Arriving on the 4th of October
 

Hello, moving in on the 4th of October. Single with no family in the state. Looking to make new friends and possibly dating. Kind of lost and a bit apprehensive on how to adjust and find my place in the villages. Any suggestions or advice would surely be appreciated

Greg

Get to know your neighbors. Join sports. Good start.

Our outdoor shuffleboard tem the Blackjacks needs a couple of players. We play north of 466 on Wednesday's at 1:00pm. Lots of fun and a great way to meet people. If interested let me know.

Village Community Development Districts

Lot of good info here, list of clubs including singles.

Having a dog is a good way to meet people at various Villages' area dog parks. Check out Doggie Doo Run Run north on CR101 in Oxford.

When you are looking to take advice on a message board, it's a good idea to look at how many posts the person giving you advice has. If their post count is extremely high, like many here, just count that as somebody who doesn't get out of the house much. You aren't moving here to sit behind a computer padding your post count.
You would be better served to get advice from people who get out and about.

Complete nonsense...

While not a full timer, when we are in TV, I'm in 2 different weekly golf groups, play pickleball 1-2 times/week, do water aerobics with the wife 1-2 times a week, have a close knit group of friends we do dinner with weekly.

Our village also has a social group which has a monthly activity, not to mention the block parties...

We also have a "boys night out" every Wednesday... SWMBO and I also go out to eat 1-2 times a week (typically at one of the squares) and then enjoy the music...

I typically post when I'm done for the day (as I don't like to "hang out in bars")...

I'm much more active when I'm in TV than when I'm back in MD...

Hopefully, that will change after the 1st of the year, when we'll be able to spend much more time in TV...

You can be as active as you want to be...

I like stories!

Go to the pool, enjoy.

Search for 'Ladies of the Lanai', they have a show on YouTube and have several videos on dating in the Villages. Haven't watched them but their may be some ideas you can pick up.

If a single man approached me while I was half naked with my eyes closed resting on a lounge chair at the pool, I would find it crazy creepy. Maybe while people are standing in the pool you could strike up a conversation, but I think there are much more appropriate ways to meet people to date. I think the suggestions of joining groups/hobbies/sports you like is the way to go.

PB 1-2 times a week, golf with 2 groups a couple times a week? That’s not being active in the villages. I do that much in 2 days. I play PB 1-2x a day almost everyday but 1, golf 4 times a week, and we are in other clubs doing things with them 4 nights a week. There are 1000’s of groups in the villages, join or learn how to play pickleball/tennis/platform tennis or many other sports inside the villages.
Play golf or learn to play. There are 50+ courses you can play inside the villages, and then join the golf online signup where you can look at who is playing and join them.
Every village has opportunities to attend block parties, play golf, cards, PB etc, join in when you can.
If your bored in TV or sitting in your chair not doing much, it’s your fault, you can be busy all day long in TV if you want.

Well said. Also, consider joining a church. There are many groups within the many churches in, and around TV, that present opportunities to meet people, and get involved in useful community activities. For example, if you are a Catholic, there are three RC churches in the area that have many active groups within their congregations. They are very welcoming. Best of luck!

you don't say where in the villages ( which village) you are moving to. Pick up a Rec news at your nearest rec center, find what interests you. Every Thursday a new Rec news comes out, with that weeks activities, sports pools schedule. You can probably meet lots of people at your neighborhood pool ( 30 years and older please). Snowbirds are starting to come down, so things are going to get very crowded very soon, lots of traffic too. I would suggest traveling by car to get your bearings around here before trying to navigate with a golf cart. sign up with Nextdoor.com and the facebook page The Villages Friendly Folks. Lots of information and help on these two sites.

Truth!
 

Well said!

singles groups
 

Look up the singles groups on the GPS Villages app. This app is not the main Villages app with the big "V" This app has all the clubs and activities listed. Most of the singles groups are just singles getting together to enjoy music, restaurants, travel, etc. There's even a dating group "Dating in the Villages" expressly for that purpose.

A good place to meet other people in your Village is at your Village postal station. Go there just as the mail delivery vehicle is there and there'll be lots of folks present with which to strike up a casual conversation. Also some (most?) Villages have a Village social club. Ours meets monthly: games, music, etc., variously on the agenda: another good place to meet your fellow Villagers. If the Village you move to has such a club, odds are that the people running it will contact you. We'd been here less than two weeks before we were contacted.

Do you like dogs? I've found that people walking their dogs on the MMPs, or who bring them to the various squares, just about always respond positively to similarly positive comments about their pet ("furbaby" here).

If you golf, signing up as a single for 9 holes on any of the executive courses means that you'll be put in a foursome, which is another great way to meet folks, both snowbirds and residents.

Various clubs, churches, etc. are another obvious choice.

Not at all hard to meet fellow Villagers here.

Singles in The Villages is a great activity group where many singles go places and do things. There are many dating groups listed on TheVillagesGPS that you purchase as the free app doesn’t have a club section listing the 3000 different clubs here. Welcome to the Bubble.

There are several singles groups - single in the villages, single baby boomers, Sumter singles, etc depending on your age for some. There are more however as you get acquainted with the villages you will find them. Good luck!

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This is the direct link to the list of clubs & contacts:
Clubs Download

Consider a good church
 

Activities are great, but I would also suggest a good church if you believe. Saint Paul Catholic Church, in Leesburg is ours, and we would love to have you.

Veteran members on TOTV
 

Really? Haha. Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. Some of us post when "real value" and "on topic" ....or when replying to off-topic stuff like this ...sigh.

To the OP, welcome to The Villages...take your time, drive around. Just sit out front and you'll meet people.

Check out clubs that interest you, go to your local pool, talk with your neighbors, visit the rec centers. As far as dating, just strike up a conversation with people that are sitting alone with no wedding ring on. Keep the conversation simple as in "Hi, I just moved here, can you tell me some fun things to do here in the area, or volunteer opportunities I could join in on?"
Smile while you do it and you'll get some good ideas and who knows, maybe make some new friends. You'll love it here. Enjoy.

Host a driveway party. Hand deliver fliers to the 5 houses to the left of you, the 5 to the right, the 10 across the street, and then look past your back yard and deliver a flier to the people immediately behind, immediately to the left, and immediately to the right of your house's back yard.

Make it BYO booze and chairs, and ask them to bring a shareable food for 4-5 people each.

You should provide napkins, Solo cups, ice, coffee/ice tea, a few snack tables and a bridge or foldable banquet table to lay everything out on. And a "main entree" if you're up to it - you could do hotdogs and beans, or buy a 6-foot italian sub from Subway, or a small party platter from Publix, for example. It only needs to serve 25 people, nothing outrageous - there will likely be enough food for everyone plus leftovers since everyone will know to bring something to share.

On the flier put the date, time, address. Let them know it's to celebrate having excellent new neighbors as you settle into the Villages.

If you have a bluetooth speaker and an MP3 collection, set up a playlist of music that can serve in the background.

Interesting commentary.

Besides the town squares, many bars and restaurants have live music which draw lots of both singles and couples. You’ll meet friends fast! I moved there alone 8 years ago and was shocked how fast I had a whole circle of new friends!

Try singlesbabyboomers and singleinthevillages. Also find groups for activities you enjoy. Car clubs for example. Welcome

I joined a couple guitar groups. So so guitar player and no no one who plays any type of music. Good luck finding any groups like that in the world! I'll be down in TV on the first of October to go house hunting amongst other things. Dancing is a good option also.

For getting around I would download the Villaes App to your phone for directions to different places! Have fun exploring! :wave:

The pool is a great place to meet people! However, it's not a "pickup" location for the most part. My wife and I have met more people in the pool than anywhere else. People are always willing to chat about where they're from, whether they're fulltime or snowbirds, beaches they like, food options, etc. We've found the pool people to be very enjoyable for socialization. I do agree that I would find it creepy to be approached while lounging tanning, asleep or resting, but I've never seen anyone do that. It's not a hard skill to figure people making eye contact probably will engage in conversation. However, clubs, hobbies, classes, etc. can be more productive, IMO, because you are starting out with a base of people with like interests.

Don't be apprehensive...it's going to be great! The best way to meet people is to go to the clubs, classes activities, recreation that interests you. There, you will automatically meet people with similar interests. Join the Facebook groups for your village, your home state, sports team, single in the villages, etc. Get personal "business cards" printed as people like to exchange these when they meet someone new (or create a separate phone contact for yourself to share that has the information you wish to communicate - first name, last initial, village you live in, cell number and email). Do go to the bars/restaurants and sit at the bar (even if you just have a soda) or eat dinner/an appetizer at the bar as a single. Talk to everyone you meet - it's uncomfortable for many but everyone is so friendly that it becomes real easy real soon. The main point here is just to get out of the house. I am not single, but my husband travels a lot and I frequently go out solo but I am never alone for long. Most importantly, give it time. You will build a great social network, but it does take time and effort to get there. Good luck and have the best time as you begin the new phase of your life!

I think that a swimming pool is a great place to meet people, better than a bar. People are more relaxed and the activity of swimming can encourage conversations. Your local neighbors are there at least the active ones. As far as sports go .......softball is big, but the teams are not usually mixed. Tennis leagues have many female participants. There are coed volleyball leagues. Pickleball can be coed. And if you get very desperate, you could take up Golf. And I forgot that water volleyball is coed and can be a lot of fun and refreshing in the summer HEAT.

There are thousands of clubs. Jump in.

Shuffleboard
 

I’m interested. I live north of 466. Thanks. Judy

One might see advice coming from a 2020 totv joiner with 753 posts. Thats funny - roughly 188 posts a year. Would that many posts fall under part time go getter part time sit arounder? Asking for a fun seeker.

"Do as I say not as I do" comes to mind.

Good luck with your transition Greg. You will find so much to do in T V AND still have time to post on totv. ;)

Im single its a bit hard I find to make friends here only 2 are younger than me the rest of course is older.......shoot me a email ! cg517@hotmail.com

Post count
 

This is the first time I heard about a post count. I am shocked to see some of the numbers. You learn something new every day!

I am ‘shocked’....(maybe not) that there are some that still haven’t heard about smart phones, tablets, work laptops...that anybody can use to post from anywhere. Case in point, one of our more prolific members, GE, has been posting from Zimbabwe. Yes, not everybody is tied down here...many of us are still employed , travel and own multiple residences and contributing to our communities. The tired narrative by some...not all, that people are isolated in their collective Villages says more about their demo....and generation than it does to those who participate on a regular basis. Or as our moms would say...we can walk and chew gum at the same time! Secondly, the post was about single life in the Villages.....not other members envy of, vitriol towards and obsession with those with more humor, intelligence, creativity, originality and candor!

It is hot as hell right now so you will be able to decide if you want to be here in the summer. Some people like the HEAT and some don't. Be sure to put on sun block when you go to the pool or any activity in the full sun - especially if you are coming here from up North. Go out at night to the squares for the entertainment and to get used to the heat for the 1st 3 days here. Get a bike or E-bike to drive around the neighborhood and maybe meet some neighbors and see what activities that you have in your neighborhood. Go to the closest REC center and look it over and get an activities guide there. Think of that guide as your Bible for activities.

In the morning or evening take a walk around your "block" and try and start up a conversation with anyone you meet. As mentioned dog walkers might be easer to get to know since you can ask a question about the dog or maybe you are thinking of getting a dog but don't know anything about them.