And we also have friends like this! They enjoy visiting us but HE would not want to live here! SHE would love to!

shhhh!!!

Let's try to keep political and partisan references and opinions out of this thread unless it is within the context of the topic (i.e. a reason for not liking the Villages).

No. No one should be criticized.

But please don't move here, live here, when you can buy elsewhere and be happy.

I am as entitled to my being happy and my positive opinion about this place as those who play a dirge all of the time.

AND I think a LOT of it is politically motivated..

If you don't like pie........don't eat it!

For those people who live and enjoy the amenities of a large city center - they may have difficulty imagining themselves in an "isolated" community. In the same way, those who live in a small rural town with considerable open fields/woods might find TV rather compact with small lots and close neighbors. There are millions of people across this beautiful country and this place will not be for everyone. Nor should we expect everyone to understand our choice to live here. There is nothing wrong with our or others opinions. We should not need other people (visitors) to validate our reasons for choosing the villages. Rather than being possibly offended if someone does not embrace TV with the same enthusiasm as we do, lets just keep it "our little secret". TV sells itself to the people who are receptive.....the others belong somewhere else!

Well said.

Two sets of friends---who've visited here (before we moved here) told us they weren't impressed. One of them has a place south of Orlando that they come and visit now and then. They both gave the comment..."Disneyland for adults!"

A couple up north (relatives actually) keep asking "how do you 'like' living in FL? How do you stand the summers?" Only one of the couple have been here (the husband) to visit---actually passing through.

I just think "some" folks are jealous and can't be happy for others....

My brother has owned a townhouse with a 2 car garage in New Smyrna Beach since 1988. He's 5 years older than me and has already retired from his job in Philadelphia a couple of years ago.

He came here two years ago and looked at the models with us on our LSV and has visited twice since we've moved in 2011. He doesn't play golf or softball like me, and his place is paid off and would cost at least twice as much to move here. He also said he really likes being near Daytona and enjoys it when the bikers and race fans come to town and he's only ten minutes from the beach. Coming from Philly he is also very liberal and was somewhat turned off by the conservative nature and lack of freedoms that TV sometimes portrays.

If you take route 44 it goes right by his subdivision about two hours away. So I believe he'll continue to visit and we have visited his place but I don't see him moving here anytime soon.

.

YES, but she hates everything that is not her idea! :duck:
Disney Land for adults? What's wrong with that? Everyone loves the Magic Kingdom..... Well, maybe not my friend cuz she hates everything.

"Disneyland for adults" does not fit TV at all because TV is affordable to people who see the wisdom of not living on credit cards.

Not possible. But I'm sure if these people didn't like The Villages would also be the ones that would complain after winning POWERBALL and all the taxes they have to pay. The chronic complainers just have to be tuned out.

I met someone that didn't like it...she wasn't an R or a D or an L....she was more like a B. I'm glad she's not moving here. :)

Too Good
 

I had a relative visit us a few times from California. THeir opinion was that it was just "too good". They loved it but could not live here becase it lacked challenges. They love to come and visit and enjoy the amenties but then go back to the lost cause of California.:ho:

AND THAT, my dear is the reason I love you to pieces.

Trish. You always nail it.

:1rotfl:

I have friends who say they are going to visit. I will be looking forward to their comments as I have a sneaky suspicion they will turn around thei point of view. I think they will say it's right for you but.......... fill in the blanks.

A couple of them are starting to lean towards I can't stand the winters anymore sooooooooooooo......................I am somewhat hopeful. I hope my best friend changes his mind so we'll see.

If people don't like it, I'm ok with that as it leaves more choices for a home I can buy. :smiley:

i've had friends visit who didn't like it. It's not for everyone...and thank God for that! I love it...it's not perfect...but it's home!

I think a lot of people feel this way - its not perfect, but we love it here, and its home! :clap2:

Yes. 2 sons have visited and they thought it was OK for us and 1 daughter has yet to visit and said too many old people.
Friends have visited and some enjoyed it and some don't get it.
I don't need assurance from family or friends that we did the right thing and love it here.

Yes. 2 sons have visited and they thought it was OK for us and 1 daughter has yet to visit and said too many old people.
Friends have visited and some enjoyed it and some don't get it.
I don't need assurance from family or friends that we did the right thing and love it here.

I personally think there are always compromises to be made. You just want to be aware up front of what they are. That is one nice thing about TOTV - you can get honest information about the pros and cons of The Villages, then you can make up your mind as to whether or not this community might be of interest to you.

There's an interesting sub-text running all through this thread. There are many posters who seem dumbfounded as to why everyone 55+ wouldn't love TV and there must be something wrong with those who don't.

Personally I can think of lots of reasons not to be enthralled with TV. However, since YOU are here and YOU like it and are happy here, why do YOU care that everyone doesn't share your view?

Just enjoy what you've got and don't worry about why others don't share your vision.

Good observation.

We had the in-laws down for over a week and took them all over, including many of the model homes to see what was available. Most "common comment" the whole time was the closeness of the houses back to back. To the point of laughing about it. The next was way too much money for the house. Both very true. Each has to have their preferences for which they consider their lifestyle and bang for their buck.

I selfishly want only people who love this place to choose it for their home.

Since it is a retirement community designed for the over 55 population, I hope that all who love it will move here.

I think that it would be appealing to almost anyone but I really don't want those who just want to make it a business opportunity buying here to never live here and just rent out a home... or those who want to change it trying to do so.

It is home for many of us and you can see the love we feel for it by reading this forum.

I don't want to say love it or leave it, but if you are not drawn to how it is and how it is run, please don't join us in our journey.

It isn't perfect. But danged close in my view and obviously the view of a lot of people equally enjoying it.

No one has to pressure anyone to buy here, and I am pretty sure they don't.

At this point the developers can't build the homes fast enough.

I just want for people who want to call it home to be here with us during this wonderful second half of the game of life.

A cousin does not like TV because there are too many old people. A friend likes TV but feels you get more house for your buck outside of TV and you can still partake in many of the things TV offers.
I am glad I am old enought to live in TV. I already did the big house, big yard, inground pool when I was younger with a growing family. I am glad I now have a small house and yard so I have more time to participate in TV activities.

Me, too. I'm just not a city person. However, since I'm not yet living in TV, I don't know if I will find its size overwhelming. Then again, one can draw boundaries several different ways to form a community. In other words, community could be your street, your village, your clubmates, or the entire Villages and beyond.

Ha! Tish, you stole my thunder.......we must have the same friend!

Oh no. You both are my dear friends. Is it me???

No. I already live here.

Sometimes I am a B.

Good one! :1rotfl:

:clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:
This reply would be relevant in MANY threads here.

How true, sigh.

First, while not seeming rude or arrogant, I really don't care what other people think. My views are my views and I understand we are all different and respect those differences.

some of my friends loved TV while others did not. One relative said it was too cold this far north and couldn't wait to return to south Florida.

I'sm sure some folks view it as a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there.

Gracie, you could never be a B (actually, we all can but sometimes it's a badge of honor).

This is now home. I do not care if my kids like it, or if my relatives like it, or even if some of my friends like it. We love it, and that is all that matters. Yes, we are far away from the family, but this is our choice and our lives. We did not ask them if they minded that we move away......our daughter thought it was strange that we would even consider asking her......'it is your life' was the response. As far as the homes, you get way more value in a home here than in the Philadelphia area, the yards are about the same as in southern California at about 1/5 the price here, and once the build-out is completed our home values will appreciate, which is not something that is happening anywhere else in this country (no recovery yet since 2008).

I can understand why someone from a rural setting might be turned off by the closeness of the homes. When the nearest neighbor is hundreds of feet away, these houses seem like townhomes. But, as we age, there is comfort in having neighbors so close. In our neighborhood, we have two AEDs that can be at anyone's home within a minute or so. We know if someone is away, so we can report any unusual activity around their home.

On the other hand, someone from an urban setting could feel they were moving to the sticks. Being used to having whatever you need close by plus museums, the arts, and professional sports in town might make this place seem empty.

But this place and its inhabitants please me and, as others have said, I don't need my decision to live here validated by others' opinions of TV.

We lived south of Atlanta and brought a couple from our neighborhood down with us on a LV. She didn't like it cause she didn't want to be around old people all the time! (she's no spring chicken!) Now the town is over run by Zombies so it serves them right!!! (Actually the tv show The Walking Dead is filmed in the town). LOL!

Same Here
 

Had a couple visit from NC and prior Syracuse NY.

He wanted to move here. She thought all of the above and threw in.

Over Crowded
Silly Squares with all the music and dancing
No Culture
Overpirce homes for the size and lots.
Designer homes and Villages reminded her of manufactured trailer parks
All the activities were " Stupid"
Etc.

Could not wait for them to leave-

On the other hand a friend of ours who has lived here 8 years and showed us the villages and convinced us to move.

He just sold his house said he can't take the snowbirds traffic and 100k people.

Moved back home.

Just saying- Don't kill the messanger!

Everybody is different
 

I have a sister who lives here and loves it. Another sister & brother do not like it here. We have several friends tell us it is a nice place to visit but would not want to live here. We like it here but, it is too crowded in the winter months. That is why resturants have a menu. No every one likes the same thing.:read:

I find myself in agreement with Mack. We personally love The Villages, but there is nothing wrong with people who don't love TV!! Many people choose to retire in other communities. This doesn't make them stupid or jealous or boring or lazy or chronic complainers or anti social.

I think Suzi said it beautifully:

"For those people who live and enjoy the amenities of a large city center - they may have difficulty imagining themselves in an "isolated" community. In the same way, those who live in a small rural town with considerable open fields/woods might find TV rather compact with small lots and close neighbors. There are millions of people across this beautiful country and this place will not be for everyone. Nor should we expect everyone to understand our choice to live here. There is nothing wrong with our or others opinions."