Life Is Something Special in The Villages
 

I’ve been here a little over two years now as a full time homeowner. I still can’t wait to wake up early each morning, and see what new adventure will come my way, through activities, meeting new people, and enjoying all The Villages has to offer.

When I leave “the bubble”, even for a great road trip or cruise, I find myself missing The Villages, and I look forward to getting back home. Even when I leave the bubble for a few hours to shop or dine in Ocala, Orlando or Tampa, there is something so comforting when I return and see “The Villages” welcome sign. It’s like I feel safe and secure again.

Does anyone else feel the same? When you start to take The Villages for granted, do you realize how special this place truly is when you leave it for a short period of time?

We are all truly blessed to be residents in this special, one-of-a-kind community.

That's what newbies use to say around 12 years ago. Never here them saying it now.

When I leave the bubble, I'm reminded of how much I miss Connecticut. In Connecticut when I left the familiarity of my own small community, it was to enjoy the city-scape, or rural areas - and not be inundated with storage facilities, smoke-shops, and run-down trailer parks.

"Rose-colored glasses are never made in bifocals. Nobody wants to read the small print in dreams".
Ann Landers

We're in the process now of deciding between TV or just going back up north, most likely to Avon/Simsbury CT. TV in and of itself is very nice but driving through 'No Man's Land' to get there and back leaves much to be desired.

Agree. Florida is not our calling, but the lifestyle in the bubble is. If the Villages didn’t exist, it is highly unlikely we would own a second home, and if we did, it probably wouldn’t be in Florida.

The only real negativity about The Villages I encounter is by a few here on Talk of The Villages (or that other so-called “news” site that I no longer subscribe to). All my friends and neighbors are happy and engaged people who are still as excited to be a part of this unique community as they were a few years ago when they moved here. Lots of smiles when I pass most people, and so many friendly, content folks here. Is it just my area of The Villages? Are there more disgruntle people in other parts of The Villages? I’m very interested as to why some here on TOTV seem disillusioned with The Villages. Are these folks naturally dispositioned to be negative? It just seems those few people are so miserable and unhappy with what they post. I feel sad for them. Not how I want to live out my retirement years.

Well, it's been my experience that if a person is disgruntled...there's a reason for it.
When we arrived 16 years ago to The Villages as Snowbirds it was indeed very exciting and enjoyed one adventure after another.

However the giddiness did wear off after a few unpleasant experiences we endured there as we recieved a good hearty dose of the reality of The Villages in the process. Am I disgruntled ?
Not particularly, more so enlightened I would say.

The Villages is so outta control with the building there it's insane.
You live in Richmond...a suburb of The Villages most say, the REAL VILLAGES started north near Spanish Springs..not in Coleman.
Mundane overpriced modular starter homes, all alike and on top of each other, with one shopping center for ALL in that area to jam up even more.

Good news though, I did however hear that Eastport is building a dynamite rock climbing wall for us to climb and enjoy.
I'll be starting a betting pool on the 1st broken hip .

So bottom line is ..pop on your rose tinted Rayban's and enjoy every second of living you can and
Don't forget to smile !

Happy Valentine's Day ~

Well put.

20 years here now and 130, 000 more people than when I arrived. Is it good here ? yes. Is it the Shangri La I experienced when I first arrived - no. Everything to a newbie is a comparison to where they came from and most likely a new lifestyle. For those of us who have been here for years we have seen many changes. Many for the good oh but some not so good. Our comparison has now migrated to here to here vs here from there.

"Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone?
They paved paradise
Put up a parking lot"

I am happy for the newbies and their excitement. I've been there. I am not negative about TV - My excitement level is a bit below yours. If one doesn't like a response why does one keep asking the question over and over again ?

These comments help me understand some concerns of long-time residents. They understandably are comparing The Villages of today to the Villages of many years past. The huge influx of newer and younger retirees, like myself, only know The Villages that currently exists, and we have nothing to compare it to. We don’t see it as crowded, and we see all the new development coming as “opportunity “, and welcome it, and it’s even the reason why many of us chose to move here (anticipation of future development). I’m in very good health, and the Lord willing, hope to be around here in TV for 25 or more years. If that holds true, then I’m going to experience a tremendous amount of growth, and the Villages of 2050 will look very different than The Villages of 2025. If TOTV is still around in 25 years, will I be here lamenting of all the changes that have occurred and wishing things were like they were in 2025? Hard to say. I do know that I’m pretty flexible, and actually love change and seek it out, so who knows. In the meantime, life here is pretty awesome, as our most of my fellow Villagers.

We have been here ten years. We still have that "What a great place this is." feeling. Please do not let the unhappy minority put a dent in your happiness. Comparing anything to the 'good old days' doesn't matter. Find your happiness. They may or may not find theirs. There is so much to do and so many great folks to do it with.

If you can afford both, maybe do both. If you love The Villages and miss New England, I'd suggest keeping a Villages home as your primary home, for tax purposes. Then rent in Connecticut for October/November - and again in May/June.

Why not snowbird? Because - summers in Connecticut can be just as miserable as summers in Florida. 90+ temps with 80% humidity stinks no matter what state you're in. The only difference, in my opinion, is that in Connecticut you can jump in the creek without worrying about alligators. Being in CT during May is important because you get to avoid the spring love-bug infestation in Florida. There's another one in September but IMO the one in May is worse. Plus late April/early May is when the lilacs are in bloom in CT, and you get the best of the foliage in October, and all the college students are already settled in for the semester.

OMG - I am speechless. You are a big man for posting that.

hear, not here.

Been here 12 years, I agree with M61

My excitement level has leveled off now, mostly due to the restaurants, but I am careful not to blame TV. The developer did a magnificent job putting it here, it’s up to the people to make it something special.

I wake up every day thinking whatever did I do to deserve this place!