[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Yawn... Same old, same old...

Yep.

Quite a lot of half-empty glasses around these here parts...

[JWGifford]

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”?

It’s funny, we’ve had the same experience just THINKING about moving to TV. We’ve been on two lifestyle visits and plan on moving to TV in the future. Our friends are very opinionated about it as well. Like you, I just stopped talking about it. We know what we like and don’t feel it necessary to explain or defend it to anyone. You live in a wonderful place and should enjoy it. I find most people are just envious. Enjoy your new home!

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

We used to cruise 3 or 4 times a year during the winter and met many people from TV onboard. In fact, before we actually drove to TV, most of our info was from cruisers and those free golf for life commercials. We should have listened to those people way back then and built a second house in TV instead of Rome WI, but we were young and dumb. We did meet a small amount of people that bailed out of TV and went to OTOW because they felt TV was too busy activity wise.

I'll never understand the criticism that The Villages is "too busy activity wise". You don't have to do any of it if you don't want to. Why move from such a gorgeous place on earth just because you don't want to play?

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Yep.

Quite a lot of half-empty glasses around these here parts...

From people who. no longer live in TV...

Seems they must continue to trash the place to make themselves feel better about leaving...

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by JWGifford

It’s funny, we’ve had the same experience just THINKING about moving to TV. We’ve been on two lifestyle visits and plan on moving to TV in the future. Our friends are very opinionated about it as well. Like you, I just stopped talking about it. We know what we like and don’t feel it necessary to explain or defend it to anyone. You live in a wonderful place and should enjoy it. I find most people are just envious. Enjoy your new home!

There are some videos on YouTube of golf carting in The Villages. Just send them one of those and they will get a whole different feel just from taking a golf cart ride on line.

[wamley]

When the last critic came out with stuff about TV a good friend that lives in Sarasota started breaking my .... so I deceided to look up the STD occurrences in the State of Florida and Sarasota among many others had a higher rate. So life is what it is and truth and false are fungible in a media that wants to sell the outlandish. Enjoy your new home and location for the things you will find that fit your needs realizing with 130,000+ people needs vary widely.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Amazon.com

I recall going over the discussions about what is in the book Leisureville with a number of people at a local dog park. Most of the people seemed quite upset with the gross over- generalizations in much of it about the Villages.

The author did make some good points though about the governing of the Villages. Andrew D. Blechman - author of LEISUREVILLE and PIGEONS

We live here in TV fifteen years, the first few as snowflakes, and was here when Andrew Blechman's LEISUREVILLE hit the stands and caused quite a stir. I contacted Blechman through his publisher and took him to task for his focus on Captain Midnight (you can guess), STDs, and transsexual Wendy (who happened to be a friend—we played trivia on the same team). Not a word about fundraising for various situations and good causes, nothing about volunteering at the hospital in spectacular numbers, no mention of entire neighborhoods looking out for a neighbor in need.

It turned out that his beef was with seniors removing themselves from their jhome communities where they still had a viable and important role to 'isolate' themselves in senior communities, and The Villages was the best one to use as an example because of its size and popularity. I reminded him that that was a nice thought BUT ... the job of God was taken already, that he (Blechman) wasn't qualified for it anyway, and that seniors did not need his criticism for choosing a lifestyle that they felt was appropriate for them.

I notified him several years later when Wendy died. He offered condolences and said she was a 'classy lady.' Indeed she was!

Originally Posted by Laker14

to the OP's question: Yes, I have, and the usual myths about STD's....

Similarly, a fair number of people I've met in TV wrinkle their noses in distaste when I tell them I am from New York and return there eagerly for the summer months. What they think they know about NY comes from political shows, movies, and NY City crime dramas.
Just like those who have negative opinions of TV, their opinions of NY are often devoid of any understanding of how large and diverse NY State is, geographically and politically.

There is no shortage of opinions based upon ignorance and misinformation, or at the very least, incomplete information. That ain't gonna change. You are free to engage or nor, depending upon your mood, and whether you think it's worth the effort.

Thanks for a cogent, thoughtful post. I've found that many (most?) people who come from west and south of New Jersey think only of 'that big place down there' when they hear 'New York' and are clueless that New York State has areas of stunning beauty, awesome natural attractions, unique cultural offerings, and so much more. When I describe sunsets from our (now former) backyard—'over the ridge across the fields'—at times the response is 'In New York? Not possible!'

But as the quoted points out, there's no convincing anyone, nor should there be. You're absolutely right—;That ain't gonna change.''

[wlasowicz]

Its what your happy with If The Villages offers you everything you want in retirement so be it . 1 shoe does not fit everyone. Even though Fl. weather in the winter is great and no income taxes the cost of living is getting expense such as home owners insurance and congestion

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Bitsee

Unfortunately the Villages Euphoria for us wore off in about 5 years.

Continually expanding, overcrowded, supply and demand , boisterous rude drunken people , rising Political intensity, senior scams, cranky self centered old men, cranky self absorbed old women, rising crime in that area, sub-standerd Healthcare, exorbitant dental care.... just to name a few of the current red flag reality checks.

We often invited our friends and family from Wisconsin to come down to TV on several occasions and even offered to pay thier Air fare believe it or not.

Answer always...No Way, not for us !
Alot of folks perceived our giddiness over TV as " Bragging Rights " and they could of cared less about Florida, much less The Villages lifestyle.

We ultimately decided not to disclose to strangers that we lived there, we just state that we are from the Central Fl area if anyone asks us now.

It is so sad but true, we had some wonderful times there ...15 years ago....

Great post. I agree with everything there and, of course, I would add the HEAT of the summer which is really for 6 months in Fl. And Science says that it will increase for the next 30 years. People tend to forget that there are 2 other BIG factors the affect the HEAT index (how heat is perceived).........NOT just the weather reported high temperature (which is read or forecast for IN THE SHADE.
........The other obvious factor is HUMIDITY, which runs very high in Central Florida.
........The FACTOR that tends to be OVERLOOKED is that we are closer to the EQUATOR than say Tn. or Kansas, which means that Fl SUN is butt-kickingly INTENSE.
........WIND is also a factor, but Fl is just about average in that regard (except for the yearly hurricanes).
.........So, basically, I don't think that I will get hired as a Florida Chamber of Commerce consultant.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

We have been here since June of 2005 and I still like the Villages. Mainly because we got very lucky with our neighbors.

Good neighbors can help. One of our neighbors was a couple and the man died at about age 60. His wife went back up north and left the house to deteriorate to the point of mold and RATS. Our other neighbor PPPPPed us off after moving here in ONE WEEK. That was 9 years ago and we have NOT SPOKEN since. Funny, I NEVER got that WHOLE "forgive and forget" concept. Maybe I will IMPROVE for the next LIFETIME. Who knows?

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

Of course they would fit in here. Why shouldn't they enjoy the beauty of the manicured landscaping and the fun golf cart lifestyle? They don't have to hob nob with anyone if they don't want to but why can't they enjoy the beauty of it all?

Yes! Thank you! I’m an introvert and have social anxiety at large gatherings. My husband is the opposite. I love the well maintained beauty here, the wildlife, and fun golf cart rides. He is in a big club (model trains), and loves talking with our neighbors when he sees them outside. I socialize with one or two ladies at a time, and go to the pools to swim and float around by myself or with him. We love going out to eat just the two of us, or with one other couple. It’s all good! We’re both very happy here. 😊

[ProfessorDave]

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”?

In this world of plenty - it is filled with people looking to prove they've made better decisions than you - and they want to educate you on how not to make the same mistake you've made again - even if it isn't a mistake. Makes them feel smarter about their decisions - and smarter about themselves.

Example. Due to my "weird career" - I've lived in 37 different homes. Various places. Urban. Suburban. Flat. Wooded. Hot. Cold. Reality - I've found a way to enjoy every place I've lived - adapt to what is best about it. It's lots about attitude.

Having said that - I continue to hear the challenges - both outside The Villages and inside.

My take:
1) There is not place I'd rather be. I wake up every morning thanking God we found this place by accident.

2) When somebody shares the "sex stories" - I simply share that I love that reputation - even though it is not true - because it does reinforce we are active positive people living hear. I then share "isn't that the most brilliant marketing gimmick by the Developer" - which reinforces the best place to live for people who are looking for an active life?

3) When I hear the complaints about The Developer, I sometimes even agree. In my opinion, they have demonstrated different values than prior generations. However, even with the annoyances of some of their decisions (closing Katie Belle's was STUPID - in my opinion) - there is still no place I'd rather be. I've checked many.

4) When I hear how big it has gotten - to me it is similar to living in a suburb of a city and complaining the surrounding city is getting too big. Frankly, our little section of The Villages feels about the same as it did years ago - with a little more annoying traffic a few times a day on the major roads. I'm just hoping we get big enough so that COSTCO builds a store closer.

5) Will the honeymoon wear off? Depends on your definition. After a while, we settled in more. We go to the Squares less often. We go to the Country Clubs less often. They were more "exciting" when we first moved here - and we still enjoy them. But, we found that sometimes staying home and watching a Netflix movie together is more relaxing. Analogy: when I first met the woman who became my wife, like many, the "affection" part of the relationship was "much more active" than now. New. Exciting. And fell in love. The love hasn't diminished because the more "exciting" aspects became less frequent - we just settled into our comfort zones together. After the honeymoon doesn't have to mean bad - success for me is blending into a comfort zone together.

Summary. Don't worry about defending your decision. Focus on what you like - why it was the best decision for you. Remember, it is not in other people's interest to prove to you how smart you are - it is in their personal interest to prove to themselves that they are smarter than you.

Hope that helps.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by Quixote

We live here in TV fifteen years, the first few as snowflakes, and was here when Andrew Blechman's LEISUREVILLE hit the stands and caused quite a stir. I contacted Blechman through his publisher and took him to task for his focus on Captain Midnight (you can guess), STDs, and transsexual Wendy (who happened to be a friend—we played trivia on the same team). Not a word about fundraising for various situations and good causes, nothing about volunteering at the hospital in spectacular numbers, no mention of entire neighborhoods looking out for a neighbor in need.

It turned out that his beef was with seniors removing themselves from their jhome communities where they still had a viable and important role to 'isolate' themselves in senior communities, and The Villages was the best one to use as an example because of its size and popularity. I reminded him that that was a nice thought BUT ... the job of God was taken already, that he (Blechman) wasn't qualified for it anyway, and that seniors did not need his criticism for choosing a lifestyle that they felt was appropriate for them.

I notified him several years later when Wendy died. He offered condolences and said she was a 'classy lady.' Indeed she was!




Thanks for a cogent, thoughtful post. I've found that many (most?) people who come from west and south of New Jersey think only of 'that big place down there' when they hear 'New York' and are clueless that New York State has areas of stunning beauty, awesome natural attractions, unique cultural offerings, and so much more. When I describe sunsets from our (now former) backyard—'over the ridge across the fields'—at times the response is 'In New York? Not possible!'

But as the quoted points out, there's no convincing anyone, nor should there be. You're absolutely right—;That ain't gonna change.''

"It turned out that his beef was with seniors removing themselves from their jhome communities where they still had a viable and important role to 'isolate' themselves in senior communities, and The Villages was the best one to use as an example because of its size and popularity."

Interesting! We encountered kind of the same mindset among some Minnesotans when we (and a whole lot of others) decided to abandon L'etoile du nord for the land of sun and sand. Near as I could make out it really had nothing to do with our "viable and important role" in our home communities, but really more about what we were taking with us. Of course there were/are various reasons for not moving, but in a nutshell the ones who COULD afford to move, often did, and that meant taking our money, toys, spending power and various accounts with us.

Minnesota has been hemorrhaging money for some years now as the more affluent seniors as well as younger folks still working but able to move, have been fleeing the state like deranged lemmings. The population numbers in Minnesota overall have remained pretty stable, but as the people with the money leave they're being replaced by folks who more often than not see a "career" as slurping at the public trough. A third-grader can do that kind of arithmetic.

Guilt trip about shirking our responsibilities? Read "tax base". THAT is the real reason.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Excellent post and fully agree!

Originally Posted by ProfessorDave

In this world of plenty - it is filled with people looking to prove they've made better decisions than you - and they want to educate you on how not to make the same mistake you've made again - even if it isn't a mistake. Makes them feel smarter about their decisions - and smarter about themselves.

Example. Due to my "weird career" - I've lived in 37 different homes. Various places. Urban. Suburban. Flat. Wooded. Hot. Cold. Reality - I've found a way to enjoy every place I've lived - adapt to what is best about it. It's lots about attitude.

Having said that - I continue to hear the challenges - both outside The Villages and inside.

My take:
1) There is not place I'd rather be. I wake up every morning thanking God we found this place by accident.

2) When somebody shares the "sex stories" - I simply share that I love that reputation - even though it is not true - because it does reinforce we are active positive people living hear. I then share "isn't that the most brilliant marketing gimmick by the Developer" - which reinforces the best place to live for people who are looking for an active life?

3) When I hear the complaints about The Developer, I sometimes even agree. In my opinion, they have demonstrated different values than prior generations. However, even with the annoyances of some of their decisions (closing Katie Belle's was STUPID - in my opinion) - there is still no place I'd rather be. I've checked many.

4) When I hear how big it has gotten - to me it is similar to living in a suburb of a city and complaining the surrounding city is getting too big. Frankly, our little section of The Villages feels about the same as it did years ago - with a little more annoying traffic a few times a day on the major roads. I'm just hoping we get big enough so that COSTCO builds a store closer.

5) Will the honeymoon wear off? Depends on your definition. After a while, we settled in more. We go to the Squares less often. We go to the Country Clubs less often. They were more "exciting" when we first moved here - and we still enjoy them. But, we found that sometimes staying home and watching a Netflix movie together is more relaxing. Analogy: when I first met the woman who became my wife, like many, the "affection" part of the relationship was "much more active" than now. New. Exciting. And fell in love. The love hasn't diminished because the more "exciting" aspects became less frequent - we just settled into our comfort zones together. After the honeymoon doesn't have to mean bad - success for me is blending into a comfort zone together.

Summary. Don't worry about defending your decision. Focus on what you like - why it was the best decision for you. Remember, it is not in other people's interest to prove to you how smart you are - it is in their personal interest to prove to themselves that they are smarter than you.

Hope that helps.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

Heat and humidity will always beat the freezing cold, ice and snow for me. You take your life in your hands to travel in that mess. Heat and humidity does not threaten your life to go to the grocery store. But, that's just me.

It CAN threaten someone's life if they are playing softball or tennis. I, personally, saw a man fall face down in the infield in a softball game from the HEAT and humidity and just BEING in the SUN. helped drag him into the shade while the ambulance was called. Same thing at a tennis match. SPLAT he hit the asphalt and was bleeding from the face.
........They were engaged in an outdoor COMPETETIVE activity in the summer heat. That is WAY, WAY, different than driving to Publix with the A/C on. Maybe someday the outdoor activities players will have INDIVIDUAL A/C, but it is NOT yet developed.