Why I think The Villages is so great.
 

I think the place we chose for these years of our lives is the best run place we have ever lived.

I like CLEAN. The streets and common areas are kept to a very high standard and it is not common to find trash just lying around.

I like well maintained. The homes and yards show me that most people who live here have pride in their homes and possessions and keep them painted and the lawns trimmed and all together it gives the appearance of people who are proud and happy to be here.

I love that in these years that I have time, I can use it here in The Villages to learn skills in areas not worked in before. I have so enjoyed color pencil painting, water color, acrylics, crafts, and ceramics. I have been a golfer for the last 45 years and the opportunity to play everyday if I want is here at far less the cost than in our previous life.

Many of our friends are much more athletic and I see them biking, playing pickleball and tennis and going to yoga, water aerobics and bone builders. (I tried bone builders and it isn't for sissies)

I love the beautiful recreation centers, each decorated with really fine furnishings and finishes. Not at all what anyone could expect or hope for, for an amenity fee of about $145 a month.

I suspect that the Morse family, now Mark Jennifer and Tracy, are still instilling the values of hard work, careful deals, and amazing planning into their children. They must also be teaching them to hire the expertise they don't have and to make the most of what they do have and not give things away. Always the basis of good business. Selling for market value and using your own sales force is good business, NOT greed.

Their business plan has earned them, and us, the title of living in the most sought after area for seniors in The United States.

I am very proud to live here and be a villager. I am proud of the Free Enterprise that is the basis of the business running this place.

I am proud of the overwhelming wisdom of most of the inhabitants of this place and the ethics of most of them that keep this place very low crime.

I am pleased with the law enforcement agencies that combine to protect and guard us.

I do not, have never, and do not plan to work for The Villages. I have NEVER met Mark, Tracy or Jennifer of the Morse family. I just love it here and think it is run well.

Enough with the P.M.s.


Have I forgotten some wonderful things about this amazing place? Please add them.

You are so right. I too love it here, for many of the same reasons you have cited. Golf, volunteering, water aerobics and friends make me enjoy living here, in a place with an atmosphere like no other. Here's to life in the "bubble".

I agree with all of the above. But, you forgot to mention all the volunteer work of club leaders and activities organizers, all the wonderful sharing of the many musical and artistic talents of the residents in their performing groups, all of the program and class speakers and leaders for sharing their expertise and talents, etc., etc. They all contribute greatly in making a fully enriched Villages lifestyle.

You have my Second for that additional plus! :a040:

:agree:

Not only do I agree with you, but, when your grandchildren come down and want to swim, go to the squares, shop and ride in golf carts and stay here as a destination, you KNOW you made the right decision.

Couldn’t have said it better!!!

They do have thousands of volunteers all throughout the various communities in and around the Villages.

Great post. When I was growing up on a cotton/soybean farm in NE Arkansas, I never dreamed I'd be living in a place like this; kinda grows on you after a short time here.

Buffalo athletics. Our local HS is first class! If you've never been to a football game at The Range, it's like a small college in terms of stadium & facilities. Our kids are dedicated student/athletes, polite, and excel on & off the field by and large. The Buffalo Booster club meets every Thursday in the HS cafeteria at 1:15-2PM. Anyone can attend. A year's membership (not required to attend) is just $10. Great way to get a feel for the various sports, athletes, coaches, and volunteers. Two huge home football games remain this year--tomorrow night (F 10/13) 7 PM vs. Interlachen, and 10/27 vs. unbeaten Wildwood, our friendly neighbor. Featured tomorrow night: Chef John's famous meatball subs with marinara & parmesan. Concessions & gate opens 2 hours prior to kickoff. Makes for a great night out, fellow Villagers. Go, Buffalo!

100% dead on correct:bowdown:

I agree with 99% of what you state. I hate to be negative, but the one thing that puzzles me is that The Villages does everything so well except golf.

The golf courses are poorly designed, poorly constructed, poorly maintained and poorly managed.

You would think that a business that advertises "FREE" golf for life and promotes the fact that they have 600 holes of golf would do a better job with their golf courses.

Most people that I've discussed this with and have played golf for a while agree with this. People who started playing golf when they got here usually don't understand how much better everything could be with regards to golf.

Sorry, but that'smy opinion.

Free Golf is an unusual situation to say the least. Many here have paid a LOT of money for golf in their lifetimes.

For free take. For buy complain.

Been under stress lately with elderly mom and other issues so when I walk out of my home and breathe the air it reminds me of the beauty and peace that is in The Villages.

For me it's the greatest group of gals we have established in our neighborhood. The main criteria of joining is that you can't have a perfect life....it's an inside joke.....I so love these women. We have come from all different parts of the country and are enjoying the last part of our lives.

My screen name says it all!

Thank you for the reminder and post GG!

I was "JUST" thinking of this...this morning and how blessed and privileged to live here. Beyond that...to live in this country but that my Maker providentially brought me to this place at this time in my life. I think about others who live in other over 55 communities but don't have what we do here. Take that beyond that last sentence....if we have MORE than one change of clothing we're considered wealthy by many of the world's population.

Gracie I think you have set a new record. All these replies and no bashing (good job).

We will be there, at our closing, in 10 days! Even though we do not live there yet, I went with "my gut" and bought. I know we made the right decision. Like others, we came out of the house we bought, it was morning, and I looked around. We feel blessed to live here. I have a very stressful job, and to know I can come back to this is something I look forward to. I like only happy stuff being piped in the squares, or being written in the paper. I can turn on the news at anytime and get the real stuff that is happening or in the workplace. Looking forward to "the bubble". :a040:

Amen!

Reaffirmations:crap2::crap2::crap2::crap2:

When I read all your posts it makes me joyful inside. I have my doubts about moving to the Villages from Long Island. That has been our plan for quite awhile. I soon will be approaching 60 and my husband will be 69. To move to a retirement community had been overwhelming for me. We have been there quite a few times and always enjoyed it, except for the heat. I know how hot it gets. I guess a person can get use to it. The Villages was beautiful and clean at what I did see.

Congratulations on your upcoming move! Hope the settling in goes smoothly and that you enjoy many great times in The Villages!

From what I have read of your posts, you spend most of your time on executive courses. I golf a lot up north on exceptionality nice courses and find the championship courses to be well maintained and challenging.
I find your broad comdenation to be totally out of line.

I think there is a reluctance by many to complain about their last big financial decision in life. Just sugar coat TV and we will all be happy.

The sarcasm is unwarranted.:boxing2:

There must be something to the enormous popularity of this place. It is the fastest growing area in the U.S.

No one is contracted to stay here. Buying or selling a house is easier then taking your car down to a jiffy lube for an oil change.


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What needs to be sugar coated?

As one ages that trip to a jiffy lube may be more problematic and the consequences of making the wrong move more financially severe. company moves were a welcome and rewarding event. Not so now. The recovery issue from a move can have unintended consequences personally and financially

Careful consideration of the why and how needs serious and unemotional thought

I agree with Gracie Girl completely!. I feel blessed to live here and I thank God for it every day!. I also think you are a wise, kind, funny, and wonderful person who enjoys life.

You can't possibly believe that the golf is actually free. We pay for it every month with our amenity fee. Additionally, the golf we pay for (Championship Courses) is not that great either. Many residents go outside The Villages to pay less money for better courses.

Sorry, but The Villages just does not do golf well.

I think it would be more correct to say "no additional cost" as opposed to "free" ;-) I find there is some variation in the conditions of the executive courses; some are in great shape, others not so much. For example, Volusia was in beautiful shape after it reopened after the closure caused by Irma. If people would fix their ballmarks I believe it would help the conditions of the greens. You certainly can't fault The Villages for the shape of the courses when players don't take care of the courses.

Some of the executive courses are interesting from the black tees and very enjoyable. For example, I really enjoy playing Pelican. I don't believe it is fair to say that The Villages "does not do golf well". I can't speak for the championship courses, as I don't play them all that often, but the system of executive courses is pretty well done.

It seems to me playing executive courses is a bargain for those who do so. Don't their operational and maintenance costs come out of the general till which is supported by all homeowners, whether they play golf or not and whether if they do play are present in The Villages to play?

That's pretty close to "free" IMHO!

"Yes the Villages is a clean and beautiful place. Is it Shangra Li, No, is it Utopia, No."

When is comes down to it, no place is perfect and you are correct. As talked about in another thread it is about value and what utopia means to each person. We are not moving here for golf, but l may learn someday and that may be an added value. But you can be as active as you want and having the town squares adds to the value for our lives. We are moving to Fenny and reading the posts, does not have value to a lot of people :icon_wink:TV may not be perfect but it is perfect for us and many others.

I like cleanliness and regulations and order and I gladly adhere to the rules that provide it.

I like the free give and take of opinions on TOTV'S. We love the feeling of safety. Slept without either gun loaded the other night. First time in 30 years. We can't get to the point of leaving the car unlocked. We just love it here and have to get used to the differences from our old home. Nothing here is going to change or should change. We have to change. It's a process. I love regulations also.

So nice to read praise. We feel the same way

Great Post, I agree with everything you wrote

Now if you could just provide an apple to apple compairson instead of the apples to oranges comparison.

Are you from Iraq or Chicago?