What have you gained from TOTV?
 

I realized I should have started a new thread....but I didn't and I asked this question on Graciegirl's 'Congrats page'. So....I will start a new thread....because I am interested.

So.... Graciegirl....I do have a question....
What have you gotten out of TOTV?

For me, someone who said she would NEVER ever get into that crazy social networking thing,....I have gained so much. I have met some wonderful people....and made friendships that I know and hope will be lifelong friendships....worth more than all the money can buy.

I have had "free entertainment".....laughing, smiling and enjoying some of the posts.

I have felt sad, as well. I know the posters who resent the success that the Morse family has.........and they are so very eager to tear down the Morse family. I know as soon as I see them post that it will be a negative post. I still don't "get it". Why? Jealousy....and the fact that perhaps they are not of same political persuasion?

I have gained a wealth of information about The Villages....more than words can tell. The pros, the cons, the what if's....yes, a wealth of information.

There are so many positives that I have received from being a member of TOTV.

How about you, Graciegirl....and how about the rest of you who post and read TOTV?
What have YOU gotten out of TOTV????

Oh, I have enjoyed different message boards for a few years. Got started on cruisecritic.com in 2004 when we were planning our first cruise and have met some lifelong friends from that participation over the years. Last year I began participating in some Havanese message boards, based upon my furkid Baxter come into our family. And my new obsession????? TOTV of course! I love the friendliness of people and of those who are willing to share their knowledge and themselves with others through the written word.

I look forward to meeting some of you on a visit or two. Perhaps someday I'll be your neighbor! To me, message boards are more entertaining than tv and way more educational!

Group Hug! :wave:

This is one of the best message boards I've ever been on and I have tried a few. I guess it's because we all live here and respect each other. We're all in the same boat. :wave:

As far as people being positive or negative, I try to be understanding of those who seem negative. Being negative in return won't make them positive, it will just make them more negative. Depression aften comes with advanced age.

I for one admire the Morse family and what they have accomplished. But it doesn't mean I have to like every aspect of what goes on in The Villages. As long as I'm alive and able to think for myself, I will no doubt have my own opinions, likes and dislikes.

:wave:

....not sure yet,...too soon to tell:undecided:

Succinctly
 

"My Sanity". :)

SPOTD Award!
 

Oh...........I know it's my own thread....and I actually gave my own award to me yesterday........but I can't wait any longer. This post deserves the Swimdawg Post of the Day Award. It's too good! Congratulations!

I was looking so forward to finally winning a SPOTD award. :)

I am honored.

SPOTD Award
 

And to think some are excited about getting those Nobel Peace Prize Awards, Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, Golden Globe, People Choice Awards...and all those other trivial awards....they just don't know what they're missing. They would give anything to get the SPOTD Award.

I'm glad you're honored. You deserve THE SPOTD Award.
Now....I have to go and find MY sanity.

hummmm What have I gotten out of TOTV?????
 

I came to this forum googling about TV and it ALWAYS brought me to TOTV. I think it took awhile to actually sign up and only then because I wanted to know if I could put my "whole body vibration machine" on the lanai... but I digress.

Well.... Kinda like visiting The Villages, I got caught up in the questions, answers and then the people. Now, it's my connection with TV! I don't live there now and it's how I keep up with what's going on while I'm still in Chicago!

The unexpected surprise has been the number of people I have met, the friends I have made and the laughs I've had!

I agree with 2BNTV

THE FRIENDS!!!!

Swimdawg,

You know we are old but with our readers.... We can still read the fine print!

Just sayin..... :p

What I've learned from TOTV
 

I've learned that you have to respect others views

I've learned that even though we live in perhaps the greatest place on earth, never to lower your expectations of services and people just because we live here. No need to be taken advantage of.

I've learned that this is one of the friendliest forums I've ever been on.

I've learned that being on this forum is a must when buying or building a home and when you are contemplating outside services.

I've learned that every one has an opinion and likes and dislikes, however, they may not be the likes and dislikes of others....ie, restaurants, golf courses, or music. Use it as a guideline.

I've learned that if you need a friend, the best place to look is TOTV.

I've learned that after you all told me that the building process is a really tiring one, I now believe you.

I've learned that I'm not as young as I used to be, but younger than the average frog in TV! Except I feel 80 today....

First this has to be a chick thread. But i didn't read of any restriction in responding??

Secondly I have learned some very beneficial things about people and about myself

Thirdly a gentle reminder. It doesn't necessiate because someone has an adverse opinion concerning the Morse family or for that matter The Villages that they are jealous, negative or any other slight remark about the person speaking. It may only mean that something has disturb the individual, usually on the business end, and the complaint may be factually correct and the offended justified in responding. Succintly if someone steps on my toes don't suggest that because I yelled ouch that I am beginning negative. So please don't mischaracterize a person's reason(s) for their complaint(s) and at least find out why they opine in that manner. Thank you.

Fourth what does SPOTD mean?

Let Me Count The Ways
 

1. Smart members.
2. On-line friends.
3. Entertainment.
4. Laughs.
5. Comfort in knowing I can get advice on anything.
6. Learned there is a bond.
7. “Nuts and Bolts”, by Zcaveman.
8. All expenses included in living in TV, (not posted online estimate).
9. Surprised to find out that being closer to shopping, doctors, etc, is more important than closeness to the squares.
10. Sinkhole coverage.
11. Wind insurance.
12. Flood insurance.
13. Buffalo Stampedes, (just wanted to see if you are still listening). :)
14. House protection from lightening.
15. Golf carts, (electric versus gas).
16. Reserved seats in the squares that are not occupied, gets people hot.
17. Don’t mess with the girl’s squirt gun posse.
18. Making the move to TV easier.
19. Knowing someone who will invite me over for coffee, (listening Gracie?) :)
20. "My Sanity", (SPOTD award winner).

Dear Rubicon,

I didn't get any idea this was a "chick" thread. I don't know but I'm thinking it's pretty much a generic question.

Also when I read it, no one came to mind and if someone had, It wouldn't have been you.

That being said, you are on this forum quite a bit so I would assume you get something positive out of it. What would that be?

I know I've learned so much here and I've found that many of the posters like to kid around as do I so it's a place to have fun!

So... What gives with you? What do you get out of it.

While you tell us... Let's have a cup of coffee and relax. :mornincoffee: Because, while I've perceived that you aren't completely happy here in TV, more often then not, your posts are enjoyable to read.

The Village Girl forgive my assumption about gender.

I did say i learned much about people and especially myself. Your response above is what I referenced because its a playback of what people interpreted my comments to mean. Hence it gives me an opportunity to reflect about my use of words.

a psychartrist once wrote that the defin ition of intelligence is a person who will not let himself/herslef be unhappy. While we all have our moments I do have a great capacity for regrouping and use humor well.

My apparent annoyance is with this issue of the Developer. Primarily the dichotomy that persist. The discussion is too often mischaracterized as a personal jealousy when in most instnaces its business not personal. Personally I have no quarrel with the Developer nor The Village;albeit i do with operations and applications but then that's the manager in me.

Thanks for responding i appreciate the input

Personal Best Regards:

Like this post, Villages PL.
 

I too have posted on quite a number of boards and have found TOTV people to be a lot more open-minded and sincere than any other place on the Internet. I know very little about the Morses and do not resent their success at all. In terms of the Villages, many people have put their faith in this growing community. Even though I am a Democrat in what is predominantly a Republican community, people have treated me with the respect one would expect when working with the credo "do under other as they have done onto you." That is more than just a Christian adage, it seems to be a humanitarian one as well.

Is I in da wite or da wong pwace?

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...wyQAPee36ueakg

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, love that one.

Even though in my case, I have a little further to go. Not far though, hopefully.

That depends... does it say "Buoys" or "Gulls"? :22yikes:

Yes. the problem with trying to put on paper what you could say so much better if you were face to face. I understand that better than anyone. I'm sorry that I made an incorrect assumption.

:mornincoffee:

I stumbled across TOTV when Sandy and I started thinking about looking at 55+ communities - that's been several years ago. I'd lurk off and on, gathering insights about people's thoughts and feedback about all things TV. Then I signed up about a year and a half ago, when we started getting serious about TV - figured I'd better be finding out everything I possibly could about the place, including some 'cloudy' things that were new to me like the CDDs, the bond, and so on. And I still learn new things about TV all the time - we'd have been in trouble without it!

We've also met some great people through TOTV and the couple of Crispers gatherings we've attended as well!!!!

Bill :)

Old saying:

"Their driving me crazy and it's getting to be a short trip!!!".

Ditto, ditto, ditto to everything!!! I learned so much I keep a Word notebook of all the stuff I learned and may need one day because I don't want to forget or miss something that may be useful to me at some point.
This is a lot like a cocktail party- you walk here and there, talk to lots of people, get to laugh, interact with some you like right away, some you may want to smile at but move away from after a moment or two, and some you want to stand clear from. And some whose opinion you come to trust or mistrust over time- either because they like EVERYTHING or because they like VERY LITTLE. But through it all, I learn a lot. I love the interaction and it's the first thing I turn to when I finally hit the comfy chair at night to see what I've missed. It's the water cooler at work in a place I don't work yet. It's the party I can't attend because I haven't moved down full time yet. It's the party line I listen in on. It's dinner time conversation at the grown up table. It's all fun no matter what the topic. I love it and I feel so grateful for all the new contacts and all I've gleaned from being here.

I love the way you put this. It is like a cocktail party and a water cooler. It's a great source of information and it's fun. :laugh:

:agree:

What have I gained from TOTV?

A deep distaste for dog poop threads. :yuck:

And the best circle of friends imaginable. :clap2:

The friendly folks here just can't be beat anywhere for good general knowledge and some with very specific and useful knowledge and willingness to contribute that info to help the ones who need it. And then it's a great group of partiers.

The TOTV experience has been amazing.

Because of it I now have a much better sense of the reality of being a FROG in this great community.

Although just an owner of dirt in Sanibel at this point, I have met my future neighbors through TOTV and had the opportunity to share thoughts and questions about the future in TV.

I have learned and filed information that I plan to use in the future such as doctors, dentists, landscape people, activities, restaurants, insurance, sink holes, IRS concerns, banking, pool construction and suggestions for day trips from TV.

I have also made a number of friends on TOTV that I fully intend to get to know better once I make the leap to "frogdam".

I have learned what it means to be welcomed.......really welcomed to a new home and a new life style.......you have taught me well and I hope to pass it on to new people when I finally get to my new home in March.....and most of alll FRIENDS......

Information

I have met many very special people, learned so much about things I knew nothing about and have had fun doing it.

Now about the Morse family. I don't know them, have never met them, and probably never will. However; they created from nothing the fastest growing real estate market in the country, the number 1 rated retirement community in the country, with the most golf holes of any single destination in the world. They built a paradise for all of us. They provided jobs to thousands of people, built schools for the workers children, and did it in a very depressed area of the country. Thank god we have business people willing to take those risks, make those decisions and make the required investments to accomplish what they did.

Ditto to most of the things said...
At this point the most important for us is the possitive nature of the site. Having a lot there (hi Charlotters) and being here, and Joe in VA, it is wonderful to be part of TV in this way. I am meeting people, learning things, picturing you at the squares ... Basically, it keeps me positive about our choice and keeps me part of the lifestyle even if through your words.
From a going-to-be ...thanks to all of you ....keep it going!:wave:

I will have to remember that line. Have not heard it before. Like it.

The Bogart character, Captain Queeg, in the Caine Mutiny could have used it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Caine_Mutiny_(film)

When we are in summer exile back in Canada, we feel very "out of touch". TOTV is a great vehicle for keeping us up-to-date on all the local chit chat.

I've learned (but kinda had an idea)
 

that this is

THE GREATEST PLACE ON EARTH!!!

2BNTV -- great list -- thank you for posting this. It sums up what I have gained from participating in TOTV.

Brilliant. Astute. Correct. Well thought out. Just like all your posts.

I worked in the medical field most of my life.....and dealt with oncology..cancer..for a great deal of that time. When we had a patient who did really well, it was such a great feeling. To think that perhaps a patient was still around when other physicians had given up on that patient, was like winning the lottery.

I was thinking........imagine how the Morse family feels when they see so many happy faces in TV. They have to be thrilled!
Kudos to the Morse family! :eclipsee_gold_cup:

Great list!

TOTV feels like family. It also keeps me connected with Lower Paradise when I'm not there.

Most gratifying is that many online friends have become offline friends whom I treasure.

Many more, I hope, are friends I haven't met yet.

Ditto PT.

Have been playing golf and chuming around with Jeanette and Bill. We met them at your gathering at RedSauce. Thanks for the intro.

When you coming down to play with us?