[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

Summers have always been hot and Hurricanes have always hit Florida.

Of course they are and of course they do. But a certain poster just HAS to keep beating that dead horse...

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Agree that the lakes are polluted with pesticide and fertilizer runoff. That could improve if more people had stone yards instead of grass.

Stone yards are horrible. They radiate heat in the summer and choke living things underneath them.

It'd be better if we used natural fertilizers like chicken manure and worm casings for our flower beds, and replaced grass with low-growing plants like peanut plant, that needs little to no maintenance at all and no mowing. And grew plants that were natural insect repellents, while at the same time attracting pollinators.

[RobertScott]

I have no regrets about moving here.

[yankygrl]

Originally Posted by CoastGuardCowboy

Hello future neighbors,
We recently moved to Tennessee and are interested in moving next to The Villages. We loved our lifestyle visit and loved so many things about being there. We've been in Tennessee 2 years and have some regrets about moving here. We thought we'd like it more than we do.

Do you have any regrets about moving to The Villages?

Try not to be steered to the very south end, currently Middleton/Eastport. Smaller lots, less amenities and I think possibly more expensive. I’ve been here almost 15 years, 3 homes and owned some rentals. All were/are above 44.

[Full-timer]

Originally Posted by CoastGuardCowboy

Hello future neighbors,
We recently moved to Tennessee and are interested in moving next to The Villages. We loved our lifestyle visit and loved so many things about being there. We've been in Tennessee 2 years and have some regrets about moving here. We thought we'd like it more than we do.

Do you have any regrets about moving to The Villages?

Yes, we do. We thought we would be happy here so we gave it a go. We have been full timers for 7 years. We don't golf at all but, that is OK. Over the last 7 years, the head count here has seemed to double.

This is great for business, not so much for residents in our opinion. Let me explain a bit.

The traffic on main roads (if you use them) is almost unbearable. Bumper to bumper most of the time, 7 days a week with a mix of workers and retirees.
This is multiplied by 3 when the "snow birds" come back. Ugg, that dreaded time.

Most of the "working class" know how to drive. Most of the "residents" suck at driving but, they "think" they can drive just fine. The answer is no they can't. Not a car and not a cart. This is a big issue for us. Drivers often smashing into other vehicles (or people),due to hitting the gas instead of the brakes or just unaware.

Dining. One would think the dining out here would be fantastic, but it is mediocre for the most part at best. Why? Because you have to eat somewhere and with so many customers, restaurants don't need to be "the best", they just have to make food.

There are a few good places but not many if you like good food. We tend to leave TV when we go out to eat or just go to the few that are consistently good, not hit or miss.

Entertainment. The squares are chuck full ALWAYS. If you don't go early, parking is an issue.
If you don't mind walking a bit, all is good.

limited yard space, (small lots). Again, we thought we could handle it. Neighbor's are way too close. If your windows are open and you fart, they know.

If you can deal with all of this or find OK, you will love it here. But, all of this is getting worse by the day with all the "new" places going up.

FYI, we plan to move out. Just not for us, even if we are getting old.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by yankygrl

Try not to be steered to the very south end, currently Middleton/Eastport. Smaller lots, less amenities and I think possibly more expensive. I’ve been here almost 15 years, 3 homes and owned some rentals. All were/are above 44.

And we are now on our second house south of 44. We love it here.

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by Full-timer

Yes, we do. We thought we would be happy here so we gave it a go. We have been full timers for 7 years. We don't golf at all but, that is OK. Over the last 7 years, the head count here has seemed to double.

This is great for business, not so much for residents in our opinion. Let me explain a bit.

The traffic on main roads (if you use them) is almost unbearable. Bumper to bumper most of the time, 7 days a week with a mix of workers and retirees.
This is multiplied by 3 when the "snow birds" come back. Ugg, that dreaded time.

Most of the "working class" know how to drive. Most of the "residents" suck at driving but, they "think" they can drive just fine. The answer is no they can't. Not a car and not a cart. This is a big issue for us. Drivers often smashing into other vehicles (or people),due to hitting the gas instead of the brakes or just unaware.

Dining. One would think the dining out here would be fantastic, but it is mediocre for the most part at best. Why? Because you have to eat somewhere and with so many customers, restaurants don't need to be "the best", they just have to make food.

There are a few good places but not many if you like good food. We tend to leave TV when we go out to eat or just go to the few that are consistently good, not hit or miss.

Entertainment. The squares are chuck full ALWAYS. If you don't go early, parking is an issue.
If you don't mind walking a bit, all is good.

limited yard space, (small lots). Again, we thought we could handle it. Neighbor's are way too close. If your windows are open and you fart, they know.

If you can deal with all of this or find OK, you will love it here. But, all of this is getting worse by the day with all the "new" places going up.

FYI, we plan to move out. Just not for us, even if we are getting old.

I would agree with you on the resataurants. But as far as "bumper to bumper traffic all day long", I just don't see that. And we get out and about every day as we are into many activities, golf, softball, riding our motorcycle and going to the gym at Brownwood every day just to mention a few.
But we mostly go North of 44.

We also go the LSL or Brownwood about 2 times a week. Lots of people yes, but overcrowded no.
We love it here, but it's not a good fit for everyone, no place is.
Just my opinion.

[Ignatz]

Originally Posted by MX rider

I would agree with you on the resataurants. But as far as "bumper to bumper traffic all day long", I just don't see that.

We also go the LSL or Brownwood about 2 times a week. Lots of people yes, but overcrowded no.
We love it here, but it's not a good fit for everyone, no place is.
Just my opinion.

Agreed. We can’t seem to find this bad traffic people keep complaining about either.

The worst congestion we see is on the roads outside TV such as 27 through Leesburg.

Morse and 44 has its moments for about a half hour in the afternoon rush but most people know not to go through there at that time.

The only thick crowds we see at the squares is during events like the recent strawberry festival.

None of these make me second guess moving here, but to each their own I guess.

[Ruger2506]

I regret moving to FL and the Villages. Too many people, FL water is DISGUSTING, apparently FL hates nature (loves development, poisoning lakes/ponds, etc), auto insurance rates are insane, and healthcare is mediocre at best.

If I could get my spouse on board, we' d be living somewhere with better water quality, a lot more nature, fewer people, much lower property taxes and lower car ins rates.

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by Ruger2506

we' d be living somewhere with better water quality, a lot more nature, fewer people, much lower property taxes and lower car ins rates.

Is there such a place?

[Ruger2506]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Is there such a place?

Out West. I should have moved West instead of South.

[Taltarzac725]

Only one movie theater now here in the Villages. We have been here since June of 2005. All -in-all was a good move from Palm Harbor, Florida. This is near Clearwater, Tarpon Springs, Oldsmar, etc. on the Gulf Coast. We had to worry about hurricanes and the like even if we were at about 20 feet sea level and a few hundred feet from Lake Tarpon which probably has a few hundred if not more gators. If Lake Tarpon raised 21 feet we would have had alligators taking a dip in our pool and trying to make Mai Tais in our kitchen.

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by Ruger2506

Out West. I should have moved West instead of South.

Can you be more specific? California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho?

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Can you be more specific? California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho?

Arizona seems to have a lot of retirement communities. I remember touring one with a huge fountain.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Ruger2506

I regret moving to FL and the Villages. Too many people, FL water is DISGUSTING, apparently FL hates nature (loves development, poisoning lakes/ponds, etc), auto insurance rates are insane, and healthcare is mediocre at best.

If I could get my spouse on board, we' d be living somewhere with better water quality, a lot more nature, fewer people, much lower property taxes and lower car ins rates.

Sorry you do not like it here but great amenities, met lots of good folks, joined quite a few clubs and never have socialized as much as we do here.