Some Self-Evident Truths
 

Some things I've been pondering lately regarding TOTV and the issues that seem to tie some TOTV'ers into knots....

1. Out-of-compliance yards and homes. Not so much here but if you read the (other!!) online source you'd think TV is nothing but jalopies up on blocks, white crosses by the millions, weed-infested lawns and lanai screens held together with duct tape. But, driving through neighborhood after neighborhood--almost nothing but clean, well-kept properties where pride of ownership is obviously a big thing.

2. Drunken Villagers careening around the squares in golf carts, being scooped up by the dozen by the local gendarmerie and carted off to the hoosegow. But--the rare instances I've seen are usually carts going too slow, probably lost. Nothing like the discussions would lead one to expect.

3. Heated altercations between Villagers. So far in three years I've seen one: two guys at Red Sauce outside bellowing at each other, two tables between them. That's it.

4. Airb&b tenants raising holy h3ll in this-or-that neighborhood. Not in my neighborhood. Probably not in yours either. But Man! Do people like to complain about it!

5. Inebriated folks at the squares. Maybe a few. But they're usually giddy and silly, not combative or looking for trouble.

6. SMOKERS!! Particularly cigar smokers. I've seen a couple, and they were well away from crowd. Certainly not the cloud of blue haze one might expect from some of the complaints.

7. OUTSIDERS AT THE SQUARES. Some, sure. Nice folks. Spend money. Enjoy music.

8. Dog Poop (Everybody's favorite topic). Once in a great while a dog will dump on my lawn. Owner always picks it up. One didn't: I politely asked him to do so. He apologized and did. No problem.

9. Rude Clerks: Mostly the only ones I've seen is if a customer has been rude to them first.

10. Finally, THE DEVELOPER running amok. This shadowy figure, The Developer, takes heat for just about everything, most recently STRs and Airb&bs. People rattling their sabers, planning legal action. And so on. But...said Developer is a multi-BILLION dollar business, most likely with a bunch of top-flight legal beagles protecting his nether regions. I doubt he worries much about the molehills we turn into mountains. Nor should he, given the (often) vast difference between what we see vs. what we hear.

11. Probably many other things I’ve forgotten.

It ain't so bad here, folks. Maybe instead of gnashing our teeth we should be counting our blessings.

:agree::wave:

[/QUOTE] All of those may be good and true depending on where you live in the Villages and the frequency you visit the squares, restaurants, stores and rec centers. And, It also depends on your tolerance level.

Everyone is allowed freedom of speech. And, everyone has the right to bring up issues that bother them. They are allowed to fill out complaints and seek legal action. We live in a free country.

Yes, complaining and griping might be unpleasant. Name-calling and shaming of those who are proactive are also unpleasant. But, do expect everyone to put on a fake smile and pretend we live in the perfectville? Welcome to the Villages and welcome to America! I, for one, never want to lose my freedom of speech or the right of due process. Not, do I want to pretend issues do not exist.

Perhaps the reason you say "It's not that bad" is because there are people who fight to make sure it is. Without people practicing their rights and due process, we would be living in a land of make-believe. We would be forced to remain silent and allow others to step on our rights. Not a world I would want to live in.

And, by the way, people comply because there are deed restrictions and laws. Not on their own free will. Who do you think helped you get this "not so bad" world you are living in? Certainly, not the silent ones.

Did it feel good to have the ability to write this post? Thank someone who gave you that right.

Sounds like the OP is the Kool Aid provider for the Villages real estate department.

Wonder what the biggest selling flavor is?

We all have "the right" to remain silent...

Unfortunately, some do not possess the ability...


- Ron White

Obviously the OP hasn't been here long enough to remember the lawsuit(s) that the developer lost. One, to the tune of $40 million for screwing over the residents in CDD1. And that was when Gary Morse was in charge. His grandchildren probably don't remember either, so don't think it won't happen again.

Right! I have been here for 20+ years and remember that and other issues. Always a good idea to use your right of due process. Can you imagine living in CDD1 at that time? I remember it well. Hopefully, the STR situation will be handled better.

All of those may be good and true depending on where you live in the Villages and the frequency you visit the squares, restaurants, stores and rec centers. And, It also depends on your tolerance level.

Everyone is allowed freedom of speech. And, everyone has the right to bring up issues that bother them. They are allowed to fill out complaints and seek legal action. We live in a free country.

Yes, complaining and griping might be unpleasant. Name-calling and shaming of those who are proactive are also unpleasant. But, do expect everyone to put on a fake smile and pretend we live in the perfectville? Welcome to the Villages and welcome to America! I, for one, never want to lose my freedom of speech or the right of due process. Not, do I want to pretend issues do not exist.

Perhaps the reason you say "It's not that bad" is because there are people who fight to make sure it is. Without people practicing their rights and due process, we would be living in a land of make-believe. We would be forced to remain silent and allow others to step on our rights. Not a world I would want to live in.

And, by the way, people comply because there are deed restrictions and laws. Not on their own free will. Who do you think helped you get this "not so bad" world you are living in? Certainly, not the silent ones.

Did it feel good to have the ability to write this post? Thank someone who gave you that right.[/QUOTE]

Totally AGREE. Promised ourselves we would never become those old, crabby, people who do nothing in retirement but gripe. And, we've tried to stay true to that promise to ourselves, however (and here we go), we also began to take a look at our country in general, the unrest, the (seeming) increase in troubling and violent behavior, looting, homelessness, and so on, and then realized it also does not serve anyone, when we decide to act like ostriches when we see our very community deteriorating, things like (sorry to offend) so much dog poo in trash reciprocals around the pools/postal stations, that the smell is really offensive. Likewise, when the numbers of drunken incidents (once such an incident would have been the talk of the villages for months, but now are pretty much a weekly occurrence, even fatal accidents, people begin to know something is "happening" and it's not a good direction. To waste life looking for mistakes and failures of others, is tragic. But, so is being so uninvolved that you loose your country (Venezuela, Haiti), your city, and your community as a result. On the other side of this, not being able to find any worthwhile pass time except riding around in a golf cart looking for your own friends and neighbors to make a "wrong move", is a sad situation, especially with all the volunteer choices we have here !

I don’t think freedom of speech and freedom of the press exist anymore but I could be wrong

:mademyday:
:beer3:

The glass is half empty.

Just because you don't have an Airbnb problem near you it doesn't mean there isn't an Airbnb problem as I have seen its ramifications firsthand.
Otherwise, stop reading the “other” news and it won't disturb you.

"Almost nothing but" also in my neighborhood. However, when almost everything looks great, the one that doesn't - stands out like a sore thumb. It becomes the bane of the neighborhood. We don't expect perfection here in the Historic Section. We don't want perfection. But we do want tidiness. Got lawn ornaments? Great. Make sure they're not broken, or tipped over, or covered with weeds. Got a funky colored driveway? Terrific, just try and keep the weeds out of the cracks, and splurge on a re-seal every year or two to protect it and keep it looking colorful.

I don't know if they're Villagers. They might not be. I don't know if they're drunk. They might just be visually impaired, or have poor hand-eye coordination and shouldn't be driving at all. But yeah - there are some pretty ridiculous golf cart drivers out there. Not a lot. But enough that they create dangerous situations for everyone else in the area.

Happened once when I worked at Publix. I was the one being yelled at. Sorry you have a miserable life, Madam Customer, but it's above my pay grade. Here's the manager to politely escort you to the exit.

I doubt it happens in most neighborhoods. But in the ones it does happen to, it's a valid issue and should be addressed. It's getting more common.
There are bars at the squares, therefore there are drunk people. No further explanation or comment necessary.

I'm biased. The smell of cigars nauseates me. Someone smoking one across the street, if the breeze is coming away from them and toward me, will be complaint-worthy. Outdoor cigar smoking should be banned unless you have a 50-yard distance between you and anyone else.
Agreed.
Agreed, EXCEPT for the ones you don't catch. Several multi-foot patches of our back yard is destroyed because of the neighbor's dog, who they let out to pee there in the early hours of the morning before we wake up. Urine scald is real.
Mostly true, though everyone has a bad day once in awhile.
Thing is - the developer is responsible for "internal" violations of deed restrictions and to date, there is no record of them EVER enforcing those restrictions. There ARE people with minor children living here. There ARE people whose houses have had walls knocked out to convert to illegal bedrooms which they then rent out to transients for less than the cost of a hotel room. There ARE homeowners who have more than the maximum capacity of residents living there. There ARE many people owning, and residing, in homes where no one is 55 or older, in violation of the legal 55+ community designation. The developer receives tax credits for this designation so it's in their best interest to -not- report it, and to -not- do anything about it. They profit more by ignoring it than they do addressing it. That is why they're vilified. They give lip service to the people who are trying to do things the right way, make it LOOK pretty, and then ignore it all once everyone moves in and signs their name to the deed.

I can't believe there are people living here for years and don't know that only 80% of homes have to be occupied by someone 55+.

I know this. But it -appears- as though there are more than 20% of homes - at least in some areas - that have no one 55% living there. It -appears- as though there is no enforcement of this.