Did anyone enjoy the villages lately?
 

Don't let TOTV become like the MEDIA and only report the bad news. There must be something that we are all thankful for. Please tell us all what you have done lately that gives you that warm and fuzzy about this beautiful place.

I WILL START:


I truly enjoyed taking Mr. Buster on a golf cart ride yesterday around this wonderful community. People wave and smile like no where else on earth.

Is Mr. Buster your dog? Did he not take to the pup you were thinking to adopt? I am working on the computer during September and October so I have been on a lot. Would like to be out and about more. But this is the time I work. You are right, we are kind of getting snarley.

We went to the Cincinnati Club on Thursday night and it was lovely to hear Cincinnati accents and share Cincinnati food and laugh about being in a room where no one honks at other people at stop signs and stop lights. It was joyful to talk about our shared experiences living in that beautiful river city that has wonderful arts and a wonderful university much due to the generosity of Proctor and Gamble.

Keep buying Tide everyone.

Everything we did during our reecent visit was AWESOME. No bad restaurants, beautiful home, great neighbors, wonderful amenities, fun activities. The worst part of the entire trip was a near-flat tire that Sumter Tire in Wildwood fixed for us less than 20 minutes.

TV is fantastic !!!!

:pepper2::pepper2::pepper2::pepper2::pepper2:

I just love the sky here. No matter where you are it is so beautiful, especially the sunrises and sunsets. On my walks or just for rides in the cart with my hubby & four legged baby, this place is so wonderful.

Went to Les Mis on stage Ocala Civic tHEater w/friends from my home town, Gainesville. The theater is beside Appleton Art Museum. Both venues are over the top and a must do for Villagers. 45 minute ride.
In the Villages proper, I am heartened by the depth of connections with friends. I thought I'd move here and go crazy attending activities, but my need was for human connection and that is going fabulously. I can learn to belly dance later.

the villages
 

Just look around at all we have and can do. We are very lucky. Where else in the country can you find a place like this.

I'll second that! It takes my breath away, and I have a perfect sunrise view in back. the setting sun is even more spectacular. I think we see the span of horizon easily bc the trees are gone. The clouds are never the same, so it's a new vista every minute.

On our last visit we were golf carting down Morse Rd and came to an area where there was a split in the golf cart path and there was a bike rider. Husband slowed down and as we passed I said hello and he said something back - couldn't make out what he was saying.

Told my husband I hope he didn't think I was yelling at him. Drove a little longer and stopped to take pictures of the beautiful scenery and up comes the bike rider.

He stopped and we shared a conversation and......exchanged phone numbers! He lives in Duval, as we do, and will be getting together on our next visit.

I just love The Villiages.....it is the people that makes this place so wonderful.

I absolutely love it here. I'm dancing four days a week and performing often. Where else do seniors have this type of opportunities? Sniff, sniff, I smell the roses!

Love the sound around us, pickle ball "pangs", click of the golf ball, horns in the tunnel, splashes in the pool, music in the squares, laughter at the outside bars, the feel of relaxation walking along Lake Sumter Landing Boardwalk, the clang of the trollies, the smiles on faces and happy talking, then the beautiful sunsets, the happy grandchildren, wonderful neighbors, beautiful flowers, and just so many wonderful people, who treat each other with dignity!! Gotta Love it!!

Just yesterday, martial arts, went out to breakfast with my wife, poker tournament, 9 holes of golf, a beer and some BBQ. To say that I love The Villages does not do credit to the way I feel about my friends and neighbors and the lifestyle here.

this morning I've been serenaded by the song of the state bird. Mockingbirds love the golf course for foraging insects.
OBX Mocking Bird imitates all kinds of birds including sea gulls........ - YouTube

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU... I recently bought a house in the villages. I don't move in until November and after reading posts like "too big" and a few others, I was starting to feel like I have made a giant financial bomb of a decision! But, after reading your posts, my faith is renewed. Please keep posting good thoughts! Hope fate allows me to meet you all!

I'll bet you're single? You didn't make a mistake, you made a hugely fabulous investment in your property, but more than that, you bought a great singles community. Check out the singles forum under lifestyles. Those of us who are new are buddying up..post there and let us get to know you before you get here.
or did I lose a bet...?

Well, am I glad you wondered…because my body is in northern Virginia but my mind is in TV. That is how much my husband and I love it. And I always bring pictures of the wonderful people (pets and nature alike) I meet while on vacation, which you can see here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheV...aphicMemories/

Hope to meet you soon, and add your pictures to the group as well.

You all keep enjoying all of it on my behalf, till we move permanently to TV

We lived in lake ridge for 12 years. Much better here.

Agree!!!
 

I was thinking the same thing! We go for our LSV a week from Monday and really want to buy. I have been reading the topics here every day, and started questioning the negativity! Thank you, Golfingnut for starting this thread!!! Keep the positive day-to-day experiences of TV coming!!! I know how much people love it, but sometimes the positive posts get lost amid all the others!

Bump....

Came for my first visit in March, purchased a home, been back 3 more times since than and hubby is going down next week for a week. My 19 year old grandson came with us on one of the visits and loved loved loved everything about it. He is coming down with us in December again to help with the driving. I think it really says something when somebody of that age likes it here so much. I can't wait to see how much our friend from MN likes it when he is there next week.

The only complaint I have so far are impatient drivers, had one honking at me at one of the gates while I was waiting for pedestrians to cross before I went

Thank you and I will. Unfortunately being half empty is popular with some folks and gets more air time on here just like the networks but for sure there are positive happy folks on TOTV, but they tend to be less vocal. I guess it could be as simple as if your happy live and let live, but if your not, try to bring others down with you. We just got back from lunch where we met a mom, dad, son and three daughter just moving in. The kids flew in to help mom and dad settle in to their new home near Brownwood. Wonderful family and very happy new residents of The Villages. I feel confident that we assured them they made a wise retirement decision.

Love it here
 

We moved into our home on Aug 1st in Mira Mesa......while we were painting the inside of the house, the door bell rang and our neighbor brought us a bottle of champagne....an hour later the door bell rang and another neighbor brought us a plate of home made cookies...the next day the door bell rang...another neighbor brought us a bottle of wine...later that day the door bell rang and another neighbor brought us home made brownies....and the door bell keeps ringing and ringing and ringing....what can I say.....we love it here and everywhere we go within TV!!!!!!

Brought my 10 yr. old Nephew and S-I-L and we went to the family pool, had lunch @ Carrabbas, dinner @ Johnny Rockets (S-I-L sang along and had great time), went to LSL with a great band and was market night.
The best part was renting a 4 seater golf cart.
My Nephew LOVES The Villages!

Well... not sure how to answer that bet. My husband passed away six months ago. I am a young widow... barely make the age cut off for TV. So, I still feel very married and not at all single. But it is nice to know that your group is out there when I am ready! Thanks for reaching out.

Got to play 9 holes with my son today!!! And it just doesn't get better than that. But I wanted to say how it's warmed my heart to read all of these wonderful posts. :mademyday:

A wonderful afternoon.
 

Today we spent the afternoon in one of the beautiful, comfortable, welcoming rehab centers the second of which our friend for forty years has been in here in TV. He became ill in the middle of June, was hospitalized here and then sent to Shands for surgery and then had to have two more surgeries while his family visiting from Ohio had to drive back and forth every day from here to Gainesville and then he was sent back here to Promise Hospital, the new hospital for wound care on Rainey Trail. (golf cart accessible) and then improved quickly and was sent to the rehab on 466 Tuesday, where we saw him walk for about 75 feet today!!!! and there is talk of him going home to Mira Mesa soon.

His wife and he lived four doors from us in Ohio and we both had two little girls of the same age who played together, dressed alike, roomed together in college and were in each other weddings and they are still friends now that they are in their fifties..and now the four of us are in our seventies. (How did that happen so fast?) We have seen a lot of triumphs together, but seeing him doing so much better today tops them all.

There are good things here that we may need and many we don't think about, and it is a good thing, this place.

Gracie..happy your friend is doing well. We lost one of our neighbors last night and we are saddened by the family's loss. Life is short and should be lived to the fullest.

I love riding in our golf cart and seeing someone pull over because they are lost and having two or three golf carts stop to help out!!

Yesterday I worked out at home until about noon. Then my wife and I went to Sweet Tomatoes for lunch, we usually go there once or twice a month. They have a real nice salad bar and good soft ice cream. We stopped in Bed Bath & Beyond and I bought a picture frame for photos from our trip back to Baltimore in August. Then we stopped in Pet Smart and looked at dogs for adoption, I really liked the young dachshund but we decided to wait until later in November after a trip we're taking.

We stopped at home and switched from our car to our golf cart and drove the 5 miles to Brownwood. Walked around and then went inside The World of Beer. The place was packed and it was only 4pm. I had a couple of Narragassett draft beers and watched golf on TV. At 5:00 we headed outside to catch the band. It was a group called Snapshot. I remember seeing them at LSL on St. Patrick's Day. They were OK, not great but not bad either. There was almost no one there but by about 6pm there was maybe 150 people. By 7:00 we headed home because I needed to get up early today for an 8:30 softball game.

Went to Saddlebrook softball fields at 8am for our game. It was muggy and the grass was covered with dew. I play shortstop and the left side of the infield had to look into the morning sun, it was almost impossible to see. In the first inning I had two popups but had no problem since they were high enough to see. The game ended in a 10-10 tie. We had fallen behind and then the ump said at the top of the 6th that there was 22 minutes left. We were down 8 to 6. My team Tamarind Grove came back and scored 4 runs and went up 10 to 8. The other team came back and scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th and the game ended in a tie. I went 3 for 3 and had a pretty good day in the field.

Then we headed to Bob Evans and had breakfast, that's 24 hours out of my last two days.

Wow! You've worn me out!

We had a great dinner at Havana--yes, Havana!--last week. It was prime rib night. Three had prime rib and I had salmon. Quiet atmosphere (not into singing while eating) and good food. I'm still enjoying the hot, humid weather, which is such a change from the 60 degrees and rain we endured from mid May till beginning of July when we arrived back here forever and said, Oh thank God, we're home.

The pickleball has been great even in the heat (so what if I pulled a muscle; this too shall pass), and the quiet lunches at Toojays have been fantastic. I loooooooove it here in the summer when it's quiet, but still enjoy the frenetic winter season. This is a great place from which to venture out for "vacations." It used to be we would escape the northern winter for a week or two but then be depressed to come back home to the cold. Here, you always know you're coming to something good, warm and good.

I went with a visiting TV wannabee to Athena Greek for dinner, Spanish Springs square to see the entertainment, and Katie Belle's for more of rock and roll. She was happy, excited, and delighted to experience the magic of Disney for Grown Ups.
What could be better than to enjoy a first timer excited and happy having having too much fun at TV?

amybelles, I am a wannabee who will be returning to The Villages in October for my 7th visit (yes, I know I should buy in TV soon, but I still have 3 years left on my mortgage on my home here in Illinois, and I don't want to overextend myself financially). I would not have visited The Villages so many times if I didn't love going to TV. When you go for your LSV, don't hesitate to ask people you meet about their experiences living in TV. Most people are very glad to tell you what they think (both good and not so good parts about living in TV). During my visits to TV, when I have encountered people on the squares, in restaurants, at the pool, in the rec centers or in the stores, and I ask them about living in The Villages, I have yet to have anyone tell me "Don't buy in The Villages" or "I absolutely hate it here, and we are selling and going someone where." Do your homework, ask questions, and if you are undecided, see if you can rent a home in The Villages for a month or two as that may clarify things for you.

And have a great time during your LSV!

Diane and I just came home from our visit to The Villages, and we miss it already. We spent every night on one square or another, and had a fantastic time at Katie Belles. Can't wait until we make it more perm (2 more years). Everyone was so friendly and our "host" Ralph was great. No complaints at all, unless you count the fact we can't live there yet!.

We had a great time at the Music Lover's Showcase put on by the recreation department yesterday. I performed with two different groups and saw a lot of great talent. I hope that they do it again soon.

I love the bird life, sky, quietness and the entire concept of The Villages. Last night I stopped by to visit my lovely Dad in Virginia Trace after an event at Canal Rec center. This place offers so much opportunity for all of us seniors. This place rocks.

Lol
 

love the belly dance sentence :1rotfl:

This is an awesome thread

I love waking up here in the morning, because it's on my own terms. (Okay, so there was a 50-lb dog head on my rib cage.) I love knowing that I don't have to get fully suited up in snow gear for the morning doggy whiz. I love knowing that we won't be tracking snow back into the house, or avoiding stepping in dirty slush in the garage to get to the doggy breakfast part. I love that after these chores I will be sitting on the lanai enjoying the morning sun and catching up on email. Just LOVE it!

Love our great neighbors of 70 homes. They would do anything to help each other. Had a great time with the couples golf yesterday and dinner afterwords. Today will be pizza and bingo social. Tomorrow is golf with the boys and all you can eat wings at Mallory with them. Ladies have their golf and lunch afterwards. Also, love the clubs we joined. Also, didn't realize how beautiful the sunset was here. Also, love the distant toot, toot of the distant trains.

The late evening lightening off in the distance.

The sound of Florida Sandhill Cranes (which always makes me laugh)

Things to enjoy
 

One of the things that makes TV the place it is, is the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities, and to enjoy and support others in those activities. Here are a couple shows coming up at Savannah Center that are produced by and feature your Villages neighbors. Get the details in the Daily Sun weekly Savannah Center ads. Tickets for both are available at TV Box Office, and some of the proceeds from both go to charitable organizations.

Sept 23 and 24: Showstoppers II.
Oct, 8, 9, 10: "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"

Showstoppers is a review of many great songs from Broadway and Hollywood. "Charlie Brown" is a delightful musical based on the "Peanuts" comics by Charles Schulz which won TONY awards during it's Broadway run.

Hope you will consider adding these shows to your list! There are a number of other excellent performances by Villages residents coming up after these as well.