I think the airport shuttle leaving only from Lake Sumter Landing is because of how many people need the door-to-door service and find that attractive, and the price for that short taxi ride from home to station is cheap. Also, they have more departures now, instead of adding a half hour to each one by picking up at two stations.

Thank you. I'm working at making my life. I have found a few things that I go to on a regular basis. I'm not a serious party animal but am usually outgoing. Push me and I will push back but seldom start something. Who knows what's in the cards - move or stay - but for now at least this is where my stuff and my pups are.

Great posts. Good reading. Thanks to all

Nothing to do with PC. It's a FLA housing law as far as I know.

We bought in 1988 and we were in our late fourties.

My only issue with TV is the way people drive. The speed limit is 20mph in my neighborhood and if anyone goes that speed I would be surprised. People have no respect for others when they get behind the wheel of a car.

Gotta say that 20 seems awfully slow. Is that only for golf carts in their special path or cars as well.

Just heard that the airport shuttles are no longer owned by The Villages but have been sold to someone.

Shame they are cutting back services.

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Not only a housing law in Florida, but elsewhere too, Russ. We as a country are trying to be correct. Making it law is the political vehicle used to facilitate that.

I did not use the PC term flippantly, I used it sincerely.

It would be wonderful if one of more of the long time Villages residents would write a history of The Villages. It would be fascinating. It has grown from a trailer park in a watermelon patch into the world's largest 55+ community!

Same here
 

I feel as you do Diane, except I am your neighbor in Stonecrest (or an outsider, depending on who you talk to). I moved to this area almost a year ago and I thought it would be different then it is. Friendlier, I guess but I don't golf, dance or play cards which seems like everyone does.
Have you tried the different clubs there?

Thank you. I do not golf but I would play cards. I do go to a few groups on a regular basis and I am sponsoring a Long Island night this week. I'm trying to make my life again. Time will tell. What have you tried?

Disney
 

I do not wish to change the focus of this thread, but I read so much about the developers etc. I took Disney’s business management courses called, The Disney Institute. What I see in The Villages is the model that is presented to one when you attend those courses. I researched and it appears Mr. Morse may have attended those classes when I did in the late 80’s.

Think about it for a minute, isn’t The villages exactly what Disney did? First they owned all of the property and the vendors, and now it is all affiliates and brands?

I think if you read the Wikipedia article you will find many similarities to The Villages.

JannD

Walt Disney World - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

My husband and I built a home here 4 years ago. He was over 55 and I was not. Our original intention was to be snowbirds at first then eventually move here fulltime. Unfortunately he passed away unexpectedly before realizing our dream. To make a long sad story short I moved here on my own not knowing what to expect especially since I was in my 40's. What I found was a wonderful, warm community that made me feel at home and welcome from day 1. Yes, I occasionally get the "you can"t live here you aren't old enough" comment. I just smile and say thank you but I grew up in the friendly south in a small town so I know friendly and this place is a wonderful, warm and welcoming place for anyone but especially for a single woman. I have always felt safe here even living alone for the first time in my life. I love this place and all the people in it. No it's not perfect but pretty darn close and I am so happy to call this home.

Your warmth is felt and your courage. I am so happy you call this place home too.:wave:

Ok - but I don't think it is a new law and I don't think it really has anything to do with being PC - not all laws are for PC - sometimes laws are just that. And I see no problem with allowing sub-55 to buy and live in TV anyway.

Try this for a clear explanation.


55 & Over Housing: What is the 80/20 Rule? | Florida Condo & HOA Legal Blog

In our late fourties when we brought ,I was a teacher so we came and cleaned and worked for two weeks in August..we made enoughto cover expenses...no more....by renting high season.after five years.,retired., sold our house and moved to fl.
It is a totally dry panoramic golf course view.the bottom in the crawl space is dry white sand.all openings are sealed .no creatures.
The value of the house has risen with the market.we have no intention of selling
We have a sweeping view of the golf course and a big lot,low taxe and low insurance.we could survive on SS. It is a manufactured home,.

for many of us golf had absolutely nothing to do with the decision to build a home and move into TV.

The good or bad or like or dislike is a function of who is looking or speaking. Can you imagine the demand here if TV were the answer for 100% of those who visit/buy?

Life has a way of sorting things out and in the end there is more population that likes what they bought into as the dislikes relocate or pass us by.

We always said there is no way we would ever live in FL. Well so much for that.

We have friends who lived a little further south of TV for many of their adult years and then moved to TN because the did not like FL for a lot of reasons. When they visited us here in TV, after a week they both said now this is what FL is supposed to be like and would never have left if it was.

Takes all kinds....there is no 100% answer....there never is.

btk

You are correct.

The Villages used the Disney model for districts,etc, which is always forgotten when folks begin their cry about our home. Do not hear anyone saying the same things about the Disney family.

I honestly am not sure if the still do this, but Pete Wahl used to have a course he taught on CDD, and everything we all misunderstand. It was great and very informative, but just wanted to know that your perceptions are right on.

I see no problem with it either.

My intended point to the OP was that things change, whether we direct the change or other factors do. HE seemed to think this sub-55 thing was new- not me.

The idea I was attempting to convey was that PERHAPS this (law) may not have been in effect at the inception of TV, or even when He moved here 14 years ago- but it is in effect now.


If you interpreted something other than that from my original post, or this one... you are reading something into it that is not there.

Pick a retirememnt community around the country and you will find full time peeps and part timers as well. What is all the hullabaloo here??

OK - pretty sure it's been there since inception. I did gain a new understanding of the 20% 'rule'. I guess it's possible, reading that law, to not allow anyone under 55 if we so wish. I know all I had to do was get someone in TV sales management to sign the waiver. Wasn't a real problem for them.

Thank You
 

thanks Bucco, I still follow the courses I attended on Facebook and online...I started to use their concepts for my new business (which really is my old business just in a retirement format) last weekend and my FB stats soared....

I understood from the beginning what I was reading here because of those courses, which in 1989 they offered to public educators and businesses, now only to businesses.

For others just search for The Disney Institute and read through the information, much of it applies to your community.

JannD

As the OP you refer you, allow me to point out that I never mentioned, implied, or hinted at the sub 55.

The thought you allotted to me was not mine, nor did I discuss nor point this thread toward.

Rio Grande has a sign on it that reads "20 mph unless otherwise posted" so I have always assumed that 20 mph is the general speed limit in TV except for more major roads. Judging from the traffic flow, though, I don't think many people know that.

Many places nowadays have the speed limit painted on the road, and this way of notifying drivers seems a lot clearer than small signs by the side of the road. Maybe they should do that here.

Although you did mention the thread about 'younger' folks buying, in general regard to changes... perhaps you meant that as representation of changes in the attitude/bias of some residents here- if so, I was off track by not understanding.

I interpreted your statement to mean that younger people buying in TV was a CHANGE from the way things were when you purchased.
My mis-interpretaion. Sorry.

:pray:

No problem. My biggest concern was your statement "HE seemed to think this sub 55 thing was new-not me", because I simply mentioned a thread to make the point about how things have changed. The 80/20 should not be news to anyone who moves here or their research is flawed.

20 is really slow. That really is snail speed. Glad that most of the roads I use are 30 to 35.

Two comments: good to see Russ Boston's common sense posts again!

To DianeM, don't give up so quickly. We were about ready to leave after the first year as we had trouble finding a group we felt comfortable with. As others have said we bought a resale in a village that was five years old. Most of our neighbors had gotten over the initial excitement of TV and village "get togethers" were rare but after a time we have gotten to know and love our neighbors and that has led to getting involved in other things. We also found a club that we fit into and now, after 2 1/2 years, we are happy frogs! Get out there and get involved!

I haven't given up at all. I try different stuff all the time. I'm working on this life. It's less than 3 months as a resident (hate the expression 'frog '). Way too soon to throw in the towel. Thanks for the support.

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

Hi Bucco,
It's interesting to hear about how TV has changed from the vantage point of a long-time resident. I've owned in TV only four years and am largely the face of the change you have witnessed. You see, I started life here as a snowflake, coming down as often as I could to savor the resort-like experience. Now that I'm a frog, ... I still savor the resort-like experience. (Then and now, I hasten to add, I treat personal and public property here with the reverence of home. Don't we wish everybody did?)

I see your point though. If I didn't witness these change myself, it's only because I came after they started and was indeed a part of the trend, for better or worse.

For what it's worth, the changes you mentioned were perhaps inevitable. If you live in a resort-like paradise, people who can't live there will want, well... a little slice of paradise. The alternative is to not live in a resort-like paradise. It's true some who come never will. For many of us though, there's no turning back.

Good post.

Be clear...because some have totally misunderstood my post.

I was not complaining about anything with this thread. It just struck me the dynamic changes in the years I have been here, and thus the thread. Some changes have been good and some not so good from my perspective.....but all change fits that definition.

I think frogs are cute, big eyed, hoppy little creatures, full of energy. :)
Change is not easy but hopefully you will soon feel this was a good choice. Welcome to the Villages. I hope you find happiness here.

20 IS really slow but I think it is the usual speed limit for residential streets. Some of our streets are so busy that it is hard to think of them as residential streets.

Thanks Bucco
 

Great thread. I agree that The Villages is becoming an end destination for vacationers or those looking for a getaway from the real world.

No one has mentioned the growth and metamorphosis of TOTV. I remember the rough and tumble of the virtually unmoderated political forum. I remember delightfully stimulating and thought provoking posts by Kahuna, Billethkid, Bucco and a litany of others from all political persuasions and ideologies. Most of us were in it for cerebral exercise. Care had to be taken to research your position as exhilarating challenges could always be expected. I learned a lot from some very intelligent, informed Villages TOTV posters. One example was a regular poster who was very successful in the banking industry. He shared some brilliant, articulate, insider assessments on current events that prompted some to alter their opinions. It is sad when that kind of opportunity for informed enlightenment has passed into oblivion. It is lost to all but a few TOTV old-timers.

I remember the TOTV political forum morphing from an open forum to a closed forum that you had to register for. Probably a casualty of political correctness taken to a fault. I could never understand the critics of lively debate protesting to the moderators about the spirited content of a forum they had voluntarily signed into. Kind of like a nosey voyeur climbing a ladder to his neighbors bedroom window and then reporting to their landlord that he didn't like what he saw and demands they be evicted.

While memories of the sometimes raucous old political forum slowly fade, I hope that the new moderators strike a balance that allows for some passionate, colorful opinions outside the mainstream. In other words, I hope they don't sanitize the forums into boring, politically correct banter for the masses............(provocative thought provoking pause).

Thanks for an interesting thread. I hope this post passes muster and doesn't wind up in the great "deleted file" in cyberspace.

Have a great day in The Villages!

Thank You
 

I agree I remember those forums, they were great

Boy what a great post.

I cannot leave it go without saying it was nice to "see you" again and you bring back many great memories.

The Political up until about a year ago was such a fantastic learning tool for me.......that banker you mentioned and I disagreed many times, but I looked forward to his outlook on some issues that I found problem areas.

And yes before those who are on here only to cause dissension and not to learn anything, it was a fun learning experience.

I understand the administration stance, but for some reason the guns were and are aimed at the wrong folks. Some know how to play the game.

But, that forum caused me more reading, more study than anything I can recall. Disagreeing was NOT a bad thing....so often, WHICH IS FORGOTTEN, you would come back on and admit that you just learned something.

This is one of the changes in The Villages I do not like....folks with attitudes like those who just want to....I think the word is FLAME. It is a real shame.

Thanks for the post and the memories and please adminstrator..nobody is expressing political thoughts and nobody is bashing anyone, and nobody is bashing you. This is on topic as it is one part of The Villages that I miss very much.