[LuvNH]

Has anyone ever wondered why this retirement experiment has never been tried in other country. There has to be a reason that the USA is the ONLY country with a massive retirement community. I would have thought Spain or Portugal or even Italy would have been interested in this experiment in living into your old age.

Is it something to do with the fact that other countries like living around family into their old age. OR is it the huge difference in weather from north to south in this country. For instance, you make your income in the big cities and then move to the sunshine State. There must be plenty of other people who have actually studied this ..... interesting to hear what you think.

[LuvNH]

''''''''''''''

[dadoiron]

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”?

Yep but I just move on can't fix stupid. It's amazing to me how many truly stupid people made it to this age.

[skyking]

We have had a house here for eleven years (and one up north). I have never encountered any negative opinions about The Villages. Most have no idea how large and active this community is. Many say they have heard of The Villages and reference someone they know who has visited or moved here. Always a positive response.

[sdifede313@aol.com]

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.

Very well put! As far as the media is concerned & the negativity: “If all you drink is alcohol then all you’ll be is drunk” .. . I’m convinced watching a lot of news will make you physically sick.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

IMO there is only ONE MAIN reason to NOT like the Villages and it is NOT even the Village's Fault. The problem has to do with Scientists' predictions for the continuous warming of Fl. , the US, and the whole globe for the next 30 years. I won't beat up this subject more than it has already been beaten up in the recent past. But, personally, I have difficulty being outdoors and doing any activity (except maybe swimming) in the afternoon SUMMER sun. Some other people say that they love the HEAT and HUMIDITY. So, for me, that is about 6 months out of the year and about 8 hours of EACH summer day that I am RELAGATED to the indoors.
......Apparently, people that are snowbirds or full-year residents that LOVE heat and humidity - tend to disagree with me?

Prior to moving to TV the heat was a concern of mine, both from an activity standpoint and because I have severe asthma and I had heard horror stories about asthma sufferers trying to live in hot, humid climates. Turned out I was wrong on both counts: my pulmonologist said not to worry: excessive heat and humidity can be an asthma trigger but so can excessive cold--and few places in the Lower 48 can match Minnesota for that. Turns out he was right: a couple of moderate episodes but nothing more than that.

Turns out there is another health benefit: during Minnesota winters (which can be half a year in the more northern climes) I suffered from arthritis. Not down here! heat and humidity down here makes me feel 20 years younger, at least from an activity standpoint. And I am one of the oddballs--I LOVE the heat and humidity. I walk six miles a day on a regular basis, on MMPs for the most part, and try to do it in the summer during the hottest part of the afternoon. Less golf cart traffic to contend with. I am regularly offered water by golf cart passers-by, which I refuse with thanks: mile 3 of my walk is at Publix where a bottle of sugar free iced tea sets me up for the walk back. We walk playing golf too, and a couple of the ambassadors regularly express concern. We do carry a jug of water on our rounds though.

Weather is OK now, but to be honest I can't wait for summer!

[Emkay56]

I think they're just jealous! We love it here and just laugh at people that throw out all those myths.

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”?

[joelfmi]

Check controversial in the villages Florida on U2

[Garywt]

Good for you for loving where you live. We love being in the Villages as well. We have spent our entire lives in Massachusetts. No matter what others might think about it, the Villages is what you make of it and everyone likes different things. Not really sure why people don’t like it there. You get a nice house with more activities than anywhere else for a lot less money. Think about the house you have lived in your whole life, you probably had a house, yard and a driveway and maybe 1 pool. Most people did not live in a place that you could drive a golf cart on the streets. With everything that is offered, what is not to love.

[Fastskiguy]

Originally Posted by Mikee1

When they tell you of the sex parties, sex in the squares, loofahs, key swapping, etc, etc, look them dead in the eye and say, I know, that is exactly why I moved there. Followed by, you eyeing them up and down and saying you look pretty good, wanna get a drink.

The responses should be better than the evening comedy shows on the ship.

Enjoy

I love your response to the std comments...gonna have to try that. You hear that comment all of the time, just a wild rumor that won't die. It's crazy!

As for TV..
Does everybody wish it was a little less hot and humid in the summer? Does everybody wish there was less traffic? I mean, no place is perfect but this place is pretty darn good. Easily the best place we've ever seen. If we knew of a better place we'd move there, right?

Joe

[Escape Artist]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I am not a fan of Florida. I lived in Florida years ago for a brief period of time and hated it then too. I've visited Florida almost yearly from the time my grandparents retired here in the 70's. I was mostly a-political (disinterested entirely) up until only the last decade or so.

My reasoning for not wanting to move to the Villages had nothing to do with politics, but everything to do with Florida.

That said, we ended up in The Villages, despite my objections to the state. Living here three years, I can say, quite objectively, that the Villages is a lovely facade. It is a beautifully painted picture. I am very happy with the idea of the Villages. I also love my particular neighborhood, and its proximity to everything I need. I love that it's a golf-cart community, and in fact I consider driving around in the golf cart to be one of the biggest highlights of the "Lifestyle." Getting out into the cart even for mundane tasks like going to a doctor's appointment always puts a smile on my face.

I love dancing in the square. I love that overall atmosphere, of healthy active older adults just getting together and having a wonderful time.

Sometimes the less attractive aspects of the Villages demographics is hard to get past. Sometimes - it is ugly. And actually there is an undercurrent of ugliness all the time. But most of the time it's easy to overlook and not be reminded forcefully that it exists.

As long as we can do that - overlook the thin film of ugliness that pervades beneath the surface - it's easy to really love living here. When that underside breaks through and becomes pervasive, I find it difficult to enjoy living here. Thankfully that doesn't happen often.

I even like the rain during rainy season. I hate hate hate the hotter humid summer temperatures which can last several months (as opposed to heat waves up north that might last a few weeks).

It sounds like you should have been a snow bird, then you could have the best of both worlds, weather-wise. I don’t know what you mean about demographic “ugliness” below the surface. Do you mean that The Villages reminds us that we are aging and all that entails from a negative standpoint?

[Kelevision]

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”?

Unfortunately, yes. I also just say the Orlando area. I’m from Leesburg born and raised and I’ve seen TV go from an amazing place to a very one sided political place and has a very bad reputation outside of “the bubble.” But I currently live in TV

[jebartle]

If someone leaves TV it's the "15 year plan" going home to family for care, while you're here live the good life.....Many many many wonderful folks here, we love it!!!

[Escape Artist]

Originally Posted by Wondering

Just take a look at the Daily Sun "newspaper". Most residents are on Social Security and Medicare, yet support representatives who want to cut those programs.

If you moved to The Villages in 2005 then you’re older than I am, so that means you must have been hearing this type of scare-mongering for five decades or more. You’d think they’d come up with something better than that after all this time.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by remarks006

The reality is that there are many good things about the Villages and many bad. That’s reality. Golf cart accessible, lots to do and low assessments compared to many places in Florida.

Downside is the hyped up theatrical stuff. Grown adults trying to pretend they are belly dancers, hula dancers, twirlers, ballet dancers etc. Many just don’t realize how foolish they look but sadly they need to play all over the villages thinking they are stars. Theater productions are a little ridiculous too. Old people playing parts in West side story and grease??? Really? But if we want good theater we go to Orlando and we try to ignore the poor wannabes who need attention. It’s a small price to pay when you get so many other benefits.

And what do you partake in that you might look foolish to……………….others?
Perfection must be wonderful..