younger. Just an active lifestyle community.
As to the rest of your reply.........I have no idea the relevance to this thread.

[senior citizen]

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[senior citizen]

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[KathieI]

For that timeframe, it was not an exaggeration at all. End of October.
Perhaps that neighborhood is near a hospital?

The "ambulances" were running constantly with their sirens on.

Perhaps it was a major automobile accident.

However......they were "running constantly" in all directions as we could see and hear them. Actually, we thought it was more due to heart attacks and such....but later figured it might be just a lot of traffic accidents.

Unfortunately, that house was right on Buena Vista Blvd, which is a major thoroughfare for the EMS ambulances to get around the villages to the hospital. I'm not sure that "running constantly" would be correct, but I would agree that you would be hearing them more than the average person just because of the proximity of the house to BV Blvd.

[mixsonci]

We stay close by for the day to day stuff, walking, swimming, groceries, but go from one end of The Villages to the other if there is something special we'd like to enjoy. We'll go "off campus" as well for a couple of restaurants or for some of our shopping.

Can you take a Golf Cart along 466 for shopping, restaurants etc. I know you can't take it on the road but are there golf cart trails along the sides? I took my car up there when I was at TV in December, and I saw some carts in the parking lots, but I didn't notice any golf cart lanes and wondered how they got to the parking lots?

[buggyone]

We are among the younger active Villagers. However, we chose to move into one of the older, established, villages. We love the location and unique modified homes. We also love our neighbors, most of whom would be considered old by many posters. If health allows, they remain active. If in poor health, neighbors help them in any way possible. As a result, aging in place is more common here than in other communities where we have lived. When we were looking to move to a retirement community, the ability to age in place was a prime consideration. So many retirement places are isolated from needed srevices and distances to stores, restaurants, and doctors would result in long drives that would make it difficult for seniors to reach on their own or with the help of caring, but also, elderly neighbors. As for the healthy, but older, Villagers, they continue to golf, participate in other sports, eat out, and otherwise enjoy the amenities offered here. Our 87 year old neighbor continues to golf on the championship courses and routinely scores under his age! He also works part-time at a country club pool and is one of the few Villagers we know who does all his lawn maintenance!

[Bogie Shooter]

Can you take a Golf Cart along 466 for shopping, restaurants etc. I know you can't take it on the road but are there golf cart trails along the sides? I took my car up there when I was at TV in December, and I saw some carts in the parking lots, but I didn't notice any golf cart lanes and wondered how they got to the parking lots?

Here is an online golf cart path map.Carting The Villages -Home (http://cartingthevillages.com/index.php)
Once to the shopping areas you can drive around the parking lots.

[senior citizen]

Unfortunately, that house was right on Buena Vista Blvd, which is a major thoroughfare for the EMS ambulances to get around the villages to the hospital. I'm not sure that "running constantly" would be correct, but I would agree that you would be hearing them more than the average person just because of the proximity of the house to BV Blvd.


Exactly. Thank you. We did.

[senior citizen]

..................................

[jnieman]

It is not much too hot to use the golf cart. We travel about 60% of the time in the golf cart and live here full time. It's all in what you get used to. We have 14,000 miles on our golf cart and it's less than 3 years old. Also I live near a busy street and have never said to myself in 6 years that there are so many ambulances that actually made me even notice it. No matter where you live there are ambulances.

[Bogie Shooter]

It is not much too hot to use the golf cart. We travel about 60% of the time in the golf cart and live here full time. It's all in what you get used to. We have 14,000 miles on our golf cart and it's less than 3 years old. Also I live near a busy street and have never said to myself in 6 years that there are so many ambulances that actually made me even notice it. No matter where you live there are ambulances.

Amen!

[Bruiser1]

Unfortunately, that house was right on Buena Vista Blvd, which is a major thoroughfare for the EMS ambulances to get around the villages to the hospital. I'm not sure that "running constantly" would be correct, but I would agree that you would be hearing them more than the average person just because of the proximity of the house to BV Blvd.

Regarding the comment earlier "running constantly (ambulances)"

I played 18 holes at Lopez Country club (on the North side of the Villages)
and my partner remarked" I didn't hear any sirens" (for the 4 hours).

:gc:

[2BNTV]

the villages is so large and there is so many options to choose from town centers,golf courses,places to eat,shopping etc ......but day to day do you use the same pool or rec center? or is every day an adventure?....are you welcome at other rec centers?...do you only visit the nearest town center?....do you shop with the golf cart or use the car.......
thanks for any help


The short answer is YES!!! The ones closer to you will be frequented more often. Other places need to be traveled to, for special events, one may want to attend.

thanks to all the posters.....somewhere in totv i saw a comment about some villages being quieter or not as social.....or are all of the villages equally social?

thanks again

The short answer is no. Some people feel that people in their 50's may want to move to the newer area's, to be near people, closer to their age.

Quieter areas are north of 466, in the east corner of TV ot The Historic Section of TV. The social aspect of your neighborhood, will depend on you neighbors. Some people have complained to me, they don't know their neighbors. My neighbors are friendly and great. They are inviting, but tend to go about their business.

One must make an effort to be friendly, with their neighbors. Invite them over for coffee, and get to know them.

[NotGolfer]

For that timeframe, it was not an exaggeration at all. End of October.
Perhaps that neighborhood is near a hospital?

The "ambulances" were running constantly with their sirens on.

Perhaps it was a major automobile accident.

However......they were "running constantly" in all directions as we could see and hear them. Actually, we thought it was more due to heart attacks and such....but later figured it might be just a lot of traffic accidents.

If you were by LSL...you may have backed up to one of the major thorough-fares that links the state highways. For instance Morse Blvd. goes north and south linking 466a (soon 44) to 441/27. The Villages Hospital is on the far north end of the community next to 441/27. I would suspect you could hear more "traffic" (not knowing exactly where you were located). Calmut Grove is on the north-west end of the community, relatively in a quieter area. There are many quieter areas in The Villages. That's why visiting more than once and/or for a longer length of time to actually get a hold of what it is to live here. We live near Odell and Morse on the south end---do we hear sirens?? Sometimes! Remember this community is for an over 55 population. There are all sorts of reasons the EMTS are out and about---accidents, health crisis's, and more. It's an active community after all.

[Shimpy]

shop with the golf cart or use the car.......



If in The Villages we ALWAYS use the golfcart. I hate, especially in snow bird season driving around trying to find a place to park. There are so many more options to park with the cart. In the summer it's nice to jump into a cart and go, and not have to open all the windows to let the 130 deg heat out of your car. If it rains, simply let down the side curtains. If too cold do the same thing.

[DougB]

the villages is so large and there is so many options to choose from town centers,golf courses,places to eat,shopping etc ......but day to day do you use the same pool or rec center? or is every day an adventure?....are you welcome at other rec centers?...do you only visit the nearest town center?....do you shop with the golf cart or use the car.......
thanks for any help

We venture outside our own little village but we never leave the bubble for it is forbidden. Should one do so our skin would lose it's moisture and elasticity. This, combined with sun damage, will cause wrinkles to form.

Hair color will change also. This occurs due to inactive melanin, or pigment, in the hair.

We would begin to lose muscle mass, which decreases our strength and energy. The skeleton would also begin to shrink slowly reducing our height.

Our eyesight would worsen the farther away we go and make it difficult to focus on objects up close and we would create fewer tears, which would cause us to have dry eyes.

Our nervous system would be affected with each mile further away from The Villages. It would be difficult to maintain balance and and our reflexes would slow down. This can be dangerous in certain circumstances, such as driving or doing our favorite line dance.

[perrjojo]

For that timeframe, it was not an exaggeration at all. End of October.
Perhaps that neighborhood is near a hospital?

The "ambulances" were running constantly with their sirens on.

Perhaps it was a major automobile accident.

However......they were "running constantly" in all directions as we could see and hear them. Actually, we thought it was more due to heart attacks and such....but later figured it might be just a lot of traffic accidents.
I have a comment but will just keep it to myself at this time.

[tudacee]

We venture outside our own little village but we never leave the bubble for it is forbidden. Should one do so our skin would lose it's moisture and elasticity. This, combined with sun damage, will cause wrinkles to form.

Hair color will change also. This occurs due to inactive melanin, or pigment, in the hair.

We would begin to lose muscle mass, which decreases our strength and energy. The skeleton would also begin to shrink slowly reducing our height.

Our eyesight would worsen the farther away we go and make it difficult to focus on objects up close and we would create fewer tears, which would cause us to have dry eyes.

Our nervous system would be affected with each mile further away from The Villages. It would be difficult to maintain balance and and our reflexes would slow down. This can be dangerous in certain circumstances, such as driving or doing our favorite line dance.


Didn't I see this in a movie. Lost Horizon with Ronald Coleman. Was it Shangri-La? Wait? Are you saying TV is Shangri-La? I knew it!