[notlongnow]

We just got back from a four day visit to TV and wanted to give a little feed back on our experience.
I have posted on TOTV for a few years and have been to TV three times.
In the last couple years I have read on TOTV about all the bad things and angry people who don't like dogs, bicycles, gas carts bad golf course condition etc. and I know that in just four days I am not going to meet everyone and experience it all. However I have to say we were lucky enough to meet all the happy ones.
Everyone that we talked to were wonderful and seemed to be glad to talk to us.
We saw people on bikes not getting run over and not blocking traffic. We never had anybody pass us on a cart trail or honk at us. All of the ambassadors on the courses we played were very nice even when we were asked to pick it up a little. The food was great at both Palmer and Lopez restaurants.
We saw many people walking their dogs and yes some let them go on a lawn by the street but I noticed that it was cleaned up in a second.
I usually would not notice or look for things like this but because of this forum my interest was peaked. I wanted to see for myself because I retire in a year and would like to buy and live there at least half the year to start with.
I was hoping that what I was reading on here was not the norm. From my little sampling during my short time there last week, I can't wait to be part of the community.
I would also like to add that from where I am from in Texas, your golf courses are in great shape, maybe a little rough green here and there but overall very nice.

So, to those who I met and talked with, interacted with in some small way,
THANK YOU for making my/our short visit a huge success! I am only home for a few hours and wishing I was back there.
You are a great group of people and live in a wonderful place.
I hope to meet many of you in the future and maybe even get to play golf with you when I live there.

EB

[lpkshop]

Thank u! Come to Fernandina would love to have you as my neighbor !

[mainlander]

notlongnow:
I thank you for writing something that has crossed my mind many times yet failed to express it. Thank you. I too have met the nice folks, been helped repeatedly on directions, shared many a great "small talk" on walks, loved the food, shopping and gentle feeling of peace many who live here exude. I too has not been run over by bicylists, nor witnessed a scourge of doogie doo everywhere. Thanks for your perspective "notlongnow".

[perrjojo]

I am happy you enjoyed your visit. You met nice people because all of the grumpy ones were home posting on TOTV. Just kidding.. As a fellow Texan, Happy San Jacinto Day and Guns Up! Come back soon now.

[justjim]

Notlongnow: TV is a great place to retire and thanks for your positive remarks. You might get a lot of different opinion on various subjects and issue here in TV but when it comes to hospitality you will not find any better people anywhere. Come back---you hear!

[sjdjmd]

Your positive experiences really do represent the vast majority of our experiences. So glad you had a great visit. Like you, when we went back home all we did was talk about T.V. So glad we made the decision to retire here at that time. All the best to you!

[gerryann]

What nice words. Yes, the majority are all wonderful folks.

[Patty55]

Happy to hear you had a great time. Ever see the Chevy Chase movie Funny Farm? We all get a cookie reward for acting "normal". (That Morse family thinks of everything.)

[Golfingnut]

Thank you OP. That is another post to print for future reference. Well said and very true.

[Cedwards38]

Thank you for the post, and let's all remember that we are a community of over 100,000 folks, and that means we have all kinds. Frankly, my fun to no fun ratio in The Villages is probably 99-1.

[coconutmama]

We so appreciate your positive feedback. Friends are coming down on Saturday for the first time. We are looking forward to their reaction.

[graciegirl]

Hugs to you.

Have tears in my eyes.

[notlongnow]

Thanks to all, Now back to work for me!
Like my username says, "Not Long Now" !
EB

[duffysmom]

notlongnow thank you for the positive remarks. I've lived here for almost 5 years now and the positive far outweighs the negative. Many mornings I have to pinch myself since my life is so serene and full of the most fascinating people from all over the country.

[2BNTV]

I think that one could get the impression that a lot of people are grumpy so thank you for your positive post. I have never met a grump in TV and I only have visited three times.

I am sooooooo looking forward to renting and buying a home soon.

Hurry back.