"Friendliest Hometown"
 

This is where Villagers go to vent, right? Here's my vent.

I'm walking my dog through the big open space under the high wires, next to the Mulberry dog park, way up North. This is the only area big enough that people routinely let their dog run off their leash, and my dog likes to find a stick for me to throw. Yes, it's technically illegal. But so is using the area as your free driving range. Today, there are three guys saving themselves a whole $5 by using the space to shoot golf balls -- despite the nice range at Nancy Lopez, less than half a mile away at the other end of the MMP. I don't know why people wealthy enough to retire to Florida care about saving $5 on something so stupid. I don't even care if they do it at the dog park. Just don't aim your damned golf ball at my dog because you're annoyed at having to wait a whole minute for us to clear the area!

Two of the guys were courteous, waved, and quit shooting as we crossed the lawn. But the jerk directly in our path to the woods at the far end, just kept shooting. When we got close, he started obviously aiming at my dog, and nearly managed to bean him on the head (wish I could hit a chip shot like that!). So I started picking up his balls and throwing them back at him. His smart-ass response? "Thanks, I needed a caddy". Things went downhill from there, and could easily have ended in blows. We just stood there yelling at each other for a bit, while the 85-year-old fart threatened to "kick my ass". I finally turned away and walked on into the woods, leaving him calling me a coward and yelling insults at my back. I don't think I've come that close to a fist fight since 8th grade.

This is such a nice place to live the other 9 months of the year, but even up North, people just get mean this time of year. Was the guy a snowbird? We have a bunch, even up this far North, but usually not that old. I think it's just the overcrowding that turns people into such jerks in the Winter (although being a jerk may be that guy's mission in life). Still, it's enough to make me think maybe we should have chosen one of the thousands of less-popular retirement communities in Florida.

"Friendliest Home Town"? Not today.

Snowbird is tattooed on the bottom of feet, just ask them to remove their shoes and socks. Then again there are some very surly residents that are full time.

"Friendliest Home Town"? Not today.

The Daily Rag claims every week that TV is the "Healthiest Home Town", too.

Not sure what statistical evidence there is for either of these claims but, in general, people here are friendly and (hopefully) healthy.

Perhaps he is suffering to some degree from some form of dementia.

Your yelling didn’t seem to accomplish anything.
I live here it’s a nice place……every month.
Your scapegoat, blaming snowbirds, is a cop out.
Do you really, really believe there are no jerks in those “Less popular” communities.
If you can still walk, it may not be too late to find out.

BTW: thanking the two guys who paused for you……….then walking away was your other option.

Two wrongs don't make a right !

So you're not supposed to have your dog off-leash ... there's law against that.

I know there's no specific rule about hitting golf balls.

So who's in the wrong here?

Dunno what criteria they use either but - I can guarantee the following as FACT:

People who live in The Villages are more likely to die within the next 20 years, than people who live in the suburbs of New York.

People who live in The Villages are more likely to get a cancer diagnosis within the next 20 years, than people who live in Aspen, CO.

People who live in The Villages are more likely to have heart disease within the next 20 years than people who live in Seattle, WA.

Who's in the wrong? The person who was trying to cause physical harm to someone's dog, on purpose. If Blueblaze had his dog ON a leash, and was just standing in that field, and flat out didn't feel like moving - do you REALLY think this putter (with a z) would've said "oh golly gee I'll just wait til the dog-guy goes away, I'm retired, I have all day!"? Or would he have yelled at Blaze to get himself and his *(#$N$# dog off "his" unauthorized fairway?

Are we talking about the same AGE people because if not, for example, people in nursing homes tend to die a lot sooner than say the young people on my street up north.

You Made it Right
 

When you walked off you actually saved the day by demonstrating most here are mature enough to turn the other cheek. Don’t let it ruin your day, instead remind yourself of how you are in the 99% that are better off than that poor decrepit soul. We in mass make this Florida’s Friendliest Home Town!

Another thought, if the guy was mid 80’s it is a pretty good guess he was not a snowbird. At that age most people prefer to live in one home.

It's a marketing slogan.............did you fall for that?? :1rotfl:

Yes, but it is more accurate than calling the restaurants "country clubs".

Probably the first step to "Friendliest Home Town" is to leash your dog. You were straight out wrong not doing that. If your dog wants to run, get a longer leash or go to the dog park.

However, that character aiming golf balls at you and your dog sounds demented. It's a strange world and there is no such place with complete friendliness. Maybe The Villages is better than some.