Life Is Something Special in The Villages
 

I’ve been here a little over two years now as a full time homeowner. I still can’t wait to wake up early each morning, and see what new adventure will come my way, through activities, meeting new people, and enjoying all The Villages has to offer.

When I leave “the bubble”, even for a great road trip or cruise, I find myself missing The Villages, and I look forward to getting back home. Even when I leave the bubble for a few hours to shop or dine in Ocala, Orlando or Tampa, there is something so comforting when I return and see “The Villages” welcome sign. It’s like I feel safe and secure again.

Does anyone else feel the same? When you start to take The Villages for granted, do you realize how special this place truly is when you leave it for a short period of time?

We are all truly blessed to be residents in this special, one-of-a-kind community.

That's what newbies use to say around 12 years ago. Never here them saying it now.

When I leave the bubble, I'm reminded of how much I miss Connecticut. In Connecticut when I left the familiarity of my own small community, it was to enjoy the city-scape, or rural areas - and not be inundated with storage facilities, smoke-shops, and run-down trailer parks.

"Rose-colored glasses are never made in bifocals. Nobody wants to read the small print in dreams".
Ann Landers

We're in the process now of deciding between TV or just going back up north, most likely to Avon/Simsbury CT. TV in and of itself is very nice but driving through 'No Man's Land' to get there and back leaves much to be desired.

Agree. Florida is not our calling, but the lifestyle in the bubble is. If the Villages didn’t exist, it is highly unlikely we would own a second home, and if we did, it probably wouldn’t be in Florida.

The only real negativity about The Villages I encounter is by a few here on Talk of The Villages (or that other so-called “news” site that I no longer subscribe to). All my friends and neighbors are happy and engaged people who are still as excited to be a part of this unique community as they were a few years ago when they moved here. Lots of smiles when I pass most people, and so many friendly, content folks here. Is it just my area of The Villages? Are there more disgruntle people in other parts of The Villages? I’m very interested as to why some here on TOTV seem disillusioned with The Villages. Are these folks naturally dispositioned to be negative? It just seems those few people are so miserable and unhappy with what they post. I feel sad for them. Not how I want to live out my retirement years.

Well, it's been my experience that if a person is disgruntled...there's a reason for it.
When we arrived 16 years ago to The Villages as Snowbirds it was indeed very exciting and enjoyed one adventure after another.

However the giddiness did wear off after a few unpleasant experiences we endured there as we recieved a good hearty dose of the reality of The Villages in the process. Am I disgruntled ?
Not particularly, more so enlightened I would say.

The Villages is so outta control with the building there it's insane.
You live in Richmond...a suburb of The Villages most say, the REAL VILLAGES started north near Spanish Springs..not in Coleman.
Mundane overpriced modular starter homes, all alike and on top of each other, with one shopping center for ALL in that area to jam up even more.

Good news though, I did however hear that Eastport is building a dynamite rock climbing wall for us to climb and enjoy.
I'll be starting a betting pool on the 1st broken hip .

So bottom line is ..pop on your rose tinted Rayban's and enjoy every second of living you can and
Don't forget to smile !

Happy Valentine's Day ~

Well put.

20 years here now and 130, 000 more people than when I arrived. Is it good here ? yes. Is it the Shangri La I experienced when I first arrived - no. Everything to a newbie is a comparison to where they came from and most likely a new lifestyle. For those of us who have been here for years we have seen many changes. Many for the good oh but some not so good. Our comparison has now migrated to here to here vs here from there.

"Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone?
They paved paradise
Put up a parking lot"

I am happy for the newbies and their excitement. I've been there. I am not negative about TV - My excitement level is a bit below yours. If one doesn't like a response why does one keep asking the question over and over again ?

These comments help me understand some concerns of long-time residents. They understandably are comparing The Villages of today to the Villages of many years past. The huge influx of newer and younger retirees, like myself, only know The Villages that currently exists, and we have nothing to compare it to. We don’t see it as crowded, and we see all the new development coming as “opportunity “, and welcome it, and it’s even the reason why many of us chose to move here (anticipation of future development). I’m in very good health, and the Lord willing, hope to be around here in TV for 25 or more years. If that holds true, then I’m going to experience a tremendous amount of growth, and the Villages of 2050 will look very different than The Villages of 2025. If TOTV is still around in 25 years, will I be here lamenting of all the changes that have occurred and wishing things were like they were in 2025? Hard to say. I do know that I’m pretty flexible, and actually love change and seek it out, so who knows. In the meantime, life here is pretty awesome, as our most of my fellow Villagers.

We have been here ten years. We still have that "What a great place this is." feeling. Please do not let the unhappy minority put a dent in your happiness. Comparing anything to the 'good old days' doesn't matter. Find your happiness. They may or may not find theirs. There is so much to do and so many great folks to do it with.

If you can afford both, maybe do both. If you love The Villages and miss New England, I'd suggest keeping a Villages home as your primary home, for tax purposes. Then rent in Connecticut for October/November - and again in May/June.

Why not snowbird? Because - summers in Connecticut can be just as miserable as summers in Florida. 90+ temps with 80% humidity stinks no matter what state you're in. The only difference, in my opinion, is that in Connecticut you can jump in the creek without worrying about alligators. Being in CT during May is important because you get to avoid the spring love-bug infestation in Florida. There's another one in September but IMO the one in May is worse. Plus late April/early May is when the lilacs are in bloom in CT, and you get the best of the foliage in October, and all the college students are already settled in for the semester.

OMG - I am speechless. You are a big man for posting that.

hear, not here.

Been here 12 years, I agree with M61

My excitement level has leveled off now, mostly due to the restaurants, but I am careful not to blame TV. The developer did a magnificent job putting it here, it’s up to the people to make it something special.

I wake up every day thinking whatever did I do to deserve this place!

For sure
 

Well put. I can’t picture life any better.

Oh boy, and no one feels the same.

You still say it. Just not out loud

I'm with you Michael, being grateful for this retirement heaven. There will always be change in life and like you, I prefer to be flexible and find a way to be happy. When my home pickleball court stopped being all advanced in early morning, I chose to join a bunch of leagues to get more consistent level of play. Much harder to do that up north where there are much fewer courts and organized leagues, but I consider that my "off season"! There's so much diversity of activities here. Truly blessed retirement.

Totally Agree
 

[I feel so lucky to live here! My life has changed in such a positive way. I have met so many people and developed some true friendships in less than 1 year. I also miss it when I’m not here and I get that same excitement you describe when I return. 🩵

They have airplanes now, that fly over all of "No Man's Land". 😂

I feel the same, so I bought another house in NC. Fresh air and mountain view's aren't for everyone. As life's clock ticks away, it's time for reflection not roundabouts..

TV provides a greater sense of community than some rural locations up north.
A complete spectrum of people could be viewed as negative, but I see it as normal.
The unique benefit is the variety of activities that cannot be found elsewhere.

I've been here a year and eight months. The main things I like about Florida are the weather, the beaches, the abundance of lakes in this area for fishing, and that there's no income tax. I also am more suited to the political climate here.

The rest of it is meh. The topography of the interior part of the state is pretty much the same everywhere you go. Aside from the beaches and ocean I don't consider Florida a beautiful state. It kinda has a disheveled look to it.

As for the villages, the development itself is beautiful, unlike any place else I've been. I also really like having access to the swimming pools and multi modal paths (for biking). I have zero interest in the town squares and entertainment.

The one downside for me personally is the lack of a diverse age demographic. Yeah, I know. Duh, you live in a retirement community, lol. I didn't really consider that when I moved here though. I don't know why but I really miss seeing young families and kids. I guess sometimes you don't miss something until it's gone. I have nothing against baby boomers or even Gen Xers (which I am) but when that's all I encounter everywhere I go, it has begun to wear on me.

As for the people here, most I have met seem friendly. I think the problem for me is that I still work and they are on perpetual vacation. Those are two completely different mindsets. And to be honest, I don't know if I will ever have the mindset of being on perpetual vacation. So in the end, I just have a hard time relating with people here.

I have contemplated selling my place in the next couple years and maybe moving over to Inverness. It seems like a nice town. Or possibly to Deland. Clermont looks really nice too but there's too much traffic and it looks too expensive.

The search continues…

It will be 12 years this Sunday that I bought my 1st house. I'm still excited! Nowhere in the world like The Villages.

An irritating thing my mother said to my teenage self was “Life is what you make it.” Very irritating to me then, but very true. Attitude is a choice made when you wake up everyday.

Lovin the lifestyle, Livin the dream!

My wife and I moved to The Villages 5 years ago and love all that there is to do here. We never golfed before and now golf 4 or 5 days a week. Also, we enjoy the music at the Town Squares, the variety of things to do at the Rec Centers and the people we meet here. We've ventured outside the bubble but we've come to realize that resorts that we've stayed at don't compare to The Villages. We are grateful to live here!

The Villages
 

We feel the same way. Wish there wasn't some cranky folks but you find that anywhere.

Your positivity is great, but it's not unusual for new Villagers. We've been here since 2005, and we and our neighbors felt the same for the first 10 years or so. By now, it has worn off. When we moved here, there were 35,000 people living in all of The Villages. Traffic was bearable, the squares weren't crowded with people from everywhere, and it was fun to go listen to the bands, dance, and socialize with neighbors/friends. Not the same anymore. Too many people, too much traffic, and too much chaos. Not the peaceful "retirement community" that we envisioned. Sure, we could move, but that becomes a hassle the older we get. Enjoy yourself! If you're a "young" retiree (between 50 and 65), your generation may feel different about the crowds, traffic, and chaos.

I agree with most of what you wrote. I also work and I think that it is why it resonates with me.

I work outside the home in Leesburg and I probably have an opportunity to continue working there after retiring - as a part-time contributor. I will probably do that.

When people outside The Villages ask me about TV, I often say "I live in their neighborhood, but not in their world."

It isn't meant to be negative or positive, just explaining that I "live" there, but like most people who work full-time, I don't have any extra bandwidth to give to a lot of the really "cool" stuff that is available inside The Villages.

On Saturdays, I cut the grass and catch up on other home duties I share with my wife.

I played golf for 20 years in Virginia, but I haven't played once here. That is more to do with me and nothing to do with The Villages.

My wife and I spend a discussion or two every month talking about where we might move when we retire. We end every discussion with not thinking of a place better than here. We don't want Cold, but we also loathe the Heat and Humidity here. We don't like the cost of insurance here but, is that enough to move to another state. We like that there is no State Income Tax, yet, the state finds ways to charge fees that tend to balance its coffers.

We went to Hilton Head recently as it has always been our Mecca for retirement. When we visited from Virginia, it was magical. Now that we have lived in TV, the Palms and Live Oaks are meh, we see that every day. The resort properties are no better than TV. The ocean and bays and intercoastal waterways are still magical, so that is compelling. The rough areas of greater Hilton Head are not much better than Wildwood or Leesburg, with less shopping and health care.

Long post, short.... Still not finding somewhere better to move for retirement.

I'm with you Michael. Nothing like this place and I've been here 4+ years. I don't miss anything about the Northern states.......

If you want diversity in age just go hang out at Magnolia Plaza at anytime of the day or evening because it’s full of Middleton families. I miss the days when it was a nice, quiet, mostly seniors shopping center (2 years ago). Yes, I’m a cranky baby boomer. 😜😂

I’m with Michael
 

I’m with Michael on this one. I’m a couple years behind him, but when I visited TV for a month in 2023, he graciously met me for lunch one afternoon and was a terrific ambassador for The Villages. In two days, I will be driving across the country to move in to my new place near Eastport, and I look forward to the day I can post a similar sentiment. Change is constant, and we can all reflect on days when things were “better” in some way, but enjoying the present moment in a place like TV is what life is all about. My thanks to Michael for his positivity and good nature and here’s to the good times to come for all of us.

My niece and her husband have a very good home in Blufton. They are selling it and moving to The Villages.

We visited in Hilton Head for a few days and it gave us the creeps - too many pine trees and we thought it was claustrophobic.

With Publix planned for Eastport, and another grocery store for Middleton, I think you’ll see the crowds decrease somewhat at Magnolia Plaza in the next year or so.

Thank You - and congratulations on becoming a Villager! I’m so excited for you, and looking forward to your move here.

This thread is awesome-awesome. Over 35 replies and, thankfully, not one person has lamented about the loss of Katie Belle's.

Until now………..

... and compared the many Great States that are now at the bottom of the Garbage Heap, it is INDEED Paradise!