[Talk Host]

Lots of golf, tennis, shuffle board and other things here. However, many of us have other passions that take up our free time.

I'm curious what activities you enjoy outside of Villages organized stuff.

JLK

[conn8757]

Like to travel - love to stop at cities on the way to visit relatives - Savannah being one of my favorites - love casino cities - cannot wait for the leaves to change and do an up north trip.

[sandybill2]

Disney once a month for a couple of days--love Mickey Mouse. Also Cedar Key to fish off the pier. Travel too--- Still back to Virginia every 3 months to see parents, son, granddaughter, and the rest of the family and the friends that we left behind.

[Avista]

Husband volunteers at Cracker Country at the State Fair Grounds in Tampa and has researched and written a book on history of Okahumka (small town near The Villages). I enjoy researching genealogy.

[k2at]

From what I can observe, TV seems to be like a massive playground in which everyone "plays". Litttle need to leave TV unless one is going to visit the grandkids.

[SteveZ]

- Manatee watching & snorkeling at Blue Spring and Crystal River
- Motorcycling in all directions
- County fairs (plenty of them) & the Strawberry Festival in Plant City
- The occasional trip to Lakeridge Winery
- The three malls: Paddock Mall, Seminole Town Plaza & Altamonte (the best)
- Art Festivals (Mt. Dora, Winter Park & Disney the best)
- Webster Flea Market & Flea World, Sanford
- Florida Veterans Reunion, Melbourne
- Restaurant-hopping in all the small towns
- Walks through various trails in the Ocala National Forest
- Ocala Speedway on Friday nights
- Florida Collegiate Baseball in the summer; College ball (so many) in the Spring

How's that for a start?

[cybrgeezer]

Steve Z reminded me of an incident about 5 years ago.

I used to do a lot of hiking, until knee problems put an end to that. One day, I was hiking a portion of the Cross-Florida trail near Ocala; you know, the trail that includes a crossing over I-75.

When I stopped to have a bite to eat, I was joined by an older couple and we got to talking. They mentioned they lived in The Villages -- and the wife said hiking was one of their many activities to get away from TV as much as they could.

That started hubby on a rant about everything that was wrong with living there, from the high cost of their home to the rules to the problems associated with constant new construction.

They were not happy campers, er, hikers.

[carolynpage]

What about Silver Springs? Concerts in fall/winter?

[swrinfla]

Mostly, because I travel a lot, planning for my next two or three trips.

Also, making sure that all is well with my daughters, via e-mail. I think this technological marvel is without any doubt the "greatest thing since sliced bread" because I can keep in close touch with the girls without spending any money at all!

My late wife's estate needs attention all the time, especially because it helps me stay sane here! So, there's a lot of time spent on that.

And, of course: keeping track of what's happenin' at TOTV!

SWR

[chuckinca]

Cedar Key looks interesting:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_Key,_Florida

.