How Friendly and Helpful are Villagers Really?
 

As luck would have it, my 2023 Gas Yahama Cart without warning, completely shut off while coming out of a tunnel under Meggison, just south of the Brownwood bridge. Has a full tank of gas. A kind lady was behind me and assisted me in pushing it away from the tunnel entrance, and near the ramp of the path. I called Villages Golf Carts, who advised me I was still under warranty, and called my cart tow insurer (American Golf Cart Association), who were very punctual, sending out a tow about 25 minutes after my call.

While waiting for the tow, I thought it would be interesting to track how many cart drivers would check-in with me or offer assistance while I was broken down at the entrance to the tunnel. Almost 100 carts passed me during this waiting time. About two-thirds of the carts either stopped or asked if I needed help as they passed me. Several offered me water. Several were willing to wait with me until the tow came. One offered to meet me at Villages Golf Carts and drive me back to my home.

Of the remaining third, half of that group did smile and wave at me, but kept on driving. The other half of that third did not make eye contact with me and kept driving past me.

Overall, I was very impressed with the friendliness and willingness of the vast majority of those who came upon me while I was waiting for a tow. This is truly an extremely friendly and caring community. I don’t think you’d have that many good samaritans stop in other places in this country. I’m very grateful to those who stopped and offered their encouraging words, and I am so blessed to be here in The Villages. It truly is America’s Friendliest hometown!

Nice post Michael!

Nice to hear.

That’s why I LOVE TV!

Right on the money.

I walk a lot on the MMPs and scarcely a time goes by, especially on the hotter days, when someone doesn't offer me a ride. Usually several someones. They'll offer water also. Men and women.

Can you think of any other place this size in the country where older folks, both genders, offer a complete stranger a ride? I certainly can't.

Pretty sure there are 'developments'....not just in FL, but across the country where good deeds are practiced on the daily. It's ok to appreciate what you have but unless you've visited/talked to/researched them all....the opinions here are purely subjective. To correct the OP....the correct trademarked marketing slogan is 'FL Friendliest Hometown'....not 'Americas Friendliest Hometown'. The latter...distinction is widely reported as Savannah GA*

*Conde Nast Traveler

It sucks that good deeds seem to be unexpected these days. When I think back to rural America in the 60s and 70s, if you were sitting on the side of the road someone stopped without fail.

I still carry jumper cables and a tow strap just in case someone needs a little help.

Nice feelgood story

[QUOTE=Topspinmo;2349459]I assume the good samaritan law offers some protection from litigious folks. The way things are going these days there may not be a good sam law any longer?

[QUOTE=LeRoySmith;2349468]I don’t know, personally about the Good Samaritan Law for roadside assistance.....I do know you have ‘protections’ under GSL for medical emergencies

Very true
As has been stated many times....this (FL) has been teetering at the top for years as the most litigious in the nation. Not exactly synonymous with being ‘friendly’!:1rotfl:

The Villages is not always representative of Florida as a whole, or vice versa. Generally, I think "villagers" are pretty nice.

In many ways TV resembles an earlier, kinder time in America than it does 2024.

Back in the day (1960s, far northern rural Minnesota) hitch hiking was a normal part of things. If you played high school sports, with practices held after school hours, you needed to pretty much find your own way home. For me it was 20 miles one way. Few kids had cars and few parents were available to transport, so if nothing else came available we just hit the road with our thumb out. It rarely took me more than an hour to get home. One time I rode my thumb home from Minneapolis in just over seven hours (the driving time was something like six).

An earlier post mentioned carrying jumper cables and a tow strap. As a former Minnesotan I still do that: old habits are hard to break. Not too far back (already here in TV) a woman visiting across the street came out to find her battery dead. I was doing yardwork and she came over to ask if I could recommend a towing service. I told her I had jumper cables and could probably get her going. She didn't know what "jumper cables" were but agreed, and got her going in a few minutes. I also told her to go straight to a garage w/o turning off the motor to ascertain what was wrong. She did, returning a couple of hours later w/a new battery, and very appreciative for my help.

That's the thing. For many in this day and age that is a rarity. But for many of us Villagers, coming of age when we did, it would be unthinkable NOT to do it.

Michael, what was wrong with your cart? Hope it is all fixed.

I keep hearing from folks on this forum that carts that are broken down on the side of the road are mostly electric because the cart ran out of "juice".

I will post once I have a diagnosis - so far no word - my tow reached Villages Golf just before 5pm - Service had already gone home, but sales put me in a “loaner”. I showed up to service dept at 9am this morning to sign authorization, as of 2pm Friday, still waiting for word.