Birds of a Feather
 

There have been a number of threads during the past year discussing the growing number of younger people living in TV. I realize people are retiring earlier and earlier which might explain some of the influx. Being of sound mind (??) and body, I am not interested at 62 in living in an assisted living facility. Why would people in their 40s and 50s want to live in a community aimed toward retired folks. When we get together with friends, the topic of the Beatles, Bewitched, MASH, Ed Sullivan and American Bandstand come up. We also commizerate about Vietnam Nam and the Oklahoma City bombing. Birds of a feather flock together. I know I do not write as eloquently as many, but try to appreciate what I am trying to say.

I do so understand. There have been several younger people post in the last few months who seem to not want to be with older people. They make a huge point of it. That isn't nice. It is a retirement community. We shouldn't have to experience age bias here. When the majority of people average age 62, it kind of hurts to read that some folks don't want to hang out with us. I don't think there is anything fuddy duddy about me and certainly not about Sweetie. I have found that there is a sixteen year old trapped inside each of the people I have met in The Villages.

In trying to explain this in a PM, I was literally cut off at the knees. It should be just common courtesy. I wouldn't expect to move into a college dorm and have everybody live like I do or change anything about them. If I were to live there, I would realize that most were very young and I would try to fit in.

It sounds silly, but it is the same. No one likes to feel left out by someone's careless attitude or words or prejudice..

No one likes to be considered old or looked down on because of their age. We certainly have never been this age before and it is new to us.

Unfortunately in this age obsessed society which really began in the 1960's and becoming progressively less tolerant, has never learned to appreciate, revere or respect their elders. I can remember as a kid enjoying my conversations with elders and listening to their tales of the old days, etc.

On the other hand must admit in fairness that I have little use for the Kim Kardashian generation

Amen to the KK Generation. One of the retro TV stations used to list all the words you would not hear on that station. KK was on that list.

Villager Joyce I really have to disagree with you. We are in our 60's and when we lived there our dearest friends were exactly 10 years older. Obviously we have current events in common but what we found was sharing experience from each of our generations was so much fun. They enjoyed our music when they can to see us and vice versa. And there is nothing more that I enjoy then sharing those same things with our now adult children. We learn so much from the way they see the world and they are finally mature enough to benefit from our experience. So give it a try and you may be amazed what we can learn and enjoy from folks of different generations.

I think the age bias goes both ways. My daughter lived with me the first year we moved here. She loved talking to older generations, especially those who could have been her grandparents. Sadly, people were as unaccepting of her as many of her generation are of their elders.

As to those in their fifties and early sixties, some will happily fit in, some won't. I moved here in my early fifties and never regretted it. I had and have friends that are in their thirties, in their nineties and anything in between. I cherish them all. Those who think they should only flock with their own kind lose a lot.

Thank you for your response. I relate much better to my friends who are in their 60s and 70s than those in their 40s and 50s. I do have a bunch of friends who are in their 30s, and they are fun and interesting. Because you asked nicely, I'm going to try to have an open mind.

When you live with your peers you don't have to explain yourself
- they get it, they lived it.

Don't we all really feel like our 25 year old selves in a
"slightly older body"?
Age doesn't define us, or shouldn't.

With all the bad health that can happen to you, I consider
getting older a privilege.

There is a saying, "Put yourself in someone else's shoes." My partner is retiring in June at 55 and moving to TV for half of the year. The other half of the year my partner will live with me in WI. I am 9 years younger. Does that mean I can't or shouldn't be able to spend time with the person I have built my life around? While I do still work, I plan on visiting TV as much as I can to be with the love of my life. Should I be made to feel ashamed of my age for that? Please try to open your mind and your hearts to people who may not fit your exact ideal picture of a Villager! (Including me!)

VERY well said Redwitch!:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

Not shutting my mind to younger folks, just that we two had to wait for the good things, like retirement. If we had wanted to live in a truly age diverse community we would have stayed in one. I like that we are in a senior community. I feel comfortable and accepted. I still have many younger friends and feel very accepted by them.

I am glad that we don't have young children LIVING here, not that I don't adore them. They make me worry and feel the need to be very careful, backing up in a car or cart, with the pool doors, even watching what I say. I have enjoyed every second with the little ones in my class room for many years. We had the great fortune to be part of both of our grandchildren's lives and witness all events and milestones and saw them very frequently until they left for college and we left for The Villages. We still know each other so well that we consult each other on things and have mutual respect. Age being made an issue really only hurts if people are thinking you just couldn't be interesting or fun to hang out with. I would think you are interesting and fun to hang out with Fraugoofy. I always just thought of you as my age.

I agree with you, gracie. Age is only a number!

I concur. But I prefer to consider myself 15.5 yo.

I don't wanna be 16 again. Can I be 30 and a half? Just old enough to go to the adult pool.

I don't like anybody.
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🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
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Oh Cisco! I know that's not true.

He likes our dog. He said so.:p

I knew he was fibbing.

Hi all, I'll tell you why I can't wait to move to the Villages...Its because of all of you! I am 57 yrs young and I feel like I fit in perfectly! I am a hospice nurse and have worked with the elderly population for all if my career and LEARN SOMETHING EVERY DAY! Just like I do reading all of your posts. You guys are so smart,silly,witty,grumpy, just wonderful! We have visited 4 times and plan on selling down here in so Fla in 2 yrs and start "living the dream". We love the Villages! Thank you for all your helpful advice.

Everyone at the Crispers meeting yesterday told me what a funny guy you are Cisco and so very, VERY likable. So you may not LIKE anybody right now, but people sure like YOU.

When we get together with our neighbors several times a month for organized socials, I don't even think about how old or young people are!

Age doesn't matter to us. What matters is if they are friendly or aloof, happy or grouchy, have a sense of humor or are humorless, are gossipy or accepting of everyone, or if they are condescending or humble. Those traits come out in all age groups.

I'm surprised at prejudice toward people here in their 40s and 50s! Our neighbors in their 70s and 80s are young at heart with a zesty attitude. They don't resent neighbors in their 40s or 50s!!

Would love to meet you sometime, sunnyatlast!

I started this thread, and I allowed myself to get distracted and sidetracked. The point of my post was to find out why people in their 40s and 50s want to live in a community that is a retirement community. Why do they want to live here?

Because it is beautiful, orderly, affordable, full of recreation and fitness and entertainment offerings, and most of the people are fun regardless of their age.

Heck no, come on down. There are some miserable, entitled people here but most of us would say "welcome to the Villages!"

I ONLY feel resentment toward very young villagers if they feel prejudiced against me for my age. I have so many other qualities that I have always had that would understandably cause someone to not like me, and I really try to work on them, but choosing to not want to even know me because I am older, really hurts my feelers.

They may find they can tolerate me because of my amazing husband and daughter.

I am pretty sure Sunny at Last likes me. In fact thinking about it, I have as many much younger friends as I have much older friends. We don't even think about age. Just so glad to live here with all of you.

It is a beautiful day in The Villages.

Don't MESS with old people.

But the next time someone starts whining that they want to be with only younger people, I am going to start a group with older people and we aren't going to let them in. They'll be sorry.

I like you, gracie!

As a newbie, soon to retire, and permanent in TV later this year, I found this thread a bit strange. What a wonderful community we are lucky to live in with recreational activities for all adult ages, most are within a golf cart ride. I am 56, and outside of 25 extra unwanted pounds and a little less endurance, I don't feel much different than I did at 25. Most of us probably feel that way as well, regardless of age. I have friends in their 30's and friends in their 70's. My regular golf foursome in NY are 67,75, and 78---the 75 yo tends to beat me. There is no "generation gap", no lack of conversation, and no "age prejudice". Didn't we all come from age diverse communities and are old enough to have learned to relate to all ages?
The oldest person I met at TV so far is 94, and he was hitting balls at the Palmer range. He could hardly stand steady, and when he took a swing he fell down, fairly hard. He did not want medical help, I got him to his feet, and his only request was for me to put another ball on a tee for him. So, IMHO, it is attitude and not age that counts.
As for me---why retire to a senior community? Because there is much more than golf available in TV, unlike many other Florida retirement areas. As we age, perhaps become less physically able to participate in sports, there still will be plenty to do. And in general, those who stay active stay healthier, stay happier, and live a longer quality life. Just look around you and you see it in TV every day

I am not a hater of young people. I'm not sure what I said that made people respond that way. I was simply curious what brings people to TV, particularly young people. The answers given to my question explains it all -- it is beautiful, lots to do, great weather and more golf than anywhere else.

Maybe it's because they realize that they, too, will someday be in our shoes (old..er) and want to stay 'young' as long as possible. I hope that is it.:icon_wink:

I know my kids (40's-50's) do. They love to come here and my youngest would LOVE to be able to move here.....just can't afford it, yet. Gotta work a few more years. The older one....well, he still doesn't. He always says, "Hey, let's go down to Mom's. We can party-down till 9:00!"
He just hasn't figured it out, yet...."He ain't gettin' any younger!":1rotfl: He will.

Just ask any of them, though.....I do a pretty good job of keeping up with them and can outlast them on lots.:clap2:

For my husband and I, 52 and 51 respectively, the answer to why we chose the villages is because we actually had the good fortune to be able to retire at such a young age. :) We have been visiting TV for the last 4 years deciding whether this is the place that we would land after retiring. Every time we came.. everything exceeded our expectations. We have been embraced by our dear neighbors in the village of Bonita, regardless of age, interest, similarities or differences. We couldn't think of a place where we would rather live. TV has it all for everyone regardless of age... activities, squares, music, and most importantly some of the kindest people we have ever met. All of you that have been living here since your retirement.. regardless of age should be very proud of the communities that you have built. :)

Age is a number period.

Twenty years older or younger...I don't care and hope we become lasting friends!

sometimes younger people don't realize this, ( I know I Didn't). We all age at the same rate of speed. Next year I will be one year older and so will you. One day a young person will be the old person and wonder why the young people don't see them as equals. It is true that age is just a number. I love my older friends and my younger friends equally. I think older and younger friends find me fun and interesting too. Young people , please realize that you too will be the old guy some day.

Amen! My 32 year old Grandsonwants to lived here.

At the age of 73 I have friends from the ages of 12 to 90. If we have something in common or enjoy one another's company age is not an issue.

Because it is a fun town with a myriad of things to do. Dancing and music in three squares everyday of the year. They haven't decided if this is a golf town with a drinking problem or a drinking town with a golf problem. :D

It is also very beautiful and well maintained. You don't see any litter on sidewalks or anywhere. Flowers are constantly being planted and everyone takes pride in their home.

People come from different backgrounds and people don't care about status or what people have done in their working lives. They come to have fun as almost all people are, very active and lively.

As much younger good friends, (mid fifties), of mine, say, "what's there, not to love".

When there is an age difference of more than 10 years, some people may have grown up in a different generation, so their views may be different or may feel their energy level is higher but I have not seen people not getting along because of their age. Some older folks can run circles around some of the younger folks. Like anything else, "it's a matter of having varied interests, that can be shared".

Age is just a number.

Because I worked hard enough to be able to retire in my 50's and I enjoy being able to play softball, golf, pickleball, track and field, volleyball... I'm taking advantage while my knees and hips will allow me to.
All of my friends that are in these sports tell me all the time how jealous they are that they weren't able to move here at a younger age.

Thank you 2BNTV and spring chicken. I understand and get it. I forgot how active and young all of us Villagers are regardless of our ages.

We are in our 50's and moved to TV a few months ago. We did not come here to retire -- we came here to play! Some day we may need to think about "retiring" but for now we are lucky enough to be finished working. We view it as a 3 step process: previously working...now playing....then at some point retiring. A few Villagers have kindly said we look to young to be retired but we're most happy that no one has said we're too old to play :)