The Villages IS America’s Friendliest Hometown
 

I’m at my 5 month mark of living here, I am continually amazed how friendly and welcoming the majority of residents are here in The Villages. The bonding and instant friendship or neighbors, the smiles and hellos of people you pass on the walking trails and streets, the enthusiasm and good sportsmanship of those you play golf and pickleball with, the politeness and friendly checkers at Publix, the community where people have manners and practice good etiquette, and especially the kind, caring, positive and patient people (mostly) on TOTV. This all still overwhelms me, and I hope over time I don’t forget how blessed I am to live here (especially in this crazy world) and take The Villages for granted. Retirement IS really the best times of our lives if we want it to be. 😀🙏🏻

:BigApplause:

Our experience and opinion as well, and it hasn't changed in the nearly 3 years now since we've moved here.

Interesting: folks seem to have experiences that live up (or down) to their expectations. Positive people seem to attract the same. But if your expectation here is to encounter a whole lot of dour, negative people, then that is probably exactly the same kind of people you DO encounter.

Are we Villagers friendly or are we just sharing the kool-ade like another friendly utopian group 40+ years ago?

Tell us, what do you think?

Nope. It is real. I've had people offer me rides when they see me walking in the heat. Men and women. When is the last time you've heard of a woman offering a man, a complete stranger to her, a ride? Other than in TV, that is?

How is it going meeting neighbors in Richmond? A month or so back, you were reporting that there were a lot of Airbnb's near you.

Hi - thanks for asking - initially it was a big challenge to meet neighbors, as I have three Air BnB’s on my block, and the rest of homes on my block are short term rentals. However, during my twice-daily walks, I have met some wonderful neighbors on the streets nearby, and have begun to socialize with them at their homes, and out at the squares, Boozy Bingo at Sawgrass, and at Trivia at Lake Okahumpka. Also, playing pickleball golf, shuffleboard and water volleyball with lots of Richmond (and surrounding villages) folks. My social calendar has really taken off - I’m building a birdcage this week, and looking forward to using it to entertain and having neighbors over. I just had to be a bit patient with meeting neighbors, but meeting lots now.

It's a little slice of paradise. Sunshine and golf galore.

I'm not making this up. Relatively new villager I met at a dance club recently, said that she narrowed her retirement search down to two places. She picked TV because the people were friendlier.

Give it 5 or 6 years here. Wait until the kool-aid wears off.

Its not paradise or the frienliest place.

All new people down here experience a great deal of friendship and waving….its new…just wait until it gets old

I am guessing it may have gotten old for you at 5 or 6 months...too bad.

Why on earth would friendship get OLD?

The words "self-fulfilling prophecy" come to mind...

The birdcage will be nice at your location and welcome back!

Thank you my friend

He's not even in TV..............Jus on the site to share his sad life.

Enjoy the best place on earth.

I have been here full time for 8 years now and I am still overjoyed at my good fortune to have found this wonderful place to live.

I couldn't be happier here in The Villages. LOVE this place.

BTW..........What group are you referring to from 40+ years ago?

OH MY!!!! I'll be going into my 5th year soon and have ZERO expectation that "it'll get old". I'd be hard pressed to ever take The Villages for granted.

Hubby and I are here since 2009; the first few years as seasonal residents with a villa in Duval and then full time residents in our home in Mallory Square. I guess I'm still drinking the Kool-Aide because we both still love it here. IMHO, there is no better place to call home, especially as retirees.

Very well said. My wife and I are just past our 6 month mark and feel the same way. We could not be happier with where we chose to live here in The Villages.

My guess is Jim Jones/Guyana/Jonestown/People's Temple and hence the Kool-Aid reference.

welcome aboard

happy for you. Join some clubs. Heard the weather club has great discussions.

Inappropriate response

Michael – I completely agree. Every day I wake up and go outside and just feel so blessed by all this paradise that surrounds us! So much to do, so many wonderful people!

Totally agree. I am still working part time since moving here and even the customers are for the most part very friendly and positive.

A few years ago, when snowbirding here was still a new experience for me, some friends of ours form Upstate NY visited. I took my buddy for a cart tour. I was telling him how friendly and helpful people in TV seem to be. So, being relatively new here myself, I got a tad confused as to the best route to take, and basically, where the heck we were, so I pulled off the MMP for a sec to look at the GPS app, and while we were doing that, 3 different people stopped to ask us if we were OK.
After the 3rd cart stopped to ask, in a matter of a few minutes, my buddy looked at me and said something like "Wow, these people really are friendly." I told him that if we stayed parked a little longer we'd probably get an invitation for cards and dinner.

Edit: And that was BEFORE I bought my loofah!

Who doesn't love a little kool-aid with their cookies?
I pray I'm never to old to enjoy them... :)

Oh Yeah ! The Villagers sure are friendly. Why, just the other day, a strange woman offered me a ride ...... and then I noticed the colored scrunchie on top of her car. :jester::jester::jester:

So glad your patience paid off. My experience here has been nothing but positive 🙂

We’ve been living here 14 years and still feel it was one of the best decisions we ever made.

❤️Happiness❤️
 

Michael I’d say the people here are very lucky that you chose to live in the Villages. You are friendly, patient, non judge mental, and I bet a wonderful neighbor. I always enjoy reading your posts and wish you many happy and fulfilling years of retirement in The Villages!

Michael 61, I agree with you, I got along with everybody. Just me but the ones that complain, I either think they aren’t telling us the whole story or they always have been complainers themselves. You’re right TV is a good place to live. So don’t be a complainer & ruin it for everybody else, if they’re that miserable move, the good people of TV that live there for years don’t need TV turn around & be miserable!

over 20 years here living from one tip of the villages to the other , then back towards the middle and this place only gets better and better with more fun things and places to enjoy

:laugh: :laugh:

Amen! Totally agree!

Personally, I don't drink Kool-Ade.

What color? :D

I'm so glad your back Michael. Your enthusiasm and positivity always inspires me!