Whats the point?
 

Visited the Villages two years ago on a "life style weekend" enjoyed myself and decided to move here. After planing ,prepping and selling my home I did so,,, enter COVID19,, now I am here and all the things that attracted me no longer are available, if this is the new normal I am glad I haven't purchased a new residence,, whats the point?

Well its sure better here than in NJ - I can go to the gym ( off property, Not The Norm Crossfit ) and I don't have to share a table with the pigeons and seagulls while paying full price for cold food and a styrofoam dish....

What are all the things that are "no longer available" that you moved here for?

Patience, Grasshopper. All things will come back soon.

Hang in there, this too shall pass. It’s a mess everywhere

I will answer that one.

We were attracted by all the entertainment via clubs and all the concerts we could go to.

Happy to be here but greatly miss what we just started to take advantage when we moved here in Feb.

Planned to try my hand at pickleball and water polo but will wait until social distancing is done with.

Do find other things to occupy ourselves but do miss the above.

We're all in the same boat, it's just as bad up north if not worse.

Is life any better today where you moved from?

Your indecisive name says it all.

I just moved into my 6-month furnished rental in TV while my house in West Palm Beach is renovated prior to selling. I am also a bit disappointed that COVID19 has changed the atmosphere somewhat, but the point is.... this may not be a “permanent” change. I am going to be positive and assume that things will eventually start to return to normal. When they do, I may purchase a home here or extend my lease another 6 months if I need more time to decide.

Understand, but those few things are cancelled pretty much everywhere. So you have to ask yourself if what you DO HAVE available makes it worth being here. I know it does for me.

I think you're forgetting that we're all in the same boat not just here in The Villages but everywhere. Pray for a vaccine that will get us out of it. Try golf, you can play and self distance and be outside in the nice weather.

Depends on where up north you are talking about. New York is doing very well.

We're a couple of years out from making the big move and by then things should be reopened. If not, Lord help us all. At any rate, the benefit to moving into TV now would be that things are quieter and you can probably get things like painting, decorating, landscaping done with less of a wait (this is just a guess). You can get acclimated to the area, get established with doctors/dentist before the crowds come back. I've see some neighborhood happenings on Youtube (including live music) so the town squares might not be too lively right now but you'll likely still run into some impromptu block parties and whatnot.

Things are reopening around the country. The perspective on this virus is changing now that more is known about it. I don't think it'll be long before things are back to normal. I remember someone predicting that it'll end as fast as it began....and I think there is some truth to that.

Ha! We purchased a home in the middle of the pandemic. No regrets. Play golf daily. Swim. Water volleyball. Meeting people. Life is great!

NOTHING ANY WHERE YOU GO IS THE SAME UNTIL WE HAVE REMOVED COVID19 FROM OUR LIFE. DID YOU EXPECT THE VILLAGES NOT TO BE AFFECTED BY COVID 19. ? whats your point?

Hoping more people decide to move out, way too crowded.

The COVID pandemic will pass, just like all previous pandemics. Enjoy TV surroundings and stay healthy and happy in the Florida weather as fall/winter roll in to the states up north!

Wrong again. My NY insurance on my home and cars are far cheaper than in Florida. I pay the same taxes in Fl. as I do in NY. Florida schools are horrendous compared to any northern state. Medical care in Florida? Try it for yourself and see.

Yes numbers are, but the NY normal doesn’t exist either. All our kids live in NYC and it’s very different as well. Restaurants, gatherings, shows all shut down. Only outside eating. So it’s everywhere people going through the same thing. Holidays, booking trips for next year non existent as well. Really can’t make plans for anything. We’re all in the same boat.

And those things arent available anywhere right now. Your point?

From NYTimes, “The Morning,” 1 Sep 2020
“ Here’s a jarring thought experiment: If the United States had done merely an average job of fighting the coronavirus — if the U.S. accounted for the same share of virus deaths as it did global population — how many fewer Americans would have died? The answer: about 145,000. That’s a large majority of the country’s 183,000 confirmed coronavirus-related deaths.

“No other country looks as bad by this measure. The U.S. accounts for 4 percent of the world’s population, and for 22 percent of confirmed Covid-19 deaths. It is one of the many signs that . . . [it] . . . has done a poorer job of controlling the virus than dozens of other governments around the world.

“The specific numbers are only estimates, of course. They are based on virus statistics that are unavoidably incomplete. Most scientists believe the real U.S. death toll is higher than the official numbers indicate, and undercounting of deaths may be even greater in some other countries.”

[I don’t post this to blame anyone. I think our death rate is conditioned by a lot of factors that have to do with who and what we are, and we are different from other countries. I’m not sure anything we the people would have put up with would have helped all that much. There’s a balancing act between preventing sickness and death and avoiding the destruction of our economy and jobs. It’s fiendishly difficult. I do think closing down the entertainment and clubs spared us many deaths. If I have to self-quarantine, I’m grateful to be able to do it surrounded by beauty and with the ability to go for walks and drive around instead of being in an internment camp in a dormitory. Life could be so much worse. Even at the best of times, I wouldn’t want to live in the neighborhoods in New York and New Jersey that had the highest incidence of the virus. I don’t mind being a recluse.]

Exactly how much in Florida state income taxes are you now paying?

Do you have children living with you? If not why the concern about schools if it is just you living here.

Just here 6 months and friends gave us recommendations for physicians and so far very good choices.

water polo??

:coolsmiley::coolsmiley:Let’s see...NJ Turnpike/GSP tolls going up 30% this month. And there is a 10 cent tax increase per gallon of gas effective October 10

The virus will be over soon and probably everything will be fully available again, Stay or leave your choice !

We eat out.
We play pickleball.
We play water volleyball.
We go shopping.
We go out with friends.
If you are not doing any of these it's your choice. If you can't wait for the few other activities, go back to your old location I'm sure there is sooo much more for you to do there.

This community is not perfect, as you can tell from the replies you received. “Friendliest Home Town” is just a marketing scheme. But please stay. Overall it is a great place to live.

Also, sometimes people forget that if all the new houses being built do not sell, the values on all our homes will go south. Yes, it is more crowded, but hopefully it is spread out enough to not matter in the long run. Bet when the rude posters came, the folks already here complained about them.

Welcome! “Live Long & Prosper”!!

What's the point?
 

Come December through April, when it is below zero and snowing up North, you will be glad you are in The Villages and can get outside and walk, ride a bike, or just drive around in your golf cart. And things will eventually get better.

Yes! You should see those horses swim!

"all the things that attracted (you) are no longer available". What were those? And are they available anywhere else at this point? I personally thinks there's still A LOT to enjoy.

We moved here 5 years ago from New England knowing it was only a 2 day trip and or a 3 hour plane trip to see the family. Due to Covid we haven’t been able to travel and haven’t seen family in a year! We regret moving now🙄 i would rather deal with snow and cold weather at least to be with family.

Actually this would be a great time to acclimate yourself to driving those roundabouts before it gets so crowded. Welcome and stay healthy.

It's not just The Villages activities shut down, it's all over Florida and the nation. The shutdown/closing of activities will go away. NO, this isn't the new normal. There is no reason for you to not purchase a home in TV because of Covid19. The point is; Keep living your life

It should be clear by now that those who are waiting for a day when Covid will cease to exist will be waiting forever. The risk will never return to zero. For rational people, however, a vaccine which you might have to take annually like a flu shot will allow a return to normal life.

The clubs are operating as well as they can under the circumstances. However, the lost businesses will not be returning. Some entertainers we used to see in the squares probably will never come back, and the developer seems determined to convert some facilities to apartments or offices. Country clubs which see little patronage are very vulnerable. The developer is not going to maintain money-losing ventures just because a few of us like them.

Facilities owned and run by the recreation centers are here to stay. But the squares will change over time to meet new demands. They are, after all, merely outdoor shopping malls. And shopping malls all over the country are struggling.

Think yourself LUCKY. One of us bought a LOT, completed design in March returned to the UK and a week later President Trump closed the borders. Our house is built, we closed remotely in June. We can't wait to see it but won't be until at least January 2021... or 2022, or whenever Covid is over and the US borders re-open... Our dream is shattered and our house is now up for rent.

Oh and if that isn't depressing enough how about the fact that due to Covid the GBP:USD FX crashed in the period our house was built and we had to find an extra load of unbudgeted cash, all the cash for the furniture.... If we sold and walked today - now the FX has reversed we would be looking at a $ 50,000 LOSS {excluding sales costs!!!!)... not bad for 2 months of owning a home you can't see or use....

So don't moan, at least you are there, you have your health (I hope), You have fantastic walks, the golf courses are open, the pools are open, you are able to use the facilities covered by the amenity fees you are paying for (and the electric, and the taxes).... How much worse would you feel if you HAD bought, are writing out cheques but only able to see what your paying for when a friend emails you a photo... because that's where we are at the moment....

On a positive note, we are young, alive and healthy. Life will go on and one day the borders will re-open and we will be able to come out and live our dream.............:pray::pray::pray: ........................That's the point.....

Outdoors versus Indoors
 

Villa owners/snowbirds from Illinois. Activity is limited here as well. And while you can now eat inside, I'd just as soon eat outside. But that will end soon. Looking forward to returning to our Villa for the winter where even if activities are limited. . .you can be outdoors in the sunshine and not inside at home! Breathing fresh air. It took a while but outdoor pickle ball has come back and we play with friends. . .and expect to be able to do that in The Villages as well. We'd be happy to teach you the basics when there so you can start playing sooner rather than later. It is a naturally socially distanced game. This is a rough time, especially for young people. The virus. . .is no ones fault. it is an act of nature. And since The Villages is filled with seniors who are 'at risk' it makes sense to be the 'most' careful. We will get 'through' this as medical experience with the virus improves our response to it and then, TV will be back!

I am in NY. I have been mostly inside my house for FIVE months. No gym, no restaurants, no friends, no shopping, no subways so cant get into the city but the city is shut down too. I took the RR in and walked 35 blocks to my dr’s office. When I go out for supplies I have to wear a mask & gloves. When I go anywhere even the dr I have to wear madks & gloves. And there is the rdlentless “social distancing”. There are plenty of groceries but the line to get into Trader Joe is always too long for me to think about.
So I am inside my house except for my morning walk around my neighborhood & the expedition for supplies.
I see & talk to ppl once a week during a webX meeting. Other than that I see my husband, an occassional masked person while walking, masked nervous pple in the supermarket. The news is all about covid.
I had to be in TV in June. We always fly but this time we had to DRIVE from NY to FL! And back. Painful. At least I was able to go to the gym & my husband played golf while in TV. You have to realize — its not just TV that are affected. Its everywhere. Some places have riots on top of the virus. But medicines are coming out soon & things will return to normal.

[QUOTE=Choro&Swing;1826489]From NYTimes, “The Morning,” 1 Sep 2020
“ Here’s a jarring thought experiment: If the United States had done merely an average job of fighting the coronavirus — if the U.S. accounted for the same share of virus deaths as it did global population — how many fewer Americans would have died? The answer: about 145,000. That’s a large majority of the country’s 183,000 confirmed coronavirus-related deaths.

Has the NY Times read the articles yesterday about the CDC admitting they have miscoded deaths due to to Covid-19????
I believe they are now saying it is really around 10,000.
So, how does that make the US look???

You probably wouldn’t like it here anyway! Be happy.