high season
 

Just would like to get an idea what full time residents think of the high season in the villages. Thanks.

I love it. There's a vitality in TV that's not there year round. Snowbirds and renters are thrilled to be here; they take nothing for granted. I don't mind standing in line to eat or whatever -- it is a chance to talk to someone new, learn something, smile and enjoy the day.

Without the snowbirds and renters, we'd have no town squares or stores around TV. It is high season when the profit is made for the stores and restaurants.

To me, there is one negative -- the first-timers really don't know how to drive the roundabouts or their golf carts. It can be frightening to share a road or path with them.

Thank you redwitch for the positive comments. We own but are not able to be here on a full time basis. We look forward to coming down here when we can. We have met so many new people and have had casual acquaintences become longtime friends. Our primary home for now is in lake community up North with seasonal restaurants. One comment was made by the owner of a water front restaurant was that if he had to rely upon the locals for his business he could not afford to be here. I believe the same goes for TV only on a much larger scale. We are only strangers one time........

:beer3: which season is that? (hic!)

Definately more traffic. ALOT more folks in the grocery stores, restaurants, pools etc. If you keep a positive attitude like Redwitch has you'll be fine. There are always the folks who grumble no matter what.

Sounds like year round to me! :laugh:

Many of our friends are seasonal residents. We wish they were here year round!

I must admit that I get a little spoiled in the summertime when I don't have to wait for restaurant seating and the starter at the golf course tells me to tee it up whenever I want. But, having all my friends and neighbors back more than makes up for any small inconveniences, especially since they have been paying their fees for a whole year and only using the facilities for half a year. The one thing that sometimes stresses me out is the traffic. But when I find myself getting irritated because I have to wait 30 seconds to make a left turn, I just remind myself of the 40 minutes it used to take me just to get through the toll booth at the midtown tunnel or GW bridge. I will be interested to see how all the new homes south of 466a will affect traffic and golf this year, since as far as I can tell we have about 5000 new residents and no new exec courses yet.

I don't look forward to it, but the restaurants and businesses depend on it. I think it's really the increased traffic that bothers me most. That and the inept first-time drivers.

As I see it there are snowbirds and snowbirds. The birds that come in January and rent are absolutely necessary for those who have rental property and then birds like my wife and I who own property and got back to TV a couple weeks ago who pay amenities while we are gone and keep the trash bills low and taxes lower for full-timers by not getting the homestead exemptions. Since snowbirds who own their homes pay more taxes, The State/County can afford to give a nice homestead exemption. All in all doesn't seem fair but then who says life is always fair! I get my homestead exemption in Illinois (about half as much) but get to stop my trash pickup and most don't pay amenity fee while away from their northern homes. The worst months for traffic and congestion at supermarkets etc. are January-March. But congestion is nothing in TV compared to some other favorite areas of Florida.

It's great!! It's the only way that TV and all of the business's can survive. Look outside these pearly gates......the rest of Florida is not doing so well.

What do you think about the high season....? Really! You actually asked that? What do you think about Los Angles traffic? What do you think about 45 to 1 1/2 hour wait at a restaurant? What do you think about getting bumped off your tee time? What do you think about grocery (other types) stores running out of everything? What do you think about the traffic on Morse Blvd making you wish you were in Los Angles traffic? OK that was an exaggeration. Obviously I don't fault anyone or anything but it does cut deeply into one's quality of life.

Hey, you just have to adjust. Play golf off campus. Explore resturants in Lessburg and Fruitland Park, Wildwood and Ocala. Stay home with neighbors a lot. It's 4 months - we have the rest of the year.

There you go again....................

But how do you really feel??? Just kidding - I respect your opinion and understand it creates an issue, but we all know can't have one without the other - so I guess we will just grin and bear it. And this is pure speculation on my part 'cause I haven't been here long enough to experience this, have only heard the rumors.:confused:

I understand what you mean, being from NY myself. Long Island expressway rt 495...known as the longest parking lot in NY. I cant wait to be down to TVs, should be there oct 21st...permanently.

NOW that we have completed our first year of frogdom, I know what to expect and what to do about the"season" as all the rich folks used to call it....

I will continue to cook a lot at home. Snowbirds do not cook at all.

I will use the car more than a cart. I do not wish to become a statistic.

I will take deep breaths and maybe even bring my beads when I go grocery shopping. Snowbirds are not being mean just standing there blocking the aisle and staring at the green beans. They just don't know that the backlog is reaching clear to the front door.

I will remember that I too was a snowbird and I will remember that I too was young, neither of which I want to trade for at this moment.

I will not smack anyone for saving seats. UNLESS I have the girls posse with me. Sweetie is not interested in being my backup.

I will remember that without all of these folks paying for amenities year round that we wouldn't have this wonderful place.

I am hoping you know I am, for the most part, KIDDING.

I like the crowds and the friends returning and the wonderful happiness I feel here during " the season".

HA HA HA...:clap2:

Any of you that are sick of the "season" I have something you may want to buy. A beautiful home in rural Virginia. The population of the entire County is only 25,000. The leaves are changing colors now and the mountain views are breath taking. There is no traffic to worry about nor overcrowded stores. Please, buy my product and get away from those pesky snow birds. I will be delighted to take your place. Oh, you can have the real deal when it comes to snow.

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/...19898067-1.jpg

I like high season because we see thousands of people ENJOYING life instead of wasting away in a big old house in the northern states with the thermostat set at 64 degrees with heating bills of $500+per month......and if they go outside and walk or drive on ice, they're asking for "life" in the nursing home, and their spouse is stuck going there to watch them wither day by day for years.

As for lines at restaurants etc., there are hours later than 5:00 p.m. when we can go and get a table in 15 minutes or less.

This seems to be unknown to some, but many people do eat dinner later than 5:30 and stay up later than 9pm!!!!

Really! That Reagan line has been overused and you might want to get a bit more cretive. You like crowded restaurants, highways, cartpaths, town squares, golf courses etc. That is how you define Adult DisneyWorld quality of living? Is that your view or do you have another motive? Please you know why you mock me but telling a lie three times doesn't make it true. Overcrowding is very apparent here and discussed openly among residents at the golf courses. Speaking the truth doesn't make me a bad or good person just a person assessing a reality.

Ditto to you too............................................... .....

Boys will be Boys!

KathieI can probably vouch for this! :laugh:

congrats on making the move!

As I mentioned previously in a post, TV "congestion" is nothing compared to some other favorite winter homes for snowbirds. For example, spend some time in Naples or Fort Myers or Fort Lauderdale/Boca Raton area on the other coast. Fact: Any winter place where there is a very large population there is going to be congestion. That in itself isn't a bad thing because without support from people you can't justify all the restaurants, golf courses, recreation facilities, medical, shops/stores, theatres, etc. etc. Quality of life is defined differently by different people. Large metropolitan areas like New York, Chicago and Los Angles appeal to lots of people----others wouldn't think about living there. If rural small town lifestyle appeals to you there are many such places in Florida where you can find that type of lifestyle. TV is projected to be about 110,000 people when built out. I personally know Villagers who play golf five and six days a week during the so called high season. My point----"congestion" in TV are you kidding?

I'm looking forward to my first high season in TV. :a040:

Me too:a040: And I believe I'll love it no matter how many people are here!

I am a wanna be TVer. I will expirience the "season" this winter, if it is not to my liking I can go elsewhere. Actually when I buy a TV property I have the thought of renting and going to Costa Rica for the winter, any others do this?

Was only here in Feb for the first visit and unexpected slapping money down on a lot and the design meeting in Mar. I did find the roundabouts a bit scary but maybe that was because I, I repeat I, didn't know what I was doing :)
As for thinking about high season, I kind of like the idea of having an entirely different place for a couple months a year. It makes you feel like you have two entirely different environments. Almost like YOU are living somewhere else.

The OP asked opinion on "high season" in TV. The problem with asking any question about living in The Villages is that a poster will have to face the reckoning of the villages political correctness squad. This squad equates disagreement with disloyalty and total dissatisfaction and the punishment for that is explusion at least in a theoritical manner.

Comparing a less desirable situation to a more desirable ones is in the eye of a beholder. Winter for many people is desirable for many people living in Minnesota because winter sports, winter carnival, etc. Living in florida is a turn off for many people. But for The Villages my wife would never had agreed to move here.

If someone is bothered by hih season activity like me it doesn't mean that I am unhappy disgruntled etc. I adjust alwyas have always will but please be considerate enough to alow people to freely express heir opinions....and before you disagree or opine you might want to ask them for clarification

Agree
 

Agree. When we first bought here, the business needed the high season. Not any more, so many new homes and people, they are busy year around.
I travel to Colony everyday and that grocery store is crowded even now,along with the cart paths. Some exercise classes and clubs are full even now.
But I love all my snowbird friends and all my friends here. If you are use to a big city, it is not as big a deal, as if you came from a small town. I also love it here, but like the traffic and getting in to clubs, tee times etc. I prefer the summer.

As a wannabee. it breaks my heart knowing I have to deal with snow for another year. Offer fell through today.

I can't wait for sneakers and shorts all year round. Some of my friends say that you'll be sorry in the summer as it is too hot. I say the weather and very little else will bother me when I get to TV. :smiley:

It's a matter of perspective and tolerance for every person. Those of us that live in the northeast are used to crowds traffic and annoyances. It's probably to a much lesser degree in TV unless you come from a small town and or city.

To each his/her own.

Me too! I am looking forward to meeting some of my neighbors who are snowbirds.

Thanks everyone for the info on what to expect - especially traffic.

No. Ever since they embedded that chip in my neck, I don't want to go anywhere off campus. ;)

How's this for enjoying the cold. ( hope the picture transfers) I like your thought about too hot.
My friends say you cna never put on enough clothing to stay warm.

I guess it depends on one's perspective. Being a Gulf Coast native, we've always said you can't take off enough clothes to cool down in summer! :laugh:

Very sorry to hear that!
 

Very sorry to hear that, 2B ! Hang in there- you have friends waiting for you.

I just got back from Publix. It was totally packed but cool, kind of a party atmosphere. People chatting while we waited at the deli and checkout. The people I spoke to weren't snowbirds, they were new and having a great time.

As it gets more crowded I tend to get yelled at more often, but I'm okay with that.

It's all good, I like the positive energy.