Has she ever been around those kind of people living here? Feel bad for your friend.

Interestingly as far as safest states from Covid is concerned Florida ranks #2 and Colorado #4 by WalletHub even though they had/have dramatically different degrees of restrictions. To me that likely means the restrictions were unnecessary and ineffective in the long run. Safest States During COVID-19

Guilt trip
 

Well, since it is their happiness that is important in your life, you should probably stay in Colorado! I think their is more than a little envy going on here.

I was not the first to use free florida. I still wonder……..

My brother's first wife and kids missed us when we moved from Palm Harbor, FL in 2005 but I went back there on-and-off for seven or so years. They babysat a lot for my younger brother and his wife.

These kids have visited the Villages but are now grown up as so had the kid(s) of my younger brother. My younger brother married a Jamaican-American the 2nd time around and they did experience some harsh looks and actions from both sides of the extended families involved with the mixed race marriage. And some prejudices from people here in the Villages when they visited.

Do think things have gotten better in that area though here in the Villages. But, again, we have lived here since the summer of 2005.

Really?
 

Why in the world would you question their resentment and jealousy of you? Are these what you call friends? True friends would never act this way. Enjoy your life and choose wisely.

No, she lives in her own bubble... She "tolerates" me, because I'm friends with her husband...

Yes, but you've since brought it up, several times...

My office manger of over 25 years is AA. She was down in FL last Winter, visiting her sister (who lives about 30 minutes north), and I invited her and her husband to join us for dinner @ Blue Fin in Brownwood.

They LOVED TV and have returned for dinner 2-3 more times on subsequent visits... She's thinking of moving here when she retires...

I asked her if the "political slant" TV is supposedly known for made any difference. She said no one treated her any differently than they do in DC or the Maryland suburbs...

Thank you for researching and taking the time and effort to attempt to contradict me. So much has happened in my journey in the last six months to get me to this point, changing my mind, exploring options, etc. I have now decided to make the plunge full time and sell in Colorado - since it appears you have taken a certain special interest in me, it may be better for you to send me personal IM’s if there is anything else you would like for me to clear up for you.

Parting, Moving, produces a VERY complex dynamic
 

Of all the replies, yours nails it ! Professional background in Psy perhaps ? Human emotions run wild in major "events", and definitely leaving one's friends and surroungings is a major life event. Jealously is usually the one most people theorize first, but you said it best, people ARE entitled to what they are feeling. Some just feel loss, it hurts because YES, you can stay "friends", and NO, the friendship will never be that same. It may last forever, there may be many visits exchanged and vacations, cruises, etc. planned as a means of continuing the friendship, but the day to day contact is different from the future relationship. People often feel betrayed, moving from a lifetime childhood home in particular, some may have the time and the money to move to Florida (or any other location) but they lack the courage...yes, for some it takes courage to change what they have always known, for others as you mentioned, deep family ties such as not being present on a regular basis for grand children, so many DEEP and very complex mix of emotions and motives. It's part of life, meeting, attaching, parting. I say to the poster, as you did, go forward and live YOUR life, do your best to keep in contact, exchange visits, and allow everyone (including yourself, as you too will feel sorry at parting) to experience their own emotions. Always realize the "departing" party usually recovers more quickly as that person is going into an exciting "new" adventure/life. Those "left" will generally suffer the longest and feel the loss deeper... in many ways similar to a divorce. The departing party generally feels loss no matter how destructive the relationship, but recovers more quickly; the person(s) "left" will almost always "suffer" the feelings of "emptiness" for a longer period.

Lol

You have to do what’s right for you. People do get upset and I am not sure why. Friends of ours actually lost friends when they said they were moving. They were told they were wrong, that they would hate it and many other things. We actually started visiting them in Florida and bought a house 3 years ago. Our cousins bought a little over a year ago and not of their kids have come to visit. They were upset that the family home was being sold. Hopefully they will visit soon. Hoping for the best for you and enjoy the Villages once you get here.

Probably they will miss you
 

Sounds to me like they will miss your company.

Leaving CO
 

Why would "friends" treat you that way? You'll make many new friends here. Come on down!

You are welcome. I'm waiting anxiously for your next question. As you have witnessed we are a community full of advice (quality ?). May I suggest the moment you arrive here in TV you enroll in Residents Academy. Before you ask read this:
VCDD Resident Academy

FYI - I believe it is "iM" not "IM" - iMessage developed by Apple. Shucks there I go again addicted to research and the quest for accuracy. It is a disease I developed after seeking medical insurance advice here on TOTV many moons ago.

Free Florida
 

Florida is far from free if you want to read books or discuss gender identity or racial discrimination.

Learned that from you …………….

it means we are happy with the decisions the state has made to promote a positive lifestyle for us all, with less regulations than some other places. we saw what life was like in Fl on the news, it was 1 of the major reasons we chose this state above all others. :beer3:

Yeah but percentages favor one side, if not all. I myself do not latch on to either cult, and refrain from deep discussions because no one is going to sway another to their side in that sense. Takes a wacko website and news channel to do that. :duck:

Wow! So sorry to hear they were so negative towards you. Maybe they were not the friends you thought they were. When we told our friends we were moving they were very supportive. Although some were sad to see us leave but were happy for us and our new adventure. Don’t worry there will be many new friends to be gained once you settle in here.

About 90% of my experiences with Villagers have been good over the past 17 years. The worst stuff has been cyber bullying in various venues and these people could actually live just about anywhere. And I do know from their posts that they sometimes are people either still employed or tied to family members. They are waiting or were waiting to move to the Villages.

You are correct. Teachers can not discuss their pronouns, sexual preference and critical race theory with five year old kindergartners. Of course one may wonder why a 30something year old would want to discuss such things with little children. Very concerning.

Speaking the truth? Be careful with that insanity or you will be cancelled.

I feel badly for her husband.

Ya, that’s right on top of my to do list of retirement activities, right behind getting a root canal and open heart surgery.

How about FaceTime or Zooming with these "friends"? Make the offer to them if you wish and see what their reaction is.

I am in a Zoom meeting with up to 25 people from Jersey and have been for the past several years. It's a nuthouse but a good way to stay in touch with people from your former life. They all say Florida sucks but all want to visit us. I don't think so. Homey Don't Play That Game. There are plenty of Hotels around these parts.

If she's AA, maybe you shouldn't have taken her to a rowdy bar (Blue Fin). Not nice to tempt those trying to purge their demons. Maybe take her someplace not so alcohol-focused. Ohhhhh, you mean she is of African (or Caribbean or West Indies) descent. Just say so, no need to use code words.

It's an abbreviation, used all the time in medical notes...

No "code words" implied nor intended...

But thanks for the insinuation...

I was playing a game on FunTrivia yesterday which has people from all over the world and was matched with another person of 60+ who lives in Florida.

We got the challenge but he wrote me that he is quite a bit south of me as he did not want to move to the Villages because there are way too many you know who with certain opinions and he does not golf.

ZCaveman was on FunTrivia as well for a while. He passed away, unfortunately.

I would interact with him quite a bit on various internet places.

Friends Support
 

A free FL means free from COVID restrictions among other things.

Also moved here from Colorado and am moving to Richmond
 

We moved here from Heritage Todd Creek in Thornton, Colorado in 2017. It's a 55+ neighborhood. Many people I knew there, have a second place in Arizona or visit AZ. They think the humidity is unbearable here. Or at least that's a lot of the negative comments I've heard. Yes, it's humid but not always. There are 100+ swimming pools to get cooled off in TV or even air conditioning.
I've been back to CO 4 times to visit friends. We belong to the Colorado club in TV and love it. There is so much more here than any other 55+ neighborhood.

I will admit, I did shed some tears when I left CO, It was definitely because of the friends I left behind but I don't regret it at all.

Correction….news channels.

Michael, we to will be moving from Ft. Collins CO to Richmond, close in a few weeks and will settle in shortly after that. Best wishes and good luck, hope to see you there very soon. As others have said, once you're in, your real friends will be lining up to visit.

Mike 63
Chicago, IL
Ft. Collins, CO

That a typical sarcastic response from some people. We moved from Michigan 4 years ago and don't regret it one bit. We are a mobile society. We travel back occasionally and see them about as much as we did before. We love that we dejunked and did something for ourselves. Part of the adventure of life.

Mike, good luck with your move - it’s crazy for me right now, as I am doing so much renovations right now on my home in Colorado Springs, as I ready to put it on the market. Maybe we’ll see you in the Colorado Club 😀

Exceptional insight !

Agree ! Free to ride a bike, play golf, go to a state park or beach...all maskless. Old collage chums were always telling me that was not the case for them (Calif. and Illinois). Also friends were amazed that our children were able to go to public schools, to attend in person in Illinois had to have the $$ for private or parochial schools, and governments there even came down on those schools... thus our friends also began to use the term "free Florida", not meaning we need to be FREED, but that we were free to act as we wished to protect our selves and it was made our responsibility, the burden of looking after our personal health was not placed on others.

We realized we needed to leave CA when the term “illegal haircut” came into fashion. It was absolutely crazy and terribly depressing to live there. I was not a bit sad to leave, and I had a lovely little house; but for me, freedom is everything.