[RICH1]

many Villagers cruise and the table conversation is either about how well The Villages are planned and groomed, or about the Loofas… The Villages is not for everyone just the intelligent ones that are enjoying a fulfilling retirement.

[LuvNH]

we moved here 20 yrs ago and in those days it was THE place to retire in Florida. Over the years things have changed dramatically.

Our children visited once each and said "sorry, Mum, never again", too cold in the winter and too many old people. My grandchildren came and thought it was for old people, but loved the golf carts. Several of our friends have visited, enjoyed their stay, but would not move here. We have a home on a golf course in NH and none of our friends like TV, almost all of them come for the winter, but not to a retirement community, most of them have homes in towns near water.

The biggest complaint we hear is that it is too big, houses are too cookie cutter, too close together, too hot, too political, too many old people in short shorts - seriously we do hear that, and get this one ... too many rude old men in stores.

So I guess it is not for everyone

[CoachKandSportsguy]

OP needs to know his audience. There are all kinds of answers to the rumors. . . especially with the orgy / std comment. .

The first and only orgy I went to droopy boobies kept getting in the way. . I never had the opportunity to catch an std. .
Most guys' hands are now so small from aging that there wasn't any pleasure . .

But the after party on the street was great. .

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by LuvNH

we moved here 20 yrs ago and in those days it was THE place to retire in Florida. Over the years things have changed dramatically.

Our children visited once each and said "sorry, Mum, never again", too cold in the winter and too many old people. My grandchildren came and thought it was for old people, but loved the golf carts. Several of our friends have visited, enjoyed their stay, but would not move here. We have a home on a golf course in NH and none of our friends like TV, almost all of them come for the winter, but not to a retirement community, most of them have homes in towns near water.

The biggest complaint we hear is that it is too big, houses are too cookie cutter, too close together, too hot, too political, too many old people in short shorts - seriously we do hear that, and get this one ... too many rude old men in stores.

So I guess it is not for everyone

As Mom used to say, "you'd b!tch if you were hung with a new rope". She was probably right, but then again...

Yes, TV has changed. From when we first came here seven years ago and rented to now, there have been a lot of changes, and not all for the better. But America has changed as well, and decidedly not for the better. Ten years ago I'd have considered moving to Florida for the weather, reasonable cost of living and low taxes. That was then. What finally convinced us was the fact that crime had become so pervasive where we lived that I never left the house without carrying a pistol. Even living 50 miles away from where the George Floyd riots took place was not far enough. That sort of thing spreads, and our sleepy little town was not unique.

THAT was our primary reason. Of course the beautiful weather, reasonable standard of living and low taxes helped too. But if it hadn't been for the crime, I doubt we'd be here today.

[Taltarzac725]

Lately I have said "Hello" or "Good morning" to people when I was walking and only about 1/3 bother to even respond.

[billethkid]

All minority reports are duly noted.
The rest of us will continue to enjoy what we came here for .........20 years ago and still enjoying it for all the same reasons!!!!

_________________________________________________

[Velvet]

In my opinion what you have met, OP, was JEALOUSY and IGNORANCE. I bet you most of them have not lived in TV. And it is true that this place does not suit some people. Which in some cases is justified, especially when they need to be near family, etc. I would let those people you met be, wallow in their ignorance. Remember the saying, “Don’t cast your pearls before pigs”?

[Marathon Man]

Yes, it does get tiresome.

I usually say something like, "None of that is true. People just like to spread good gossip." Then I wait for their reaction. Some get my point and walk away. Some take an interest in finding out the true story. Some continue to insist that it is true. The last group gets, "Yep, good gossip alright". Either way, I put an end the non-sense.

The other road I take is to say something like, "Yep, it's pretty much all true". That takes away their pleasure of poking a hole in my life and they don't know quite what to say. That actually works more quickly.

The important thing to keep in mind is this. There is no need to defend living here. We know what we have. If others want to live their lives believing non-sense, then that's OK with me.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Velvet

In my opinion what you have met, OP, was JEALOUSY and IGNORANCE. I bet you most of them have not lived in TV. And it is true that this place does not suit some people. Which in some cases is justified, especially when they need to be near family, etc. I would let those people you met be, wallow in their ignorance. Remember the saying, “Don’t cast your pearls before pigs”?

My first thought to the OP's comments is in agreement with you.......those people are JEALOUS. Unless, a person loves to live near the shore, how can anyone seriously not love it here? The Villages is a one of a kind MASTER (there's that word again) planned community IN THE WORLD. You cannot beat that.

I always tell people I live in The Villages and am very proud to say it too. I let them know this is the largest golf cart community in the world with an infrastructure for golf carts like no other. I also tell them The Villages is like being on a cruise ship on land. I can't help but gush about this place. We are an active group of seniors and how can that not be a positive?

[KatieRN]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I’m still a fairly new Villages resident. I took my first vacation since moving here (two week Caribbean cruise). While on the cruise, I proudly told people I had just moved to Florida, and The Villages in particular. Gushed enthusiastically, as I talked about my beautiful new retirement home. Over and over, was met with people questioning my decision, asking if I had done my “homework” ahead of time, and stating that my “honeymoon”will soon wear off. I asked these folks if they had ever visited the Villages - none of them had, but all seemed to have a very strong opinion, mostly negative about The Villages. It became tiresome, having to dispute the false rumors and erroneous stats that they spewed out. It became evident that these strangers did not want me to be happy with my new community and decision I had made. I was frankly taken back that so many people wanted me to feel bad. I guess this is something I will have to get to used to. After awhile, I just told people I was from Central Florida near Orlando, and left it at that. Has anyone else experience this when traveling outside of ‘The Bubble”?

We just closed on our home in Richmond. We live down by Sarasota and we are hearing the same thing. Everyone we tell where we are moving to says the same thing. We hear all about the swingers and the STD statistics. Seems like people dont want others to be happy and want to rain on our parade!

[Smitty2022]

I just tell them that is the reason I came and watch the look on their face!

[John Mayes]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Of course. But consider the source. Of course people whose only experience about The Villages comes from reading or watching media are going to have a negative opinion, for a very obvious reason: negativity, sensationalism and (perhaps most of all) sleaze sell publications and generate hits, both of which make money for the author and the medium involved. You will never read articles, other than an occasional local blurb, about a certain church, through "Operation Christmas Child", filling over one hundred THOUSAND shoe boxes filled with hygiene items, school supplies and "fun things" that are then distributed to needy children in many third-world countries. You won't read about the regular donations many area churches make to the food shelves of the surrounding community. You won't read about neighborhoods organizing to help one another with tasks such as pet-sitting, helping with various tasks, arranging and/or offering rides to fellow community members for necessities such as shopping, medical supplies, etc. That is merely the very small tip of a very large iceberg when it comes to all the positive things that happen here on a regular basis.

So--keep on gushing the positives. I do, at every opportunity.

Good reply!!!

[Byte1]

Reading this, I had to chuckle when I remembered a conversation I had with a very good friend of many years. He came to visit me (and he has been here several times since) and told me that he heard that it had so many cases of STDs and wondered if that made any difference to me. I went on the internet and showed him the CDC website where it showed that his city that he retired to had twice as many reported STDs. We both had a laugh over it and then went to Nancy Lopez for dinner.

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by John Mayes

Good reply!!!

Well said. I hear what the OP describes now and then as well. Most have never been there or know anything at all about the place.

We bought last March and will be snowbirds next October when both of us will be retired. We spend as much time there as our time off allows, and we love it more each time we're there.
We love our neighborhood in Amelia and our neighbors.
TV fits our active lifestyle perfectly. But as with anything in life, it's not for everyone. My SIL lives in Dell Webb/Stonecreek in Ocala and they like it. We visited them there and thought it was very boring.
But they thought TV was too busy. lol

There's a happy place for everyone, you just have to find it. Although some people really don't want to be happy.

[JMintzer]

We have (bordering on "had") very good friends who responded that way when we told them we bought in The Villages...

The husband is a golfing buddy, who constantly brings up politics (and is immediately shut down by the other two in our foursome. I typically laugh and hold my tongue...). Basically, it's just guys busting balls...

His wife, otoh, is constantly worrying about politics. Her son is gay (something I noodled thru when he was in High School, I've known him since he was a toddler...) When she felt she had to tell us, I responded, "I know... I've known for years. Do you really think it makes a difference to me?"

She was stunned, as she actually thought I'd treat him differently once I knew...

A year or so later, we went on a trip to Iceland with them. She had to ask everyone (and I do mean EVERYONE) how the gay community was treated in Iceland. You'd think that after the 10th time she got the same answer ("Nobody cares"), she'd get the hint. But no... This continued the entire trip...

She also sent me an e-mail before the trip that she was concerned that the previous election (in 2016) would cast a pall on the trip...

I'll repeat, I NEVER brought up politics with her...

Anyway, back to the topic...

Her response to our exciting news of buying in The Villages?

"Oh, I don't think I'd feel comfortable even visiting that place..."

I replied, "Your loss"...

When I told her husband, during a round of golf, he replied with the age old "STD Capital" line...

Well, I guess that one less couple on our "invite list"...