Andrew D. Blechman and a visit to TOTV.

[Guest]

I am going to try to get Andrew D. Blechman to visit TOTV. He might have done so already, but I kind of doubt it.

I'll post a request to get him to visit from his website. Hope some others will do the same. Andrew D. Blechman - author of LEISUREVILLE and PIGEONS (http://www.andrewblechman.com/)

Not sure when he last visited the Villages?

[Guest]

I am going to try to get Andrew D. Blechman to visit TOTV. He might have done so already, but I kind of doubt it.

I'll post a request to get him to visit from his website. Hope some others will do the same. Andrew D. Blechman - author of LEISUREVILLE and PIGEONS (http://www.andrewblechman.com/)

Not sure when he last visited the Villages?

I sent Andrew D. Blechman a short e-mail to his address which is available through his website contact information above.

This should be interesting if we can get him to come onto TOTV.

I did not use my real name in the e-mail just the TOTV handle Taltarzac725 and my first name of Jon.

[Guest]

Why?

[Guest]

I wanna know who Mr. Midnight is.

[Guest]

I think Mr. Midnight is an urban legend.

[Guest]

Why?

Some posters give his views on this and that without quoting from the book Leisureville or somehow otherwise supporting what they are saying Andrew Blechman would write.

He also may want to get an up-to-date look at the Villages and people in it.


I think Mr. Midnight is an urban legend.

Mr Midnight is a real person. A previous post on TOTV a few years ago gave some details on the man.

[Guest]

We certainly do not need Andrew Blechman around The Villages. It would take even longer to get the stench out of the air than when Newt Gingrich was here for a campaign stop.

[Guest]

We certainly do not need Andrew Blechman around The Villages. It would take even longer to get the stench out of the air than when Newt Gingrich was here for a campaign stop.

He lives in Dusseldorf and Massachusetts the last I looked. He would not need to visit the Villages. My guess is that he is a Democrat too from his views in Leisureville.

[Guest]

He lives in Dusseldorf and Massachusetts the last I looked. He would not need to visit the Villages. My guess is that he is a Democrat too from his views in Leisureville.

He visited TV before writing Leisureville. And during his prior visit (as mentioned in his book) he openly admitted he violated one of the covenants (parking on the street instead of the driveway).

In his book he openly opposes age-restricted communities (except for assisted living facilities). He has a view that people have a "collective responsibility" to others and would like to see more public funding of the types of housing he believes to be appropriate (i.e., taxpayers should pay for his utopia whether we want to or not).

[Guest]

He has had more that his 15 minutes of fame...............let it rest.

[Guest]

Just curious as to why you would want him to visit this site, Tal. If I remember correctly, he mentioned the cemetery near the Caroline postal station. My impression is that his stay was in my village.

[Guest]

Just curious as to why you would want him to visit this site, Tal. If I remember correctly, he mentioned the cemetery near the Caroline postal station. My impression is that his stay was in my village.

Many of his views seemed to be that people in retirement communities like the Villages were no longer all that much involved in anything else but leisure. I have found that many Villagers are very political and very much involved with volunteering and other matters. They might be involved more in Republican politics and Republican causes.

[Guest]

He visited TV before writing Leisureville. And during his prior visit (as mentioned in his book) he openly admitted he violated one of the covenants (parking on the street instead of the driveway).

In his book he openly opposes age-restricted communities (except for assisted living facilities). He has a view that people have a "collective responsibility" to others and would like to see more public funding of the types of housing he believes to be appropriate (i.e., taxpayers should pay for his utopia whether we want to or not).

Yes wouldn't be absolutely terrible if we all took care of each other and our elderly.

[Guest]

Many of his views seemed to be that people in retirement communities like the Villages were no longer all that much involved in anything else but leisure. I have found that many Villagers are very political and very much involved with volunteering and other matters. They might be involved more in Republican politics and Republican causes.
Sounds like a good reason, but my feeling is that he will continue to believe what he believes, Villagers are just older teens with money, he wanted to sell his book and felt he had a great market, or he's just an a** .....😜

[Guest]

Please refrain from making partisan political comments in the general forum or this thread will be closed or moved to the opt-in Political subforum.

A large majority of TOTV members made quite clear several years ago that they wanted all mentions of politics and political parties out of the main forum, hence the opt-in political subforum was created. Please respect that decision.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Moderator

[Guest]

Sounds like a good reason, but my feeling is that he will continue to believe what he believes, Villagers are just older teens with money, he wanted to sell his book and felt he had a great market, or he's just an a** .....��

You may be right. It sounds like he last visited the Villages in late 2005 when Jack Black's version of King Kong was playing at the Old Mill Playhouse. There have been quite a number of changes since then.

His book Leisureville still seems to have a great deal of influence though on how outsiders view the Villages.

[Guest]

Yes wouldn't be absolutely terrible if we all took care of each other and our elderly.

That would be wonderful. I would like for them to pay for my golf, too. And maybe some cruises, and a new car, and maybe they would pay me for eating out in all the wonderful restaurants in TV. I'd like a Rolex, fur coat for my wife, sports car. Oh my, I feel like I was 8 years old again and I'm marking the Toys-R-Us catalog with my wish list. :MOJE_whot::MOJE_whot:

[Guest]

That would be wonderful. I would like for them to pay for my golf, too. And maybe some cruises, and a new car, and maybe they would pay me for eating out in all the wonderful restaurants in TV. I'd like a Rolex, fur coat for my wife, sports car. Oh my, I feel like I was 8 years old again and I'm marking the Toys-R-Us catalog with my wish list. :MOJE_whot::MOJE_whot:

That would be a fun perk of the Villages if it were true.

Well, at least you do not have to do the babysitting of your grandkids for more than 30 days or so. That seemed to be the biggest complaint of Andrew D. Blechman, that seniors are not more involved with the lives of their grandkids.

That also seems to be a factor in many people who move away from the Villages. They have medical problems and move so that their family can take care of them or they move so that they can be closer to their kids who need help caring for their grandkids.

[Guest]

Sounds like a good reason, but my feeling is that he will continue to believe what he believes, Villagers are just older teens with money, he wanted to sell his book and felt he had a great market, or he's just an a** .....��

I read the book several years ago and at that time he had already visited, thus the book. It all began when his neighbors across the way announced they were moving to THE VILLAGES. In a nutshell, he went down to visit them.

I think he just needed a "theme" to write about.

To put things in perspective, he was a new father....albeit a slightly older one than had he had the child in his twenties .......he felt his child would benefit by having the elder neighbors........such as we ourselves experienced when raising our family.........all of the age groups interacted and many who were out of state transplants to Vermont, gained new sets of grandparents who loved all of our children as if they were their own.

I took some of his book to be "satire" or tongue in cheek humor.
I also took most of it "with a grain of salt". It was no earth shaking novel.

I "get it". He now had a child and it was the center of his universe; he didn't want the neighborhood to change and lose the wisdom of the elders. In his narrow way, he wanted to understand WHY SOMEONE WOULD WANT TO MOVE TO A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY.

He also didn't get the "unlived in" look of the perfect new home his neighbors had. Remember, he was coming from Massachusetts.
Lots of old homes....totally different than Florida.

If everyone was the same with the same viewpoints, it would get pretty boring. Some seniors love to see their grandchildren every day.....and develop a deep bond with them........others realize that as the little ones grow into teens, become even more active in school, church, community, sports, etc. activities.......they see the grandparents less.....so moving isn't that difficult.

Most retired women couldn't care less if they never cooked or cleaned again. In that respect, THE VILLAGES is perfect.

But, from our own experience, I can say that when we were in our 20's, 30's, 40's our lives and our neighborhood was ENRICHED by the elders who we called our neighbors, friends and surrogate grandparents to our children..........now grown, married, with children of their own. All these wonderful elders are now deceased..........but we had many happy memories...........so I do "get" the theme of his book. In our 40's and 50's, etc. we became the older parents as ours went off to university, got married and had babies of their own.........we still have deep bonds with those who were babies and children........now grown up adults.

We even had a gentleman in his 70's, 80's and passed at 91, who would come down and plant flowers in our rock garden......bring us home made blueberry muffins, a gin and tonic.......his wife was wonderful as well.
She'd have our little boy over for supper when our daughter had to have her tonsils out. We never imposed or asked.........they just called and invited. All the young couples LOVED THEM........and WE MISS THEM.
He'd invite us all over for pancakes........he would come down and snowblow, rake leaves............he wanted to help the "younger folks".

Someone like this particular neighbor would have been sorely missed, for sure.

I see nothing wrong with the book..........in the bigger scheme of things.
The Villages sells itself and one book cannot hurt it at all.

What I don't get is why people have to be Republicans to live in TV.
What if someone is apolitical. WE all know nothing changes, no matter which party is elected.

A family member "inlaw" happened to recently visit THE VILLAGES and said it was wonderful, a fantasy land, etc......but he couldn't move down there as they were all Republicans. See how nuts that sounds? Same as when someone says they wouldn't want Democrats living there. Live and let live. Our town has two active parties plus a few others, and most people do not pay any attention at all..........

This is why we are NOT RUSHING.....to move. Still feeling things out.
Basically, we know what we have here. Nuff said.

[Guest]

Yeah, but who is this Mr. Midnight fella?

Is he still living in TV?

[Guest]

"What I don't get is why people have to be Republicans to live in TV.
What if someone is apolitical. WE all know nothing changes, no matter which party is elected.

A family member "inlaw" happened to recently visit THE VILLAGES and said it was wonderful, a fantasy land, etc......but he couldn't move down there as they were all Republicans. See how nuts that sounds? Same as when someone says they wouldn't want Democrats living there. Live and let live. Our town has two active parties plus a few others, and most people do not pay any attention at all.........."


Of course, you do not have to be a Republican to enjoy life here in The Villages. If you read the Political Forum on TOTV, you would think everyone here is a gun-totin' Republican ready to blast away anyone who would dare to think a liberal thought. Not so at all.

Most people do not even talk politics in everyday conversation. The Daily Sun is an enjoyable paper to read but for real news, you may want to subscribe to an online paper or the Orlando paper. You do not have to go to the town squares the few days that a Republican candidate or speaker comes there.

Political issues don't come up on the golf courses when playing with strangers and even if they did, so what? No one is going to get angry when talking to others even if they are a different political bent than yours.

I say, come on down, look the place over, and if it is what you like as a lifestyle, it would make a great home. I have been here about 3 years and love every minute of it.

One more thing: Andrew Blechman is a total idiot.

[Guest]

Thread moved to political forum.

[Guest]

"What I don't get is why people have to be Republicans to live in TV.
What if someone is apolitical. WE all know nothing changes, no matter which party is elected.

A family member "inlaw" happened to recently visit THE VILLAGES and said it was wonderful, a fantasy land, etc......but he couldn't move down there as they were all Republicans. See how nuts that sounds? Same as when someone says they wouldn't want Democrats living there. Live and let live. Our town has two active parties plus a few others, and most people do not pay any attention at all.........."


Of course, you do not have to be a Republican to enjoy life here in The Villages. If you read the Political Forum on TOTV, you would think everyone here is a gun-totin' Republican ready to blast away anyone who would dare to think a liberal thought. Not so at all.

Most people do not even talk politics in everyday conversation. The Daily Sun is an enjoyable paper to read but for real news, you may want to subscribe to an online paper or the Orlando paper. You do not have to go to the town squares the few days that a Republican candidate or speaker comes there.

Political issues don't come up on the golf courses when playing with strangers and even if they did, so what? No one is going to get angry when talking to others even if they are a different political bent than yours.

I say, come on down, look the place over, and if it is what you like as a lifestyle, it would make a great home. I have been here about 3 years and love every minute of it.

One more thing: Andrew Blechman is a total idiot.

Looks like he is a politician of sorts now in his hometown of Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Great Barrington, MA - Board of Selectmen (http://www.townofgb.org/pages/gbarringtonma_bos/index)

[Guest]

IMHO Blechman spoke a number of truths. I met his neighbors before the book was published and they informed me it was coming out. My brother attests to the fact that Mr. Midnight is a real person and being the competitor he has always been when it came to the ladies believes if he had remained single he would have run circles around Mr Midnight reducing him to dawn dust....Again IMHO he would have.

What I didn't like about the book ( I have read it a number of times) is that Blechmn took the low road more than once with his references to Midnight, the location of minoritity groups the so called STD scandal and criticizing people for making the choice to leave their communities. Village residents since arriving have made as meaningful contribution here as they would have in their previous communities.

The one item that displeases me the most and continues to survive is the myth that this is some sort of a fantasy land. It certainly has many good distraction located in a compact manner but living, suffering and dying is as real here as anywhere and to continue on with this nonsense of a fantasy land negates the very people who have had misfortune visit them.

[Guest]

IMHO Blechman spoke a number of truths. I met his neighbors before the book was published and they informed me it was coming out. My brother attests to the fact that Mr. Midnight is a real person and being the competitor he has always been when it came to the ladies believes if he had remained single he would have run circles around Mr Midnight reducing him to dawn dust....Again IMHO he would have.

What I didn't like about the book ( I have read it a number of times) is that Blechmn took the low road more than once with his references to Midnight, the location of minoritity groups the so called STD scandal and criticizing people for making the choice to leave their communities. Village residents since arriving have made as meaningful contribution here as they would have in their previous communities.

The one item that displeases me the most and continues to survive is the myth that this is some sort of a fantasy land. It certainly has many good distraction located in a compact manner but living, suffering and dying is as real here as anywhere and to continue on with this nonsense of a fantasy land negates the very people who have had misfortune visit them.

True, the February 2007 tornado, the first murder in the Villages, some reported suicides, many cart accidents, and other travails show that the Villages is not a fantasyland.

To many, Great Barrington, where Andrew D. Blechman lives, is something of a paradise as the Smithsonian recently voted it the best small town in the US. The 20 Best Small Towns in America | Travel | Smithsonian Magazine (http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/The-20-Best-Small-Towns-in-America.html?c=y&page=2&navigation=next#IMAGES)

[Guest]

Go enjoy yourself if Great Barrington, Michigan. I will stay here in The Villages.

This is not an attack on you by any means, but I just do not understand the reason you are posting most of your stuff which consists mainly of a link somewhere.

I believe you had said earlier you came to stay with a parent in The Villages and that you are an advocate of victim rights to some degree. Do you do any paid or volunteer work for that purpose to make it more well known? How is that working out for you? Maybe a paid or volunteer position with the county government might be an avenue for your talents.

[Guest]

Many of his views seemed to be that people in retirement communities like the Villages were no longer all that much involved in anything else but leisure. I have found that many Villagers are very political and very much involved with volunteering and other matters. They might be involved more in Republican politics and Republican causes.

I wish his views were just that simple.

But in his book he mentions a change in the 1980's Fair Housing Act which made it illegal to discriminate against persons with children. (Prior to that, many apartment complexes were designed and marketed as "all adult" complexes.) When the law was changed, an exemption was made for "senior adult communities", and the limitation was not just for assisted living facilities but to preserve and allow for communities such as TV, Sun City, etc.

It is that exemption to which Blechman takes issue. In his view, it simply isn't enough that some seniors choose to live in places like TV while others choose to remain closer to family. He would like to see the exemption repealed almost completely. In his liberal utopia there would be no TV, no Sun City, period.

[Guest]

Go enjoy yourself if Great Barrington, Michigan. I will stay here in The Villages.

This is not an attack on you by any means, but I just do not understand the reason you are posting most of your stuff which consists mainly of a link somewhere.

I believe you had said earlier you came to stay with a parent in The Villages and that you are an advocate of victim rights to some degree. Do you do any paid or volunteer work for that purpose to make it more well known? How is that working out for you? Maybe a paid or volunteer position with the county government might be an avenue for your talents.

It is Great Barrington. Massachusetts. That's where Andrew D. Blechman is a Selectman. The topic is Andrew D. Blechman not me. Great Barrington, MA - Board of Selectmen (http://www.townofgb.org/pages/gbarringtonma_bos/index)

I wish his views were just that simple.

But in his book he mentions a change in the 1980's Fair Housing Act which made it illegal to discriminate against persons with children. (Prior to that, many apartment complexes were designed and marketed as "all adult" complexes.) When the law was changed, an exemption was made for "senior adult communities", and the limitation was not just for assisted living facilities but to preserve and allow for communities such as TV, Sun City, etc.

It is that exemption to which Blechman takes issue. In his view, it simply isn't enough that some seniors choose to live in places like TV while others choose to remain closer to family. He would like to see the exemption repealed almost completely. In his liberal utopia there would be no TV, no Sun City, period.

That's interesting. Seems very unrealistic too with the number of moves many working adults make in the course of their careers. They would not be able to stay close to their parents that often.

[Guest]

That's interesting. Seems very unrealistic too with the number of moves many working adults make in the course of their careers. They would not be able to stay close to their parents that often.

It may be unrealistic but he makes no bones about it. From Leisureville, p. 221 (paperback edition which includes the epilogue discussing the IRS audit issue):

"Just what 'special needs' do today's wealthy middle-aged boomers have? Not only do they represent the least marginalized generation in human history; they're not even old. Developers are merely exploiting a legal loophole.

"If The Villages is any indication, the so-called special needs include, among other things, alcohol-saturated faux downtowns and an opportunity to play golf on a different course every day of the month...[s]o why are we providing these 'seniors' with a legally codified right to keep the rest of society at bay?

"Clearly, our federal government shouldn't be in the business of endorsing discrimination against young families. The Fair Housing Act was originally intended to protect Americans from bigotry, not promote it. It's been well over two hundred years since we shamefully designated blacks as three-fifths human. Are young children--and their parents--any less than whole? Do we really want to promote communities where birth certificates are scrutinized at points of entry? Congress needs to reexamine this legislation and either eliminate age discrimination altogether or, at the very least, periodically raise the qualifying age as time and science progress." (emphasis mine)

But in the very next paragraph, Blechman shows which of the two options he would prefer:

"Simply raising the qualifying age still leaves me feeling uneasy."

And on the next page, he shows his hand:

"But until we establish a coherent vision for addressing the needs of our senior citizens, private developers-cum-social engineers will continue to exploit this lack of cultural consensus."

Of course there are only two options for developing this "coherent vision": the private sector or the government sector. Since, in his mind, the private sector is merely "exploiting" "legal loopholes" and a "lack of cultural consensus", and as he's already suggested that the 55+ exemption in the Fair Housing Act should be eliminated (being "uneasy" about simply raising it "as time and science progress"), Blechman clearly shows which option he would prefer.

[Guest]

The plain and simple truth of the whole book, Leisureville, is that the author, Andrew Blechman is jealous of our community since he is unable to move in.

The book was a simple book to read, the message is simple, Blechman is simple.

'Nuff said. Next topic.

[Guest]

The plain and simple truth of the whole book, Leisureville, is that the author, Andrew Blechman is jealous of our community since he is unable to move in.

The book was a simple book to read, the message is simple, Blechman is simple.

'Nuff said. Next topic.

I would not call Andrew D. Blechman simple. Orion Magazine | Orion Staff (http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/mag/orion_staff/)

That's hopefully why he will play TOTV a visit. He does seem to be a thorn in the side of the Villages PR group.

[Guest]

Anyone who has read the book and lives in the Villages would understand why Villagers have no interest in hearing from this author.

barf

[Guest]

It may be unrealistic but he makes no bones about it. From Leisureville, p. 221 (paperback edition which includes the epilogue discussing the IRS audit issue):

"Just what 'special needs' do today's wealthy middle-aged boomers have? Not only do they represent the least marginalized generation in human history; they're not even old. Developers are merely exploiting a legal loophole.

"If The Villages is any indication, the so-called special needs include, among other things, alcohol-saturated faux downtowns and an opportunity to play golf on a different course every day of the month...[s]o why are we providing these 'seniors' with a legally codified right to keep the rest of society at bay?

"Clearly, our federal government shouldn't be in the business of endorsing discrimination against young families. The Fair Housing Act was originally intended to protect Americans from bigotry, not promote it. It's been well over two hundred years since we shamefully designated blacks as three-fifths human. Are young children--and their parents--any less than whole? Do we really want to promote communities where birth certificates are scrutinized at points of entry? Congress needs to reexamine this legislation and either eliminate age discrimination altogether or, at the very least, periodically raise the qualifying age as time and science progress." (emphasis mine)

But in the very next paragraph, Blechman shows which of the two options he would prefer:

"Simply raising the qualifying age still leaves me feeling uneasy."

And on the next page, he shows his hand:

"But until we establish a coherent vision for addressing the needs of our senior citizens, private developers-cum-social engineers will continue to exploit this lack of cultural consensus."

Of course there are only two options for developing this "coherent vision": the private sector or the government sector. Since, in his mind, the private sector is merely "exploiting" "legal loopholes" and a "lack of cultural consensus", and as he's already suggested that the 55+ exemption in the Fair Housing Act should be eliminated (being "uneasy" about simply raising it "as time and science progress"), Blechman clearly shows which option he would prefer.

The so called "legal loophole" provides for 20% of people below the age of 55 to live in TV. A person over the age of 19 can live here with parents. If one were to take a survey I strongly suspect that the majority of people living here are 62 years and older and that the age 55 requirement is a small per centage putting a wrench in blechmann theory. And I ask myself why is it discriminatory for an aging population to gather in a specific place and share their commonality? People from all over the world visit or rent properties in TV and partake of its amenities. Should we then prevent all balck groups from meeting or all Gay meetings all Luthern or Catholics from engaging inchurch activities? The simple truth about Blechmann's book was that the thought that aging adults would act independently enough not to rely on the kindness of their children offened his sensibilities.

The real problem here is the manner in which the Developer purchased bonds to fund TV, bonds that residents would be required to pay and the manner in which the Developer unloaded property and the income stream resulting from amenities that placed a target on the back of TV based on IRS audit filings, and that all is still in dispute

[Guest]

The so called "legal loophole" provides for 20% of people below the age of 55 to live in TV. A person over the age of 19 can live here with parents. If one were to take a survey I strongly suspect that the majority of people living here are 62 years and older and that the age 55 requirement is a small per centage putting a wrench in blechmann theory. And I ask myself why is it discriminatory for an aging population to gather in a specific place and share their commonality? People from all over the world visit or rent properties in TV and partake of its amenities. Should we then prevent all balck groups from meeting or all Gay meetings all Luthern or Catholics from engaging inchurch activities? The simple truth about Blechmann's book was that the thought that aging adults would act independently enough not to rely on the kindness of their children offened his sensibilities.

The real problem here is the manner in which the Developer purchased bonds to fund TV, bonds that residents would be required to pay and the manner in which the Developer unloaded property and the income stream resulting from amenities that placed a target on the back of TV based on IRS audit filings, and that all is still in dispute

Blechman actually discusses the history of the Fair Housing Act earlier in Leisureville. Though he mentions the two age-related exceptions (100% of residents over age 62 -- mainly related to assisted living facilities -- and the 80% of residents over age 55), he argues that the 55+ exception is nothing but the work of the housing lobby and should either be amended as longevity spans increase or abolished completely (his preference).

Blechman is a liberal who holds to a collectivist ideology. And the thought that individuals should live their own lives free of government influence -- or control -- is anathema to someone with that worldview.

I agree that the IRS audit of the bond issue and the interrelated CDD control by the Morse family is the most serious issue affecting the overall future of TV. (BTW the IRS audit started before Obama took office.)

[Guest]

Blechman actually discusses the history of the Fair Housing Act earlier in Leisureville. Though he mentions the two age-related exceptions (100% of residents over age 62 -- mainly related to assisted living facilities -- and the 80% of residents over age 55), he argues that the 55+ exception is nothing but the work of the housing lobby and should either be amended as longevity spans increase or abolished completely (his preference).

Blechman is a liberal who holds to a collectivist ideology. And the thought that individuals should live their own lives free of government influence -- or control -- is anathema to someone with that worldview.

I agree that the IRS audit of the bond issue and the interrelated CDD control by the Morse family is the most serious issue affecting the overall future of TV. (BTW the IRS audit started before Obama took office.)

quidam65: I do not want to get political and yet in my opinion all things eventually come down to politics including those involving husband and wife.

This "Legal Loophle" you referenced is viewed by Blechmann and the government as all bad and discriminatory. However one could argue that this "legal loophole has transformed the poorest county (Sumter) in Florida into a flourishing metropolis. Locals and their children have opportunities they never dreamed would be available. They have good paying jobs, their kids go to good schools and have the opportunity to go to college. Taxes the life blood of any community build or repair the infrastructure.

The residents of The Villages give back more to this community than they take. Residents help fill food pantries work at churches or other charitale organization to feed the less fortunate insurrounding areas, etc. etc. etc.

Do you suppose this so called "discrimination" created by this "legal loophole" has been more or less beneficial to people living in sumter County and for that matter marion and Lake counties?

Personal Best Regards:

[Guest]

Rubicon--I am in complete agreement with your comments.

There is no logical reason, outside of the 55+ exception, that TV should exist. It is not near a coastline or important waterway (where most cities can be found). Other than Lady Lake the nearest town of significant size is 30 minutes north (Ocala) and Orlando is at least an hour away to the southeast. So the 55+ exception has definitely taken Sumter County (and to a lesser extent Lake and Marion Counties) from among the poorest counties to one with a sustainable base.

When I've quoted Blechman it hasn't been with kind intent. It's intended as a warning: if Blechman had his wish, the 55+ exception would be abolished, and communities like TV would no longer exist.

[Guest]

Anyone who has read the book and lives in the Villages would understand why Villagers have no interest in hearing from this author.

barf

If someone wrote a very influential book about an environment that can change over time for better or worse, would you not want to try to get that writer to change his or her view of that environment?

I had hoped that there would be more of a welcome of Andrew D. Blechman on TOTV. If you have an influential food critic visiting your restaurant would you not try and change his mind about the dishes your place serves?

I do not think I am overestimating Belchman's influence through his book Leisureville especially which judged by the kind of hatred his name evokes on TOTV.

[Guest]

Rubicon--I am in complete agreement with your comments.

There is no logical reason, outside of the 55+ exception, that TV should exist. It is not near a coastline or important waterway (where most cities can be found). Other than Lady Lake the nearest town of significant size is 30 minutes north (Ocala) and Orlando is at least an hour away to the southeast. So the 55+ exception has definitely taken Sumter County (and to a lesser extent Lake and Marion Counties) from among the poorest counties to one with a sustainable base.

When I've quoted Blechman it hasn't been with kind intent. It's intended as a warning: if Blechman had his wish, the 55+ exception would be abolished, and communities like TV would no longer exist.

quidam65 Concur and its all grand standing at our expense

[Guest]

If someone wrote a very influential book about an environment that can change over time for better or worse, would you not want to try to get that writer to change his or her view of that environment?

I had hoped that there would be more of a welcome of Andrew D. Blechman on TOTV. If you have an influential food critic visiting your restaurant would you not try and change his mind about the dishes your place serves?

I do not think I am overestimating Belchman's influence through his book Leisureville especially which judged by the kind of hatred his name evokes on TOTV.

Well, you go right ahead and invite him on your own dime. No one here in The Villages would contribute anything to pay any of his expenses. We do not need Bleechman here nor would most Villagers hear him speak except to shout him down as an illicit author who does not know his subject.

[Guest]

Well, you go right ahead and invite him on your own dime. No one here in The Villages would contribute anything to pay any of his expenses. We do not need Bleechman here nor would most Villagers hear him speak except to shout him down as an illicit author who does not know his subject.

I never meant to invite Andrew D. Blechman to the Villages for another visit. What I was trying to do is for him to read many TOTV posts and see just how much many of us are concerned about both the Villages and its surrounding communities as well as about the communites they left. The Villages draws people from Lake, Sumter, and Marion Counties to its Squares, shops, restaurants, movie theaters, etc.

[Guest]

If someone wrote a very influential book about an environment that can change over time for better or worse, would you not want to try to get that writer to change his or her view of that environment?

I had hoped that there would be more of a welcome of Andrew D. Blechman on TOTV. If you have an influential food critic visiting your restaurant would you not try and change his mind about the dishes your place serves?

I do not think I am overestimating Belchman's influence through his book Leisureville especially which judged by the kind of hatred his name evokes on TOTV.

I would IF I believed that he would have an open mind on things. But given Blechman's written statements (from his book) that he would like to see Congress abolish the 55+ exception (which would, essentially, put places like TV out of business), I can't see how he would ever change his viewpoint.

[Guest]

I would IF I believed that he would have an open mind on things. But given Blechman's written statements (from his book) that he would like to see Congress abolish the 55+ exception (which would, essentially, put places like TV out of business), I can't see how he would ever change his viewpoint.

Writers do change their minds as they mature. Sometimes for the worse, sometimes for the better.

Just believe that Blechman did not really give a place like the Villages a chance. There are many very political active people here who are also very much involved with volunteer events of some kind. Blechman's thinking seems very old fashioned with respect to families staying near one another as they develop. That's probably a little more true in a very bad ecomony where kids and grandparents go back to the main bread winners' nest. Ina good economy though, it seems like the kids move out as soon as they can find their wings and often fly to the other side of the country.

[Guest]

I think Blechman just wanted to write a book that would sell, and he did. I'm thinking Leisureville outsold the pigeon book-LOL.

As of two years ago he was still critical of TV.

When Palin came campaigning he wrote a piece "A fake candidate for a fake village".

It's not whether he "gets it" or doesn't "get it", it's about whether or not he can sell it. He apparently had a grand time hanging with "Mr. Midnight", golf carting around and being critical.

My question for Mr. Blechman... When you visited why didn't you bring your children?

[Guest]

I think Blechman just wanted to write a book that would sell, and he did. I'm thinking Leisureville outsold the pigeon book-LOL.

As of two years ago he was still critical of TV.

When Palin came campaigning he wrote a piece "A fake candidate for a fake village".

It's not whether he "gets it" or doesn't "get it", it's about whether or not he can sell it. He apparently had a grand time hanging with "Mr. Midnight", golf carting around and being critical.

My question for Mr. Blechman... When you visited why didn't you bring your children?

I will have to look at that article on Palin. I am kind of turned off on the lack of balance in the Villages Daily Sun with respect to editorials and the like from Democrats, but it is the newspaper of the developers of the Villages so you really cannot expect to see much of anything else.