Why are people in TV selling their homes?

[LynnDeb]

Why are people selling in TV?

[jblum315]

Why are people selling in TV?

Same reason as anywhere else - sometimes they are choosing a different size or style of house, or they are moving to be near family.

[LynnDeb]

Why are people selling in TV? Is it expensive to live in TV?

[LynnDeb]

Same reason as anywhere else - sometimes they are choosing a different size or style of house, or they are moving to be near family.
My hubby and I are coming up and staying Mon and Tues at the comfort Inn Suites to look and see homes??? Being on fixed incomes, how expensive is it to live in TV?

All info is welcome

[Cantwaittoarrive]

My hubby and I are coming up and staying Mon and Tues at the comfort Inn Suites to look and see homes??? Being on fixed incomes, how expensive is it to live in TV?

All info is welcome

Not sure what you're after?? People sell for the same reasons they sell elsewhere. To move to a bigger house, to move to a smaller house, to move to a different part of the country, because life changes and they need to move closer to families or health care providers. It's as expensive to live in TV as it is to live anywhere and expense is relative. Will you have a mortgage? You have to pay utilities, insurance, groceries, ameneities fees, taxes and maybe a bond. I think you will find that many people in TV live on a fixed income but again what does that mean? everyones fixed income is different

[sueandskip]

My hubby and I are coming up and staying Mon and Tues at the comfort Inn Suites to look and see homes??? Being on fixed incomes, how expensive is it to live in TV?

All info is welcome
If you go to TV web sight there is an average break down on expense ....It really depends on the size of home and lot....I can tell you I have a patio villa south of 466 ....My monthly expenses there is average of 440.00 per month for everything including property taxes...I have no mortgage and this helps alot...I also still work and only use it for vacations ,,,My wife is retired and she goes there a couple months a year, so we rent it in the winter and we get enough to pay for all insidentals for the years...

[2BNTV]

I find this link to be accurate:

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/nuts-bolts-villages-139/moving-villages-part-1-a-17717/

I think very few people move because they cannot aford living in TV.
If they do, they did not exercise careful control of their expenditures or they didn't plan carefully.

Some move because they want to upgrade their homes or decided they preferred a different neighborhood within TV. Some may be due to ill health or death in the family. Some people may go back to their hometowns.


Best wishes for a great visit.

[delima2000]

I found out living here is cheaper than when we lived in Michigan. We have been here just over a year and still have money left over at the end of the month and we are on a fixed income. You have to do your homework as to where you want to go and that kind of house you want. We bought a resale in the lady lake section of the villages and have no bond and we had to get a mortgage since we took a big loss when we sold our house in Michigan but it was well worth it to move to the villages.

[Cedwards38]

A lot of people sell in The Villages, because they are buying or building another home.............in The Villages. :-)

[Sunshine Mary]

people are BUYING here in the villages .Selling 300 houses a month.
Someone told me at there closing was 60 people that day .
Who selling ? maybe people who wants to build and selling there place .I was told you move 3 times here in The Villages
Why are people selling in TV?

[rubicon]

Ditto to all of the above. However some folks move from TV because its newness wears off and they come to believe that the amenities hold no value for thm and hence the amenitity fees are an unnecessary expense.

So you need to assess your lifestyle and see if it is a good fit here.

[ugotme]

To add my two cents worth - Define expensive?

Depends where you are coming from, what housing you currently have, what income level you are at.

To some, as an example, $50K per year is a good salary - to others this would not cover their expenses where they currently live.

Read the section that 2BNTV suggested. Look on the website for homes.

Good Luck!

[LvmyPug2]

As others have said...it depends on where you are moving from, what you like to do and your spending habits. There are many many things you can do here at little or no expense but there are also things you can spend your money on every day. It is also very common for folks to spend more money the first few months they are here. There are many one time expenses getting settled in and then there is the feeling like you are on vacation. We found that while we were in "vacation mode" we tended to go for drinks and/or dinner more often than we had in our previous community. Once we settled in and realized this was our "regular" life and not a vacation, our spending dropped.

[eweissenbach]

As many have stated a lot of the resales are due to people moving within the Villages. I have gone to dozens of pre-owned open houses and have heard many say they are buying a larger home in TV, a smaller home in TV, a villa rather than their current house, a home with room for a pool............

I have also heard quite a few people, or their realtor, say that they decided to move closer to family. Also have heard of many who move because of failing health to be closer to family or healthcare facilities they have confidence in.

Another reason is that in a community where most residents are 65 and older, there is a fairly high mortality rate compared with normal communities. One or both people die and the survivor or their estate decide to sell.

As far as cost of living, I don't live in TV yet, but my research indicates that the living costs are quite reasonable in comparison with the midwest where I have spent all my life. If you are coming from one of the coasts you would probably find it very reasonable. If you don't have to carry a mortgage I would think you could buy an inexpensive home and live very nicely on a very modest income. You simply have to do the research and be very realistic about your wants and needs. Good luck!

[Bosoxfan]

should be very infomative

Nuts and bolts of The Villages - Talk of The Villages (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/nuts-bolts-villages-139/)

[janmcn]

The first few years I was in my first TV home, a courtyard villa, about half the street moved out. About half of them bought other homes in TV, from patio villa to designer to premier. The other half left TV to go to AZ, TN, SC, other retirement communities in the area and apartments.

One woman said moving to TV was the biggest mistake of her life and went off at a high rate of speed to buy a penthouse in Clearwater Beach.

Unfortunately, people that leave TV rarely post on this forum, so we can only speculate. TV is not for everyone. You will see brand new homes listed for sale, fully furnished, golf cart included, quick close possible. Obviously, something did not work out.

[Barefoot]

I see a lot of homes in "new" Villages for sale on VLS. I always wonder what would make people buy their dream home and then sell it a few months later. I think it's probably due to health problems and/or missing family and friends back at home. We'll never know because people exiting The Villages aren't posting on TOTV.

[eweissenbach]

We attended an open house by owner last year. It was a relatively new designer with 2000+ sf. We talked to the owner and they had purchased the home with the understanding that her mother would live with them and contribute to the costs. Her mother's health declined and she had to go to assisted living, and as a result they could not afford the home they had built and were trying to sell it and buy a patio villa. As they used to say "there are eight million stories in the naked city".

[NotGolfer]

This question is subjegative! It depends on your life-style. We're from the midwest, we find it's cheaper here for sure. We don't have a mortgage so it's just our amnity fees, the taxes and electric etc. bills each mo. Don't know what you're looking for re: your question. So in looking you'll have to talk it over with your agent.

[graciegirl]

I see a lot of homes in "new" Villages for sale on VLS. I always wonder what would make people buy their dream home and then sell it a few months later. I think it's probably due to health problems and/or missing family and friends back at home. We'll never know because people exiting The Villages aren't posting on TOTV.

We have a new neighbor in our (NEW) village who sold their less than a year old home to move to a spec home in our village.

This one may be in some way more what they wanted than the one they had. The up side is that you can sell your homes here without too much effort and the cost of moving is way less expensive here than it is up North.

[Wi11iam]

Why are people selling in TV?

Hi, we just bought and had our design meeting last week. Not even hurricane Sandy kept us from our meeting, and we are in point pleasant beach n.j.
I truly believe that the houses here are selling at a very respectable rate compared to most other areas, so as they say....the reason people sell is because they can...:a040::a040::a040:

[tag460]

We met a couple the other day who bought an Iris in January and just sold it, they were not happy with this model. They would like to build a stretched Gardenia if they can find a lot for a reasonable price.

[raynan]

I live on a street in Pennecamp that is just over 2 years old and 5 homes have sold just in the last 4 months. None sold before then. We are in designer homes. 1 moved to a Premier, 1 moved to another designer but with a golf course view, 2 moved to be closer to their grandchildren and family, 1 couple split up sold and moved to 2 villas. All homes sold in under 3 weeks.

[Mack184]

My wife's parents are now on their 3rd home within TV. Originally they rented when they first came down a number of years ago over in what you call the "Historic" section, then they built a ranch in one of the villages just north of 466, then they sold that and built a designer in Belvedere. What's that old Tommy Roe song?? Everybody's Three Times In Love? Worked for them.

[justjim]

Why are people selling in TV?

Other posts have correctly mentioned the many reasons people sell their homes in TV. I have been told by agents who have been in real estate many years that the "normal" is that 5% of homes in a retirement community will be for sale. You can do the math----that's a bunch of homes.

[redwitch]

Was talking to a friend of a friend the other day. He's selling his home and moving to another retirement community close to here. I thought that was kind of odd and asked him why. Here's his story:

He's into animal rescue (dachshunds). He has three of his own and frequently has six or more in his home at any time. A friend of his also in the same organization was reported by a new neighbor for having more than two dogs and was given two weeks to either find a new home for the dogs or for herself. That was his breaking point. Rather than take a chance of being forced to move or stop doing something he loved, he opted to move. He doesn't sound too unhappy about having to move.

So, some sell their house to upgrade or downgrade but are staying in TV. Some leave for health issues (I'm including the need to be closer to family since that's a mental thing). Some leave because they're unhappy here but I think those are few and far between. Some leave because of financial setbacks. And then there are reasons that make you scratch your head (like being upset that someone might report you for breaking the rules).

[Tom Hannon]

Was talking to a friend of a friend the other day. He's selling his home and moving to another retirement community close to here. I thought that was kind of odd and asked him why. Here's his story:

He's into animal rescue (dachshunds). He has three of his own and frequently has six or more in his home at any time. A friend of his also in the same organization was reported by a new neighbor for having more than two dogs and was given two weeks to either find a new home for the dogs or for herself. That was his breaking point. Rather than take a chance of being forced to move or stop doing something he loved, he opted to move. He doesn't sound too unhappy about having to move.

So, some sell their house to upgrade or downgrade but are staying in TV. Some leave for health issues (I'm including the need to be closer to family since that's a mental thing). Some leave because they're unhappy here but I think those are few and far between. Some leave because of financial setbacks. And then there are reasons that make you scratch your head (like being upset that someone might report you for breaking the rules).

Someone reported a small caramic frog my wife placed in the garden and she was forced to move it. A few months later after extensive landscaping we were reported again for two twin birds set inside the landscape. This was the final straw. My wife wants to move now and we fight about it all the time. It looks like my wife will win the battle and after next summer, I might become an ex villager. So sad that people can be so shallow and need to report their neighbor.
With all the activities available, don't these people have anything else to do with their lives.

[Golfingnut]

My hubby and I are coming up and staying Mon and Tues at the comfort Inn Suites to look and see homes??? Being on fixed incomes, how expensive is it to live in TV?

All info is welcome

This is the least expensive place we have lived in over 40 years.

[Golfingnut]

Someone reported a small caramic frog my wife placed in the garden and she was forced to move it. A few months later after extensive landscaping we were reported again for two twin birds set inside the landscape. This was the final straw. My wife wants to move now and we fight about it all the time. It looks like my wife will win the battle and after next summer, I might become an ex villager. So sad that people can be so shallow and need to report their neighbor.
With all the activities available, don't these people have anything else to do with their lives.

I have to disagree with you on this one. If you break the law pay the cost. What is a silly rule to you may be why your neighbor bought in The Villages knowing he/she would be protected from folks like you. Some folks think big plastic pink ornaments in the yard are nice, where the next guy might like to work on his car in the drive way keeping it up on blocks for a few months. What is small to some is a big deal to others. I am just saying.

[Tom Hannon]

I have to disagree with you on this one. If you break the law pay the cost. What is a silly rule to you may be why your neighbor bought in The Villages knowing he/she would be protected from folks like you. Some folks think big plastic pink ornaments in the yard are nice, where the next guy might like to work on his car in the drive way keeping it up on blocks for a few months. What is small to some is a big deal to others. I am just saying.

They were not pink flamingos. They were not visable from the street. If you want to go by rules, i could report all my neighbors for one thing or the other, but I don't. I am a perfect neighbor. I go out of my way to be nice and lend my golf cart to anyone who needs it. While I'm in NY when my bushes were getting overgrown, I flew down from NY just to cut them. IF YOU WANT TO CALL THIS A LAW, maybe I shouldn't be a villager. How many golf carts go over 20 MPH. How many people water their lawns more than twice a week. Dont get me started Golfnut. If we have to live in fear of everyone being a spy maybe my wife is right.

[Challenger]

Moving because you can't have lawn ornaments seems more of an excuse than a reason. Didn't you read the restrictions before you bought? I would not have moved to TV if the deed and architectural controls had not been strong. Drive through the communities that surround us. In general- quite tacky. IMHO

[graciegirl]

Someone reported a small caramic frog my wife placed in the garden and she was forced to move it. A few months later after extensive landscaping we were reported again for two twin birds set inside the landscape. This was the final straw. My wife wants to move now and we fight about it all the time. It looks like my wife will win the battle and after next summer, I might become an ex villager. So sad that people can be so shallow and need to report their neighbor.
With all the activities available, don't these people have anything else to do with their lives.

Tommy,

I am so sorry to hear this. I think I remember you saying that your wife didn't fall in love with The Villages as deeply as you did. I feel so bad that this happened and in many instances small and "appropriate" ornaments don't seem to bother people who live close by. We moved into our brand new house in Hadley and returned after the summer to find that our neighbor had dozens of ....I don't know if I can spell the word that East coast people use, tstachkes? in their front yard. Lots of urns and some other stuff that was a bit different than what most people like. They were reported and our neighbors were very angry. They barely neighbored much after that.

I have to say that it was a relief to have all that stuff taken down.

I am so used to living with deed restrictions but for many it is a first and I am glad you mentioned it only if it keeps someone else from moving here and being bitterly sad over the fact that they cannot decorate their yard without permission from the ARC. (Architechural Review Committee) There are less restrictions to ornaments in yards in some areas north of 466 and it appears that the Morses learned as they built southward how strong to make the restrictions.

I hope that we have a chance to meet Mrs. Tommy and somehow make her see that the people here are worth the aggravation of this really minor thing happening in the scheme of things. We would hate to think of losing you both.

Very kindest wishes,
Gracie

[Tom Hannon]

AS you know Gracie. I am the poster boy of The Villages. It just get frustrating when you do see stuff more serious than a four inch frog that can't be seen from the road. As we all know, as we head toward Spanish Springs we see all the Pink Flamingos, dogs near fire hydrants etc and this is fine. The dead restrictions also say ornaments in front yard. our were in the back yard. My wife is giving it one more summer. She is the one with the pension so I have to give her a vote also. Gracie, you know I love this place but ...

[coach 67]

I have to disagree with you on this one. If you break the law pay the cost. What is a silly rule to you may be why your neighbor bought in The Villages knowing he/she would be protected from folks like you. Some folks think big plastic pink ornaments in the yard are nice, where the next guy might like to work on his car in the drive way keeping it up on blocks for a few months. What is small to some is a big deal to others. I am just saying.

"Neighbor bought in the Villages knowing he/she would be protected from "folks like you". That was not very nice. I would not want the villages to protect me.

[rubicon]

First I won't sell because like many here I was use to a capital gain. Now it is likely that unless you buy down that it is possible. Secondly, being on fixed income I do not desire to spend additional monies just to move to another city or Village here . Third I did buy wisely when moving here and have more house than I need, a lovely location and excellent neighbors.

Fourth, I love TV rules because some people just seem to have very bad taste. The northside appeared not to have as many rstrictions early on. If you go by some of those homes you get a flavor of that bad taste.

I lived in cities with no restrictions which resulted in fences being constructed literally against their neighbors fence. I lived in communities where neighbors informally agreed not to erect a fence and to use landscapping to define natural boundaries.

We had that same agreement in with enighbors when we lived in the Minneapolis area but eventually people moved out and those moving in erected ugly fences that destroyed the beauty of our back yards.

Recently played golf at Eagle Ridge and was startled to hear roosters crowing nearby. I love the sound of a train going by but roosters Ugh

There are many things I do not like about The Villages but deed restricion and covenents is not one of them. In that I am thankful

The End

[Tom Hannon]

I am a big fan of deed restrictions. My issue is the small frog was not visable unless you were on the front porch. Its just that some people have nothing else better to do with their lives.

[Barefoot]

... some folks move from TV because its newness wears off and they come to believe that the amenities hold no value for thm and hence the amenitity fees are an unnecessary expense.

It's true that after a few years, some residents become "disenchanted" with the lifestyle, or miss the folks back home. We rarely hear about them because they don't post on TOTV, and they are soon replaced with new wrinklies who love TV.

In Tom's case, perhaps his wife's disenchantment with TV isn't really about lawn ornaments. Some people find that "living in each other's pockets" is exciting and delightful, and others find it claustrophobic, and don't like having to comply with covenants and restrictions. Each to his own. We enjoy living in TV, but I totally understand that it isn't everyone's cup of tea.

[redwitch]

Tom, I'm so sorry. I know your wife has never been a fan of TV but this time I understand her frustration. To complain about a 4-inch frog is petty. It sounds like something more than just reporting of an infraction; it sounds like someone is seriously angry at you and/or your wife and is indulging in some pretty nasty vindictiveness. Here's hoping something can be worked out and you can find a way to stay. TV would be the loser if you were no long a resident.

[Tom Hannon]

Tom, I'm so sorry. I know your wife has never been a fan of TV but this time I understand her frustration. To complain about a 4-inch frog is petty. It sounds like something more than just reporting of an infraction; it sounds like someone is seriously angry at you and/or your wife and is indulging in some pretty nasty vindictiveness. Here's hoping something can be worked out and you can find a way to stay. TV would be the loser if you were no long a resident.

Thanks Dee. As you know I am the poster boy of the Villages. I want to stay. We agreed to give it one more summer. Here to hoping things change.

[LynnDeb]

Was talking to a friend of a friend the other day. He's selling his home and moving to another retirement community close to here. I thought that was kind of odd and asked him why. Here's his story:

He's into animal rescue (dachshunds). He has three of his own and frequently has six or more in his home at any time. A friend of his also in the same organization was reported by a new neighbor for having more than two dogs and was given two weeks to either find a new home for the dogs or for herself. That was his breaking point. Rather than take a chance of being forced to move or stop doing something he loved, he opted to move. He doesn't sound too unhappy about having to move.

So, some sell their house to upgrade or downgrade but are staying in TV. Some leave for health issues (I'm including the need to be closer to family since that's a mental thing). Some leave because they're unhappy here but I think those are few and far between. Some leave because of financial setbacks. And then there are reasons that make you scratch your head (like being upset that someone might report you for breaking the rules).

That SUCKS!!!! People are People!! The man is doing a GOOD DEED not ABUSING anyone..SAD:22yikes:

[LynnDeb]

I am a big fan of deed restrictions. My issue is the small frog was not visable unless you were on the front porch. Its just that some people have nothing else better to do with their lives.

AGREE:22yikes:

[rmcpklinefelter]

We went to an open house (we're Santiago residents) a couple of weeks ago and the Villages agent told us the inventory of houses for sale is low, also got a flyer from TV real estate about what MLS companies sell compared to TV real estate and stating the inventory is low. According to the agent the "season" has started earlier than last year and people are buying. I know of only one couple who sold their home and moved out of TV, into Harbor Hills, "bigger house for the money and not so busy". Last time I talked with him they are quite content.

[eweissenbach]

One of our TV "neighbors" (they are full time, we are renters), got reported for something similar to Tom's small baubles in their landscaping. They removed the offending items and went on a shopping spree. They purchased yard decorations for every holiday - valentine hearts, easter bunnies and eggs, flags for memorial day and Independence day, etc. They put them out as soon as they are allowed (Is it 30 days prior to holiday?) and keep them out as long as is allowed. They are MUCH more obtrusive than the small ornaments they had for which they were reported, but are "legal". Now I am not condoning their defiance, but that is the way they chose to react, and I am sure their neighbors are now sorry they reported their original transgression. My attitude has always been "If it doesn't affect my quality of life, why concern myself with it?" I cannot for the life of me see how small items in the landscaping areas would adversely affect anyone elses life. Now taken to extremes - yes, but as my neighbor's fulltime neighbors found out, small irritations can lead to bigger irritations if you scratch that itch. Tom, I really do understand how irritating something like this can be, but I would ask your wife to consider if not having those decorative items in the yard is really that significant an issue that she would force as drastic a measure as a move.

[Jhooman]

The cost of living is so much cheaper for us. We are from Southern California. Our amenity fee was $400.00 per month. We only had two small pools to be used by 300 homes. Only one club house and if you needed to use it, you paid a rental fee, cleaning fee and a deposit.

Our utilities were beyond belief. We lived next to the ocean, rarely used the air-conditioner and our average electric bill was never less than $250.00 per month.

Golf courses were so expensive too. A senior discount for 18 holes, with a golf cart is $52.00 per person. To walk $42.00. The Villages is such a deal for us, plus to play the executive courses for no cost. I understand we pay an amenity fee, but the benefits here are Rich!!!

We love this place, it's not for everyone, but it's the place for us.:thumbup:

[The Shadow]

Why are people selling in TV?

Part of the reason is 30 or 40% of the homes in TV are owned by snow birds and part are rental homes (second and third homes) owned by residents of TV. I theorize the snow birds out grow travel at some point and the landlords grow weary of being rental managers. Both would be raising capital by selling not relocating.

[Golfingnut]

They were not pink flamingos. They were not visable from the street. If you want to go by rules, i could report all my neighbors for one thing or the other, but I don't. I am a perfect neighbor. I go out of my way to be nice and lend my golf cart to anyone who needs it. While I'm in NY when my bushes were getting overgrown, I flew down from NY just to cut them. IF YOU WANT TO CALL THIS A LAW, maybe I shouldn't be a villager. How many golf carts go over 20 MPH. How many people water their lawns more than twice a week. Dont get me started Golfnut. If we have to live in fear of everyone being a spy maybe my wife is right.

Sorry you feel that way, but when you admit what you did was wrong, You should not put the blame on your neighbor for defending his right not to see those type things if not wanted.

[janmcn]

If lawn ornaments are your "thing", just buy a home north of 466 where they are allowed.

[Tom Hannon]

Why not back off GolfNUT enough already And what's to say you have all the answers.

[Golfingnut]

I am a big fan of deed restrictions. My issue is the small frog was not visable unless you were on the front porch. Its just that some people have nothing else better to do with their lives.

I think your missing the point. If its a 4 inch frog today, then what is in store for next wee, maybe a 6 inch rabbit? Again, I don't even have a problem with bird baths and pink birds, etc. etc., but I have no taste at all, but some folks are more in tune to fashion and design than you and I are. It makes it a better match for all when the basic rules are followed.

[Golfingnut]

Tom, I'm so sorry. I know your wife has never been a fan of TV but this time I understand her frustration. To complain about a 4-inch frog is petty. It sounds like something more than just reporting of an infraction; it sounds like someone is seriously angry at you and/or your wife and is indulging in some pretty nasty vindictiveness. Here's hoping something can be worked out and you can find a way to stay. TV would be the loser if you were no long a resident.

I wish I would have said that. Well done with this post.

[Golfingnut]

Why not back off GolfNUT enough already And what's to say you have all the answers.

I will not try to help you understand on this one anymore.


:22yikes::22yikes::22yikes::22yikes::22yikes:

[billethkid]

saying one has a "fixed income" doesn't really convey any pertinent information. There are those who have a fixed income with SS only and there are those with SS + corporate pensions + personal 401k's + etc = all equal fixed income.

I know several people who depend on SS income ONLY. They live here in TV with no problem.

It is all relative to one's lifestyle. If you can afford to live where you do now, you most likely will have no problem living in TV on the same budget.....most likely!!!

One disadvantage of staying at a motel is that you may miss a true immersion into TV lifestyle potential.

Make sure you visit all 3 town centers. Also visit a sales center.
Do not overlook the part of TV that is affectionately (truly!!!) called the historic area. You will find very many affordable living situations with beautiful grounds and great neighbors.

The nice thing about TV is whether you are on SS only or with a combination of fat cat retirement plans....whther you have a $79,000 home in Silver Lake or a one million dollar home in Bridgeport.......everybody is entitled to the same amenities, facilities and beauty of what we call TV.

If you want to live here.....YOU CAN!!!!

btk

[eweissenbach]

saying one has a "fixed income" doesn't really convey any pertinent information. There are those who have a fixed income with SS only and there are those with SS + corporate pensions + personal 401k's + etc = all equal fixed income.

I know several people who depend on SS income ONLY. They live here in TV with no problem.

It is all relative to one's lifestyle. If you can afford to live where you do now, you most likely will have no problem living in TV on the same budget.....most likely!!!

One disadvantage of staying at a motel is that you may miss a true immersion into TV lifestyle potential.

Make sure you visit all 3 town centers. Also visit a sales center.
Do not overlook the part of TV that is affectionately (truly!!!) called the historic area. You will find very many affordable living situations with beautiful grounds and great neighbors.

The nice thing about TV is whether you are on SS only or with a combination of fat cat retirement plans....whther you have a $79,000 home in Silver Lake or a one million dollar home in Bridgeport.......everybody is entitled to the same amenities, facilities and beauty of what we call TV.

If you want to live here.....YOU CAN!!!!

btk

BTK nails it.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

BTK nails it.

I agree 100%

[Golfingnut]

Very well said BTK. After Washington D.C. and Atlanta, GA, we find the cost to live here a real savings for us.

[JoelJohnson]

Why do they sell? Let's not forget that most of the people that live here are old and may have died off and their heirs are selling the property.

[Golfingnut]

Why do they sell? Let's not forget that most of the people that live here are old and may have died off and their heirs are selling the property.

There are surly many reasons people leave. I have heard reasons for moving within The Villages more often like: I needed more room, less room, wanted less or more yard. Wanted my own Pool. Did not get along with my neighbors and the big one, I wanted a more modern home. It is some times less expensive to buy new rather than upgrade. We still love our selection after 3 years. Knock on wood. Love the neighbors, have our own pool and the house is totally modern. Life is good in TV.

[bluedog103]

We came to TV to escape the northeast winters, no other reason. I actually like my home and neighborhood in the mountains in southern N.Y. We like our TV home and have great neighbors. That being said, there is no way I could live in TV fulltime. I know too many people who have had too many problems with neighbors. I attribute this to the tiny lots and crowded conditions in TV. You get a couple of busybodies armed with a list of covenants and your life can be miserable. Tom is living proof of that.
There is nobody in TV who has not broken a law. To report something like a tiny ornament which you cannot even see from the street is over the top. Sounds like somebody is unhappy and has way too much time on their hands. At least for us, if something irritates us we know we'll be leaving in the spring. Fulltimers with these issues must feel like they're stuck on Gilligan's Island. You have my sympathy.
The weather a concern for me. Last year was a pleasure in this area. The two previous winters were not, it was downright cold. Year before last I decided that if the cold weather continued I was selling this house and heading south. That still stands. Despite last year's balmy temps this year is starting out to be another cold one. I guess I'll have to decide in the next few months whether this is where I want to spend my remaining winters. If wanted to be cold I could have stayed up north and saved a bunch of money.
Every fall we look forward to returning to our TV home and enjoy our time here but every spring, when the leaves are coming out up north and the early flowers are blooming, I'm itching to head for I-95 North. Different strokes.....

[philnpat]

Tom,
Although we've not yet met, come to our neighborhood. You'll be more than welcomed.

[eweissenbach]

We came to TV to escape the northeast winters, no other reason. I actually like my home and neighborhood in the mountains in southern N.Y. We like our TV home and have great neighbors. That being said, there is no way I could live in TV fulltime. I know too many people who have had too many problems with neighbors. I attribute this to the tiny lots and crowded conditions in TV. You get a couple of busybodies armed with a list of covenants and your life can be miserable. Tom is living proof of that.
There is nobody in TV who has not broken a law. To report something like a tiny ornament which you cannot even see from the street is over the top. Sounds like somebody is unhappy and has way too much time on their hands. At least for us, if something irritates us we know we'll be leaving in the spring. Fulltimers with these issues must feel like they're stuck on Gilligan's Island. You have my sympathy.
The weather a concern for me. Last year was a pleasure in this area. The two previous winters were not, it was downright cold. Year before last I decided that if the cold weather continued I was selling this house and heading south. That still stands. Despite last year's balmy temps this year is starting out to be another cold one. I guess I'll have to decide in the next few months whether this is where I want to spend my remaining winters. If wanted to be cold I could have stayed up north and saved a bunch of money.
Every fall we look forward to returning to our TV home and enjoy our time here but every spring, when the leaves are coming out up north and the early flowers are blooming, I'm itching to head for I-95 North. Different strokes.....

I agree with all you say. We are currently renters, and when we sell our current home will probably buy in TV. We will however, continue to have our primary residence in Missouri, near our kids and grandkids. For those who are able, this seems to be an ideal solution. It seems many are conflicted about being away from the family when they come to TV and many move back "home" for that reason. We love TV and look forward to our time there, but I could NEVER get my wife to live there full-time, and I would prefer not to either. Sounds like you have the best of both worlds and that is what we would be shooting for.

[Bogie Shooter]

That SUCKS!!!! People are People!! The man is doing a GOOD DEED not ABUSING anyone..SAD:22yikes:

Sorry, but must disagree with you. Rules are rules. A home site with 15 rescued dogs is not what one expects after accepting deed restrictions when buying in TV.
Your opinion may change after you visit The Villages. I encourage you to visit all of the villages then pass judgement of what deed restrictions really mean.

[Tom Hannon]

Thanks Phil/Pat

[2BNTV]

Someone reported a small caramic frog my wife placed in the garden and she was forced to move it. A few months later after extensive landscaping we were reported again for two twin birds set inside the landscape. This was the final straw. My wife wants to move now and we fight about it all the time. It looks like my wife will win the battle and after next summer, I might become an ex villager. So sad that people can be so shallow and need to report their neighbor.
With all the activities available, don't these people have anything else to do with their lives.

I am sad to hear about your dilemna. It is sad that some people need to make others unhappy with pettiness. IMHO

I hope you and your wife will find harmony with living in TV and not move.

Best wishes.

[MLBellis]

I Love TV, But I have to move out :cryin2:.... I am a single women who came here to help out my parents. My Dad is in early stages of dementia, and has asked me to move (he thinks the world is against him, he is VERY paranoid). He is making very bad choices and decisions. It is in my sisters hands for now, (till he gets on her too).. I am on disability. I can not afford to live here, the rents are too high for a single women in my situation. If it was in my cards for me to live here I would.

So there are many reasons why people move out of TV.... And if my folks go down the path they are going down, I see that they will be moving out too (Mom has COPD, on oxgen 24/7) so if he gets into Dementia more, she can not live here on her own!!!

I hope this will explain why some people move out!

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

We live in a community of 100,000 people. I would guess that there are somewhere in the order of 60,000 homes. I don't know how many previously owned homes are sold each month but I don't know that it's out of line with other communities of similar size.
The other thing to be to considered is our demographic. I'm sorry to have to say this, but the mortality rate here has got to be higher than average simply because people here are going to be older than the average community in this country. I would say that a lot of homes get sold because the owners die.

I know that some competing developers have told people that for every person that moves into the Villages, three have moved out. It's hard for me to believe that some people fall for that line. I haven't done the math but I would imagine that at least 300,000 people would have had to moved in and moved out for us to have grown to 100,000 if there were any truth to that. Does anyone know of 300,000 people that have left the Villages because they were dissatisfied with life here?

[buggyone]

They were not pink flamingos. They were not visable from the street. If you want to go by rules, i could report all my neighbors for one thing or the other, but I don't. I am a perfect neighbor. I go out of my way to be nice and lend my golf cart to anyone who needs it. While I'm in NY when my bushes were getting overgrown, I flew down from NY just to cut them. IF YOU WANT TO CALL THIS A LAW, maybe I shouldn't be a villager. How many golf carts go over 20 MPH. How many people water their lawns more than twice a week. Dont get me started Golfnut. If we have to live in fear of everyone being a spy maybe my wife is right.

Hey, Golfnut is right. Rules are rules and you agreed to them when you signed on the dotted lines when you moved into The Villages. Now, north of 466, we do not have the lawn ornament rule and it looks just fine. The brass cranes and other statuary look downright good in yards. Maybe you should pick up and move north of 466.

[Tom Hannon]

All many of you posters are doing is scaring away people who are considering moving to TV. So much for The Friendliest Home Town. I guess with so many devils living in TV this can't be heaven

[Tom Hannon]

Hey, Golfnut is right. Rules are rules and you agreed to them when you signed on the dotted lines when you moved into The Villages. Now, north of 466, we do not have the lawn ornament rule and it looks just fine. The brass cranes and other statuary look downright good in yards. Maybe you should pick up and move north of 466.

I have an over $300,000 investment here. Not sure if its your place to tell me to move.

[ariel]

All many of you posters are doing is scaring away people who are considering moving to TV. So much for The Friendliest Home Town. I guess with so many devils living in TV this can't be heaven

So sorry you are having this bad experience. I am so lucky - my villages neighborhood is wonderful. Courtyard villas south of 466 and haven't met anyone that is in the least bit rude or petty. A number of homes have various front yard ornaments - most are tasteful and very pleasant to look at as I take my walks. I appreciate the variety.

You never know who you will get as a neighbor in a new place; and occasionally we have drawn an unlucky card or two, but for the most part our neighbors over the years of many moves have been wonderful. I hope you can work this out so you won't have to move.

[Patty55]

All many of you posters are doing is scaring away people who are considering moving to TV. So much for The Friendliest Home Town. I guess with so many devils living in TV this can't be heaven

Maybe that would be a good thing.

I think the "Friendliest Home Town" thing is a marketing slogan, shouldn't expect it to be reality-LOL.

One of the problems I have is all the YENTA BS, if one of the neighbors have an issue why not be up front about it. Why do they all go running to file complaints? Why didn't they go to you or your wife and say the bird was stressing them out (Maybe because they'd look pretty STOOPID-IMO).

I really don't do any of the neighborhood activities, I try to be cordial and that's about it. I just can't take the gossip, BS and people unable to mind their own business.

As far as "tacky" lawn ornaments, I find a lot of the allowable stuff tacky. I can't stand the urns looking tipped (so 80's). I personally like more natural looking landscaping than most people have, but guess what? I MIND MY OWN BUSINESS.

[jblum315]

I have an over $300,000 investment here. Not sure if its your place to tell me to move.

Didn't know you were so rich!:smiley:

[asianthree]

Have been looking for the right pure owned for six months and not seen one right for us.. So there is not that many homes for sale

[Golfingnut]

Have been looking for the right pure owned for six months and not seen one right for us.. So there is not that many homes for sale

There are a few on this thread that want to get out of here. Check with them and you might get a great deal on a preexisting home. LOL

[Golfingnut]

So sorry you are having this bad experience. I am so lucky - my villages neighborhood is wonderful. Courtyard villas south of 466 and haven't met anyone that is in the least bit rude or petty. A number of homes have various front yard ornaments - most are tasteful and very pleasant to look at as I take my walks. I appreciate the variety.

You never know who you will get as a neighbor in a new place; and occasionally we have drawn an unlucky card or two, but for the most part our neighbors over the years of many moves have been wonderful. I hope you can work this out so you won't have to move.

I agree and I have friends in Buttonwood that love it there. This may be a case of the pot calling the kettle black don't ya know.
:thumbup:

[Mack184]

Far too many people in TV suffer from "long-nose" disease. The cure for that is amazingly simple...Just keep your nose in your own business and let others live their lives. If there are violations to be dealt with let the developer or other authorities find them and deal with them. Nobody likes a snitch.

[coach 67]

There are a few on this thread that want to get out of here. Check with them and you might get a great deal on a preexisting home. LOL

Thought you were done.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Have been looking for the right pure owned for six months and not seen one right for us.. So there is not that many homes for sale

There are currently 506 pre owned homes listed on the Villages web site. That doesn't include the homes that are listed by agents other then Properties of the Villages. I was told that almost 300 homes are sold here per month.

I don't know what you consider "not that homes for sale" but I would guess that it's a lot more than most areas of comparable size.

[Golfingnut]

Thought you were done.

???????????????????????

[Golfingnut]

Far too many people in TV suffer from "long-nose" disease. The cure for that is amazingly simple...Just keep your nose in your own business and let others live their lives. If there are violations to be dealt with let the developer or other authorities find them and deal with them. Nobody likes a snitch.

Or, you could say don't cheat on rules and you will not be pointed out. It all in how you look at it. I don't care about most rules, but I will not break them.

[asianthree]

There are currently 506 pre owned homes listed on the Villages web site. That doesn't include the homes that are listed by agents other then Properties of the Villages. I was told that almost 300 homes are sold here per month.

I don't know what you consider "not that homes for sale" but I would guess that it's a lot more than most areas of comparable size.

Well we want south of 466 2000sq ish and room for pool or already has one , so not that many out there for what we r looking for

[buggyone]

I have an over $300,000 investment here. Not sure if its your place to tell me to move.

To me, it did not sound as though I was telling you to move. I said, "Now, north of 466, we do not have the lawn ornament rule and it looks just fine. The brass cranes and other statuary look downright good in yards. Maybe you should pick up and move north of 466."

It was merely a suggestion of a place in The Villages that welcomes lawn ornaments. You have over $300,000 invested where you live. Cool. Stay there, enjoy it - but obey the rules you agreed to when you bought into The Villages.

[cquick]

That SUCKS!!!! People are People!! The man is doing a GOOD DEED not ABUSING anyone..SAD:22yikes:

We're looking forward to meeting you, and it sounds like you are doing your homework before moving here.

But I don't think anyone should be allowed to have 6 dogs....I don't like to hear barking.....I love dogs, but not 6 of them! :D

[cquick]

To me, it did not sound as though I was telling you to move. I said, "Now, north of 466, we do not have the lawn ornament rule and it looks just fine. The brass cranes and other statuary look downright good in yards. Maybe you should pick up and move north of 466."

It was merely a suggestion of a place in The Villages that welcomes lawn ornaments. You have over $300,000 invested where you live. Cool. Stay there, enjoy it - but obey the rules you agreed to when you bought into The Villages.

I am glad there are options for people who like a lot of ornaments....we like living in a deed restricted neighborhood. It's just us.

[Moderator]

Please address the topic of general reasons why people leave the Villages and refrain from directing personal comments to other site members.

[aljetmet]

Moving because you can't have lawn ornaments seems more of an excuse than a reason. Didn't you read the restrictions before you bought? I would not have moved to TV if the deed and architectural controls had not been strong. Drive through the communities that surround us. In general- quite tacky. IMHO

I just signed my contract Wednesday and I didn't get any deed restrictions to review before putting pen to paper.

Is that fair?

[Rbgold]

I just signed my contract Wednesday and I didn't any deed restrictions to review before putting pen to paper.

Is that fair?

We received them as part of the package when we reserved our lot and made the initial deposit of $2500. They were on a checklist of items that were given to us. Not sure how that works with pre-owned homes.

[shcisamax]

They were not pink flamingos. They were not visable from the street. If you want to go by rules, i could report all my neighbors for one thing or the other, but I don't. I am a perfect neighbor. I go out of my way to be nice and lend my golf cart to anyone who needs it. While I'm in NY when my bushes were getting overgrown, I flew down from NY just to cut them. IF YOU WANT TO CALL THIS A LAW, maybe I shouldn't be a villager. How many golf carts go over 20 MPH. How many people water their lawns more than twice a week. Dont get me started Golfnut. If we have to live in fear of everyone being a spy maybe my wife is right.

I couldn't agree more Tom. People that report their neighbor for such inconsequential things are simply ridiculous and petty. Mind their own business and let the Village police take issue.

[Bogie Shooter]

I couldn't agree more Tom. People that report their neighbor for such inconsequential things are simply ridiculous and petty. Mind their own business and let the Village police take issue.

Who are these Village police??

[Tom Hannon]

Who are these Village police??
Didn't the administration ask everyone to refrain from directing personal comments to other site members. The administration has set the rules. For someone who doesn't break the rules, you sure are bending them a lot. Lets give this thread a rest.

[graciegirl]

Didn't the administration ask everyone to refrain from directing personal comments to other site members. The administration has set the rules. For someone who doesn't break the rules, you sure are bending them a lot. Lets give this thread a rest.

I think Bogie's posts are to the point and helpful. He likes to keep us on track.

Bogie was just responding to Shesamax and pointing out a truth. The truth is that there isn't anyone "official" who will report someone who is breaking the rules on lawn ornamentation except other villagers who see it. Community Watch is not reporting people.

But there are times I have seen artificial flowers stuck in the ground and almost reported complete strangers. Some things are just ugly. Real flowers grow so readily here, that artificial ones in their place just always make me grit my teeth. I didn't and I wouldn't report that..... but that is an example.

We just drove old friends around The Villages this afternoon. They had never been here and their comments were directed to how neat and orderly and clean and nice everything looked. I don't think it would as nice without those restrictions. I like deed restrictions. I have lived with them for years and they make this place just beautiful.

[aljetmet]

I just signed my contract Wednesday and I didn't get any deed restrictions to review before putting pen to paper.

Is that fair?

Well if you woke up and smelled the coffee you would check with your wife and she would show them to you. :D

[graciegirl]

Well if you woke up and smelled the coffee you would check with your wife and she would show them to you. :D

You are a wise and fair person. Good luck with all that is about to happen. Hope you will enjoy this wonderful place as much as we do.

Hugs.

[Challenger]

I just signed my contract Wednesday and I didn't get any deed restrictions to review before putting pen to paper.

Is that fair?
If you bought a preowned home it is the obligation of the previous owner to provide them , Also the realtor is obligated to see that you received them. In most states this is a state requirement. Are you saying that you did not know that there were deed restrictions? I can't imagine that anyone would make a very large home investment without First reading and understanding the requirements of recorded restrictions.

[Barefoot]

I live on a street in Pennecamp that is just over 2 years old and 5 homes have sold just in the last 4 months. None sold before then. We are in designer homes. 1 moved to a Premier, 1 moved to another designer but with a golf course view, 2 moved to be closer to their grandchildren and family, 1 couple split up sold and moved to 2 villas. All homes sold in under 3 weeks.

This is one of the few posts that actually addresses the thread topic .. "why do people move?" I think Rayan offers good insight as to why people buy in new neighborhoods and then quickly sell.

[Mack184]

Gotta agree with Tom Hannon 100%. It's a low person who smiles at their neighbor out of one side of their face and then informs "the authorities" about them over minor and/or imagined deed infractions with the other side of their face. Maybe the marketing line for TV should be changed to "Florida's Most Two-Faced Hometown".

[ilovetv]

Gotta agree with Tom Hannon 100%. It's a low person who smiles at their neighbor out of one side of their face and then informs "the authorities" about them over minor and/or imagined deed infractions with the other side of their face. Maybe the marketing line for TV should be changed to "Florida's Most Two-Faced Hometown".

One such disgusting incident rightly comes up for review here, and we should stereotype and label 90,000 residents???

[Golfingnut]

One more reason to move out. If I die first, my wife says she will move out to be closer to the kids and grand-kids. If the other way around, and since I don't like a pool, I will sell this big house and find a court yard villa close to Cody's. :beer3: Without my special girl, I will have to stay sedated all the time to survive.

[billethkid]

One such disgusting incident rightly comes up for review here, and we should stereotype and label 90,000 residents???

ilovetv thank you for the succinct thought. For my personal use to respond to one of my pet peeves, I would modify your sentence ever so slightly:

"One such incident comes up for review and we would stereotype 90,000 residents?"

My pet peeve? When folks extrapolate an incident, a statement, a condition, a behavior, etc and then extrapolate and present it as though it were the general condition.....when it is almost NEVER EVER the case.

A tactic well worn out by our 24/7 media. The taking of a minority report (not race) and presenting it as a general condition. The making of a banquet out of a ham sandwich!!!!!!!!!!!

Ther I feel better already!!!!!!;)

btk

[coach 67]

Didn't the administration ask everyone to refrain from directing personal comments to other site members. The administration has set the rules. For someone who doesn't break the rules, you sure are bending them a lot. Lets give this thread a rest.

I have to agree with you on this one.I am just finding my way on this site,and yet I sense there how things are played out.

[graciegirl]

ilovetv thank you for the succinct thought. For my personal use to respond to one of my pet peeves, I would modify your sentence ever so slightly:

"One such incident comes up for review and we would stereotype 90,000 residents?"

My pet peeve? When folks extrapolate an incident, a statement, a condition, a behavior, etc and then extrapolate and present it as though it were the general condition.....when it is almost NEVER EVER the case.

A tactic well worn out by our 24/7 media. The taking of a minority report (not race) and presenting it as a general condition. The making of a banquet out of a ham sandwich!!!!!!!!!!!

Ther I feel better already!!!!!!;)

btk


You got a nice brain on ya there fella.:bowdown:

[twinklesweep]

My hubby and I are coming up and staying Mon and Tues at the comfort Inn Suites to look and see homes??? Being on fixed incomes, how expensive is it to live in TV?

All info is welcome

When you opened this thread with �Why are people selling in TV?� it wasn�t clear till your later post that your concern is with the COST of living here.

Homes here can usually range from about $60,000 on the historic side (there was actually one recently in the $40s!) to $1 million plus in the premier villages. There HAS TO BE something that fits your budget! Keep in mind that the amenities, activities, clubs, rec centers, pools (except for country club pools), executive golf courses, and so forth are open to ALL residents, no matter where in TV they live.

I believe that the best of the possibilities is a resale. Many have bonds already paid off or much reduced (and the bonds in the new construction areas can be astronomical!), and most homes have some forms of improvement that would cost considerably more to put into a newly constructed home in areas which, while construction continues, is like living in a dust bowl. My property taxes are ONE-THIRD of what they were before I moved here, and I don�t have a mortgage. My property tax bill would be higher (possibly considerably higher) if I had a bond to pay off, as the annual bond payment comes with the property tax bill. These are also important points to consider.

All these factors must be taken into consideration before making ANY move. There is a home here in TV for nearly everyone in any economic position�and it is a great place to live where you can fill up your schedule as shown in the advertising, or you can live quietly in a beautiful setting.

[graciegirl]

Now...before they blow the whistle on us for hijacking a thread...to summarize.

The people that I have personally KNOWN here in the five years we have been here have sold to move to a different home here on campus because they wanted a better view, different (larger or smaller) home, (7) moved back to whence they came because the dating situation didn't pan out (1) died and moved to the Village of Heavenly.(1) (Miss you so much Ruthie) moved to switch a neighbor situation (1) ( WE weren't the neighbors...now don't jump to conclusions) Moved back because they missed grandkids or just got grandkids (1)

When we were first looking for homes here we ran into a couple who were looking for their third home here. They had a Gardenia and they were buying a Gardenia that backed onto a view they liked better. They said the arrangement of the furniture would be very easy, lol, and when asked if this was the final move, they said they didn't know. Our sales rep, Jim McLaughlin has moved four times, one for a bigger home and then to a smaller home and then for a newer home and now one that is big enough for mom too.

There are all kinds of very inexpensive options to move your stuff and homes are easy to sell. In fact, most of us do not need a realtor to sell a home.

Gracie who is on second house here, both new.

[mickey100]

There are all kinds of very inexpensive options to move your stuff and homes are easy to sell. In fact, most of us do not need a realtor to sell a home.


I wouldn't go as far as to say that. There are tons of homes on the market iin The Villages that have been on the market for quite some time. And there are a myriad of reasons they have not sold. Maybe priced too high, bad location, you name it. To make a general statement that homes are easy to sell and you don't even need a realtor, is really stretching it, IMHO. We did sell our own home a few years ago without a realtor (but that was during the big housing boom), and some people are doing it now. But there is quite a bit of competitition from the Developer's new homes, and some locations (south of 466 for example) are probably easier to sell than north of 466. I would guess most use a realtor or The Villages salespeople . Our neighbor near Lake sumter south of 466 took at least a $40,000 loss on their home last year, and it took a long time to sell, using a variety of realtors and The Villages salespeople. And it was a really nice designer in a good central location. When you look at The Villages real estate ads, you can follow a house for awhile. If it doesn't sell within a few months, they remove it from the real estate listings, and then relist it a month later with a new number. So it looks like a house is "sold" when in fact it is still on the market.

[Mack184]

ilovetv thank you for the succinct thought. For my personal use to respond to one of my pet peeves, I would modify your sentence ever so slightly:

"One such incident comes up for review and we would stereotype 90,000 residents?"

My pet peeve? When folks extrapolate an incident, a statement, a condition, a behavior, etc and then extrapolate and present it as though it were the general condition.....when it is almost NEVER EVER the case.

A tactic well worn out by our 24/7 media. The taking of a minority report (not race) and presenting it as a general condition. The making of a banquet out of a ham sandwich!!!!!!!!!!!

Ther I feel better already!!!!!!;)

btk
Actually it's much truer that either of you think, or want to think.

Why do you ask? OK..you didn't ask but I'll tell you anyway. I've spent decades in the radio business and over the years I have become very skilled at reading monthly & quarterly radio ratings reports. Radio & TV ratings and other polling services use the same method to obtain their results. They sample a small cross-section of a particular universe and then project the responses against the whole of that particular universe. (city, state, nation)For example in our recent election..Most polling companies said that the race would be very close. (It was.) They also said that Pres. Obama would get a 2nd term. (He did.) There were a couple polls that were way out in either direction but they were ultimately discounted and found to be incorrect. Like most things, the answer is found somewhere in the middle.

I came to TOTV quite by accident. I was doing a Google search about something I wanted to know about TV and up popped TOTV. While it did not answer my question, I thought that it would be an interesting place to learn about things & people here. I have mentioned before, but in the interest of full disclosure I will mention it again. We did not come here to retire, (we are still working) but so that my wife could assist her parents as they got older.

While I thought it might be interesting to live in TV my wife hates it. So we would be looking at other communities as well. I came to TOTV as somebody who was somewhat disposed to living here, and was hoping to maybe find some items that might sway my wife's thinking about things. I was NOT a Kool-Aid drinker, so in many ways I needed to be convinced.

Since I have discovered TOTV I had read every single comment on every single thread. There are some who I'm sure think I comment too much, but in truth, I comment very little. After reading all of these threads for a number of months I have used the same method as radio ratings and polling companies do to reach my results.

While it is true that the majority of the 90,000 Villages residents do not actively comment on TOTV, there is indeed a workable cross-section of residents participating here. After doing the reading here is what I have learned from this...

Residing in TV are a majority of smug, self-important people who think that their sewage is scentless because THEY live in TV and YOU do not. There is a very definate pecking order in TV..Those whom you call "Frogs" who live here year-round and the only time they are ever leaving is when the big black station wagon hauls you to the junkyard. Their attitude is that they are FAR superior to everyone else who lives in TV. Then come the "Snowbirds". People who own homes here, but only come during the winter or for vacation periods. As judged by the first group they are OK, but they are definately NOT one of "them". And finally comes those who dare to show up in the winter and pay rent. You despise them. Anything that happens between December & April that disturbs your nirvana can be blamed on them.

Overall the majority of TV residents are a collection of whining, grumbling, kvetching old people who despite having 1800 clubs & activities and 36 or more golf courses, their biggest activity is to complain about virtually everything. You whine about your neighbors who who walk their dogs to the post office boxes because the poor pooch might inconveniently relieve himself along the way. You whine about your neighbors who put some sort of decorative pot or trinket on THEIR garden or front steps. You whine about the possibility of the various unwashed hordes who just might invade your nirvana in Brownwood or other places. Never mind that these are open public places & private businesses. You carefully veil your racism in language which any person with a brain can figure out in seconds. I could write on and on about what I have learned. I have also learned that you have been building lots of churches. Either you're just interested in building buildings or you become deaf once you enter the building.

While TOTV is a place for residents to communicate, it is also a place where people come to LEARN about TV. If you are not already convinced that TV is nirvana or God's Little Green Acre then taking the time to really read this forum will very much likely convince you that it is not.

I came here looking for information and to be convinced. I have come away with the impression that the majority of people (but not all) here are snide, two-faced and whiny.

I have a great deal of admiration for the Morse family. I don't know them, but admire their vision and their hard work to put such a place together. I don't know if they got tired of playing with their Department-56 village under the Christmas tree and decided to build a real one for themselves or what, but they are geniuses. I know that they are very, very careful in their marketing. With that in mind, I'm surprised that they allow TOTV. It does a wonderful job of talking people OUT of coming to TV.

Again..this is what TOTV has taught ME. And speaking only for ME..What I have learned is that TV is a city. Just like any other city. It is not nirvana. While it's a nice place, many cities are nice places and many people like where they live. Heck..even Toldeo was loved by Max Klinger. But the hype of TV being "Florida's Friendliest Hometown" is a lie. When you look at it from a distance it seems unbelieveable, almost fantastic, but up close, the reality is a lot more gritty & not all that pretty.

[eweissenbach]

Since I have discovered TOTV I had read every single comment on every single thread. There are some who I'm sure think I comment too much, but in truth, I comment very little. After reading all of these threads for a number of months I have used the same method as radio ratings and polling companies do to reach my results. Trying to present your opinions as equal to scientific polling data is laughable.

While it is true that the majority of the 90,000 Villages residents do not actively comment on TOTV, there is indeed a workable cross-section of residents participating here. After doing the reading here is what I have learned from this... I would argue that the regular posters on TOTV are not at all representative of the community as a whole. They are likely much more passionate and engaged than the average resident, and many, like myself, do not live in TV - yet.

Residing in TV are a majority of smug, self-important people who think that their sewage is scentless because THEY live in TV and YOU do not. That is a wild generalization and exaggeration IMO. I am sure there are some that fit that description, but not the majority. In fact this post seems to, with all due respect, show you to be in that category. There is a very definate pecking order in TV..Those whom you call "Frogs" who live here year-round and the only time they are ever leaving is when the big black station wagon hauls you to the junkyard. Their attitude is that they are FAR superior to everyone else who lives in TV. Then come the "Snowbirds". People who own homes here, but only come during the winter or for vacation periods. As judged by the first group they are OK, but they are definately NOT one of "them". And finally comes those who dare to show up in the winter and pay rent. You despise them. Anything that happens between December & April that disturbs your nirvana can be blamed on them.

Overall the majority of TV residents are a collection of whining, grumbling, kvetching old people who despite having 1800 clubs & activities and 36 or more golf courses, their biggest activity is to complain about virtually everything. Once again a wild generalization and very insulting portrait of many good, thoughtful, people. You whine about your neighbors who who walk their dogs to the post office boxes because the poor pooch might inconveniently relieve himself along the way. You whine about your neighbors who put some sort of decorative pot or trinket on THEIR garden or front steps. You whine about the possibility of the various unwashed hordes who just might invade your nirvana in Brownwood or other places. Never mind that these are open public places & private businesses. You carefully veil your racism in language which any person with a brain can figure out in seconds. I could write on and on about what I have learned. I have also learned that you have been building lots of churches. Either you're just interested in building buildings or you become deaf once you enter the building. Pretty bitter viewpoint, and unwarrented IMO.

While TOTV is a place for residents to communicate, it is also a place where people come to LEARN about TV. If you are not already convinced that TV is nirvana or God's Little Green Acre then taking the time to really read this forum will very much likely convince you that it is not. I found TOTV three years ago and, much like you, went back about six months and read most posts that seemed of interest to me. I came away with a very different view from yours - it made me ever more anxious to come and see for myself. I have now been there 3 times and am committed to rent this coming Feb. and Mar. and still find the place, and most of the people amazing.

I came here looking for information and to be convinced. I have come away with the impression that the majority of people (but not all) here are snide, two-faced and whiny. The Majority? Please share your scientific data for that assumption


Again..this is what TOTV has taught ME. And speaking only for ME..What I have learned is that TV is a city. Just like any other city. It is not nirvana. While it's a nice place, many cities are nice places and many people like where they live. Heck..even Toldeo was loved by Max Klinger. But the hype of TV being "Florida's Friendliest Hometown" is a lie. When you look at it from a distance it seems unbelieveable, almost fantastic, but up close, the reality is a lot more gritty & not all that pretty. Well, we have been up close and looked for the warts, and have found very very few, relative to other places we have lived or visited.

I don't totally disagree with some of your contentions, but I think you have done what you criticized by making some excessive generalizations and faulty assumptions. Hope you and your wife find a place to be happy. Ed

[Jim 9922]

Mack184 your comments should generate pages of comment and rebuttle. However you did strike on a few chords of truth. The basic one is, that we are a group of 85,000 plus people of different backgrounds, interests and personalities. There are going to be differences, just as there in real life outside The Villages' bubble. The same traits are all over, but maybe they become more concentrated within the smaller physical space that defines TV and the fact that most everyone now has "24 - 7" to view and become concerned about all the little petty things they were too busy or away from location to really worry about when they were in "real life", and there are probably a few people who want to be bigger frogs in our small pond. No matter where we are or in what we participate, we have to keep an open perspective on others' needs, wants, and concerns. Tolerance and compromise are necessary where ever and whenever.
Maybe one of the big mistakes people make about TV is that it will be paradise as defined in THEIR OWN eyes. It is not, it is still a community made up of all different people. And, it even has some of its own rules. TV has much going for it and alot of benefits and features that make it attractive to many of us, but it is not a PERFECT paradise. Maybe the misconception is the fault of the marketing department.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

Actually it's much truer that either of you think, or want to think.

Why do you ask? OK..you didn't ask but I'll tell you anyway. I've spent decades in the radio business and over the years I have become very skilled at reading monthly & quarterly radio ratings reports. Radio & TV ratings and other polling services use the same method to obtain their results. They sample a small cross-section of a particular universe and then project the responses against the whole of that particular universe. (city, state, nation)For example in our recent election..Most polling companies said that the race would be very close. (It was.) They also said that Pres. Obama would get a 2nd term. (He did.) There were a couple polls that were way out in either direction but they were ultimately discounted and found to be incorrect. Like most things, the answer is found somewhere in the middle.

I came to TOTV quite by accident. I was doing a Google search about something I wanted to know about TV and up popped TOTV. While it did not answer my question, I thought that it would be an interesting place to learn about things & people here. I have mentioned before, but in the interest of full disclosure I will mention it again. We did not come here to retire, (we are still working) but so that my wife could assist her parents as they got older.

While I thought it might be interesting to live in TV my wife hates it. So we would be looking at other communities as well. I came to TOTV as somebody who was somewhat disposed to living here, and was hoping to maybe find some items that might sway my wife's thinking about things. I was NOT a Kool-Aid drinker, so in many ways I needed to be convinced.

Since I have discovered TOTV I had read every single comment on every single thread. There are some who I'm sure think I comment too much, but in truth, I comment very little. After reading all of these threads for a number of months I have used the same method as radio ratings and polling companies do to reach my results.

While it is true that the majority of the 90,000 Villages residents do not actively comment on TOTV, there is indeed a workable cross-section of residents participating here. After doing the reading here is what I have learned from this...

Residing in TV are a majority of smug, self-important people who think that their sewage is scentless because THEY live in TV and YOU do not. There is a very definate pecking order in TV..Those whom you call "Frogs" who live here year-round and the only time they are ever leaving is when the big black station wagon hauls you to the junkyard. Their attitude is that they are FAR superior to everyone else who lives in TV. Then come the "Snowbirds". People who own homes here, but only come during the winter or for vacation periods. As judged by the first group they are OK, but they are definately NOT one of "them". And finally comes those who dare to show up in the winter and pay rent. You despise them. Anything that happens between December & April that disturbs your nirvana can be blamed on them.

Overall the majority of TV residents are a collection of whining, grumbling, kvetching old people who despite having 1800 clubs & activities and 36 or more golf courses, their biggest activity is to complain about virtually everything. You whine about your neighbors who who walk their dogs to the post office boxes because the poor pooch might inconveniently relieve himself along the way. You whine about your neighbors who put some sort of decorative pot or trinket on THEIR garden or front steps. You whine about the possibility of the various unwashed hordes who just might invade your nirvana in Brownwood or other places. Never mind that these are open public places & private businesses. You carefully veil your racism in language which any person with a brain can figure out in seconds. I could write on and on about what I have learned. I have also learned that you have been building lots of churches. Either you're just interested in building buildings or you become deaf once you enter the building.

While TOTV is a place for residents to communicate, it is also a place where people come to LEARN about TV. If you are not already convinced that TV is nirvana or God's Little Green Acre then taking the time to really read this forum will very much likely convince you that it is not.

I came here looking for information and to be convinced. I have come away with the impression that the majority of people (but not all) here are snide, two-faced and whiny.

I have a great deal of admiration for the Morse family. I don't know them, but admire their vision and their hard work to put such a place together. I don't know if they got tired of playing with their Department-56 village under the Christmas tree and decided to build a real one for themselves or what, but they are geniuses. I know that they are very, very careful in their marketing. With that in mind, I'm surprised that they allow TOTV. It does a wonderful job of talking people OUT of coming to TV.

Again..this is what TOTV has taught ME. And speaking only for ME..What I have learned is that TV is a city. Just like any other city. It is not nirvana. While it's a nice place, many cities are nice places and many people like where they live. Heck..even Toldeo was loved by Max Klinger. But the hype of TV being "Florida's Friendliest Hometown" is a lie. When you look at it from a distance it seems unbelieveable, almost fantastic, but up close, the reality is a lot more gritty & not all that pretty.

I'm not sure how an entire community can be judged based on a few people that post on TOTV but TV is not for everyone, some love it, some hate it and some live here because it's somewhere to live. If it's not for you, it's not for you "Florida's Friendliest Hometown" is marketing done by the developer saying it's a "lie" is like saying Charmin is lying when it says it's the best toilet paper, some will swear it is, and some will swear it isn't, so what. I think most people that consider the TV lifestyle are smart enough to know marketing from life. My experience has been that TV is very friendly and welcoming but so are other areas I've lived and visited. TV is filled with all different sorts of people, which for me makes it interesting and I wouldn't live anywhere else. I hope you find the perfect place for your needs and wants to live and enjoy yourself. Life is too short to not be happy

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Well we want south of 466 2000sq ish and room for pool or already has one , so not that many out there for what we r looking for
Here's one. There are about 75 more homes in this category.
Properties of The Villages (http://www.thevillages.com/homes/vls/pohdetail/vlsdetail4.aspx?vlsnum=212394)

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I don't think that comparing The Villages to a big city is fair. We don't have all the offices and businesses that big cities have. We have a much higher percentage of residential acreage than most cities do.
It's is a huge exaggeration to say that we have all of the same problems of crime and poverty that big cities have.
Is the place paradise, God's Little Acre, nirvana? of course not, but it is one of the finest and safest residential communities in this country.
Is the zero crime and zero problems? Is the weather perfect 365 days a year? I don't think that anyone believes that. Sometimes it rains and sometimes the temperature goes into the 30s. Very seldom do people get robbed murdered, raped or their houses broken into.
I think that most of us love it here and wouldn't live anywhere else. I think that most of us feel that the Villages is very safe, very low crime area and the weather is nice most of the time.

[Bogie Shooter]

Actually it's much truer that either of you think, or want to think.

Why do you ask? OK..you didn't ask but I'll tell you anyway. I've spent decades in the radio business and over the years I have become very skilled at reading monthly & quarterly radio ratings reports. Radio & TV ratings and other polling services use the same method to obtain their results. They sample a small cross-section of a particular universe and then project the responses against the whole of that particular universe. (city, state, nation)For example in our recent election..Most polling companies said that the race would be very close. (It was.) They also said that Pres. Obama would get a 2nd term. (He did.) There were a couple polls that were way out in either direction but they were ultimately discounted and found to be incorrect. Like most things, the answer is found somewhere in the middle.

I came to TOTV quite by accident. I was doing a Google search about something I wanted to know about TV and up popped TOTV. While it did not answer my question, I thought that it would be an interesting place to learn about things & people here. I have mentioned before, but in the interest of full disclosure I will mention it again. We did not come here to retire, (we are still working) but so that my wife could assist her parents as they got older.

While I thought it might be interesting to live in TV my wife hates it. So we would be looking at other communities as well. I came to TOTV as somebody who was somewhat disposed to living here, and was hoping to maybe find some items that might sway my wife's thinking about things. I was NOT a Kool-Aid drinker, so in many ways I needed to be convinced.

Since I have discovered TOTV I had read every single comment on every single thread. There are some who I'm sure think I comment too much, but in truth, I comment very little. After reading all of these threads for a number of months I have used the same method as radio ratings and polling companies do to reach my results.

While it is true that the majority of the 90,000 Villages residents do not actively comment on TOTV, there is indeed a workable cross-section of residents participating here. After doing the reading here is what I have learned from this...

Residing in TV are a majority of smug, self-important people who think that their sewage is scentless because THEY live in TV and YOU do not. There is a very definate pecking order in TV..Those whom you call "Frogs" who live here year-round and the only time they are ever leaving is when the big black station wagon hauls you to the junkyard. Their attitude is that they are FAR superior to everyone else who lives in TV. Then come the "Snowbirds". People who own homes here, but only come during the winter or for vacation periods. As judged by the first group they are OK, but they are definately NOT one of "them". And finally comes those who dare to show up in the winter and pay rent. You despise them. Anything that happens between December & April that disturbs your nirvana can be blamed on them.

Overall the majority of TV residents are a collection of whining, grumbling, kvetching old people who despite having 1800 clubs & activities and 36 or more golf courses, their biggest activity is to complain about virtually everything. You whine about your neighbors who who walk their dogs to the post office boxes because the poor pooch might inconveniently relieve himself along the way. You whine about your neighbors who put some sort of decorative pot or trinket on THEIR garden or front steps. You whine about the possibility of the various unwashed hordes who just might invade your nirvana in Brownwood or other places. Never mind that these are open public places & private businesses. You carefully veil your racism in language which any person with a brain can figure out in seconds. I could write on and on about what I have learned. I have also learned that you have been building lots of churches. Either you're just interested in building buildings or you become deaf once you enter the building.

While TOTV is a place for residents to communicate, it is also a place where people come to LEARN about TV. If you are not already convinced that TV is nirvana or God's Little Green Acre then taking the time to really read this forum will very much likely convince you that it is not.

I came here looking for information and to be convinced. I have come away with the impression that the majority of people (but not all) here are snide, two-faced and whiny.

I have a great deal of admiration for the Morse family. I don't know them, but admire their vision and their hard work to put such a place together. I don't know if they got tired of playing with their Department-56 village under the Christmas tree and decided to build a real one for themselves or what, but they are geniuses. I know that they are very, very careful in their marketing. With that in mind, I'm surprised that they allow TOTV. It does a wonderful job of talking people OUT of coming to TV.

Again..this is what TOTV has taught ME. And speaking only for ME..What I have learned is that TV is a city. Just like any other city. It is not nirvana. While it's a nice place, many cities are nice places and many people like where they live. Heck..even Toldeo was loved by Max Klinger. But the hype of TV being "Florida's Friendliest Hometown" is a lie. When you look at it from a distance it seems unbelieveable, almost fantastic, but up close, the reality is a lot more gritty & not all that pretty.

In reading every single post on TOTV it is suprising that you did not see that many of the whiners are the same ones over and over.
Yet, not seeing that you make some rather large generalizations.
And because of those generalizations you fall into the aforementioned group.

I too hope you find somewhere you and your wife can be happy.

[gerryann]

eweissenbach, I am unable to read what you said and highlighted in blue...maybe my eyes, maybe the computer, maybe just because it's blue..



mack185, I can certainly tell that you are unhappy living here. Maybe its because you are dealing with an unhappy wife......Whatever the reason, I feel that your mood and unhappiness is skewing your thinking. Just because you feel the way you do regarding the residences here in TV does not make it so. Unless you have taken a survey of everyone living here, you are wrong...maybe not wrong about yourself and your wife, but certainly you are arrogantly deciding how everyone else feels....and you have no business saying that "Overall the majority of TV residents are a collection of whining, grumbling, kvetching old people" I am truly sorry that you are as unhappy as you are and I hope that you find what you are looking for.

[rubicon]

Actually it's much truer that either of you think, or want to think.

Why do you ask? OK..you didn't ask but I'll tell you anyway. I've spent decades in the radio business and over the years I have become very skilled at reading monthly & quarterly radio ratings reports. Radio & TV ratings and other polling services use the same method to obtain their results. They sample a small cross-section of a particular universe and then project the responses against the whole of that particular universe. (city, state, nation)For example in our recent election..Most polling companies said that the race would be very close. (It was.) They also said that Pres. Obama would get a 2nd term. (He did.) There were a couple polls that were way out in either direction but they were ultimately discounted and found to be incorrect. Like most things, the answer is found somewhere in the middle.

I came to TOTV quite by accident. I was doing a Google search about something I wanted to know about TV and up popped TOTV. While it did not answer my question, I thought that it would be an interesting place to learn about things & people here. I have mentioned before, but in the interest of full disclosure I will mention it again. We did not come here to retire, (we are still working) but so that my wife could assist her parents as they got older.

While I thought it might be interesting to live in TV my wife hates it. So we would be looking at other communities as well. I came to TOTV as somebody who was somewhat disposed to living here, and was hoping to maybe find some items that might sway my wife's thinking about things. I was NOT a Kool-Aid drinker, so in many ways I needed to be convinced.

Since I have discovered TOTV I had read every single comment on every single thread. There are some who I'm sure think I comment too much, but in truth, I comment very little. After reading all of these threads for a number of months I have used the same method as radio ratings and polling companies do to reach my results.

While it is true that the majority of the 90,000 Villages residents do not actively comment on TOTV, there is indeed a workable cross-section of residents participating here. After doing the reading here is what I have learned from this...

Residing in TV are a majority of smug, self-important people who think that their sewage is scentless because THEY live in TV and YOU do not. There is a very definate pecking order in TV..Those whom you call "Frogs" who live here year-round and the only time they are ever leaving is when the big black station wagon hauls you to the junkyard. Their attitude is that they are FAR superior to everyone else who lives in TV. Then come the "Snowbirds". People who own homes here, but only come during the winter or for vacation periods. As judged by the first group they are OK, but they are definately NOT one of "them". And finally comes those who dare to show up in the winter and pay rent. You despise them. Anything that happens between December & April that disturbs your nirvana can be blamed on them.

Overall the majority of TV residents are a collection of whining, grumbling, kvetching old people who despite having 1800 clubs & activities and 36 or more golf courses, their biggest activity is to complain about virtually everything. You whine about your neighbors who who walk their dogs to the post office boxes because the poor pooch might inconveniently relieve himself along the way. You whine about your neighbors who put some sort of decorative pot or trinket on THEIR garden or front steps. You whine about the possibility of the various unwashed hordes who just might invade your nirvana in Brownwood or other places. Never mind that these are open public places & private businesses. You carefully veil your racism in language which any person with a brain can figure out in seconds. I could write on and on about what I have learned. I have also learned that you have been building lots of churches. Either you're just interested in building buildings or you become deaf once you enter the building.

While TOTV is a place for residents to communicate, it is also a place where people come to LEARN about TV. If you are not already convinced that TV is nirvana or God's Little Green Acre then taking the time to really read this forum will very much likely convince you that it is not.

I came here looking for information and to be convinced. I have come away with the impression that the majority of people (but not all) here are snide, two-faced and whiny.

I have a great deal of admiration for the Morse family. I don't know them, but admire their vision and their hard work to put such a place together. I don't know if they got tired of playing with their Department-56 village under the Christmas tree and decided to build a real one for themselves or what, but they are geniuses. I know that they are very, very careful in their marketing. With that in mind, I'm surprised that they allow TOTV. It does a wonderful job of talking people OUT of coming to TV.

Again..this is what TOTV has taught ME. And speaking only for ME..What I have learned is that TV is a city. Just like any other city. It is not nirvana. While it's a nice place, many cities are nice places and many people like where they live. Heck..even Toldeo was loved by Max Klinger. But the hype of TV being "Florida's Friendliest Hometown" is a lie. When you look at it from a distance it seems unbelieveable, almost fantastic, but up close, the reality is a lot more gritty & not all that pretty.

Mack184: Now don't hold back:D Your profile tell us you have been with TOTV since Sep2012 and in all that time you have managed to determine that fulltime residents are elitists. Hmmmmmmmmm Many residents are racists whinny, petty. Hmmmm Is having a bias against fulltime residents a form of racism (villageism) 'That's it your a villageist.

You state that you have taken a scientific approach in your analysis of The Villages. Who was your control group? Perhaps the residnts of Del Webb or Spruce Creek?

You comment with great disdain that village residents complain about renters. Did you know that homeowners in California, Arizona, Colorado, etc have complained that renters create an unacceptable change in their neighborhoods. My point being that there is a legitimate grip about the affect renters have in a community. and by the way I don't agree that many residents and certainly not as many that you intimate are bothered by renters.

In closing, your rantings were unnecesary, unsupported, mean and since words reveal a person's mind reveal who you really are.

Your profile also shows us that you have lived in many states so I hope your wife wins out and you move from here back to one of them...but then maybe they don't want you back?

[gerryann]

I don't think that comparing The Villages to a big city is fair. We don't have all the offices and businesses that big cities have. We have a much higher percentage of residential acreage than most cities do.
It's is a huge exaggeration to say that we have all of the same problems of crime and poverty that big cities have.
Is the place paradise, God's Little Acre, nirvana? of course not, but it is one of the finest and safest residential communities in this country.
Is the zero crime and zero problems? Is the weather perfect 365 days a year? I don't think that anyone believes that. Sometimes it rains and sometimes the temperature goes into the 30s. Very seldom do people get robbed murdered, raped or their houses broken into.
I think that most of us love it here and wouldn't live anywhere else. I think that most of us feel that the Villages is very safe, very low crime area and the weather is nice most of the time.

I agree. Very good post. If I had to pick only one reason for living here, it would be the safety of TV. I have lived in various places in Florida, and have never felt safe the way I do here. Do bad things happen here ?...absolutely, by they are few and far between.

[Mack184]

Since answering many of the posts here will qualify as "personal attacks" by the Board Police I will refrain from doing so. I suspected many answers of this kind, and it makes no never mind to me. I told the truth as I see it. Oddly, I have received a number of private messages telling me that I have hit the bulls-eye square & true.

Once again, I will reiterate our reason for being in TV area. We are here so that my wife's parents can continue to live in TV where THEY are happy and so they won't have to make other decisions and choices. We will be here until her parents pass away. So for those who are bothered by my truth-telling, you've got a long way to go.

I have a FANTASTIC wife and a FANTASTIC marriage and what she's unhappy about does not bear on our marriage.

Cheers.

[gerryann]

Since answering many of the posts here will qualify as "personal attacks" by the Board Police I will refrain from doing so. I suspected many answers of this kind, and it makes no never mind to me. I told the truth as I see it. Oddly, I have received a number of private messages telling me that I have hit the bulls-eye square & true.

Once again, I will reiterate our reason for being in TV area. We are here so that my wife's parents can continue to live in TV where THEY are happy and so they won't have to make other decisions and choices. We will be here until her parents pass away. So for those who are bothered by my truth-telling, you've got a long way to go.

I have a FANTASTIC wife and a FANTASTIC marriage and what she's unhappy about does not bear on our marriage.

Cheers.

I guess that I assumed that you were leaving. My mistake, but if I felt as you and your wife to....I think that I would skedaddle out of here pronto.

[justjim]

Mack: Very interesting post and interesting conclusions about TV and it's residents. You are definitely one up on most of us in that you say you have read every post of every thread since you joined TOTV less than 3 months ago. WOW! I will say that you certainly don't lack confidence in making the Conclusions you have come to by reading and commenting on TOTV threads and posts.

Agreeing to disagree is at the foundation of free speech, however, there is a big difference between anonymous blogging and the transparent debate of a given topic. I suspect that many opinions and comments might be different if they had to sign their real name instead of a nickname or pseudonym. For this reason, many of your conclusions IMHO are not valid, although it is not difficult to agree with some of the "points" you made.

[eweissenbach]

Since answering many of the posts here will qualify as "personal attacks" by the Board Police I will refrain from doing so. I suspected many answers of this kind, and it makes no never mind to me. I told the truth as I see it. Oddly, I have received a number of private messages telling me that I have hit the bulls-eye square & true.

Once again, I will reiterate our reason for being in TV area. We are here so that my wife's parents can continue to live in TV where THEY are happy and so they won't have to make other decisions and choices. We will be here until her parents pass away. So for those who are bothered by my truth-telling, you've got a long way to go.

I have a FANTASTIC wife and a FANTASTIC marriage and what she's unhappy about does not bear on our marriage.

Cheers.

And what you think makes no never mind to me. However, you chose to put your thoughts into words and insult and degegrate a large group of people, with what you claimed, falsely, to be "scientific" research. Your earlier post and your follow-up indicate you are arrogant and closed minded, but I'm sure you are pleased with yourself. I would not consider myself a Villages cheerleader, or blind to flaws, and as I said before I could agree with some of your points, with a less broad brush. Again, good luck.

[jblum315]

As Gracie often says, "Boy Howdy"!!!

[redwitch]

I'm not a TV cheerleader. Never have been, can't imagine that I ever will be. I think I see the good and the bad here. What I don't see is the overwhelming bigotry implied by Mack. What I don't see is the elitism. I see some of it but not to the extent I've seen in other places. I do see some pettiness but it is more than made up for by the true generosity here. I have never before seen the kindness, the willingness to help, the joy in helping that I have seen here. Villagers will happily donate their time, their money, their knowledge to help others. They'll stop to help a stranger even to going out of their way to guide them to their destination.

Mack, I'm sorry you're seeing such negativity and missing so many of the positives. I truly hope you manage to see the goodness in most Villagers. It's there and not all that hard to find.

Another thing to remember is that TOTV may be a microcosm of TV but it is not an accurate picture. Like most places, the silent majority prevails. That means that the majority of Villagers don't post on TOTV. Heck, many have never heard of TOTV and many, many others have never read it. There are more that visit here and never post than those of us who post. The vocal folks, here and in public, really are the minority. We just stand out more cause we do speak.

Mack, I hope that one day you and your wife will find the spot that makes you happy. Best of luck until then.

[ugotme]

Just my two cents worth.

ANYWHERE I have lived I have encountered the good, the bad and the ugly!

Wherever you go someone will be a complainer, someone will think they are better, someone will turn you in for the smallest issue.

However, someone will turn out to be a true friend, someone will be a helping neighbor and someone will help you out when needed.

For me - I am better off than some and not as much as others.

[2BNTV]

I remember Mr. Mack has said in a previous post that he chose not to live in TV but nearby to take care of his or her parents.

I must say that I agree to disagree strongly with his generalizations. As for reading every post, I say hats off to Mr. Mack as I have devoutly more time than I can count and I haven't read every post. With that being said, I would tend to think his assumptions are not based on scientifis fact but his sole viewpoint.

I don't think anyone can totally know what's in a persons mind.

:popcorn:

[njbchbum]

Actually it's much truer that either of you think, or want to think.

Why do you ask? OK..you didn't ask but I'll tell you anyway. I've spent decades in the radio business and over the years I have become very skilled at reading monthly & quarterly radio ratings reports. Radio & TV ratings and other polling services use the same method to obtain their results. They sample a small cross-section of a particular universe and then project the responses against the whole of that particular universe. (city, state, nation)For example in our recent election..Most polling companies said that the race would be very close. (It was.) They also said that Pres. Obama would get a 2nd term. (He did.) There were a couple polls that were way out in either direction but they were ultimately discounted and found to be incorrect. Like most things, the answer is found somewhere in the middle.
snipped


mack184 - your post makes it sound as if you should have spent as much time developing your reading people skills as you did your skills of reading ratings reports! can't be sure from your ragging on the people of the villages whether you ever truly developed the analytical skills of evaluating what you read/experience.

be that as it may, you do admit that an answer to polls and outlyer polls lies somewhere in the middle. i venture to say that it must be a good thing that your description of residents and the kool-aid description of residents leaves the answer re the true feelings of villages residents to lie somewhere in the middle of those two categories.

i'm sorry that you sound so unhappy with the villages and that you are only waiting on the passing of family...that cannot add to the quality of life that one can potentially enjoy. i hope there are happier days in your future.

your posts are always poignant and appreciated and always support the concept of agreeing to disagree - and that's a good thing! ;)

[Polar Bear]

(For the sake of discussion, I'll assume Mack is not trolling...saying absurd things just to get a rise out of people.)

You can't possibly be judging TV by these forums??!!?? I've hung out in a lot of forums over the years. I'm an ahead-of-my-time geek, computer gamer, tech nut...etc., etc. Heheh. That equates to tons of forums over many years. And rule number ONE is...you can't judge the entire community from the forums!!

I love hanging out in forums. But boy...you really need to have a strong filter to sift through all the you-know-what to get to the good stuff. And there's a lot of good stuff. But there's also a lot of you-know-what.

I don't care if you have read every post in every thread on these forums...which of course I don't believe for one second...it still is not an accurate indicator of the overall nature of this community and the people who live here.

[Villages PL]

Why are people selling in TV?

I don't know if this has been mentioned yet but people eventually die and their homes must be sold by someone. The first home I bought in TV was in a Trust and I bought it from the Trust.

It had been occupied by a married couple. The wife died of cancer first. Then the husband died of cancer and the home went into a Trust. Just for that reason alone there's likely a steady supply of homes coming into the market.

[eweissenbach]

I don't know if this has been mentioned yet but people eventually die and their homes must be sold by someone. The first home I bought in TV was in a Trust and I bought it from the Trust.

It had been occupied by a married couple. The wife died of cancer first. Then the husband died of cancer and the home went into a Trust.

I mentioned it back on page 2! The questions posed in the original post have been virtually lost, and I doubt the OP is still paying any attention.

As many have stated a lot of the resales are due to people moving within the Villages. I have gone to dozens of pre-owned open houses and have heard many say they are buying a larger home in TV, a smaller home in TV, a villa rather than their current house, a home with room for a pool............

I have also heard quite a few people, or their realtor, say that they decided to move closer to family. Also have heard of many who move because of failing health to be closer to family or healthcare facilities they have confidence in.

Another reason is that in a community where most residents are 65 and older, there is a fairly high mortality rate compared with normal communities. One or both people die and the survivor or their estate decide to sell.

As far as cost of living, I don't live in TV yet, but my research indicates that the living costs are quite reasonable in comparison with the midwest where I have spent all my life. If you are coming from one of the coasts you would probably find it very reasonable. If you don't have to carry a mortgage I would think you could buy an inexpensive home and live very nicely on a very modest income. You simply have to do the research and be very realistic about your wants and needs. Good luck!

[graciegirl]

I guess you told us. Now I am trying to think if I am a whiner or a grumbling person but don't think Catholic girls can kvetch and I am not sure what kvetch means since I haven't heard anyone say it ever, but I am from Ohio.

And these are my feelings and you hurt them Mack and just when I was feeling so respectful of you.

[Mack184]

I remember Mr. Mack has said in a previous post that he chose not to live in TV but nearby to take care of his or her parents.

I must say that I agree to disagree strongly with his generalizations. As for reading every post, I say hats off to Mr. Mack as I have devoutly more time than I can count and I haven't read every post. With that being said, I would tend to think his assumptions are not based on scientifis fact but his sole viewpoint.

I don't think anyone can totally know what's in a persons mind.

:popcorn:
I never once said that I used scientific fact in coming to my conclusions. What I did say is that I used the same METHOD that is used by ratings companies and polling groups. I took a small sample (TOTV) and then projected it against a particular universe, that universe being TV itself.

Yes it does sound strange that I have read every post, and I can understand people thinking that this is not possible. However, I have treated our move into the TV area as a full time job since we began plans to move here back in May. Someone noticed that I "joined" in September". That's correct. But I have been looking at & reading TOTV since June. I did not begin commenting until September. There's a big time difference there.

I did the same thing for our house hunting. I looked at literally hundreds of homes, looked up their records from the county websites, and then passed a list each and every day to my wife for her to decide yes or no for the homes on that list.

I worked approximately 12 hours a day 5 days a week on finding out about the area, and things related to it.

When we looked, we looked at homes in TV, Stonecrest, Del Webb/Spruce Creek Golf Club, Legacy, Top Of The World and some standard out-of retirement community homes as well. Since my wife is not at all fond of TV we only looked at a few homes there. BUT...since we are there for her parents, being within and knowing about TV no matter what our community address may be is an absolute must if we are to do the things that are needed for her mother & dad.

I have read newspaper stories about TV, I have read Leisureville, I have watched various video offerings about TV. All give varying opinions about it.

Today I commented about what I have found on TOTV. I probably would have kept my peace, however watching people go after Tom Hannon who's wife got dimed out by the secret lawn police made me mad, and it was exactly this type of behavior and attitude that made me finally speak out about it.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

:popcorn:

Bill :wave:

[Jim 9922]

------Today I commented about what I have found on TOTV. I probably would have kept my peace, however watching people go after Tom Hannon who's wife got dimed out by the secret lawn police made me mad, and it was exactly this type of behavior and attitude that made me finally speak out about it.


As I stated above a lot of it demands tolerance of other people's likes, viewpoints and actions. My wife and I personally like orginal garden art and enjoy seing the expressions of individuality within the communities South of 466. For that reason we would not consider a move North of 466 and subject ourselves to the dreaded secret lawn police (a.k.a The Troll Patrol). On the other hand, we have seen many gosh awfull driveway designs on both sides of 466 with characters, designs, and colors that really detract from the home and the neighborhood as a whole. But, each to their own, it is all in the eye of the beholder (or, maybe the home owner).
Anyway, if we all wanted plain mediocre white , we would have bought in a high rise condo. Even then someone would probably ruin it all by wanting to put their name plate on a door!

[buzzy]

.......
Anyway, if we all wanted plain mediocre white , we would have bought in a high rise condo. Even then someone would probably ruin it all by wanting to put their name plate on a door!

We have come to TV from 19 yrs in a mid-rise condo. TV is such a relief from the pettiness and selfishness of condo commandos.

[Mack184]

I guess you told us. Now I am trying to think if I am a whiner or a grumbling person but don't think Catholic girls can kvetch and I am not sure what kvetch means since I haven't heard anyone say it ever, but I am from Ohio.

And these are my feelings and you hurt them Mack and just when I was feeling so respectful of you.
Kvetching is jewish for the word that rhymes with ditch. I know there are jews in Ohio, I knew a number of them when I worked in Toledo.

[justjim]

Getting back to the OP which ask why people would sell their home in TV. As Mentioned in an earlier post, it is "normal" in a retirement community to have 5% of homes for sale. We have listed many reasons in this thread for that 5%. I'll add one more. A couple weeks ago I was driving thru the Village of Bridgeport and came upon a premier home that had been pained a bright blue color. Obviously, the paint job did not fit into the neighborhood. Has anybody else noticed this house sitting among 500k- 800k Premier homes? Now that
might cause someone to sell. TV is a wonderful retirement community---we have lived in two others and although not perfect it is way ahead of what is in second place.

[bluedog103]

...

[bluedog103]

Kvetching is jewish for the word that rhymes with ditch. I know there are jews in Ohio, I knew a number of them when I worked in Toledo.

Yiddish

[Houselover]

We are moving to TV from another planned community in FL. In doing the math for the mortgage, golf, taxes, utilities. etc we will be paying about the same as our prev home.
Big plus for TV is the active lifestyle with many choices in addition to great golf..

[Golfingnut]

I LOVE THE VILLAGES AND OVER 99 % OF THE VILLAGE PEOPLE.

:wave: I am the Golfingnut and I approve this message.

[jblum315]

Getting back to the OP which ask why people would sell their home in TV. As Mentioned in an earlier post, it is "normal" in a retirement community to have 5% of homes for sale. We have listed many reasons in this thread for that 5%. I'll add one more. A couple weeks ago I was driving thru the Village of Bridgeport and came upon a premier home that had been pained a bright blue color. Obviously, the paint job did not fit into the neighborhood. Has anybody else noticed this house sitting among 500k- 800k Premier homes? Now that
might cause someone to sell. TV is a wonderful retirement community---we have lived in two others and although not perfect it is way ahead of what is in second place.

There is an old maxim: Always buy the ugliest house in the neighborhood because you won't have to look at it

[sueandskip]

I don't agree about all the nasty's and grumbly's, but even if that was true as for me I don't need 100 friends or even close to that...I have my golf buddies and I have my friendly neighbors....I meet people at the squares and have a laugh or two....I will meet my golf buddies and there wives for lunch or dinner once and awhile or they will invites us over to there homes for drinks or dinner...All and all that's enough for me , but I could use a billiard buddy ...ARE YOU INTERESTED ?:wave:

[sueandskip]

They were not pink flamingos. They were not visable from the street. If you want to go by rules, i could report all my neighbors for one thing or the other, but I don't. I am a perfect neighbor. I go out of my way to be nice and lend my golf cart to anyone who needs it. While I'm in NY when my bushes were getting overgrown, I flew down from NY just to cut them. IF YOU WANT TO CALL THIS A LAW, maybe I shouldn't be a villager. How many golf carts go over 20 MPH. How many people water their lawns more than twice a week. Dont get me started Golfnut. If we have to live in fear of everyone being a spy maybe my wife is right.
You all are starting to sound like the whinners and grumbly's.....

If you know what the rules are then why do you break them...

Why would you fly back from NY just to trim bushes when you can hire someone here for 10 or 20 bucks to do it for you ?

You make no sence to me !

[bonrich]

We have our "garden art" on our lanai looking out the screens. They seem to be quite happy there and we do get to enjoy them. So far we haven't been approached to cover our little friends. We do not have a lot of them, just some special stuff we bought years ago on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota. I do hope what we do in our homes is safe and secure from the "rules".

[2BNTV]

We have come to TV from 19 yrs in a mid-rise condo. TV is such a relief from the pettiness and selfishness of condo commandos.

:agree:

[Bogie Shooter]

We have our "garden art" on our lanai looking out the screens. They seem to be quite happy there and we do get to enjoy them. So far we haven't been approached to cover our little friends. We do not have a lot of them, just some special stuff we bought years ago on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota. I do hope what we do in our homes is safe and secure from the "rules".

The things you have on your lanai have nothing to do with the deed restrictions.
Village Community Development Districts (http://www.districtgov.org/departments/community-standards/download.aspx)

[coach 67]

Actually it's much truer that either of you think, or want to think.

Why do you ask? OK..you didn't ask but I'll tell you anyway. I've spent decades in the radio business and over the years I have become very skilled at reading monthly & quarterly radio ratings reports. Radio & TV ratings and other polling services use the same method to obtain their results. They sample a small cross-section of a particular universe and then project the responses against the whole of that particular universe. (city, state, nation)For example in our recent election..Most polling companies said that the race would be very close. (It was.) They also said that Pres. Obama would get a 2nd term. (He did.) There were a couple polls that were way out in either direction but they were ultimately discounted and found to be incorrect. Like most things, the answer is found somewhere in the middle.

I came to TOTV quite by accident. I was doing a Google search about something I wanted to know about TV and up popped TOTV. While it did not answer my question, I thought that it would be an interesting place to learn about things & people here. I have mentioned before, but in the interest of full disclosure I will mention it again. We did not come here to retire, (we are still working) but so that my wife could assist her parents as they got older.

While I thought it might be interesting to live in TV my wife hates it. So we would be looking at other communities as well. I came to TOTV as somebody who was somewhat disposed to living here, and was hoping to maybe find some items that might sway my wife's thinking about things. I was NOT a Kool-Aid drinker, so in many ways I needed to be convinced.

Since I have discovered TOTV I had read every single comment on every single thread. There are some who I'm sure think I comment too much, but in truth, I comment very little. After reading all of these threads for a number of months I have used the same method as radio ratings and polling companies do to reach my results.

While it is true that the majority of the 90,000 Villages residents do not actively comment on TOTV, there is indeed a workable cross-section of residents participating here. After doing the reading here is what I have learned from this...

Residing in TV are a majority of smug, self-important people who think that their sewage is scentless because THEY live in TV and YOU do not. There is a very definate pecking order in TV..Those whom you call "Frogs" who live here year-round and the only time they are ever leaving is when the big black station wagon hauls you to the junkyard. Their attitude is that they are FAR superior to everyone else who lives in TV. Then come the "Snowbirds". People who own homes here, but only come during the winter or for vacation periods. As judged by the first group they are OK, but they are definately NOT one of "them". And finally comes those who dare to show up in the winter and pay rent. You despise them. Anything that happens between December & April that disturbs your nirvana can be blamed on them.

Overall the majority of TV residents are a collection of whining, grumbling, kvetching old people who despite having 1800 clubs & activities and 36 or more golf courses, their biggest activity is to complain about virtually everything. You whine about your neighbors who who walk their dogs to the post office boxes because the poor pooch might inconveniently relieve himself along the way. You whine about your neighbors who put some sort of decorative pot or trinket on THEIR garden or front steps. You whine about the possibility of the various unwashed hordes who just might invade your nirvana in Brownwood or other places. Never mind that these are open public places & private businesses. You carefully veil your racism in language which any person with a brain can figure out in seconds. I could write on and on about what I have learned. I have also learned that you have been building lots of churches. Either you're just interested in building buildings or you become deaf once you enter the building.

While TOTV is a place for residents to communicate, it is also a place where people come to LEARN about TV. If you are not already convinced that TV is nirvana or God's Little Green Acre then taking the time to really read this forum will very much likely convince you that it is not.

I came here looking for information and to be convinced. I have come away with the impression that the majority of people (but not all) here are snide, two-faced and whiny.

I have a great deal of admiration for the Morse family. I don't know them, but admire their vision and their hard work to put such a place together. I don't know if they got tired of playing with their Department-56 village under the Christmas tree and decided to build a real one for themselves or what, but they are geniuses. I know that they are very, very careful in their marketing. With that in mind, I'm surprised that they allow TOTV. It does a wonderful job of talking people OUT of coming to TV.

Again..this is what TOTV has taught ME. And speaking only for ME..What I have learned is that TV is a city. Just like any other city. It is not nirvana. While it's a nice place, many cities are nice places and many people like where they live. Heck..even Toldeo was loved by Max Klinger. But the hype of TV being "Florida's Friendliest Hometown" is a lie. When you look at it from a distance it seems unbelieveable, almost fantastic, but up close, the reality is a lot more gritty & not all that pretty.

First of all let me say you are a very good writer.Lot of your comments make sense to me.Think you have summed up some of foolishness in the villages quite well.

[Golfingnut]

A few of the posters on this thread must live in a different part of the Villages than we do. My wife and I find the folks here, in general, as the most accommodating, friendly, helpful folks we have ever met-------that comment comes when compared to people we have been associated with over the last 43 years together as a socializing married couple and that being spread over 14 different locations we have lived in that includes two countries and 6 States. Could it be the way some folks act or carry themselves that attracts these unhappy people. I have always heard that birds of a feather flock together. I must admit that if I experience a high level of negativity from a person or group I am guilty of avoiding them in the future. Negative thinking is a proven health risk and can easily become a compulsive bad habit. I could point out a quirk or two about every neighbor I have, however, I prefer to see the many many many good point they have and bring to the block.

[shcisamax]

Honestly, I have to say the following: Most of the people I meet in TV never go on TOTV. They are far too busy doing lots of activities and enjoying life. I suspect many of those who are on TOTV all the time who are moaning have little else going on in their lives and that would mean they are probably not the most social or fun loving.

Our experience has been nothing but great...maybe not on TOTV but in "real" life. I come from one of the most self indulgent, narcissistic, and snobbish corners of the US and I have found the people here incredibly open, kind, friendly, giving and just simply nice. Haha. I am beginning to sound like Gracie :)

I just think much has to do with your own personal approach. And as I said, I don't think you can make any reasonable judgements based upon the TOTV population because it is a skewed slice of the demographic.

[justjim]

A few of the posters on this thread must live in a different part of the Villages than we do. My wife and I find the folks here, in general, as the most accommodating, friendly, helpful folks we have ever met-------that comment comes when compared to people we have been associated with over the last 43 years together as a socializing married couple and that being spread over 14 different locations we have lived in that includes two countries and 6 States. Could it be the way some folks act or carry themselves that attracts these unhappy people. I have always heard that birds of a feather flock together. I must admit that if I experience a high level of negativity from a person or group I am guilty of avoiding them in the future. Negative thinking is a proven health risk and can easily become a compulsive bad habit. I could point out a quirk or two about every neighbor I have, however, I prefer to see the many many many good point they have and bring to the block.

I agree. My wife and I, like you, have lived in several different communities and none any better than TV. We too don't associate for any length of time with negative people. Before we retired, for economic reasons, sometimes we had fewer choices i.e. negative boss etc., but in our retirement years we definitely avoid and ignore people with constant negative thinking. You start "sweating the small stuff" and it can become a health risk.

The diversity of its residents is one of the best traits of TV. With 90,000 plus people from all different parts of the country it's a great place to learn something new everyday. You dont have to give up your beliefs to open your mind up to new ideas. "I don't like that man, I must get to know him better". Lincoln said that over two hundred years ago. True today, true in TV and it will be true no matter where you buy or sell a home.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

........ I don't think you can make any reasonable judgements based upon the TOTV population because it is a skewed slice of the demographic.

Ditto!

Bill :)

[graciegirl]

I agree. My wife and I, like you, have lived in several different communities and none any better than TV. We too don't associate for any length of time with negative people. Before we retired, for economic reasons, sometimes we had fewer choices i.e. negative boss etc., but in our retirement years we definitely avoid and ignore people with constant negative thinking. You start "sweating the small stuff" and it can become a health risk.

The diversity of its residents is one of the best traits of TV. With 90,000 plus people from all different parts of the country it's a great place to learn something new everyday. You dont have to give up your beliefs to open your mind up to new ideas. "I don't like that man, I must get to know him better". Lincoln said that over two hundred years ago. True today, true in TV and it will be true no matter where you buy or sell a home.


Excellent post and I had not heard that quote from Abe Lincoln. It is a very good one indeed and I will try to remember it always.


"I don't like that man, I must get to know him better."

He was a good man, Abe Lincoln, and so are you.:wave:

[rubicon]

Honestly, I have to say the following: Most of the people I meet in TV never go on TOTV. They are far too busy doing lots of activities and enjoying life. I suspect many of those who are on TOTV all the time who are moaning have little else going on in their lives and that would mean they are probably not the most social or fun loving.

Our experience has been nothing but great...maybe not on TOTV but in "real" life. I come from one of the most self indulgent, narcissistic, and snobbish corners of the US and I have found the people here incredibly open, kind, friendly, giving and just simply nice. Haha. I am beginning to sound like Gracie :)

I just think much has to do with your own personal approach. And as I said, I don't think you can make any reasonable judgements based upon the TOTV population because it is a skewed slice of the demographic.

Wow! I apparently made some bad assumptions. I believed that members read and post�d on TOTV to share views, ideas and experiences living in TV such as conditions of golf courses, restaturants medical providers, etc.

Also confusing for me is the definition of whinning or whinners vis a vis legitimate complaints or candid and realistic comments. It seems better to one's interest to refrain from any comments, irrespective of their validity that even one person would deem whinning. Because as the man in the movie once said "You can't handle the truth.

In my mind TOTV serves a very useful purpose and I don't beleive that many members spend all day posting. However if there ae some that do well what is wrong with that if this is where they find contentment?

[2BNTV]

Wow! I apparently made some bad assumptions. I believed that members read and post�d on TOTV to share views, ideas and experiences living in TV such as conditions of golf courses, restaturants medical providers, etc.

Also confusing for me is the definition of whinning or whinners vis a vis legitimate complaints or candid and realistic comments. It seems better to one's interest to refrain from any comments, irrespective of their validity that even one person would deem whinning. Because as the man in the movie once said "You can't handle the truth.

In my mind TOTV serves a very useful purpose and I don't beleive that many members spend all day posting. However if there ae some that do well what is wrong with that if this is where they find contentment?

:agree:

[Golfingnut]

Wow! I apparently made some bad assumptions. I believed that members read and post�d on TOTV to share views, ideas and experiences living in TV such as conditions of golf courses, restaturants medical providers, etc.

Also confusing for me is the definition of whinning or whinners vis a vis legitimate complaints or candid and realistic comments. It seems better to one's interest to refrain from any comments, irrespective of their validity that even one person would deem whinning. Because as the man in the movie once said "You can't handle the truth.

In my mind TOTV serves a very useful purpose and I don't beleive that many members spend all day posting. However if there ae some that do well what is wrong with that if this is where they find contentment?

I think I see your point, and if I do, then I would like to add that at least for me, I first try to see the positive side of things rather than jump on the negative right away. No place is perfect, but for my wife and I, The Villages is the closest to perfect we have found and trust me when I say, We have looked from coast to coast.

[eweissenbach]

We probably devote too much time and attention to the very few flame throwers like mack. The VAST majority of TOTV posters try to give good information and offer mostly positive opinions. Are there a few people who whine more than necessary - sure; are there people with legitimate complaints - sure. Are there bad neighbors who make it their business to pry into others business - sure; are there legitimate reasons to report violations - sure. One thing we probably do to excess is to defend the site, the Villages, and the Villagers when we feel attacked personally, or by proxy. It may be argued that this post is an example, and I'll accept that.

[graciegirl]

We probably devote too much time and attention to the very few flame throwers like mack. The VAST majority of TOTV posters try to give good information and offer mostly positive opinions. Are there a few people who whine more than necessary - sure; are there people with legitimate complaints - sure. Are there bad neighbors who make it their business to pry into others business - sure; are there legitimate reasons to report violations - sure. One thing we probably do to excess is to defend the site, the Villages, and the Villagers when we feel attacked personally, or by proxy. It may be argued that this post is an example, and I'll accept that.

You can defend us here anytime, coach. Your posts are reasonable and kind.

I may not always agree with you but I never find you disagreeable.

When I see that you have posted, I know to expect a considered and fair and often funny post.

I wish that the world would be peopled with far more like you.

[eweissenbach]

You can defend us here anytime, coach. Your posts are reasonable and kind.

I may not always agree with you but I never find you disagreeable.

When I see that you have posted, I know to expect a considered and fair and often funny post.

I wish that the world would be peopled with far more like you.

WHAT! You don't always agree with me???? What the heck is wrong with you????

[Patty55]

Kvetching is jewish for the word that rhymes with ditch. I know there are jews in Ohio, I knew a number of them when I worked in Toledo.

Yep, I knew a Jew in Cleveland, but he died. Wonder if THEY sent another one in to replace him.

Anyone else remember Fernwood Tonight? I loved that show.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

I think I see your point, and if I do, then I would like to add that at least for me, I first try to see the positive side of things rather than jump on the negative right away. No place is perfect, but for my wife and I, The Villages is the closest to perfect we have found and trust me when I say, We have looked from coast to coast.

:agree:

[shcisamax]

Wow! I apparently made some bad assumptions. I believed that members read and post�d on TOTV to share views, ideas and experiences living in TV such as conditions of golf courses, restaturants medical providers, etc.

Also confusing for me is the definition of whinning or whinners vis a vis legitimate complaints or candid and realistic comments. It seems better to one's interest to refrain from any comments, irrespective of their validity that even one person would deem whinning. Because as the man in the movie once said "You can't handle the truth.

In my mind TOTV serves a very useful purpose and I don't beleive that many members spend all day posting. However if there ae some that do well what is wrong with that if this is where they find contentment?

Yes people do post ideas and experiences and conditions of golf courses, restaurants and medical providers. That really is the best of TOTV and what it is most successful at...being information central. My point is to make a generalization of what TV people are about based upon the small fraction of people who are on TOTV is a huge disservice to reality. Furthermore, my statement that some of those who spend their day on the computer rather than out and about enjoying all the social interaction TV has to offer is, of course, their prerogative and agreed it is the exception versus the rule.

[2BNTV]

Yep, I knew a Jew in Cleveland, but he died. Wonder if THEY sent another one in to replace him.

Anyone else remember Fernwood Tonight? I loved that show.

:1rotfl:

[2BNTV]

We probably devote too much time and attention to the very few flame throwers like mack. The VAST majority of TOTV posters try to give good information and offer mostly positive opinions. Are there a few people who whine more than necessary - sure; are there people with legitimate complaints - sure. Are there bad neighbors who make it their business to pry into others business - sure; are there legitimate reasons to report violations - sure. One thing we probably do to excess is to defend the site, the Villages, and the Villagers when we feel attacked personally, or by proxy. It may be argued that this post is an example, and I'll accept that.

You can defend us here anytime, coach. Your posts are reasonable and kind.

I may not always agree with you but I never find you disagreeable.

When I see that you have posted, I know to expect a considered and fair and often funny post.

I wish that the world would be peopled with far more like you.

I agree with you too Ed. Must be something wrong with me too!!!! LOL

[Villages Kahuna]

I never knew there was so much wrong here. When people ask me what I like best and least about TV, I always answer that I'd have a difficult time creating either list. If I was limited to three "good things", it'd be tough because there are a dozen things I like which would all be competing for the top three. On the "don't like" list, I'd also have a tough time because there's virtually nothing I don't like about living here

Oh...maybe the traffic and the wait in restaurants during high season. Big deal huh, if that's my biggest complaint.

[ydnar9]

Why are people selling in TV? We stayed in the Villages 3 different times for a month and loved it. We went to many open houses, manufactured and resale site built homes. After losing my job in Michigan because of the results of NAFTA, now being less expensive for corporations to move out of the country to do their manufacturing and then export the goods to the U.S., they moved our company out of the U.S. NAFTA being great for the corporations and their bottom line, but bad for the people that work there. Well that left me in a earlier than expected fixed income. We decided to move to Florida. We didn't buy in the Villages because the home we bought in The Plantation would have been another 60% in the Villages, and for what we paid for it we would have had to buy a manufactured home in the Villages. So that's the reason we did not buy there. Not sure if we did the right thing or not at this point, sure love the Villages and the golf cart access to everything.
No offense to anyone with a manufactured home there. VERY beautiful area where they are located, I just didn't think they would be a good investment and how long can you still get insurance on them as they get older? Each to their own I guess. Just do lots of research before buying anywhere.

[justjim]

We stayed in the Villages 3 different times for a month and loved it. We went to many open houses, manufactured and resale site built homes. After losing my job in Michigan because of the results of NAFTA, now being less expensive for corporations to move out of the country to do their manufacturing and then export the goods to the U.S., they moved our company out of the U.S. NAFTA being great for the corporations and their bottom line, but bad for the people that work there. Well that left me in a earlier than expected fixed income. We decided to move to Florida. We didn't buy in the Villages because the home we bought in The Plantation would have been another 60% in the Villages, and for what we paid for it we would have had to buy a manufactured home in the Villages. So that's the reason we did not buy there. Not sure if we did the right thing or not at this point, sure love the Villages and the golf cart access to everything.
No offense to anyone with a manufactured home there. VERY beautiful area where they are located, I just didn't think they would be a good investment and how long can you still get insurance on them as they get older? Each to their own I guess. Just do lots of research before buying anywhere.

:posting: Nice post----sounds like you really liked TV but for personal and economic reasons chose the Plantation. I know your community well and it too is a very nice retirement community. Main difference is the access to many amenities by golf cart and restaurants, shopping, health care, etc. without driving several miles in your car to those amenities and services.

My educated guess is that not many homes in TV are for sale for economic reasons. By the way, there are many homes for sale in the Plantation too. For some Retirees it is a matter of personal choice as to how much of there incomes they choose to spend on housing. I have observed that a number of people who live in (manufacture homes for example) could well afford to live in 300k or 400k homes but choose not to do so by choice. In TV there is something (priced homes) for everyone. I know you can buy homes in the Plantation and several other area retirement communities priced at less per square foot but without the conveniences of TV. There is an old' southern saying that applies here, "if you want to dance, you have to pay the fiddler.".

i trust you and other area residents continue to drive up to TV and spend lots of $$$$ to help our local economy and maybe we can expand our menu of Department stores, restaurants and services.

[Ripcord13]

Actually it's much truer that either of you think, or want to think.

Why do you ask? OK..you didn't ask but I'll tell you anyway. I've spent decades in the radio business and over the years I have become very skilled at reading monthly & quarterly radio ratings reports. Radio & TV ratings and other polling services use the same method to obtain their results. They sample a small cross-section of a particular universe and then project the responses against the whole of that particular universe. (city, state, nation)For example in our recent election..Most polling companies said that the race would be very close. (It was.) They also said that Pres. Obama would get a 2nd term. (He did.) There were a couple polls that were way out in either direction but they were ultimately discounted and found to be incorrect. Like most things, the answer is found somewhere in the middle.

I came to TOTV quite by accident. I was doing a Google search about something I wanted to know about TV and up popped TOTV. While it did not answer my question, I thought that it would be an interesting place to learn about things & people here. I have mentioned before, but in the interest of full disclosure I will mention it again. We did not come here to retire, (we are still working) but so that my wife could assist her parents as they got older.

While I thought it might be interesting to live in TV my wife hates it. So we would be looking at other communities as well. I came to TOTV as somebody who was somewhat disposed to living here, and was hoping to maybe find some items that might sway my wife's thinking about things. I was NOT a Kool-Aid drinker, so in many ways I needed to be convinced.

Since I have discovered TOTV I had read every single comment on every single thread. There are some who I'm sure think I comment too much, but in truth, I comment very little. After reading all of these threads for a number of months I have used the same method as radio ratings and polling companies do to reach my results.

While it is true that the majority of the 90,000 Villages residents do not actively comment on TOTV, there is indeed a workable cross-section of residents participating here. After doing the reading here is what I have learned from this...

Residing in TV are a majority of smug, self-important people who think that their sewage is scentless because THEY live in TV and YOU do not. There is a very definate pecking order in TV..Those whom you call "Frogs" who live here year-round and the only time they are ever leaving is when the big black station wagon hauls you to the junkyard. Their attitude is that they are FAR superior to everyone else who lives in TV. Then come the "Snowbirds". People who own homes here, but only come during the winter or for vacation periods. As judged by the first group they are OK, but they are definately NOT one of "them". And finally comes those who dare to show up in the winter and pay rent. You despise them. Anything that happens between December & April that disturbs your nirvana can be blamed on them.

Overall the majority of TV residents are a collection of whining, grumbling, kvetching old people who despite having 1800 clubs & activities and 36 or more golf courses, their biggest activity is to complain about virtually everything. You whine about your neighbors who who walk their dogs to the post office boxes because the poor pooch might inconveniently relieve himself along the way. You whine about your neighbors who put some sort of decorative pot or trinket on THEIR garden or front steps. You whine about the possibility of the various unwashed hordes who just might invade your nirvana in Brownwood or other places. Never mind that these are open public places & private businesses. You carefully veil your racism in language which any person with a brain can figure out in seconds. I could write on and on about what I have learned. I have also learned that you have been building lots of churches. Either you're just interested in building buildings or you become deaf once you enter the building.

While TOTV is a place for residents to communicate, it is also a place where people come to LEARN about TV. If you are not already convinced that TV is nirvana or God's Little Green Acre then taking the time to really read this forum will very much likely convince you that it is not.

I came here looking for information and to be convinced. I have come away with the impression that the majority of people (but not all) here are snide, two-faced and whiny.

I have a great deal of admiration for the Morse family. I don't know them, but admire their vision and their hard work to put such a place together. I don't know if they got tired of playing with their Department-56 village under the Christmas tree and decided to build a real one for themselves or what, but they are geniuses. I know that they are very, very careful in their marketing. With that in mind, I'm surprised that they allow TOTV. It does a wonderful job of talking people OUT of coming to TV.

Again..this is what TOTV has taught ME. And speaking only for ME..What I have learned is that TV is a city. Just like any other city. It is not nirvana. While it's a nice place, many cities are nice places and many people like where they live. Heck..even Toldeo was loved by Max Klinger. But the hype of TV being "Florida's Friendliest Hometown" is a lie. When you look at it from a distance it seems unbelieveable, almost fantastic, but up close, the reality is a lot more gritty & not all that pretty.

:BigApplause:

[graciegirl]

:BigApplause:

I just want to stand up and say I don't agree with you agreeing with someone who is putting down my home town, especially since Mack has barely been here four months and lives in Stonecrest..

There are so many wonderful things about this place and people. Today I played golf with a group of eight girls who I spend each Friday with doing something, golfing or cards or board games. They are funny and bright and quick to laugh and to hug. We have supported each other through several biggies and celebrated happy occasions frequently.

They are my friends but I know there are thousands like them here. It is part of aging that brings the cream to the top and most of us have been there and done that and chose this place to live.

I think when Mack settles in he will see the goodness that exists here among us seniors. There is no place like it in the world.

And no finer people.

Remember on this forum and everywhere it is the noisy that stand out. Most of us go quietly along celebrating the small things and enjoying the moments of our lives.

[justjim]

I just want to stand up and say I don't agree with you agreeing with someone who is putting down my home town, especially since Mack has barely been here four months.

There are so many wonderful things about this place and people. Today I played golf with a group of eight girls who I spend each Friday with doing something, golfing or cards or board games. They are funny and bright and quick to laugh and to hug. We have supported each other through several biggies and celebrated happy occasions frequently.

They are my friends but I know there are thousands like them here. It is part of aging that brings the cream to the top and most of us have been there and done that and chose this place to live.

I think when Mack settles in he will see the goodness that exists here among us seniors. There is no place like it in the world.

And no finer people.

Remember on this forum and everywhere it is the noisy that stand out. Most of us go quietly along celebrating the small things and enjoying the moments of our lives.

:posting: Nice post Gracie.

[billethkid]

Actually it's much truer that either of you think, or want to think.

Why do you ask? OK..you didn't ask but I'll tell you anyway. I've spent decades in the radio business and over the years I have become very skilled at reading monthly & quarterly radio ratings reports. Radio & TV ratings and other polling services use the same method to obtain their results. They sample a small cross-section of a particular universe and then project the responses against the whole of that particular universe. (city, state, nation)For example in our recent election..Most polling companies said that the race would be very close. (It was.) They also said that Pres. Obama would get a 2nd term. (He did.) There were a couple polls that were way out in either direction but they were ultimately discounted and found to be incorrect. Like most things, the answer is found somewhere in the middle.

I came to TOTV quite by accident. I was doing a Google search about something I wanted to know about TV and up popped TOTV. While it did not answer my question, I thought that it would be an interesting place to learn about things & people here. I have mentioned before, but in the interest of full disclosure I will mention it again. We did not come here to retire, (we are still working) but so that my wife could assist her parents as they got older.

While I thought it might be interesting to live in TV my wife hates it. So we would be looking at other communities as well. I came to TOTV as somebody who was somewhat disposed to living here, and was hoping to maybe find some items that might sway my wife's thinking about things. I was NOT a Kool-Aid drinker, so in many ways I needed to be convinced.

Since I have discovered TOTV I had read every single comment on every single thread. There are some who I'm sure think I comment too much, but in truth, I comment very little. After reading all of these threads for a number of months I have used the same method as radio ratings and polling companies do to reach my results.

While it is true that the majority of the 90,000 Villages residents do not actively comment on TOTV, there is indeed a workable cross-section of residents participating here. After doing the reading here is what I have learned from this...

Residing in TV are a majority of smug, self-important people who think that their sewage is scentless because THEY live in TV and YOU do not. There is a very definate pecking order in TV..Those whom you call "Frogs" who live here year-round and the only time they are ever leaving is when the big black station wagon hauls you to the junkyard. Their attitude is that they are FAR superior to everyone else who lives in TV. Then come the "Snowbirds". People who own homes here, but only come during the winter or for vacation periods. As judged by the first group they are OK, but they are definately NOT one of "them". And finally comes those who dare to show up in the winter and pay rent. You despise them. Anything that happens between December & April that disturbs your nirvana can be blamed on them.

Overall the majority of TV residents are a collection of whining, grumbling, kvetching old people who despite having 1800 clubs & activities and 36 or more golf courses, their biggest activity is to complain about virtually everything. You whine about your neighbors who who walk their dogs to the post office boxes because the poor pooch might inconveniently relieve himself along the way. You whine about your neighbors who put some sort of decorative pot or trinket on THEIR garden or front steps. You whine about the possibility of the various unwashed hordes who just might invade your nirvana in Brownwood or other places. Never mind that these are open public places & private businesses. You carefully veil your racism in language which any person with a brain can figure out in seconds. I could write on and on about what I have learned. I have also learned that you have been building lots of churches. Either you're just interested in building buildings or you become deaf once you enter the building.

While TOTV is a place for residents to communicate, it is also a place where people come to LEARN about TV. If you are not already convinced that TV is nirvana or God's Little Green Acre then taking the time to really read this forum will very much likely convince you that it is not.

I came here looking for information and to be convinced. I have come away with the impression that the majority of people (but not all) here are snide, two-faced and whiny.

I have a great deal of admiration for the Morse family. I don't know them, but admire their vision and their hard work to put such a place together. I don't know if they got tired of playing with their Department-56 village under the Christmas tree and decided to build a real one for themselves or what, but they are geniuses. I know that they are very, very careful in their marketing. With that in mind, I'm surprised that they allow TOTV. It does a wonderful job of talking people OUT of coming to TV.

Again..this is what TOTV has taught ME. And speaking only for ME..What I have learned is that TV is a city. Just like any other city. It is not nirvana. While it's a nice place, many cities are nice places and many people like where they live. Heck..even Toldeo was loved by Max Klinger. But the hype of TV being "Florida's Friendliest Hometown" is a lie. When you look at it from a distance it seems unbelieveable, almost fantastic, but up close, the reality is a lot more gritty & not all that pretty.

The minority report is duly noted!!

btk

[Ripcord13]

I just want to stand up and say I don't agree with you agreeing with someone who is putting down my home town, especially since Mack has barely been here four months.

There are so many wonderful things about this place and people. Today I played golf with a group of eight girls who I spend each Friday with doing something, golfing or cards or board games. They are funny and bright and quick to laugh and to hug. We have supported each other through several biggies and celebrated happy occasions frequently.

They are my friends but I know there are thousands like them here. It is part of aging that brings the cream to the top and most of us have been there and done that and chose this place to live.

I think when Mack settles in he will see the goodness that exists here among us seniors. There is no place like it in the worl

Remember on this forum and everywhere it is the noisy that stand out. Most of us go quietly along celebrating the small things and enjoying the moments of our lives.

There is truth in some of the things he spoke of, I have seen it myself. NO further comments

[geri317]

We are selling our designer home in the Villages so that we can buy a courtyard villa. We have two little dogs so a villa will be perfect for them. It is only as expensive to live in the Villages as you want it to be. There is so much to do that is free here, no need to spend money unless you want to.

[Mack184]

I just want to stand up and say I don't agree with you agreeing with someone who is putting down my home town, especially since Mack has barely been here four months and lives in Stonecrest..

There are so many wonderful things about this place and people. Today I played golf with a group of eight girls who I spend each Friday with doing something, golfing or cards or board games. They are funny and bright and quick to laugh and to hug. We have supported each other through several biggies and celebrated happy occasions frequently.

They are my friends but I know there are thousands like them here. It is part of aging that brings the cream to the top and most of us have been there and done that and chose this place to live.

I think when Mack settles in he will see the goodness that exists here among us seniors. There is no place like it in the world.

And no finer people.

Remember on this forum and everywhere it is the noisy that stand out. Most of us go quietly along celebrating the small things and enjoying the moments of our lives.
You know what Gracie?? I'll take that bet. One year from now I will post again on this subject, and IF I have found you to be right, I will PUBLICLY apologize to you right here on TOTV.

[graciegirl]

You know what Gracie?? I'll take that bet. One year from now I will post again on this subject, and IF I have found you to be right, I will PUBLICLY apologize to you right here on TOTV.

What you think in a year will be interesting but not terribly important to the 90,000 folks who chose this place as their home.

I am not at all unusual. I am very typical of the folks who live here. I am a senior citizen who never even considered living in Florida. I don't like Florida. I am satisfied that I have put a good effort in the earlier years of my life and have enjoyed some success in my career and have seen some lovely things in this world. My children and grandchildren are raised and employed. I have experienced some heart breaking things and some soul satisfying things in my life. I am old, stubborn, opinionated, strong willed, impatient and love very deeply. I am loyal and tenacious.

I thought that this part of my life would be very quiet and rather unexciting...but here in this place I am finding wonderful things to do and the time to do them.

I think that you are much younger than my 73 years and you have said that you consider The Villages "summer camp for seniors". Well please just hold your thought until you too are 73 years old.

This place was made for people like me. I love the diversity and strong opinons. I am surprised by the meanness sometimes but I think a lot of sharp words are just how people are raised. You really need to get used to a lot of difference in people due to cultural differences in this country.

You may think you are right. Bright people sometimes jump to conclusions and are usually right but I think you are wrong on this one, Mack.

[Skybo]

You know what Gracie?? I'll take that bet. One year from now I will post again on this subject, and IF I have found you to be right, I will PUBLICLY apologize to you right here on TOTV.

Mack, if I may ask, what exactly are you betting against (or for) ? Are you saying that one year from now you will not see the goodness that exists here in The Villages? Just wondering what the actual bet is and how we'll be able to quantify it.

[Mack184]

Mack, if I may ask, what exactly are you betting against (or for) ? Are you saying that one year from now you will not see the goodness that exists here in The Villages? Just wondering what the actual bet is and how we'll be able to quantify it.
Gracie thinks that after a period of time I will think differently about the people of TV than I do now. I don't think so, but I'm willing to take the bet. If I do think differently, I'll be happy to tell her that she was right. If not, I'll say that as well. We'll see how it comes out. I do what I say I will do, so I'll get back to her in a year from now.

[Skybo]

Gracie thinks that after a period of time I will think differently about the people of TV than I do now. I don't think so, but I'm willing to take the bet. If I do think differently, I'll be happy to tell her that she was right. If not, I'll say that as well. We'll see how it comes out. I do what I say I will do, so I'll get back to her in a year from now.

That�s what I thought you meant. OK then, I wish you the best of luck in your quest to observe and evaluate all us �people of The Villages� and I look forward to your report.

[senior citizen]

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

[LynnDeb]

Nice post Graciegirl....I am the one who asked this question that people are still commenting on...my hubby and I are getting our house ready to put up for sale here in Kissimmee. We have visited TV a few times and last stayed last wkend in the comfort inn and suites....We did have a realtor show us homes in our price range and loved the ranch style homes with the big lanui....we are hoping to become part of The Village People asap.. thanx, Lynn

[Polar Bear]

What you think in a year will be...not terribly important to the 90,000 folks who chose this place as their home.


Bingo.

[ugotme]

Hey Mack just like to ask you one question. First let me say I do not live in The Villages - I am coming up to look - so I can not voice an opinion on most of your comments.

I am not trying to be sarcastic but, could your feelings toward The Villages have to do with your wife wanting to come down here to help take care of her parents and you being opposed to the move?

[Mack184]

Hey Mack just like to ask you one question. First let me say I do not live in The Villages - I am coming up to look - so I can not voice an opinion on most of your comments.

I am not trying to be sarcastic but, could your feelings toward The Villages have to do with your wife wanting to come down here to help take care of her parents and you being opposed to the move?
No..It is not. I am fine with whatever my wife wants in life. However, since you bring it up, while she loves her parents and wants to give back, if anybody is opposed to the move it is her. She loves where we live now and she loves her job, and is in no rush to give it up. While I would be happier in someplace like Montana, I have no problem being in Florida if that's where she is.

[Golfingnut]

What you think in a year will be interesting but not terribly important to the 90,000 folks who chose this place as their home.

I am not at all unusual. I am very typical of the folks who live here. I am a senior citizen who never even considered living in Florida. I don't like Florida. I am satisfied that I have put a good effort in the earlier years of my life and have enjoyed some success in my career and have seen some lovely things in this world. My children and grandchildren are raised and employed. I have experienced some heart breaking things and some soul satisfying things in my life. I am old, stubborn, opinionated, strong willed, impatient and love very deeply. I am loyal and tenacious.

I thought that this part of my life would be very quiet and rather unexciting...but here in this place I am finding wonderful things to do and the time to do them.

I think that you are much younger than my 73 years and you have said that you consider The Villages "summer camp for seniors". Well please just hold your thought until you too are 73 years old.

. I love the diversity and strong opinons. I am surprised by the meanness sometimes but I think a lot of sharp words are just how people are raised. You really need to get used to a lot of difference in people due to cultural differences in this country.

You may think you are right. Bright people sometimes jump to conclusions and are usually right but I think you are wrong on this one, Mack.

Wonderful post.. I could cut and paste it as if I wrote it with very little change in the wording. Your Quote: {This place was made for people like me} fits both my wife and I perfectly. We moved here and after three years, we love The Villages even more than the day we moved in. If stonecrest starts their own web site, I promise I will never go there to criticize the residents for their choice of retirement homes.

[Mack184]

Many of the people who do not agree with my original post keep coming back to the idea that "I" am unhappy. And given enough time "I" will be a happier soul if I just let TV & TV area work it's magic on my cold soul.

For the record, "I" am NOT unhappy. I have my own world & my own career, I have my wife and we are blessed to be warm, dry & fed. "I" am happy.

However, what I have discovered by spending time on TOTV, it seems that despite your loud protestations many of YOU are NOT happy. For a place that in theory wants to rival Disney as "The Happiest Place On Earth" many, many threads here on TOTV are nothing but complaints and whines about this, that, the other thing, and your neighbors.

Let's take two active threads for context. The first one "Bonifay Is A Bad Neighbor". In this thread the OP is upset because the club is just that..A club where people gather, eat, drink, dance & listen to music. The OP is upset because his home is within earshot of the club and the noise is upsetting him. Now let's assume that the OP has decent eyesight, decent hearing and is competent to sign a legal contract. If those assumptions are correct, then WHY would you purchase a home next to a club/saloon if what you desire is quiet? It ain't gonna happen there. My wife's aunt & uncle live in a village where there are nothing but other homes around them. It would seem to me that if what your desire was to have a quiet atmosphere, a purchase in a village where you are NOT next to a club would be a prudent move. That was not the OP's choice, so NOW the OP wants to blame the club and make them change THEIR mode of business to suit HIS needs. I'm glad the club manager told him off. He deserved it. So the OP comes here to gin up sympathy because he's incompetent to make a good purchase.

The other thread I'll use is one called "Cigarrette Trash". Here the OP is all upset about various cig-butt droppings and related garbage. I feel her pain. I have no love for smokers. It's disgusting. However...She's a Frog, and one of her instant conclusions is that the problem is likely to be "Snowbirds" because of course we all know that in TV pecking order Snowbirds.. especially if they are renters are lower than whale dung and anything that disrupts nirvana from November-April has GOT to be the fault of the Snowbirds, because the Frogs certainly wouldn't ever do that!

Sheesh!!!

Then you have the people who narc on their neighbors because somebody like Tom Hannon's wife puts out a decorative pot that is against the rules and by placing that pot in an illegal spot has somehow turned the neighborhood into some sort of inner-city ghetto. In William Shirer's book "Berlin Diary" he relates the story of a german woman who was grief-stricken because she had been informed by the German Navy that her son was lost at sea when his submarine was sunk. A few days later several of the woman's neighbors quietly came to her to let her know that her son was not dead..he was alive! He had been taken prisoner by the Brittish navy and was safe in England. The neighbors knew that because they had illegally listened to the BBC's german service. The woman thanked them and then denounced them all as traitors for listening to illegal broadcasts. It takes a VERY cold soul to do that. The same sort of cold soul it takes to narc on your neighbors over some little garden pot merely to feel superior.

If TV is attempting to topple Disney as "The Happiest Place On Earth" why do so many of you complain so loudly on these pages about such utterly trivial things?

People like Gracie tell me just how wonderful her life is here and how wonderful the people are. My in-laws would tell you the same thing, but I cannot see it. You complain about restaurants, you complain about golf carts, you complain about pets, you complain about parades, you complain about your neighbors, you complain about what WVLG plays or does not play, you complain about the Morse family (who are absolute geniuses IMHO) you complain about almost everything under the sun.

If TV is such a wonderland, then WHY are the people who are mad at me for stating my feelings that do not agree with theirs, not happier in the first place? Why is there not thread after thread full of praise and good feelings? Why are there so many complaints about a place that you think is heaven on earth? To be certain, there ARE threads about good things here, but why are THEY not the majority?

Ya got me!!

[jmvalcq]

I would agree that most people sell for the same reasons that they sell anywhere else. We bought a patio villa in March, but did not get to use it until November. After out first month in TV, we found that it's as expensive tp live in TV as you want it to be. There is a price range for just about everything that you want to do, from what type of house you buy, eating out, golf, decorating the house, etc. If your going to be snowbirds, as we are, there's an entry price in TV that will fit most people's budget.

[zonerboy]

Dear Mack,
In your original post you make some very unflattering assessments of residents of The Villages. These, you say, are based on your observations and characterizations of the nature of posts on TOTV over a period of time. You claim validity for your conclusions because you are only doing exactly what TV and radio stations do, ie. making observations of a small group and projectiing the results onto the larger group as a whole.
IMHO, professional pollsters go to great lengths to insure their sample group matches the overall group in every significant way (age, ethnicity, income levels, etc., etc., etc.). That way the sample group can be called a "representative sample" and their predictions or conclusions can be considered to have a degree of reliability.
Since YOU are the one making the unpleasant characterizations here, the burden of proof is on YOU to show that those posting on this site are representative of Villagers as a whole. Otherwise your conclusions have no more validity than personal bias.
As for me, I have many friends and acquaintances here in the Villages and the great majority have never even heard of TOTV, let alone post their opinions here. Guess they're just too busy having fun.

[gerryann]

Dear Mack,
In your original post you make some very unflattering assessments of residents of The Villages. These, you say, are based on your observations and characterizations of the nature of posts on TOTV over a period of time. You claim validity for your conclusions because you are only doing exactly what TV and radio stations do, ie. making observations of a small group and projectiing the results onto the larger group as a whole.
IMHO, professional pollsters go to great lengths to insure their sample group matches the overall group in every significant way (age, ethnicity, income levels, etc., etc., etc.). That way the sample group can be called a "representative sample" and their predictions or conclusions can be considered to have a degree of reliability.
Since YOU are the one making the unpleasant characterizations here, the burden of proof is on YOU to show that those posting on this site are representative of Villagers as a whole. Otherwise your conclusions have no more validity than personal bias.

As for me, I have many friends and acquaintances here in the Villages and the great majority have never even heard of TOTV, let alone post their opinions here. Guess they're just too busy having fun.

This is very similar to what I was going to post. I have yet to meet anyone who posts here. I have asked. Therefore if your comments are based solely on comments on TOTV, then you are way off.

Unfortunately you are simply needing to ruffle some feathers..don't know why. Only you know why. You apparently enjoy displaying nasty opinions. Only people who are not happy with their situation would post all of this negativity. I do hope that happiness comes your way. I believe that everyone here hopes the same for you.

[ugotme]

Have to say Mack - in your recent post (#180) I basically agree with you!

We are coming up to look. As in ANY neighborhood one should view the surrounding areas to see what is there. This may mean going to that neighborhood at night to see if the music is too loud etc.
If you don't - OH WELL! (No offense OP). Maybe you can deal with certain things that you uncover - MAYBE YOU CAN'T. These are the coices one must make in life.

Coming up there we don't expect everything to be perfect. We will, however, try to ascertain what goes on where, what is near our potential new home/neighborhood etc. Can we make a mistake? Of course! but hopefully we will have done our due diligence and we will be happy.

I have gotten some good information from this forum. A lot of questions have been answered and some answers have led to some confusion on my part. I do feel that some people do come on here to vent their frustrations. Maybe they just need to get it off their chest. Who knows.

NO PLACE IS PERFECT! However, IF and I repeat IF my wife and I love what we see when we come up there then we will start to "speak in FROG!"

:spoken:

[Golfingnut]

I do feel that some people do come on here to vent their frustrations. Maybe they just need to get it off their chest. Who knows.

:spoken:[/QUOTE]

You are so right. There seems to be the very few that only post negative things and never a positive note. Very sad, but that is what some old folks gravitate to. I try to close my eyes to those and read posts by Miss Gracie when I need a little sunshine.

[Bogie Shooter]

You know what Gracie?? I'll take that bet. One year from now I will post again on this subject, and IF I have found you to be right, I will PUBLICLY apologize to you right here on TOTV.

Does anyone really care??

[Bogie Shooter]

Many of the people who do not agree with my original post keep coming back to the idea that "I" am unhappy. And given enough time "I" will be a happier soul if I just let TV & TV area work it's magic on my cold soul.

For the record, "I" am NOT unhappy. I have my own world & my own career, I have my wife and we are blessed to be warm, dry & fed. "I" am happy.

However, what I have discovered by spending time on TOTV, it seems that despite your loud protestations many of YOU are NOT happy. For a place that in theory wants to rival Disney as "The Happiest Place On Earth" many, many threads here on TOTV are nothing but complaints and whines about this, that, the other thing, and your neighbors.

Let's take two active threads for context. The first one "Bonifay Is A Bad Neighbor". In this thread the OP is upset because the club is just that..A club where people gather, eat, drink, dance & listen to music. The OP is upset because his home is within earshot of the club and the noise is upsetting him. Now let's assume that the OP has decent eyesight, decent hearing and is competent to sign a legal contract. If those assumptions are correct, then WHY would you purchase a home next to a club/saloon if what you desire is quiet? It ain't gonna happen there. My wife's aunt & uncle live in a village where there are nothing but other homes around them. It would seem to me that if what your desire was to have a quiet atmosphere, a purchase in a village where you are NOT next to a club would be a prudent move. That was not the OP's choice, so NOW the OP wants to blame the club and make them change THEIR mode of business to suit HIS needs. I'm glad the club manager told him off. He deserved it. So the OP comes here to gin up sympathy because he's incompetent to make a good purchase.

The other thread I'll use is one called "Cigarrette Trash". Here the OP is all upset about various cig-butt droppings and related garbage. I feel her pain. I have no love for smokers. It's disgusting. However...She's a Frog, and one of her instant conclusions is that the problem is likely to be "Snowbirds" because of course we all know that in TV pecking order Snowbirds.. especially if they are renters are lower than whale dung and anything that disrupts nirvana from November-April has GOT to be the fault of the Snowbirds, because the Frogs certainly wouldn't ever do that!

Sheesh!!!

Then you have the people who narc on their neighbors because somebody like Tom Hannon's wife puts out a decorative pot that is against the rules and by placing that pot in an illegal spot has somehow turned the neighborhood into some sort of inner-city ghetto. In William Shirer's book "Berlin Diary" he relates the story of a german woman who was grief-stricken because she had been informed by the German Navy that her son was lost at sea when his submarine was sunk. A few days later several of the woman's neighbors quietly came to her to let her know that her son was not dead..he was alive! He had been taken prisoner by the Brittish navy and was safe in England. The neighbors knew that because they had illegally listened to the BBC's german service. The woman thanked them and then denounced them all as traitors for listening to illegal broadcasts. It takes a VERY cold soul to do that. The same sort of cold soul it takes to narc on your neighbors over some little garden pot merely to feel superior.

If TV is attempting to topple Disney as "The Happiest Place On Earth" why do so many of you complain so loudly on these pages about such utterly trivial things?

People like Gracie tell me just how wonderful her life is here and how wonderful the people are. My in-laws would tell you the same thing, but I cannot see it. You complain about restaurants, you complain about golf carts, you complain about pets, you complain about parades, you complain about your neighbors, you complain about what WVLG plays or does not play, you complain about the Morse family (who are absolute geniuses IMHO) you complain about almost everything under the sun.

If TV is such a wonderland, then WHY are the people who are mad at me for stating my feelings that do not agree with theirs, not happier in the first place? Why is there not thread after thread full of praise and good feelings? Why are there so many complaints about a place that you think is heaven on earth? To be certain, there ARE threads about good things here, but why are THEY not the majority?

Ya got me!!

:blahblahblah::duck:

[Bill-n-Brillo]

....... However, IF and I repeat IF my wife and I love what we see when we come up there then we will start to "speak in FROG!" ..........

And don't forget to bring your checkbook - you just might find a home you'll fall in love with!!!

:pepper2:

Bill :)

[perrjojo]

Actually it's much truer that either of you think, or want to think.

Why do you ask? OK..you didn't ask but I'll tell you anyway. I've spent decades in the radio business and over the years I have become very skilled at reading monthly & quarterly radio ratings reports. Radio & TV ratings and other polling services use the same method to obtain their results. They sample a small cross-section of a particular universe and then project the responses against the whole of that particular universe. (city, state, nation)For example in our recent election..Most polling companies said that the race would be very close. (It was.) They also said that Pres. Obama would get a 2nd term. (He did.) There were a couple polls that were way out in either direction but they were ultimately discounted and found to be incorrect. Like most things, the answer is found somewhere in the middle.

I came to TOTV quite by accident. I was doing a Google search about something I wanted to know about TV and up popped TOTV. While it did not answer my question, I thought that it would be an interesting place to learn about things & people here. I have mentioned before, but in the interest of full disclosure I will mention it again. We did not come here to retire, (we are still working) but so that my wife could assist her parents as they got older.

While I thought it might be interesting to live in TV my wife hates it. So we would be looking at other communities as well. I came to TOTV as somebody who was somewhat disposed to living here, and was hoping to maybe find some items that might sway my wife's thinking about things. I was NOT a Kool-Aid drinker, so in many ways I needed to be convinced.

Since I have discovered TOTV I had read every single comment on every single thread. There are some who I'm sure think I comment too much, but in truth, I comment very little. After reading all of these threads for a number of months I have used the same method as radio ratings and polling companies do to reach my results.

While it is true that the majority of the 90,000 Villages residents do not actively comment on TOTV, there is indeed a workable cross-section of residents participating here. After doing the reading here is what I have learned from this...

Residing in TV are a majority of smug, self-important people who think that their sewage is scentless because THEY live in TV and YOU do not. There is a very definate pecking order in TV..Those whom you call "Frogs" who live here year-round and the only time they are ever leaving is when the big black station wagon hauls you to the junkyard. Their attitude is that they are FAR superior to everyone else who lives in TV. Then come the "Snowbirds". People who own homes here, but only come during the winter or for vacation periods. As judged by the first group they are OK, but they are definately NOT one of "them". And finally comes those who dare to show up in the winter and pay rent. You despise them. Anything that happens between December & April that disturbs your nirvana can be blamed on them.

Overall the majority of TV residents are a collection of whining, grumbling, kvetching old people who despite having 1800 clubs & activities and 36 or more golf courses, their biggest activity is to complain about virtually everything. You whine about your neighbors who who walk their dogs to the post office boxes because the poor pooch might inconveniently relieve himself along the way. You whine about your neighbors who put some sort of decorative pot or trinket on THEIR garden or front steps. You whine about the possibility of the various unwashed hordes who just might invade your nirvana in Brownwood or other places. Never mind that these are open public places & private businesses. You carefully veil your racism in language which any person with a brain can figure out in seconds. I could write on and on about what I have learned. I have also learned that you have been building lots of churches. Either you're just interested in building buildings or you become deaf once you enter the building.

While TOTV is a place for residents to communicate, it is also a place where people come to LEARN about TV. If you are not already convinced that TV is nirvana or God's Little Green Acre then taking the time to really read this forum will very much likely convince you that it is not.

I came here looking for information and to be convinced. I have come away with the impression that the majority of people (but not all) here are snide, two-faced and whiny.

I have a great deal of admiration for the Morse family. I don't know them, but admire their vision and their hard work to put such a place together. I don't know if they got tired of playing with their Department-56 village under the Christmas tree and decided to build a real one for themselves or what, but they are geniuses. I know that they are very, very careful in their marketing. With that in mind, I'm surprised that they allow TOTV. It does a wonderful job of talking people OUT of coming to TV.

Again..this is what TOTV has taught ME. And speaking only for ME..What I have learned is that TV is a city. Just like any other city. It is not nirvana. While it's a nice place, many cities are nice places and many people like where they live. Heck..even Toldeo was loved by Max Klinger. But the hype of TV being "Florida's Friendliest Hometown" is a lie. When you look at it from a distance it seems unbelieveable, almost fantastic, but up close, the reality is a lot more gritty & not all that pretty.

:posting::posting:

So you have visited here once? You do not live here. You seem to know all about TV. Wow! I am amazed. We have been seasonal renters in TV for 10 years and were ALWAYS welcomed in whatever village we rented in. We have become full time owners one year ago. We have welcomed renters and love our Snowbird neighbors. I'm sorry, but you just don't know what you are talking about! If you think so poorly of TV, why would you waste your time on TOTV? Just curious

[ugotme]

And don't forget to bring your checkbook - you just might find a home you'll fall in love with!!!

:pepper2:

Bill :)

COUNTING ON IT B-n-B !!

From MOST of what I have read on these posts we think we will like it. Where we live now there is not much to do at all.

:thumbup:

[Bill-n-Brillo]

COUNTING ON IT B-n-B !!

From MOST of what I have read on these posts we think we will like it. Where we live now there is not much to do at all.

:thumbup:

Be prepared to get overwhelmed initially. TV is such a unique environment.......and so huge! Take your time, look around - all kinds of things to see, do, and experience. Can't do it all in one trip - make plans to come back if you like what you see!

Bill :)

[ugotme]

Be prepared to get overwhelmed initially. TV is such a unique environment.......and so huge! Take your time, look around - all kinds of things to see, do, and experience. Can't do it all in one trip - make plans to come back if you like what you see!

Bill :)

Thanks.
Coming up for a 7 day trip. Must say we are both excited about it. Definitely bringing the checkbook. I would say that if TV impresses us the way we think it will, we will be writing out checks real soon. We shall see.

Question - does the trolley ride go "through all" of TV? If not we will drive our way around - car or cart.

Thanks for the info.

[2BNTV]

Thanks.
Coming up for a 7 day trip. Must say we are both excited about it. Definitely bringing the checkbook. I would say that if TV impresses us the way we think it will, we will be writing out checks real soon. We shall see.

Question - does the trolley ride go "through all" of TV? If not we will drive our way around - car or cart.

Thanks for the info.

I think the trolley will go thru the new sections but I'm sure the tour is worth taking. It will give you an isea of how big Tv really is. Do yourself a favor and buy a $5 map from the sales center. I found it necessary to get where you want, maximizing your time. If you do get lost, someone will help you if you are travelling by cart. If you are on a LSV, the cart they give is extremely slow.

Be prepared to be blown away by the beauty of TV.

Joe :wave:

[Ken in Fernandina]

We just moved to the Villages on November 5th. We have met three people that have moved on our street from other villages for various reasons.
I haven't spoken to one person that didn't love it here.
Ken

[Didiwinbob]

Don't be afraid of getting lost! That is part of the "get to know" the lay of the land. We visited for 5 yrs. I was sold the second time, not sure when hubby decided but when he did we both knew exactly where we wanted to buy! Enjoy and also travel outside the "bubble" (Leesburg, Ocala, etc). We can only stay for short periods of time but soon I can transfer my nursing and driver's license to FL!!!


Chris

[ugotme]

Don't be afraid of getting lost! That is part of the "get to know" the lay of the land. We visited for 5 yrs. I was sold the second time, not sure when hubby decided but when he did we both knew exactly where we wanted to buy! Enjoy and also travel outside the "bubble" (Leesburg, Ocala, etc). We can only stay for short periods of time but soon I can transfer my nursing and driver's license to FL!!!Chris

Silly but I kinda like getting lost! Forces me to go to places I might not go!
Now if my wife is navigating I will DEFINITELY get lost!

:censored:

[aljetmet]

While we were designing Thanksgiving week we saw the Trolley south of 466A. You must get to Brownwood. Take Bueno Vista south and you won't miss it. Actually most of it has not been built yet it but will be a great place once complete. Enjoy your stay and make sure you do get to all Town squares and drop by a rec center or two.

[rmcpklinefelter]

I do think the trolley is worth the ride. You'll get all turned around trying to figure out where in TV you are at the moment, but will just decide to sit back, admire the beauty,
marvel at the variety of golf carts and listen to the pitch.

[senior citizen]

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

[graciegirl]

I think any of us would be lucky to have Gracie as a neighbor, and she just might change your mind. She's been through it all and made a great adjustment, twice. Gracie has a good head on her shoulders.

In our one month rental, one of the next door neighbors came over to welcome us and offer his help if needed. The others were just indoors most of the the time. Others "waved" as we drove by. In the lifestyle visit home there really were no neighbors, just "visitors" like ourselves.
Everyone kept to themselves. They appeared to be aged 55 and up to our age of 67 at the time.

Those we met in the restaurants were very friendly.....and all the hostesses, etc. told us their stories of how they moved down to TV and some stated where they "wished" they had stayed or moved to, such as the Carolina beaches. Everyone missed the beaches....or the mountains.
When everyone heard we were from Vermont, they said that they would never leave Vermont as it was so beautiful.......which it is. And SAFE.

The one thing that slightly "turned us off" was the older woman who kept calling from the sales office saying "We want to get you out into the community"...........like we couldn't get ourselves to where we wanted to go? It slightly smacked of Stepford Wives. I can see how that correlation has been applied by others in the past. It also slightly reminded me of my deceased mom's "senior citizen club" where the nurses and activity assistants kept a close eye on those who attended daily.

Maybe we are too independent living up here in Vermont for 43+ years where people know their own minds and do not need a "cruise director".

TV sells itself. It's beautiful. For those who buy into that "lifestyle jargon" I'm sure it is a dream come true. But for more independent retirees, it's just "different" from what we have been used to, to say the very least. Also, too many rules and regulations. We've owned a lot of homes during our marriage..........and still have our brains, thankfully, so would have preferred less phone calls.

Not everyone wants to be physically active 24/7. Some are the more creative type, working with their hands, etc. or minds......and I do realize there are clubs for all of that.........which is great. We also find it hard to believe that everyone is out golfing in 100% HUMIDITY and 95 degrees temps with a heat index of God only knows what.....with intense sun.

We can't even take the heat up here.

As someone else said, the first visit is OVERWHELMING and most folks are exhausted from a long day of airports, picking up rental cars, getting lost on the roundabouts to really care about "getting into the community".....we needed a long rest first. Just us. Again, we are not 49 years old anymore. I've had many people private message me to say the same exact thing........and the simple fact that TV was so OVERWHELMING and tiring (esp. if one came from a small town), that they felt it "would not be in the cards" based on one spouse or the other's initial impression. My husband, who was lacking his nicotine fix after a day of traveling........did actually like the place. However, he hates THE HEAT AND THE HUMIDITY. Again, been there, done that.

On one hand we can see the advantages which are many.......but on the other hand it is very expensive to move..........only to return back north, yet again.

Wintering down there seems to be the solution..........esp. since I found out that most people do return north for the late spring and summers...and only rent for the winters.

The "younger generation" LOVES THE VILLAGES.........but we are no longer the younger generation. Really really doubt if we'd be in those squares at night.

Others our age, family members and friends of ours, who also visited..........say it is "artificial". It all depends upon where you are coming from.

WE thought it was lovely to look at. But it would take many more visits, other than SIX WEEKS to come to an ultimate yes or no.

I am confused by your reference to an "older woman who called from the sales office". I have NEVER heard of anyone calling from the sales office with a request to "get you out into the community", . I wonder if it was an MLS person who got wind you were renting. They can be annoyingly persistent. Not so the sales staff from The Villages.

I bet that everyone will agree with me on that..I am an avid reader of this forum and have talked to a lot of people over five years and have never heard of anyone being harassed or even bothered slightly by the sales staff from The Villages. That is one of the things that "sold" me on this place. No one has to "sell" you anything and the sales staff only come when called.

I am the perfect example of someone who was not interested EVER in moving to Florida and stopped by for a brief visit with old friends and they took us on a tour and gave us a Kool refreshing drink. I was in love and so was Sweetie.

Don't forget to go in SEVERAL of the rec centers, the decor is just amazing in all of them and different in each. Go to several pools, both adult and family and chat with folks; all you need say is .." I am new here. What do you think of The Villages.

And stop by our house. We will be glad to drive you around, Ugotme.

I am pretty sure you will love it here.

I do NOT work for The Villages, I do not know the Morses and I don't think I have a chip embedded in me anywhere.

I am just so glad to be alive everyday I wake up here and...well...

come see for yourself.

[senior citizen]

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

[senior citizen]

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

[ugotme]

And stop by our house. We will be glad to drive you around, Ugotme.

I am pretty sure you will love it here.come see for yourself.

Thank you VERY MUCH for the invite Gracie. Be careful - I may take you up on it!!!!

Actually I would love to meet you and your hubby. Will PM you, again, when we are coming up.

Thanks again - we really do appreciate it.

[lovesports]

P.S.
Not everything in this world is black and white........there are also shades of grey.
While we can see the beauty and convenience of certain things, many actually, in THE VILLAGES........it is just so different (HUGE) than what we have been used to.
We live in a place where varying opinions are tolerated. Not everyone has to "fit into a certain mold" or "lifestyle".

Senior Citizen you speak truth.
People who love the Villages- post here.
There is especially one person and others on TOTV who will jump on and argue with anyone who says anything less than glowing about the Villages.

That why people who don"t like it here will not post.

I like it here but it is not for everybody. There are things I don't like and things I do like here.
Next time you come to The Villages, pm me. We (my wife and I) would like to meet you.

[rhondac]

I have been here 8 years. I STILL LOVE IT!

[perrjojo]

[QUOTE=senior citizen;588367]


No one up here in Vermont would ever say, "We want to get you into the community". People here would decide , on their own, "when" , "where" and "if" they wanted to attend something or other. Also, no one up here would say, "We should get you right into water aerobics". (after just arriving from a day of travel and two airports and rental car maze in Orlando, which I'm sure others can agree with, esp. if they woke up at 3 a.m.)........again, just too overwhelming.

:smiley: This made me smile. Sometimes people from other areas do not understand "Southern Hospitality". We can't stand for anyone to feel left out or ignored..It would be rude. We are gonna come right over to meet you, bring cookies and ask, How's your Momma. You bet, we will want you to feel a part of the community immediatley. Some people think we are nosey but "sugar", that's just the way we are in the South. :wine:

By the way, I think Vermont is lovely even if you didn't invite me to be a part of the community.

[Barefoot]

It's true that TOTV primarily attracts newbies and wannabees. Some of the most enthusiastic posts are from people who don't live in TV yet! As a Seasonal Resident, I'm a big fan of TOTV because it helps me "keep in touch" while I'm up north. However I've noticed that people who live here and are less than enthusiastic rarely post, often because they don't want to be told "You're just negative, you must be depressed. There is something wrong with anyone who doesn't enjoy TV". I can see that after a few years, some people find TV artificial and contrived, because we are somewhat protected here from the grit and grind of life outside The Bubble.

Having said that, I LOVE wintering in TV and the wonderful friends we've made since 2007. The Villages is a beautiful (huge) city, incredibly clean and well manicured, and a great retirement community with lots of choices. You can be active, zooming around to golf, zumba classes and pickleball. Or you can stay at home and read and garden and bbq in your lanai. I think some older folks are nervous about moving to TV because they feel there would be too much pressure to be active. And while the younger Villagers are zipping around doing six activites a day, there are many people who lead quiet lives, and fill their time with friends, volunteer work, or church activities.

There is a right answer for each and every one of us. Those who don't choose TV, or who sell and move on, may just prefer a quieter life style with less restrictions. It doesn't mean they "don't get it", or that they are depressed or anti-social.

[senior citizen]

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

[eweissenbach]

It's true that TOTV primarily attracts newbies and wannabees. Some of the most enthusiastic posts are from people who don't live in TV yet! As a Seasonal Resident, I'm a big fan of TOTV because it helps me "keep in touch" while I'm up north. However I've noticed that people who live here and are less than enthusiastic rarely post, often because they don't want to be told "You're just negative, you must be depressed. There is something wrong with anyone who doesn't enjoy TV". I can see that after a few yeaars, some people find TV artificial and contrived.

Having said that, I LOVE wintering in TV and the wonderful friends we've made since 2007. The Villages is a beautiful (huge) city, and a great retirement community with lots of choices. You can be active, zooming around to golf, zumba classes and pickleball. Or you can stay at home and read and garden and bbq in your lanai. I think some older folks are nervous about moving to TV because they feel there would be too much pressure to be active. And while the younger Villagers are zipping around doing six activites a day, there are many people who lead quiet lives, and fill their time with friends, volunteer work, or church activities.

There is a right answer for each and every one of us. Those who don't choose TV, or who sell and move on, may just prefer a quieter life style with less restrictions. It doesn't mean they "don't get it", or that they are depressed or anti-social.

Very very true. There are 76 million people over the age of 50 in the U.S. And, believe it or not, Barefoot, there are several million in Canada and other parts of the world as well. Thank God TV is not the right or favored place for all of them. If it were, I would have no hope for being able to buy a home there, and patio villas would be selling for over a million dollars. I understand clearly that not everyone thinks like me - thank goodness!

[senior citizen]

...........

[senior citizen]

,,,,,,,,,

[shcisamax]

It's true that TOTV primarily attracts newbies and wannabees. Some of the most enthusiastic posts are from people who don't live in TV yet! As a Seasonal Resident, I'm a big fan of TOTV because it helps me "keep in touch" while I'm up north. However I've noticed that people who live here and are less than enthusiastic rarely post, often because they don't want to be told "You're just negative, you must be depressed. There is something wrong with anyone who doesn't enjoy TV". I can see that after a few yeaars, some people find TV artificial and contrived.

Having said that, I LOVE wintering in TV and the wonderful friends we've made since 2007. The Villages is a beautiful (huge) city, and a great retirement community with lots of choices. You can be active, zooming around to golf, zumba classes and pickleball. Or you can stay at home and read and garden and bbq in your lanai. I think some older folks are nervous about moving to TV because they feel there would be too much pressure to be active. And while the younger Villagers are zipping around doing six activites a day, there are many people who lead quiet lives, and fill their time with friends, volunteer work, or church activities.

There is a right answer for each and every one of us. Those who don't choose TV, or who sell and move on, may just prefer a quieter life style with less restrictions. It doesn't mean they "don't get it", or that they are depressed or anti-social.


Very comprehensive understanding of TV. BTW: I just sent you a pm.

[Golfingnut]

Senior Citizen you speak truth.
People who love the Villages- post here.
There is especially one person and others on TOTV who will jump on and argue with anyone who says anything less than glowing about the Villages.

That why people who don"t like it here will not post.

I like it here but it is not for everybody. There are things I don't like and things I do like here.
Next time you come to The Villages, pm me. We (my wife and I) would like to meet you.

:ohdear::popcorn:

Let me see: Would I rather hear that I made a great decision to retire in The Villages or fall into the depressed small group that find fault with everything. I agree with the premise that no place is perfect, but I disagree with dumping on what so many thousands of people have invested the golden years of their life, that being The Villages. My point is some folks will find fault with Heaven itself if they make it there, but when you find fault with so much the journey becomes for difficult to go up rather than down. Do yourself a favor and look for the best and not the worst in things.

[micknjudy]

Why are people selling in TV? Is it expensive to live in TV?

We have to move back North to be closer to family because of my husband's failing health. We will pay more for a smaller place; taxes are much higher; utilities have to be higher especially in the Winter and I'm sure our condo fee will be a lot more than our Villages amenity fee. We have been here for 14 years and found The Villages very reasonable especially with all of the amenities. We hate to leave!!

[eweissenbach]

We have to move back North to be closer to family because of my husband's failing health. We will pay more for a smaller place; taxes are much higher; utilities have to be higher especially in the Winter and I'm sure our condo fee will be a lot more than our Villages amenity fee. We have been here for 14 years and found The Villages very reasonable especially with all of the amenities. We hate to leave!!

Sorry to hear about your husband's health and having to leave. It is good to have family that loves you to move back closer to though.

[Polar Bear]

:ohdear::popcorn:

Let me see: Would I rather hear that I made a great decision to retire in The Villages or fall into the depressed small group that find fault with everything. I agree with the premise that no place is perfect, but I disagree with dumping on what so many thousands of people have invested the golden years of their life, that being The Villages. My point is some folks will find fault with Heaven itself if they make it there, but when you find fault with so much the journey becomes for difficult to go up rather than down. Do yourself a favor and look for the best and not the worst in things.

You just saved me some keystrokes, G'nut. I couldn't have said it better.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

You just saved me some keystrokes, G'nut. I couldn't have said it better.

I was just thinking this yesterday as we drove past some other retirement communities. About 100,000 people have decided to make the Villages their final home town. What percentage of them can be wrong?

[ugotme]

There will ALWAYS be a certain percentage of discontented people in ANY group. I don't care if they got a house for free "they" would find fault with it and complain.

I started coming on here to gain a perspective of what living in TV would be like.
Yes, I think most people that post here love TV. Because of that I have gotten a better understanding of what I might expect when I visit soon.

But no matter what, we will have to make our own decision and live with it. If we end up saying that we made a mistake (doubt it) then we either accept it or move.

Thanks to all who have provided us with input - good and bad!
Don't worry, I will still be asking more questions.

[mgjim]

There will ALWAYS be a certain percentage of discontented people in ANY group. I don't care if they got a house for free "they" would find fault with it and complain.

I started coming on here to gain a perspective of what living in TV would be like.
Yes, I think most people that post here love TV. Because of that I have gotten a better understanding of what I might expect when I visit soon.

But no matter what, we will have to make our own decision and live with it. If we end up saying that we made a mistake (doubt it) then we either accept it or move.

Thanks to all who have provided us with input - good and bad!
Don't worry, I will still be asking more questions.

Have to agree with you. TOTV is one of many sources I've used to help decide where to retire and it's been good to hear many points of view. Opionions stated here have convinced me that The Villages is much like any community and life anywhere is what you make it.

Anyway, after visiting earlier this fall, I've pretty much decided that there are plenty of very happy people in TV that I'd like to call them my friends and neighbors. Now it's just a matter of selling my home up north.

[Pturner]

Actually it's much truer that either of you think, or want to think.

Why do you ask? OK..you didn't ask but I'll tell you anyway. I've spent decades in the radio business and over the years I have become very skilled at reading monthly & quarterly radio ratings reports. Radio & TV ratings and other polling services use the same method to obtain their results. They sample a small cross-section of a particular universe and then project the responses against the whole of that particular universe. (city, state, nation)For example in our recent election..Most polling companies said that the race would be very close. (It was.) They also said that Pres. Obama would get a 2nd term. (He did.) There were a couple polls that were way out in either direction but they were ultimately discounted and found to be incorrect. Like most things, the answer is found somewhere in the middle.

I came to TOTV quite by accident. I was doing a Google search about something I wanted to know about TV and up popped TOTV. While it did not answer my question, I thought that it would be an interesting place to learn about things & people here. I have mentioned before, but in the interest of full disclosure I will mention it again. We did not come here to retire, (we are still working) but so that my wife could assist her parents as they got older.

While I thought it might be interesting to live in TV my wife hates it. So we would be looking at other communities as well. I came to TOTV as somebody who was somewhat disposed to living here, and was hoping to maybe find some items that might sway my wife's thinking about things. I was NOT a Kool-Aid drinker, so in many ways I needed to be convinced.

Since I have discovered TOTV I had read every single comment on every single thread. There are some who I'm sure think I comment too much, but in truth, I comment very little. After reading all of these threads for a number of months I have used the same method as radio ratings and polling companies do to reach my results.

While it is true that the majority of the 90,000 Villages residents do not actively comment on TOTV, there is indeed a workable cross-section of residents participating here. After doing the reading here is what I have learned from this...

Residing in TV are a majority of smug, self-important people who think that their sewage is scentless because THEY live in TV and YOU do not. There is a very definate pecking order in TV..Those whom you call "Frogs" who live here year-round and the only time they are ever leaving is when the big black station wagon hauls you to the junkyard. Their attitude is that they are FAR superior to everyone else who lives in TV. Then come the "Snowbirds". People who own homes here, but only come during the winter or for vacation periods. As judged by the first group they are OK, but they are definately NOT one of "them". And finally comes those who dare to show up in the winter and pay rent. You despise them. Anything that happens between December & April that disturbs your nirvana can be blamed on them.

Overall the majority of TV residents are a collection of whining, grumbling, kvetching old people who despite having 1800 clubs & activities and 36 or more golf courses, their biggest activity is to complain about virtually everything. You whine about your neighbors who who walk their dogs to the post office boxes because the poor pooch might inconveniently relieve himself along the way. You whine about your neighbors who put some sort of decorative pot or trinket on THEIR garden or front steps. You whine about the possibility of the various unwashed hordes who just might invade your nirvana in Brownwood or other places. Never mind that these are open public places & private businesses. You carefully veil your racism in language which any person with a brain can figure out in seconds. I could write on and on about what I have learned. I have also learned that you have been building lots of churches. Either you're just interested in building buildings or you become deaf once you enter the building.

While TOTV is a place for residents to communicate, it is also a place where people come to LEARN about TV. If you are not already convinced that TV is nirvana or God's Little Green Acre then taking the time to really read this forum will very much likely convince you that it is not.

I came here looking for information and to be convinced. I have come away with the impression that the majority of people (but not all) here are snide, two-faced and whiny.

I have a great deal of admiration for the Morse family. I don't know them, but admire their vision and their hard work to put such a place together. I don't know if they got tired of playing with their Department-56 village under the Christmas tree and decided to build a real one for themselves or what, but they are geniuses. I know that they are very, very careful in their marketing. With that in mind, I'm surprised that they allow TOTV. It does a wonderful job of talking people OUT of coming to TV.

Again..this is what TOTV has taught ME. And speaking only for ME..What I have learned is that TV is a city. Just like any other city. It is not nirvana. While it's a nice place, many cities are nice places and many people like where they live. Heck..even Toldeo was loved by Max Klinger. But the hype of TV being "Florida's Friendliest Hometown" is a lie. When you look at it from a distance it seems unbelieveable, almost fantastic, but up close, the reality is a lot more gritty & not all that pretty.

Reminds me of a wise poem...


THE RIGHT KIND OF PEOPLE

Gone is the city, gone the day,
Yet still the story and the meaning stay:
Once where a prophet in the palm shade basked
A traveler chanced at noon to rest his miles.
"What sort of people may they be," he asked,
"In this proud city on the plains o'erspread?"
"Well, friend, what sort of people whence you came?"
"What sort?" the packman scowled; "why, knaves and fools."
"You'll find the people here the same," the wise man said.

Another stranger in the dusk drew near,
And pausing, cried, "What sort of people here
In your bright city where yon towers arise?"
"Well, friend, what sort of people whence you came?"
"What sort?" the pilgrim smiled,
"Good, true and wise."
"You'll find the people here the same,"
The wise man said.

... by Edwin Markham

[Golfingnut]

Reminds me of a wise poem...


THE RIGHT KIND OF PEOPLE

Gone is the city, gone the day,
Yet still the story and the meaning stay:
Once where a prophet in the palm shade basked
A traveler chanced at noon to rest his miles.
"What sort of people may they be," he asked,
"In this proud city on the plains o'erspread?"
"Well, friend, what sort of people whence you came?"
"What sort?" the packman scowled; "why, knaves and fools."
"You'll find the people here the same," the wise man said.

Another stranger in the dusk drew near,
And pausing, cried, "What sort of people here
In your bright city where yon towers arise?"
"Well, friend, what sort of people whence you came?"
"What sort?" the pilgrim smiled,
"Good, true and wise."
"You'll find the people here the same,"
The wise man said.

... by Edwin Markham

:beer3: wonderful

[shcisamax]

Reminds me of a wise poem...


THE RIGHT KIND OF PEOPLE

Gone is the city, gone the day,
Yet still the story and the meaning stay:
Once where a prophet in the palm shade basked
A traveler chanced at noon to rest his miles.
"What sort of people may they be," he asked,
"In this proud city on the plains o'erspread?"
"Well, friend, what sort of people whence you came?"
"What sort?" the packman scowled; "why, knaves and fools."
"You'll find the people here the same," the wise man said.

Another stranger in the dusk drew near,
And pausing, cried, "What sort of people here
In your bright city where yon towers arise?"
"Well, friend, what sort of people whence you came?"
"What sort?" the pilgrim smiled,
"Good, true and wise."
"You'll find the people here the same,"
The wise man said.

... by Edwin Markham

Marvelous PT!

[Rbgold]

Reminds me of a wise poem...


THE RIGHT KIND OF PEOPLE

Gone is the city, gone the day,
Yet still the story and the meaning stay:
Once where a prophet in the palm shade basked
A traveler chanced at noon to rest his miles.
"What sort of people may they be," he asked,
"In this proud city on the plains o'erspread?"
"Well, friend, what sort of people whence you came?"
"What sort?" the packman scowled; "why, knaves and fools."
"You'll find the people here the same," the wise man said.

Another stranger in the dusk drew near,
And pausing, cried, "What sort of people here
In your bright city where yon towers arise?"
"Well, friend, what sort of people whence you came?"
"What sort?" the pilgrim smiled,
"Good, true and wise."
"You'll find the people here the same,"
The wise man said.

... by Edwin Markham


And you, PTurner are a wise woman! Thank you for post and your insight.

[jojo]

And you, PTurner are a wise woman! Thank you for post and your insight.

Insightful. Thank you PTurner!

[graciegirl]

Reminds me of a wise poem...


THE RIGHT KIND OF PEOPLE

Gone is the city, gone the day,
Yet still the story and the meaning stay:
Once where a prophet in the palm shade basked
A traveler chanced at noon to rest his miles.
"What sort of people may they be," he asked,
"In this proud city on the plains o'erspread?"
"Well, friend, what sort of people whence you came?"
"What sort?" the packman scowled; "why, knaves and fools."
"You'll find the people here the same," the wise man said.

Another stranger in the dusk drew near,
And pausing, cried, "What sort of people here
In your bright city where yon towers arise?"
"Well, friend, what sort of people whence you came?"
"What sort?" the pilgrim smiled,
"Good, true and wise."
"You'll find the people here the same,"

The wise man said.


... by Edwin Markham
I have never changed my opinion of you P from the very first moment I laid eyes on you. You are the smartest and kindest southern belle ever to smile at me.

[senior citizen]

....

[senior citizen]

......

[eweissenbach]

Thanks for that wonderful and wise poem Phyllis. That pretty much sums it up!

[lovesports]

[QUOTE=Golfingnut;588571]:ohdear::popcorn:

Let me see: Would I rather hear that I made a great decision to retire in The Villages or fall into the depressed small group that find fault with everything. I agree with the premise that no place is perfect, but I disagree with dumping on what so many thousands of people have invested the golden years of their life, that being The Villages. My point is some folks will find fault with Heaven itself if they make it there, but when you find fault with so much the journey becomes for difficult to go up rather than down. Do yourself a favor and look for the best and not the worst in things.[/QUOTE
???????????
BOY HOWDY
I make one post in which you totally missed the point.You put opinions in my post that were never there! Luckily others got it, and have said the same thing many times both on this long thread and many other threads. I guess you missed my part about that I LIKE it here. Like it here and I am always on the go and don't have time for this nonsense. You have 18-19 posts on this thread and I post once and you miss the whole point and attack me. I'm off to the pool, then pickleball and a Christmas party. Typical day for me. Now who's the postive person. I am in the middle of 14 Christmas parties. Have had and will have fun at every one.

[Golfingnut]

[QUOTE=Golfingnut;588571]:ohdear::popcorn:

Let me see: Would I rather hear that I made a great decision to retire in The Villages or fall into the depressed small group that find fault with everything. I agree with the premise that no place is perfect, but I disagree with dumping on what so many thousands of people have invested the golden years of their life, that being The Villages. My point is some folks will find fault with Heaven itself if they make it there, but when you find fault with so much the journey becomes for difficult to go up rather than down. Do yourself a favor and look for the best and not the worst in things.[/QUOTE
???????????
BOY HOWDY
I make one post in which you totally missed the point.You put opinions in my post that were never there! Luckily others got it, and have said the same thing many times both on this long thread and many other threads. I guess you missed my part about that I LIKE it here. Like it here and I am always on the go and don't have time for this nonsense. You have 18-19 posts on this thread and I post once and you miss the whole point and attack me. I'm off to the pool, then pickleball and a Christmas party. Typical day for me. Now who's the postive person. I am in the middle of 14 Christmas parties. Have had and will have fun at every one.

Sorry, but you totally missed my point. I say I love it here and would rather hear from folks who like it also. Please understand, I DID NOT ATTACK YOU. I was agreeing with your point.
I see your way of looking at it as I did attach to your post, but my statements were fully intended to be addressed to everyone in general and not you personalty. If you read my post again, you will see I am saying that you and I agree that dumping on folks that like it here is not the way have the conversation. But don't feel bad, most arguments are due to misunderstanding each other.

So, in closing, you missed my point, I did not miss yours; however, if it would make you sleep better tonight, I am very sorry you misunderstood my post. LOL

[Barefoot]

[QUOTE=Golfingnut;588571]:ohdear::popcorn:
Let me see: Would I rather hear that I made a great decision to retire in The Villages or fall into the depressed small group that find fault with everything. I agree with the premise that no place is perfect, but I disagree with dumping on what so many thousands of people have invested the golden years of their life, that being The Villages. My point is some folks will find fault with Heaven itself if they make it there, but when you find fault with so much the journey becomes for difficult to go up rather than down. Do yourself a favor and look for the best and not the worst in things.[/QUOTE
???????????
BOY HOWDY
I make one post in which you totally missed the point.You put opinions in my post that were never there! Luckily others got it, and have said the same thing many times both on this long thread and many other threads. I guess you missed my part about that I LIKE it here. Like it here and I am always on the go and don't have time for this nonsense. You have 18-19 posts on this thread and I post once and you miss the whole point and attack me. I'm off to the pool, then pickleball and a Christmas party. Typical day for me. Now who's the postive person. I am in the middle of 14 Christmas parties. Have had and will have fun at every one.

[quote=lovesports;588880]
Sorry, but you totally missed my point. I say I love it here and would rather hear from folks who like it also. Please understand, I DID NOT ATTACK YOU. I was agreeing with your point.
I see your way of looking at it as I did attach to your post, but my statements were fully intended to be addressed to everyone in general and not you personalty. If you read my post again, you will see I am saying that you and I agree that dumping on folks that like it here is not the way have the conversation. But don't feel bad, most arguments are due to misunderstanding each other.
So, in closing, you missed my point, I did not miss yours; however, if it would make you sleep better tonight, I am very sorry you misunderstood my post. LOL

OK kids, let's have a group hug. :laugh:

[Golfingnut]

[quote=lovesports;588880]

[quote=Golfingnut;588912]

OK kids, let's have a group hug. :laugh:

LOL You are so right. Can't we all just get along. :beer3:

:gc:

[graciegirl]

Reminds me of a wise poem...


THE RIGHT KIND OF PEOPLE

Gone is the city, gone the day,
Yet still the story and the meaning stay:
Once where a prophet in the palm shade basked
A traveler chanced at noon to rest his miles.
"What sort of people may they be," he asked,
"In this proud city on the plains o'erspread?"
"Well, friend, what sort of people whence you came?"
"What sort?" the packman scowled; "why, knaves and fools."
"You'll find the people here the same," the wise man said.

Another stranger in the dusk drew near,
And pausing, cried, "What sort of people here
In your bright city where yon towers arise?"
"Well, friend, what sort of people whence you came?"
"What sort?" the pilgrim smiled,
"Good, true and wise."
"You'll find the people here the same,"

The wise man said.




... by Edwin Markham

I want to think about what PTurner said some more and forget about the dumb stuff.

[ugotme]

:agree:


It's all about ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE AND ATTITUDE !!!!

[eweissenbach]

In reflecting on some posts negative to the developer and TV in general it occured to me that, while I cannot deny those peoples feelings, I find much of the criticism to be misplaced. I don't prescribe to the developer's political viewpoint, and some of their financial dealings are suspect at best, but what they have provided for residents is simply incredible, assuming one takes advantage of the opportunities. I was thinking about where one might enjoy the same level of live entertainment and cultural events, learning, and recreational opportunities every single day and I came to the conclusion that only in very large cities would one even have the chance. And to live in the heart of a big city in order to have regular convenient access to those things would require a very large home or apartment outlay. Then one would have to shell out thousands of dollars a month for things such as show tickets, cover charges, country club dues (for 10 country clubs?), rec center dues, tuition fees, etc. etc. Have you ever bought a drink at happy hour in Manhattan? Even with that outlay there are things that would not be convenient to them that are around every corner in TV. In other words to live a comparable lifestyle one would have to be relatively wealthy, and then be satisfied to live in the heart of a congested city, in many cases in a relatively harsh climate. What has been created in TV is something that even the most wealthy people throughout the world would have a hard time replocating. And in TV it is available to people on not much more than a social security check. It is really pretty amazing when you think about it. By the way, I don't like the way people with negative opinions are often treated on this forum, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but it seems that they are not really taking advantage of the tremendous opportunity that has been created here. Maybe something better exists somewhere, but if so, I have yet to be exposed to it.

[jblum315]

:agree::agree:

[Golfingnut]

Well said and I agree 100%. Nothing is perfect, but the Villages is as close to it as I have seen in my travels.

[jflynn1]

Were you informed of the IRS during your visit? Or the other issues regarding the entertainment or lack therof that is g beginning in The Villagess. Not as described in the sales literature. You might want to check that out BEFOR you start drinking the Kool Aid.

Regarding the IRS Issue . That is called discosure and failure to disclose The Sales people did not disclose and continue to not disclose this issue to buyers. Not a fair way to do business. Like purchasing a home and finding out that there may be a lawsuit pending regarding faulty constrution and although known to the seller, the developer and saes pepople this issue was neve dislosaed to the buyer. Not Nice .

[Polar Bear]

Why don't you enlighten us? Or direct us to your sources?

Were you informed of the IRS during your visit? Or the other issues regarding the entertainment or lack therof that is g beginning in The Villagess. Not as described in the sales literature. You might want to check that out BEFOR you start drinking the Kool Aid.

Regarding the IRS Issue . That is called discosure and failure to disclose The Sales people did not disclose and continue to not disclose this issue to buyers. Not a fair way to do business. Like purchasing a home and finding out that there may be a lawsuit pending regarding faulty constrution and although known to the seller, the developer and saes pepople this issue was neve dislosaed to the buyer. Not Nice .

[mulligan]

I don't believe the bond issue has anything to do with purchase, financing, or ownership of residential real estate in the villages, therefore no disclosure is required.

[Challenger]

I don't believe the bond issue has anything to do with purchase, financing, or ownership of residential real estate in the villages, therefore no disclosure is required.

I think you are right.

[linedancingdottie]

circumstances change. In our case, we needed to move to a larger home with another bedroom (another family member is moving in with us) but we are staying within The Villages.

[rdhdleo]

Tom, We were reported for one little gnome that was in our stones under a tree, we had to move it to under the eave of our home. Ok Sumter county north of 466 has few restrictions or so it seams lots of lawn ornaments. While I am not a fan of a lot making a home yours seems reasonable. I live in Marion County north of 466 closer to 42 and the deed restrictions are confining as you can see by our one gnome issue what is weird is the restriction is for the front of our house lol we are on a huge corner lot on a cul de sac and the back and side of our house s what is most seen and we can put up what we want there,go figure. While I don't like restrictions I can deal with it rather than move. Good luck and hope you can convince your wife to stay.

[Kateb1]

Being able to afford living in TV all depends on your personal lifestyle. Homes can be purchased on the lesser expensive side of TV that allow the owner more flexibility w/monthly incomes but, bottom line, TV is definitely not an inexpensive place to live. It's a fun place w/lots of options for seniors but what's important to one person may not be as important to another. Most people have to pace themselves financially to make it through each month w/out extending themselves too much. It can and is being done there every day.

[graciegirl]

Welcome to the forum.:wave:

What a positive and interesting post!

Stay and share more with us.

[2BNTV]

Being able to afford living in TV all depends on your personal lifestyle. Homes can be purchased on the lesser expensive side of TV that allow the owner more flexibility w/monthly incomes but, bottom line, TV is definitely not an inexpensive place to live. It's a fun place w/lots of options for seniors but what's important to one person may not be as important to another. Most people have to pace themselves financially to make it through each month w/out extending themselves too much. It can and is being done there every day.

:agree: One cannot be out and about spending like crazy on meals, entertainment, etc but one can do things that cost relatively nothing.

:welcome: to TOTV. Keep on posting. :smiley:

[DougB]

[QUOTE=2BNTV;620657]:agree: One cannot be out and about spending like crazy on meals, entertainment, etc but one can do things that cost relatively nothing.

Could you speak to my wife, please?

[Barefoot]

:agree: One cannot be out and about spending like crazy on meals, entertainment, etc but one can do things that cost relatively nothing.

But you don't live here yet! You just wait .... you too will want to be out and about spending like crazy. :p Just kidding, of course it is possible to budget.

[Topspinmo]

I hope somebody is selling in 14 months or so:wave:. Nice court yard villa with bond paid!!! I hope this is not pipe dream then:22yikes:

[2BNTV]

[QUOTE=2BNTV;620657]:agree: One cannot be out and about spending like crazy on meals, entertainment, etc but one can do things that cost relatively nothing.

Could you speak to my wife, please?

:1rotfl:

Sure, no problem but I am going home after the talk. You have to stay there. :smiley:

But you don't live here yet! You just wait .... you too will want to be out and about spending like crazy. :p Just kidding, of course it is possible to budget.

I probably will as I plan to raising a little heck or run out of money. :smiley: