Was just in Boston to cheer a buddy on who ran the marathon. Such a great city; cool bars, nice people, great food, interesting history. Had an absolute blast.

🤣🤣🤣

You're right. In a similar community in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, some years ago before our own retirement, I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to observe the residents, including my parents, over a long time period. It was clear that some residents made a deliberate decision every day to NOT allow their personalities to deteriorate into resentment, anger, and all the other negative expressions of self discontent and disappointment. Others clearly realized the dangers of slipping into such an unfulfilling life, and took measures so it "would not happen to them". By that I mean, if we (a young family then) arrived with our sons, they would be excited to have an opportunity to engage the boys in conversation, show them things on the beach, talk to them around the pool, and so on. Those folks knew, as I do NOW, that one has to be alert to guard against slipping into a negative state of mind, especially in communities segregated by age. While there are many benefits, it also comes with some "dangers" of negative perceptions, or as some say, "crabbiness". Have you ever seen an individual intentionally go to a family pool, then become obviously upset that their hair, or book got splashed from children playing ? So, at the same community in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea where we would visit my folks often since it was a very short drive away, others would retreat to their homes and, using binoculars (true!) would spend the afternoons watching the pool area, recreation complex, etc. in anticipation of seeing ours, or the children of others, unaccompanied on the grounds (a restriction, much like all dogs must be on a leash, all children of ANY AGE under 18, were to be accompanied at all times by an adult) and being able to call the manager and make a complaint. I didn't realize at the time, but I was taking in all the psychological aspects of this, not the rules...no unaccompanied children seemed a logical rule to me, but I was storing information for MY future that would help me avoid becoming the opinionated, negative, angry, soul I did not want to become. It is a given of course, that in some cases there are actual changes in brain structure that result in personality changes. We've experienced that too in our family, but I am only referencing those for whom it is a deliberate choice to be "difficult".

Village "Festivals" could use some fresh planning
 

Over the years we've noticed the various "festivals" have lost most, if not all, of their unique characteristics. The German, Irish, Italian are all fine get togethers, but the UNIQUE features, like the corn beef and cabbage you mention, has faded into an almost boiler plate like format. Now, I'm not sure how "The Villages" can insist particular vendors, or new vendors, participate, so they would have to concentrate on how to make each festival special, unique, interesting. Many do not like the "old days", of residents sitting in groups, often from the same street or neighborhood, along the parade routes anticipating the Christmas parade. The parade was never the same after moving to the polo field, and having parades in all squares is just too overwhelming (apparently). The horses in the Christmas parade and some other parades, messed the village's streets and angered many, it contained a float or two (sometimes) with a Church or Christian theme, but most were bands from local schools, and just floats of joy and happiness, elves and Santa, just fun, not "making a statement". Then the "cultural thing" became a concern, the Irish might claim superiority over the Germans, or Italians, and then there was the problem of no Norwegian festival, so of course the "lines" that distinguished the various festivals needed to be "toned down" a bit, blended into kind of "oneness" that reflected a new era. Again, no problem, but we just gradually found them boring, and skipped most. But, the numbers of new residents pouring in each day, really makes it unnecessary to add any "new pizazz" to the festivals.

The twirlers did a great job!
All the performers did a fabulous job. We are lucky to have such talented people right here in the Villages.