[Yorio]

Outside of your immediate neighbors, how did you meet your first friend in TV? We went to visit our mail box one morning and came across a couple who were looking at a map of TV in the parking area. I asked whether they needed help and that started our conversation which lasted sometime including about his spiffy new golf cart. As we were headed their way, they told us to visit his place which we did. The following week, we asked whether they would like to come for a drink. This is how our first friends came to be. Florida's friendliest town!

[swimdawg]

Did you say First Friend or Best Friend...or both???

That's easy...........right on this very forum!

I did not know a soul....arrived in January....picked out a lot and planned to wait a year to start building.

I kept an eye on the forum.....and PM'd someone who I thought was a positive person.....with a good sense of humor. Turned out that we had a lot in common. We were on the same page about so many things......and we became fast friends. Because of this wonderful friend and her advice, I started building in June. I can't wait to see her and her family this weekend!

What would I do without her? TYG.

[Zoomie1955]

I guess I'll be hanging out at the mailboxes all day to meet everybody in the "hood"!!

[graciegirl]

I had read TOTV and become so involved that I felt I really did know folks who posted a lot. I was so disappointed when I arrived that there was no invitations to visit anyone. Then KathieI arranged a meet and greet at Whiskeys which is no longer open. She flew in from California and a bunch of TOTV'rs came to say hello.

BUT, I so longed for someone to come by and visit us in our new home and....so imagine how happy I was to hear the doorbell ring and to find Village07 at our door.

I was so delighted to meet her and I will NEVER forget her kindness to me and to us. I have tried to invite people over and to meet them personally if I can. It meant so much to us. Thank you KathieI and Village07.

[skyguy79]

We met our first friends long ago before either of us ever heard of The Villages. We were members of an Elks Lodge in upstate NY and and enjoyed each other's company. They eventually moved away to Tennessee then later moved on to become TV Frogs!

When we first thought about the possibility of finding a place in TV we contacted them for advise on a townhouse or condo (?) around Spanish Springs. The were familar with it since other mutual acquantiances of ours had stayed there and we were advised to not even consider it for a couple of reasons.

We then asked if we saw anything online we liked if they would go with an agent to see it and they were thrilled to do it because they like going around looking at homes, open houses or whatever. After about viewing about 5 homes we selected on the home we're now in - closing on it the day after we arrived in TV for the first time.

So that's how we met our first friends... a little different than most probably, but that's how it was!

[villages07]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I had read TOTV and become so involved that I felt I really did know folks who posted a lot. I was so disappointed when I arrived that there was no invitations to visit anyone. Then KathieI arranged a meet and greet at Whiskeys which is no longer open. She flew in from California and a bunch of TOTV'rs came to say hello.

BUT, I so longed for someone to come by and visit us in our new home and....so imagine how happy I was to hear the doorbell ring and to find Village07 at our door.

I was so delighted to meet her and I will NEVER forget her kindness to me and to us. I have tried to invite people over and to meet them personally if I can. It meant so much to us. Thank you KathieI and Village07.

aw shucks, thanks Gracie. I remember both events very well. Look how far you've come.... from skeptical about the Villages and looking for its blemishes to head Cheerleader and forever Frog in your beautiful new home.

For me, met some of the regular tennis players when we rented in July 06 and they became first group of friends (outside of the neighborhood) when we moved down later that year.... and, they still are. This was before TOTV.

[Lynn222]

I actually met my first friend (chachacha) on TV!

[2BNTV]

My first friend in TV was someone who I worked with in CT before he retired. He never mentioned TV prior to moving there but invited me down for a visit.

I planned a LSV and I haven't been the same since.

Unfortunately, he passed away last year. I will be forever grateful for his introducing me to TV. Hopefully, I will be there soon and become a frog.

My first TOTV friend was Gracie as she sent me a friend invitation and I am so honored to be her friend.

Hugs Gracie

[Shirleevee]

Originally Posted by Yorio

Outside of your immediate neighbors, how did you meet your first friend in TV? We went to visit our mail box one morning and came across a couple who were looking at a map of TV in the parking area. I asked whether they needed help and that started our conversation which lasted sometime including about his spiffy new golf cart. As we were headed their way, they told us to visit his place which we did. The following week, we asked whether they would like to come for a drink. This is how our first friends came to be. Florida's friendliest town!

All my friends, (and there are many), we met from TOTV........had a gathering for, "The Freeze", way back and met most then. We are all still connected. Thank you TOTV!

[lovsthosebigdogs]

I sooo love hearing this. In the past I have always had a satisfying busy social life, many friends, some very close and many in the 'outer circle' of friendship. This included at least a dozen women that I could call just to chat or ask if they wanted to go to a movie or shopping on a Saturday. Then 7 years ago I married my present husband and moved 125 miles to his hometown and viola! No friends where I live. I thought no problem, I'll make at least SOME new friends. I have friends in places I visit often and have always been able to make 'temp' friends when we travel. Some of those people have even become people we have stayed in touch with and have visted again after our vacation or they have come to stay with us. With that said I was very surprised to find I couldn't seem to make friends or fit into my new life. Years went by and I had a few casual friends from work but even now I really only have 2 friends here and they are both younger than I am (28 and 30 years old). This is so unlike me to have this happen in my life I could hardly understand it. I finally swallowed my pride and asked a woman what was wrong with me that I couldn't seem to 'break through'. People are very nice and friendly but I can't seem to get past FRIENDLY and into real FRIENDSHIP if you know what I mean. She said, "Honestly, if you're not from this area, it's very hard to make friends. People have their friends for years and aren't really into letting new people into their circle." Boy, was she right! Even though I don't see them often, thank goodness I still keep in touch with my friends from my old town or I would be horribly lonely.
I am sooo looking forward to moving again to a place where people are anxious to make friends and open to including new people in their lives. What a refreshing change for me. Bring it on!! I look forward to my first friend story when I reach TV. I am convinced there WILL be a story to tell )

[bkcunningham1]

My first TV friends started out as strangers who were placed with my husband and me to make a foursome on the golf course. They were just renters in TV at the time and have since moved to Orlando. We've stayed good friends and gotten to know each other. They are planning to move to TV permanently in within the next year. I can't wait!

[juneau]

You can meet a lot of friends by going to the pool or joining a shuffleboard league, card playing or any of the other sports. In the summer, it's a bit easier, cuz neighbors are outdoors or by the pool. Be sure to go to your neighborhood adult pool. It won't take long to meet and greet. There is also a club called Dining In/Out. I think it's in the weekly schedule of activities.My sister belongs to it, and you get joined with 3 other couples. If you enjoy cooking, then you each have a turn to have each other over your houses for a meal within a 3 month period. If you prefer dining out, you are assigned 3 other couples, and pick restaurants to eat at. After 3 months, you are assigned 3 different couples. If you can't find it in the activities booklet and need more info, let me know.

[BritParrothead]

I met my first friends at the villages on ther internet!!
I was a member of the U.K Parrothead club. A lady from the villages posted a question on our forum, and I answered her. I was very surprised to learn that she lived here, as we had been visiting for many years!!
We were going to be in Kissimmee a few weeks later and arranged to meet up at El Santiago, where the village parrotheads used to meet.
The welcome we received when we walked in to the bar was amazing. This was 6 or 7 years ago.
This lady & her husband have introduced us to many wonderful people over the years, and last month we had a lovely evening at a house party.
All because I answered my friends question. How nice is that?

[GTTPF]

We met our first friends in TV through very good friends of ours in NJ. They went to high school together. When we told our friends in NJ that we were planning on moving to TV. We already booked a lifestyle visit, they called Earnie and Jean and we spoke to them on the phone. We kept in contact with them via email until our lifestyle visit. We played golf together and went out to dinner a couple of times. They even had us over to their home for dinner. We have gotten together on subsequent visits and we are very lucky to know them.

[ladydoc]

Originally Posted by Yorio

Outside of your immediate neighbors, how did you meet your first friend in TV? We went to visit our mail box one morning and came across a couple who were looking at a map of TV in the parking area. I asked whether they needed help and that started our conversation which lasted sometime including about his spiffy new golf cart. As we were headed their way, they told us to visit his place which we did. The following week, we asked whether they would like to come for a drink. This is how our first friends came to be. Florida's friendliest town!

I met some wonderful folks through TOTV. KathieI, Graciegirl and PTurner got me through some tough times of serious doubts about having bought a house here, getting rid of so much of my past when we were packing, etc. Don't think we would have made it without them.

Since being here, we have both made so many dear friends. We are blessed to live in a neighborhood where just about everyone goes out of their way to be kind and helpful. Believe it or not, I tend to be on the shy side. I always joke about putting me in front of 500 people to give a lecture, I am fine, no problem, but put in a room with 3 people I don't know and I am very shy.

Depends on the role you play...the professional role was a piece of cake...the personal is more challenging. That really happened...my boss called and told me a speaker cancelled out at a conference he was at and he offered me up to take the speaker's place and I had to be there the next morning. No prep time, no notes, no nothing. Lecture went fine. Cocktail party afterwards...now THAT was hard. Needless to say, I had a little chat with the boss about that whole deal. LOL

The point of all the above is that even if you see yourself as shy and less outgoing (hubby is the exact opposite..he is very outgoing) then others, the people here are so kind and accepting that you can just be you and you will fit in anyway. We are finally at an age where you can be yourself and not really care what others think and that self acceptance is a very good thing and makes things easier in and of itself. I met my first friend here when she came over and invited us to the block party. Since then we have been on the go and I am learning to be more outgoing....so I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.