[Happinow]

I know all of the money that the snow birds bring to our community but I have to breathe a sigh of relief now that they are gone. It's nothing against them personally, but I really like being able to eat at a restaurant, travel the roads without too much traffic and shop more comfortably in the stores. It's kinda like our vacation now. Does anyone else feel the same?

[Bogie Shooter]

I feel we spend too much time bashing the snow birds.

[gomoho]

I feel exactly that way, but am afraid the new normal will be like snowbird season all year around TV as more and more houses are built and occupied. I can tell an increase this May from last May which accounts for the thousands sold last year.

[onslowe]

I shy away from negativity toward the snowbirds. They own homes like us and they pay year round for goods and services they only use part time.

However, I agree with Gomoho's post. In my opinion, this wonderful place has become a serious vacation rental destination year round, and that is a real problem. I come from a vacation/resort area on Long Island, NY. I saw, year after year, the problems attending the "I'm paying good money for this vacation - so watch out" attitude. Increased year round traffic, ignorance or negligence in driving, impatience and rudeness and all too often an obnoxious and mistaken sense of 'entitlement.'

[ilovetv]

I'd much rather be in some mild TV traffic in the sunshine and 70 degrees than to be driving on ice and trying to stay behind a salt and sand truck while the windshield washer fluid has gone dry!

As for restaurant crowding, I'm getting tired of large groups that seem to not know that a dining room is not a banquet facility. Break the group up into foursomes when dining so that half the dining area is not tied up for 2 hours by a group of 22, or reserve a banquet/party room somewhere.

[Cedwards38]

Is it a veriafible hypothesis that the number of snowbirds is inversely proportionate to the number of lovebugs?

Everywhere you look in The Villages now it's sex, sex, sex.

[TheVillageChicken]

In my neighborhood, it also means they took their snowdogs with them.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

I feel we spend too much time bashing the snow birds.

[mixsonci]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

I feel we spend too much time bashing the snow birds.

I don't think she was bashing them, she is just enjoying the peace and quiet. Sort of like the quiet after the Holiday rush. Time to breathe

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

I'd much rather be in some mild TV traffic in the sunshine and 70 degrees than to be driving on ice and trying to stay behind a salt and sand truck while the windshield washer fluid has gone dry!

As for restaurant crowding, I'm getting tired of large groups that seem to not know that a dining room is not a banquet facility. Break the group up into foursomes when dining so that half the dining area is not tied up for 2 hours by a group of 22, or reserve a banquet/party room somewhere.

LOL
I've often wondered why it is okay to golf together in foursomes but not dine as foursomes!

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by onslowe

I shy away from negativity toward the snowbirds. They own homes like us and they pay year round for goods and services they only use part time.

However, I agree with Gomoho's post. In my opinion, this wonderful place has become a serious vacation rental destination year round, and that is a real problem. I come from a vacation/resort area on Long Island, NY. I saw, year after year, the problems attending the "I'm paying good money for this vacation - so watch out" attitude. Increased year round traffic, ignorance or negligence in driving, impatience and rudeness and all too often an obnoxious and mistaken sense of 'entitlement.'

And then there is the other side of that 'entitlement' coin - the folks who believe that because they are the year-round residents - they are the folks who are entitled to go first, etc.

As a permanent resident of a vacation destination and a villages snowbird I have met more than my share of both sort of folks! Just glad I'm not in a rush to go anywhere!

[EnglishJW]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

And then there is the other side of that 'entitlement' coin - the folks who believe that because they are the year-round residents - they are the folks who are entitled to go first, etc.

As a permanent resident of a vacation destination and a villages snowbird I have met more than my share of both sort of folks! Just glad I'm not in a rush to go anywhere!

Nice post - well said.

[dewilson58]

I'm thankful for the $150,000,000 the Snowbirds pump into TV every year.

It pays for a lot of what we all enjoy.

Thank you S-birds!!!

[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by mixsonci

I don't think she was bashing them, she is just enjoying the peace and quiet. Sort of like the quiet after the Holiday rush. Time to breathe

I agree. I love my Snowbird neighbors and friends. The slower summer pace is nice too.

[Mr.Big]

Love me or hate me; this big snowbird will be back Jan.-March 2015! I love The Villages.