What is 'the Villages Lifestyle'?
 

After living in the Villages for a few years I’m wondering what the Villages Lifestyle really consists of. TV seems to revolve around Activities. Pickleball, Golf, Bocce’, softball and a seemingly endless list of others. At the end of the day there’s always entertainment at the squares. Many of us stay so busy that we hardly have the time to get to know the people we enjoy all these activities with.
For most it’s hardly a relaxing retirement. With this highly active, busy lifestyle are we increasing our longevity or setting ourselves up for injuries and over exertion? Would a more relaxing lifestyle improve mind and body or are we better off pushing the limits as we advance into our 80’s?
Of course, we can always choose to slow down, relax and take it easy rather than live with daily 2 hour sessions of activities, one after the other. But if we were to choose that relaxing lifestyle would we feel displaced living in TV?
Does this portray the Villages lifestyle that you see or do you see the lifestyle here as something different?

:popcorn::popcorn:

I see it as it can be whatever you want it to be...

If you want your days filled with activities, they're there for you...

If you want to be a homebody, or physically can't do those things, then that's fine, as well...

Exactly!

I agree. I think it takes a bit of time for most people to find the degree of business they can live with. During the "honeymoon" phase it's an easy trap to fall into, trying to do too much. Very similar to when some first retire, they think they will have more time, and more energy, to do more things than they really will be capable of.

There is a bit of FOMO that can take control of a person here. The good thing is one can always throttle it back a bit. You may have to take Nancy Reagan's advice and "just say no", once in a while.

Me? I play pickleball a few days a week, and golf a few days a week, both of which I would love to be able to do more of than I do, but if I get carried away, I get sore and can't do either. We play cards once a week.

And I nap a lot.

To me The Villages Lifestyle means choices. You have many, at any level of ability. For example, there are I think 747 golf holes to play, you can play them all, 9 holes only or none. There are 102 or so pools, you can go to any every day, or never. I have social neighbors, many with dogs. Most of them come from somewhere else like me, looking for friends. You can talk to them, visit with them, play with them, or never do anything more than wave. Etc etc. There are several religious institutions. Volunteer work. You are encouraged to follow your hobby whatever it is. That is choice… you pick what you you want to do.

I still miss Katie Belle's!

For me, it just means if you're bored, it's your own fault. The activities are not required but are there to help you enjoy what you like and if they don't have what you like, start your own club or activities and find out how many other like minded people there are.

We still work FT, so we can't participate in many of the clubs as they occur during the working day, but we still have the evenings to participate in things, plus the weekends...

The other thing to keep in mind is the Lifestyle Visits TV uses to entice new residents/renters or visitors. The time is all yours and short of checking in/out like a hotel, nothing is required. The give you options to try what you like and they are there if you want more information about buying. It's not a Time Share presentation....

Laying on the couch and watching TV all day is not it.

Bingo.

Your lifestyle here is as YOU DEFINE it.

A great thing about TV, activities are available................not required.

:gc:

Do you mean I can stop going to quilting?

I once spoke to a man at LSL who told me that participating in activities one after the other was starting to feel like work.

We discussed taking in fewer activities and blending in time with the other participants to just socialize. It doesn't have to be costly! Here are a few suggestions, Perform needed stretches before and after to avoid injury, but while doing so, ask questions to get to know one another. Or, remind the participants that hydration is important and talk while enjoying a bottle of water. Late social club meeting? Suggest going to the square to listen to music. Chat and enjoy yourselves.

I think you will start to enjoy the "Villages Lifestyle" much better if you begin to practice socializing while playing.

So does my cat(nap a lot)!!!

So do I!

This is an interesting question.

The east answer, as you’re planning to move to TV - or you talk to friends, is GOLF, golf, and more golf.

But, I’ve learned that golf is a fraction of the things to do every day.
I think it’s a balance between activities you’ve done for a lifetime (golf, tennis, pickle, painting, etc) and finding some new hobbies.
But as mentioned, don’t overdo it - don’t be too bust that you can’t enjoy ourself, your spouse and your new friends.