What are the DOWNSIDES of TV?
 

I've been reading up on The Villages and read a lot of GOOD stuff. But I'm wondering about the bad stuff. This board seems to have "selection bias", which, I guess, is to be expected. But what about posts from people who decided the TV was not for them...either they didn't buy in the first place or they lived there then moved out. Where can I get this info. I'm not looking to trash or bash TV, but just rather want to here from those who did not see find it as great as most of you do.

Wish airports were closer.

I met my first person last week who was so very unhappy with The Villages that she wanted to move away quickly. Turns out the reason she was unhappy was that she had always lived close to family and now she is 1500 miles away. Her husband is 100% happy here. She can't stand it here. I asked if she had visited any clubs or interest groups and she said she just stays in her house all day and all night while her husband plays golf in the day and goes out with golfing friends at night to local watering holes.

I guess you are interested in what the smallest of percentages of people who do not care for TV.....while the 98% of us enjoy it every single day.

There are the usual minority reports...too big...too small...to uppity...to middle of the road...too hot...to cold...too flat....to good to be true...etc.....etc...etc.....mostly whiny type stuff.

The really good thing is for the most part people who like it here are somewhat alike in what they were looking for.....


btk

I have even heard some non-Villagers say that this is a hotbed of Republicans. So what? Rarely, do we discuss politics at the golf course, at dinner, at friend's houses, and only in a light-hearted manner at the watering hole. Everyone gets along mighty well together. Friendships have been made among opposing views and I have not heard of friendships being broken because of politics here.

We have visited 6 or 7 times, just bought a new CYV, and move in 3 weeks. We have found no negative issues. Our friends love it in TV also. There are some folks that need to be close to family, those are the ones that may not enjoy TV as much as the rest of us. That may be the only downside.
Don & Kaz

I could tell you 20 things most people love about TV, but that isn't your topic.

No question, there is a lot of turnover in The Villages. Just look at the number of resale properties for sale on VLS and MLS. You won't hear from people who have moved on because they're not on TOTV! People move on not necessarily for "bad" reasons. In any retirement community you'll get residents leaving for expected reasons: because of medical issues, loss of a partner, or to be closer to family.

Other reasons I hear from people who would like to move: to be closer to the ocean, and to have more privacy. After five or six years, I occasionally hear from friends that they're bored with knowing what to expect each and every day. They've seen the parades, danced in the town squares, and played all the golf courses. When they moved to TV, it was new and very exciting. Now there is a sense of predictability about each day. So they want to experience some new adventures. There is nothing wrong, or flawed, about people who move out of TV. It's not for everyone. But the majority of people who live in TV really love it!

I have been a visitor. Not a buyer. To really test the waters try and rent a home for as long as you can. From my perspective it was too big. Took to long to go to wherever we wanted to go, if that was out side of our village. I was not there in the winter and was afraid it would be too crowed. But since it is big you can probably find what ever you want.

I have heard a few times that some of the resales are because the individual has gone from being a part time residence to full time and wanted a larger home. Also the size of the garage seems to be a problem and a reason some move. Thus make sure you will be happy with the space in the garage and probably take an option to expand wherever you buy.

Its tough for me to come up with any big negatives but here are a few minor things:
1) The Villages is sort of in the middle of nowhere so full scale shopping malls, fine dining, professional theater, etc you find in metro areas are over an hour away.
2) Prices (housing, gas, groceries, etc) tend to be a bit higher than surrounding areas.
3) It is a very politcally conservative community. As someone who tends to be more of a liberal, I do at times feel like a fish out of water. Fortunately most people (including me) don't talk politics.
4) Crowds during the winter

As I said, these are all very minor and I happily accept these "negatives" because my list of what is wonderful about this place would be 10x longer.

BORED? :22yikes: Seriously? With another new adventure just waiting for them in the Thursday Recreation Guide or The Lifelong Learning Catalogue? How can this be?

Daryll, when you asked for the downside to living in The Villages my first thought was... There's too much to do, and not enough time!

Downside:
It's very easy to be overscheduled here. There are so many exciting new things to do & learn & explore that some nights I just fall into bed exhausted.
I have to keep a planner.
I have to set the alarm clock.
And then there are the expenses: I need tap dancing shoes, a jingly hip scarf for zumba, a new cute bathing suit, watercolor painting supplies and paper, numerous tote bags to carry all my things to all the different classes... and the list goes on.

I can understand being bored with the predictability of each day if you retired somewhere else, but I can't imagine where else they would choose to live that would give them so many opportunities for new adventures.

Snakes, sinkholes, extreme right wing owner, and we were not thrilled with the quality of construction JMHO

"hotbed of Republicans":1rotfl: buggyone that was funny

Just because one lives in The Villages doesn't mean they are isolated from the world. There are many activities and events here, but there are surrounding communities that offer events, opportunities, too. Some still want to work, some need to help and volunteer, some want to try new things, getting bored is more of a personal choice or feeling than anything else. It is easy to overdo when a new resident. As time passes, one becomes more selective of where to use their time. You don't have to go to the square every night. I wonder what some who are dissatisfied with this area would do in retirement where they left? If there is a downside, maybe it's there is TOO much to do.....:laugh:

What are the downsides of TV? The truth> I don't think you can handle the truth?

Don't forget, you have to take your weather radio to the fire station every week......:laugh::laugh:

Care to elaborate on that comment before I build?

Most of the people I know who have moved from the Villages wanted to be closer to their family, or had moved into a neighborhood with bad neighbors and did not want to stay any longer in the Villages, or lost an important part of their family and could not take the daily reminders of their grief, or really missed the excitement of a major city like NY, Chicago or LA. Some also moved because of a promotion in their work life to some other city and state.

Think it depends where you go with respect to finding too many detractors with respect to your politics. Some Villagers do not seem all that interested in your politics, others can be.

I would like to see a Lionsgate movie in the Villages though and would like it if there were a quaility theater troupe.

OMG! Forgot to add that to my planner! Thanks for the reminder, Pooh! :laugh:

I have found the quality much better then I have seen In new areas of chicago suburbs.Never spoke to anybody that had concerns.Even better then I saw in Boca Raton when we lived and worked their in early 80s.

Snakes? Haven't seen one yet. Maybe smashed on the road.

But I'm sure they are around. But not a big negative as far as I can tell.

The downfall for us is that we own a beautiful home there and we cannot move permanantly until around October. My complaint, it is too far away from Seattle so I cannot just come quickly for a visit!!! I cannot wait to be there and call it home. I am thrilled the malls are far away, that it is somewhat isolated, that there is more to do than there is time in a day, that the sunsets are breathtaking, that the people are smiling and living life. I am a great cook and so fine dining is at our house. If I get tired of Happy Hour in the town square we will do Happy Hour in our backyard while we look at the lake, the park and the birds. I have strong political opinions but they are mine and I do not care what others believe if they are good human beings and do not speak in terms of racism, sexism, or maliciousness of others. Every place has things that may not be to our liking, but no place has all the things to like that The Villages does.

What's not to like??
 

We've only been here about 7 weeks, so things are still pretty new to us. The only thing I can think of that may be a downside is you have to go a ways to get to a lot of places, but once you go, there's everything you could possibly want. We were used to going no more than 5-7 minutes away to get to everything and now if we want to go to 27/441 it takes us 15 or so minutes. I hardly call that "far" but just not what we are accustomed to. We are probably more "homebodies" than most so we built a pool and a very large lanai area so that we would have everything that we wanted right here. I feel good knowing that when, and if we get bored, we have a ton of activities to choose from. The Villages may not be for everyone, but it's the right place for us! Best of luck with your decision.

We have been here 3 weeks since moving from Winter Park, FL where we moved to from MI in 2004.
So here goes
Negatives: Costco and Total Wine are 1 hour away.
Positives: Everything else.
Before visiting we thought "what are the positives?"
Then we visited and are living here 5 months later.

I think that for one to be truly happy here, or anywhere for that matter, they have to evalute carefully if this is what they want. My wife and I love TV because we love all the activities available. We have lived for nine years on a lake in a rather isolated area and while the lake itself offers many activities, and we have all the water toys, pontoon, bass boat, waverunner, etc, there is only so much of that one can do. We have few resturaunts closer than an hour away and shopping is not handy, even groceries are 20 minutes away.

Our kids are all about an hour away and we see them often, but it takes some effort, not to mention gas. Because we have three grown children and six grandchildren who all live in the same area, we will never live full-time in TV. My wife would not be happy living anywhere that was a plane trip away from the kids and grandkids on a full-time basis, and I probably would not either. Many of the people I have heard express unhappiness here were upset about being far away from their family. Now I know many have managed to work that out to thier satisfaction, many others cannot. Someone who tended to be introverted and who did not enjoy meeting new people, or joining in activities with strangers, would be likely unhappy in TV. If you don't like to dance, play golf, listen to live music, ride around in open air carts then there are probably better choices for you.

Our plan is to purchase a place in TV and live about six months there and six months near our children. We are planning to puchase a place together with our good friends with whom we have shared rentals the last two years, to make it financially practical for all of us, not to mention we have a very compatible and synergistic relationship.

My advice is to evaluate what you want to accomplish in a move, and what kind of place might best offer that lifestyle. TV is paradise for those who like it here because there is no place that offers more of the kind of activities and, yes, lifestyle that they covet. However, if that lifestyle isn't your cup of tea, there may be many other places available that offer the things you are looking for.

Downside.....1 hour happy hour at LSL and a 2 hour happy hour at SP.
As you can see, if that's all I have to complain about, then there really is no downside.

takes us too long to drive down. wish we could be there more

oh yea i hate paying for trash pickup when we are not there, and bright house needs to be available in all areas

ok I'm going to be perfectly honest here. I've been here long enough now so I can explain to you why some may find it negative. Although I love the villages it is NOT for everyone. It is getting crowded!! Like a city. Some are NOT happy with waiting in lines to get in classes. The classes can get so crowded you may have to take a number to get in and then get turned away. Doesn't happen to me because I don't attend those type of classes but friends of mine tell me it does happen. The squares can get so crowded, parking can be difficult, chairs hard to come by.Restaurants, especially in winter can have very long wait lines. We need much more than they are keeping up with. We need more softball fields, gyms, movie theaters, a LARGE DANCE hall (which I don't think they are adding to the new square) We need a nice theater. Savannah is not comfortable. Our homes are close to each other. For me it's a positive, but some a negative. Kids are driving around in golf carts. Yesterday I saw four 10 yr olds driving around hanging out of it laughing. Accidents waiting to happen. Don't know what is wrong with some grandparents. Over all, I love it. I love the lifestyle, I love the people but I can see why some do leave. I would suggest to anyone to rent for a year or two and feel out the lifestyle and then decide whether it is for you or not. Good luck on your decision. Those are just some thoughts that immediately came to mind. And one very important thing to note: without all these wonderful volunteers to run the clubs we would not have the lifestyle we do. They are absolutely fantastic in what they do and offer us for entertainment and lifestyle!!

Bingo!!; that's my biggest complaint also. I'm not usually an early supper guy, so the 5 to 6 pm happy hour at LSL doesn't suit me as well as the 5 to 7 pm happy hour at SP, and I live closer to LSL. OK, really it's no big deal.

My only other want here would be a really good Italian Deli. Why oh why can't I get good deli here in The beautiful Villages?

Didn't do their homework

We researched and looked at other retirement communities before buying here. We're coming up on 3 years. We moved to a new neighborhood,have made great friends,have a great time. We've met and seen on here of people who aren't happy. They claim they didn't know this or that, to many people and crowded ( true in the winter it's busy). My taxes are cheaper,my utilities are cheaper,my insurance is cheaper,food I find about the same. I don't pay state income tax so our pention goes further, all our bars,resteraunts,movie theathers, my doctors etc. are within 5 miles of my house, I only need the car for off property chores.I can take a shuttle to the airport anytime I need to.As for the house construction and price you can deff get a bigger house for a cheaper price elsewhere but you'll be coming to TV for a lot of your entertainment. I still think they build a darn good home for what we pay for them. They do use roof trusses and OSB instead of plywood but so are a lot of other builders today. All I can say is ask questions on TOTV and do your homework. One thing I did find more then up north was mr car registration which was a 1 shot deal. Good luck and don't worry about the small stuff.

These are great answers. I appreciate your candor. Keep 'em comin'

The Villages in my eyes is a tourist area. People are coming to see what it is about. It is talked about as Adult Disneyland. Lifestyle visits are inexpensive. People enjoy being snowbirds or coming down to visit in their hometown winter months. So yes it will get crowded. I lived on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia for five years, another paradise, fabulous. Quiet, goregous, peaceful, only access was ferry/boat and sea plane. Then summer comes. Population doubles. Traffic lines coming from ferry (no street lights on island so now you might have five minutes of summer traffic figuring out the roads). But that crowdedness creates jobs and income and vibrancy for the community. Same for TV. All of us were a part of making The Villages crowded before moving there because we came to visit and experience everything. It just is how it is because of what it is. That is what makes it The Villages.

my sprint service sucks

:cus::laugh:The days are too short!!

....
 

From a Wannabe...We have visited many times (too young to retire) and have found only 1 unhappy couple. You see they are not the type to join -in. They don't take advantage of what TV has to offer in clubs or activities so for them living somewhere else would have been better. They did admit that they both lost their health shortly after they moved in and that may contribute to their opinion of the place.

Also there is another thread you should check out that has about 50 pages to it ...look under search above ...someone else help me with the name of it....something like what do you hate about TV.

Hmmm!....Let me think
 

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:, Hmmm!, I'm thinking....Hmmm!, Let's see, What Downsides in TV, I know, you have not moved to the Villages yet!

Here you go with the title and link.

Everybody seems to love TV I would like to hear what you hate besides

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...e-beside-9370/

Bingo...its why this place does not feel like my home. TV's form of government is also a concern, county Property and School taxes are high, utilities are high especiallty water, insurance is high. I paid half as much for my insurance in the Minneapolis area for a house that was double the square footage.