The SNOWBIRDS are back....
 

And we love them. They have every right to return to this beautiful place. I feel sad that something keeps them up North for nine months or even longer. Now that they are here they are eating at restaurants and parking at the square and enjoying EVERYTHING there is to do.

Some of those dear souls brought some new cold germs for us to share and they just love to drive their carts and cars everywhere and the traffic is a bit overwhelming at times. Many have forgotten how to negotiate roundabouts and some even think STOP signs are a suggestion. Now Gracie, We don't know they are snowbirds and they could be new to The Villages RENTERS. And the renters have every right to rent and most of them are wonderful folks who are learning the speed limits in the neighborhoods and may need to park right in front of the Drug Store or Grocery. They will soon get used to things....

We were snowbirds ourselves for several years but now are so glad to be Frogs, here 'til we croak.

Welcome home Birdies. (I think the ones in the Fruitland Park area are called Fruit-flies.)

Seasonal migrants.

I love snowbirds. If it wasn't for them this place would be overcrowded year-round instead of just a couple months. Plus they pay amenity fees and taxes for the entire year, basically subsidizing the rest of us.

Or.... we'd have the summertime population all year round but pay more amenity fees, OR..., and most likely, somewhere between those two scenarios.

We were once snowbirds, now frogs. The birds always bring nice cool weather!

You got that correct, and the list of subsidies goes on. They pay for trash pickup and a base water and sewer fee while not using them. And not only do they pay taxes year round, they pay higher taxes, effectively subsidizing those enjoying the homestead exemption. They also keep many service companies in business that care for their properties while away. And green fees wouldn’t go way down during slow season if they stayed year round. They are literally the goose that lays the golden eggs, and many people fail to recognize that and want to roast that goose.

Get ready for roundabouts, can't get tee times, and state of the golf course's threads.
2-3 weeks max!

What a well said, logical post. THANK YOU!!!!

No need to feel sad Gracie Girl. In my case, I'm so grateful to have a northern home. Extreme weather is not at all comfortable for me, so going north in the summer is awesome. But thanks for the welcome back!

Yep. Annual event, like clockwork.

But don't forget the "I can't get reservations at ....." folks. We'll be hearing from them as well.

welcome back! My travel times will increase because the average speed will be 10 mph slower (who needs to go the speed limit anyway), those magical stop signs have already popped up at the roundabouts (we don't need no continuous travel thru a roundabout if no cars are in sight), the golf cart paths have new drivers thinking the speed limit is 15mph (our tires will last longer), and if you need to get a tee time within 3 days, you can forget that and now you can join another club doing a new sport because you won't be golfing as much.

100% agree. Very well said. We're former snowbirds living here fulltime now.

i truly miss my snowbird friends-am glad to see them coming back :MOJE_whot:

I agree with this. It's nice to have six months out of the year where you practically have the place to yourself. It's easy to get a lane in the swimming pools, less traffic on the multi modal paths for biking and walking, etc. In fact, I think we need more snowbirds, lol.

I so agree! I love the energy the snowbirds bring. They are all so happy to be here!