Inexpensive Fun!
 

I thought I would start this Fun thread for current veterans of TV to help us new villagers and those soon to be.

On a budget what are your favorite fun memoriable and relatively inexpensive things to do in The Villages?

I'm sure it been covered before but I would be interested in your inputs.

WELL. Cards at the rec centers or at your house. Potluck on your lanai,byob. Drinks on the drive. Music on the squares. Golf. Tennis.PLUS Pickleball, Shuffleboard, horseshoes, bocce at the rec centers. Billiards inside rec centers and discussion groups. Art lessons(!!!!) LOVE those. Glass fusion, clay. Craft and ART shows, WONDERFUL music at Church on the Square for a pittance...not religious music, and not that there's anything wrong with that. Watching the sunset from Park on Morse Bridge. oh my....just about everything.........

Lunch at my house..just sayin'.

Free admission to Polo on Fridays.

Watch softball games at SaddleBrook and Buffalo Ridge.

Listen to various musical groups practice at Rec centers... We play mahjong at Laurel Manor on Wednesday morning and Jazz Band workshop is practicing...Live entertainment!!!

Bird watching
 

The lovely Diane and I joined the Village Birders for $5/yr apiece. We go on bird walks, usually within an hour of TV. If you don't have binoculars, the club has some to loan for the trip.

Carpooling is encouraged. Lunch afterwards at a local-to-the-area restaurant is optional. You meet some interesting people, see some new places, learn a lot about birds and birding from some very experienced birders and former educators, see some beautiful birds, spend some time outdoors, and also, birds don't live in ugly places so the scenery is pretty.

There are two photography clubs in TV. Both are inexpensive to join and most people have a digital camera these days so there are no costs for film and processing, and prints are inexpensive these days if you wish to display your favorite photos.

Fishing in the ponds in TV is an inexpensive hobby.

just ridin' around in the golf cart

My thought exactly!

"Honey, where are we going in the cart?"

"I don't really know. Let's just go exploring!"

Bill :)

Book clubs, and the beautiful new library on Pinellas

The scuba club is $5/year and has excellent guest speakers every month, a great group of folks, and we get to talk about, plan, and go on dive trips!

Wow
 

Thanks! All really appreciate the thoughtfull comments

Cappy I was a NASDS open water instructor in my younger years. Had to let it go as state employee time did not match up with travel time for their trips. Sold the gear but would love to be up for retraining and some trips.

H

Carguy-Everything mentioned already and much more!
 

You are just going to love it here. Any interest you could have is here. That is why we are growing so fast.
I play a great deal of sports. Swim, Golf, Volleyball-all 3 kinds(water,sand,indoor) Many car groups and biker groups. We do quite a bit with our neighborhood groups. As you know via pms I broke my leg. I never had so many cards, plants, dinners etc. All my groups are like family.
I tell everyone get out and try them all and then pick the ones you like. I have many very close friends here. But like you I am very social.
I also do Mensa. Good speakers. You won't be able to keep up with it all.

I agree. I can't wait to get there and ride around in my golf cart.

Wow you are active and enjoying life. I'm impressed with Mensa; I would love to be a fly on the wall during a group meeting, actually that would be the only way I could attend.:p Love your enthusiasm.

Exciting the hear
 

This is exciting to read all. I don't know why? Maybe this has happened to others here in TV?
As the the days count down toward the last day of work and the clock ticks closer to moving day the butterflys in my stomach seem to be getting a lot of air time!

Something we like to do....
 

Drinking Starbucks (I know that is expensive for a cup of coffee) and reading the paper and people watching on the square! Also chillin with a smoothie at Panera and people watching on the square.

try Ambrosia
 

for coffee (lots cheaper than Starbucks, and tastes better to the non-Starbucks lover), or just bring your own in your golf cart. Bring a book or the paper to read and sit on a bench or in your golf cart. We also like to watch the sunset at one of the various ponds around TV after an early evening golf cart ride with our dog.

There are zillions of free exercise classes at rec centers and sports pools, also free card lessons. Get serious about reading the rec news and the newspaper, with your calendar beside you. You will find you may have to schedule some down time.

Ditto the polo.........

Everyone was very very impressed with the polo grounds, the polo matches, etc. and the fact that THE VILLAGES even had a polo grounds.

Even for those who had never ever seen a polo match, but loved horses, the gorgeous blue skies and setting were really really nice.

I want to apologize to you lovesports. At first I thought you were Larry Wilson who disappeared. This post made me see you were not.

Welcome to the forum. I hope your leg is well and you are loving sports again.

My husband loves the woodworking shop and I love the quilters groups.

Wood Shop
 

The wood working shop. Do they have apprentice lessons there or can you join and just learn from mentors?

What is the cost for the wood shop.

I would like to learn how to measure twice and cut once.

We were given a behind the scenes, private tour of The Villages Woodshop. It is unbelievable. From their website:

One Time Wood Shop Fee:
The one-time (as long as you maintain your membership) Wood Shop fee is applied to the wood shop capital acquisition and improvement fund. This fund is used to purchase new equipment or upgrade current equipment with new features.


Member ............................ $150.00
Household ... (two members in the same household). . . $225.00


Annual Dues: $55.00 (2012)


The annual dues are applied to the on-going operations of the Wood Shop including provision of consumables (glue, sandpaper, etc.), maintenance of equipment and the building interior, and procurement of new hand and small tools. Exterior facility maintenance is provided by the VCDD as part of the long-term tenant agreement between the VCDD and The Villages Woodworker's Club.

Certification Class

Members are required to attend a certification class that is intended primarily to enforce your knowledge of the various machinery available in the wood shop, familiarize you with the safe operation of each major piece of equipment, and to give you a thorough overview of the woodworking facility. Certification classes are held at scheduled times throughout the calendar year. You will be provided with the current schedule at the time you join the club.

Service requirement

In addition all members are required to serve as either a Monitor or Tool Crib Operator for a total of 12 hours per calendar year. Each session of Monitor/Tool Crib consists of four (4) continuous hours (a "shift"), either in the morning or afternoon. These sessions will be scheduled at the time you pay your dues. Training for this duty is required and can be done any Wednesday morning from 9:00 to approximately 10:30. A refresher class is required every other year.

Important General requirement

Because it is s a Club, the life of the organization depends solely on its members and their active degree of involvement in the management and governance. It is hoped - even expected - that the member will take an active interest in the Club and do all they can to help it function productively. It is hoped that you will take it upon yourself to improve your knowledge and skill at woodworking regardless of your entry skills. Basically, you must have a willingness to be involved.

Join The VWC

Villages Woodworker's Club

Picnic at the Polo Grounds
 

Every so often, my wife and I will pack up the golf cart with some snacks or sandwichs, a mandatory bottle of wine, bag chairs and small table and head out to the polo grounds for a little picnic for a couple of hours. A lap or two walking around the polo fields (approx. 1 mile per lap) for a little exercise as a bonus:thumbup:

Something to read:read: and just enjoy the quiet peacefulness of a nice day!!

Perfect way to spend an afternoon!!

exec golf and drivin around looking for matzoh!
:pepper2:

Nice!
 

Sounds well organized and and a safe fun atmosphere. I sure those that love the smell of cutting boards are Happy to find this club!

Wish I could have a Automotive Tech Car Repair and Educational Club. But the cost would be prohibitive! Althought I would be glad to spend the money if TV gave me the GO!

Thanks