Originally Posted by graciegirl

I should NOT be answering this, because it was before we bought in TV and it is hearsay and I am not sure of my facts. I think that I heard that the POA sued the Morse family and won. The issue is not clear to me, but part of it was that one subcontractor had not nailed the shingles properly on a zillion or so houses. Now this is gossip. I think I heard that somehow, some folks in the POA benefited monetarily. Please correct me if I'm wrong. And I probably am. What I am sure about is that almost every post I read from people in the POA is negative. About something. Sometimes about silly things. (IMHO) Now, I am an incurable optimist and an activist too. When something goes wrong, I immediatly set out to have it resolved. And It usually is resolved, or if it can't be, I change it somehow, or accept it.

Think you are referring to this, graciegirl. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/orlandos...0M+in+upgrades

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/orlandos...f+amenity+fees.

[InterestedOutsider]

I work in the Villages but do not live there, so take it fwiw.

The article is intellectual mumbo-jumbo. Even a non-resident can see this. The author is obviously viewing things from a distance with a very dirty pair of sunglasses. All one has to do is drive through the place day after day to see through it. If the place was so negative, then I'm thinking the golf cart trails wouldn’t be so active, the squares would be depressing, and you would get smart-a** looks and attitudes from the residents. Well, I have heard of some sour apples living here, but I've not seen any of this yet. Most everybody I meet is active and happy.

To those who don't know (probably a low percentage--it amazes me that TV detractors think that only they know "the low and dirty truth" about TV), a good chunk of your future amenity fees will be influenced by these resident boards making recommendations to the district. Representation is absolutely vital (it is after all, a government body), however each resident shouldn't take anything for granted because some of these people on the boards, while wanting to do good, have some bizarre AND EXPENSIVE ideas.

I won't mention many specifics, to protect the innocent, but I will say that a couple of "inquiries" from the residents board have come across the radar that I monitor lately. One inquiry, pertaining to the area of recreation center usage, was based on a "feeling" of the board members regarding usage. This "feeling" (note: that’s all the board has as evidence---a feeling) costs money by itself because time must be consumed to provide an answer. If, after the feeling is researched, the resulting data doesn't meet the board’s expectations, I fully expect a second request to come along to change the ways things are managed. This change, when completed, will undoubtedly cost tens of thousands to the district. To what end?: to BE SURE that nobody, but Villagers, regardless of the number, are using the rec centers.

A bizarre one was that some group of residents (I don’t know which) got irritated over some ongoing issue with the gates. Apparently, to get the point across, consideration was given to immediate cancelation of a contract for a number of gates, and had someone not intervened, it would have resulted in significant costs AND MAJOR HEADACHES for the residents going through those gates---for you see, no consideration was given to how the gates interact with computers. In fact, if I recall, the solution was as simple as contacting the company, and in short order, the glitch was repaired.

Who pays these costs? Ultimately the residents do.

So, the point is, as long as the residents remain engaged in the process of governing, the and the radicals can be kept at bay (along with their negativity), and smart people can serve on these boards, then hopefully, when I reach retirement age, it will still be an awesome place to live.

I think most know this already, but sometimes it pays to throw an alternative message out there for those who may be on the fence about certain things in TV.

Regarding gossip---well, sometimes it is true, but most of the time, it is either 100% false or skewed so far past reality and in so many people’s heads as gospel that no amount of facts can convince folks otherwise. Case in point: “The Villages in Texas”. As we all know from that game in elementary school, a fact, whispered to two folks downstream turns into a “biggest fish story”. Whisper it to four and you have a lie, albeit unintentional.

Fwiw, I look at it like this. If America is so bad, then why do people from all over the world risk their lives to come here? On a smaller scale then, if TV is so bad, then why are people from all over the US tossing their lives overboard to come here? The answer is the same for both questions: Opportunity! For the former it’s an opportunity to live free and earn a good living for a hard day’s work. For the latter, it’s the opportunity to live out one’s latter years doing what they love, day after precious day, and doing it with other like-minded people.

[barb1191]

Excellent post InterestedOutsider.

Well stated,and merely your "take" on the subject. Liked your outlook. Good to hear that your future plans are to become a TV-er.

Good luck to you.....barb

[samhass]

Outsider, you are back! Thanks for reposting.

[villages07]

Outsider,

Thanks for your post...it brings an interesting perspective to things. I hope that you will continue to read/monitor this board and chime in when you deem it appropriate. I can't tell what type of employment position you have, but, I would encourage you and other Villages employees to keep an ear on this board. As TOTV goes, so goes The Villages as far as what people are thinking, fearing, appreciating, etc.

As to the future, there are so many bright and talented people living in the Villages that we should expect our local governance to be reasonable, fair, and forward thinking. However, my personal fear is that more contrarians, negativists, or penny pinchers will get involved and we'll be hard-pressed to maintain our current quality of life. To quote BTK, it's up to the silent majority to make sure this doesn't happen and to remain One Villages and not a collection of "me first" individual neighborhoods.

Again, welcome Outsider!!!

Originally Posted by villages07

Outsider,

Thanks for your post...it brings an interesting perspective to things. I hope that you will continue to read/monitor this board and chime in when you deem it appropriate. I can't tell what type of employment position you have, but, I would encourage you and other Villages employees to keep an ear on this board. As TOTV goes, so goes The Villages as far as what people are thinking, fearing, appreciating, etc.

As to the future, there are so many bright and talented people living in the Villages that we should expect our local governance to be reasonable, fair, and forward thinking. However, my personal fear is that more contrarians, negativists, or penny pinchers will get involved and we'll be hard-pressed to maintain our current quality of life. To quote BTK, it's up to the silent majority to make sure this doesn't happen and to remain One Villages and not a collection of "me first" individual neighborhoods.

Again, welcome Outsider!!!

Agree, that more input from Villages employees is needed on TOTV. Glad to see you posting Outsider.

[KayakerNC]

Originally Posted by InterestedOutsider

Regarding gossip---well, sometimes it is true, but most of the time, it is either 100% false or skewed so far past reality and in so many people’s heads as gospel that no amount of facts can convince folks otherwise. Case in point: “The Villages in Texas”. As we all know from that game in elementary school, a fact, whispered to two folks downstream turns into a “biggest fish story”. Whisper it to four and you have a lie, albeit unintentional.

Great post InterestedOutsider.
I don't understand the "Villages in Texas" reference, and a quick search revealed nothing to enlighten me. Please elaborate, since I am easily confused. ???

[samhass]

Kayaker- there was a rumor that TV was opening another "Villages" in Texas. Someone else told me the same thing about NC. Outsiders comment about the "biggest fish story" is so true.

[KayakerNC]

Originally Posted by samhass

Kayaker- there was a rumor that TV was opening another "Villages" in Texas. Someone else told me the same thing about NC. Outsiders comment about the "biggest fish story" is so true.

Thank you, samhass. :bigthumbsup:

[graciegirl]

VERY WELL SAID Outsider and Village07.

Much food for thought and some optimism and hope expressed for this wonderful place to continue after the magnicent, friendly, wonderful group who live here now move to the village of "Heavenly".

[Peachie]

Very refreshing viewpoint, Outsider, and I think the key word here is "radical". Pouring gasoline on a fire seldom extinquishes it and so it will be in dealing with Village issues. Even though The Villages has been painted with a very broad brush by some authors and columnists as a community of people in la la land, I believe it is quite the opposite. Most Villagers are extremely cognizant of the issues involving this community, the world and are involved. Healthy rapport with powers that be and a finger on the pulse of what's happening are crucial for any successful community. Much more is achieved with direct problem solving than constant, biased, random attacks. The developers are attacked for having the foresight to build such an amazing project for which most of us are extremely grateful and in the process they are rewarded handsomely. Perhaps the Morse family is not out to drain every last nickel from us and truly do want their name on one of the most successful ventures in America, could that be possible? One post referred to Ocala as a "real city", The Villages are "real" also and growing. The more it grows, the more vibrant The Villages becomes. We have seen this happen in the four years since we discovered our retirement home. Time will tell but enjoy this moment as you stay involved. Having high expectations will be the key to our success....

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Peachie

Very refreshing viewpoint, Outsider, and I think the key word here is "radical". Pouring gasoline on a fire seldom extinquishes it and so it will be in dealing with Village issues. Even though The Villages has been painted with a very broad brush by some authors and columnists as a community of people in la la land, I believe it is quite the opposite. Most Villagers are extremely cognizant of the issues involving this community, the world and are involved. Healthy rapport with powers that be and a finger on the pulse of what's happening are crucial for any successful community. Much more is achieved with direct problem solving than constant, biased, random attacks. The developers are attacked for having the foresight to build such an amazing project for which most of us are extremely grateful and in the process they are rewarded handsomely. Perhaps the Morse family is not out to drain every last nickel from us and truly do want their name on one of the most successful ventures in America, could that be possible? One post referred to Ocala as a "real city", The Villages are "real" also and growing. The more it grows, the more vibrant The Villages becomes. We have seen this happen in the four years since we discovered our retirement home. Time will tell but enjoy this moment as you stay involved. Having high expectations will be the key to our success....

Wow Peachie. Still another great post.

[ebliss1]

One of the posts above referred to TV as a new type of community. As such, it will have growing pains and changes. Some good, some bad. The thing I get from reading the original post, the article it grew from and LadyKathleen's response all seem to miss one big issue:

People are moving to TV in droves because that is the type of life they want. They are leaving their old lives behind, intentionally. Their old lilves where layer upon layer of government control and oversight and whatnot were generating an environment they were dissatisfied with in some way. I'm not saying that local government issues are what drives people to TV, but for better or worse, the developer is building a different type of community here, and people are not only interested, they are responding in an overwhelmingly positive way, both by relocating to TV, and by willing spending their money in TV.

A lot of the issue I hear here are similar to the complaints people have leveled at Disney for years, but in spite of them all, people still flock to Disney and spend their money there.

Bottom line, for me at least, is if I am spending my time and money, so long as I feel like I am getting my money's worth, its cool. No environment is perfect, and no government is perfect, but if, on balance, things are more heavily weighted on the positive side of things, smile and enjoy.

One thing that did bother me a bit was in LadyKathleen's original post where she asserts that the VHA is working against the residents' best interests by stating each point as "The VHA did not support the POA..." This strikes me as a sort of "if you're not with us you're against us" attitude that can be off-putting to readers. A more effective way to raise the points would have been to show how the POA's position was more beneficial and how the VHA's lack of support of that position was detrimental.

[dianerk]

I must agree with ebliss1. We were in the original group of owners in the Disney community of Celebration (1996). Another "new" concept in living. Droves of people were always driving into town to see if it was indeed "stepford". Like "Leisureville" several books were written about our community. Some folks even believed we were told how to dress, what to say, etc. Very sad indeed. Like The Villages, it was a great place to live and the fact that it was CDD controlled -- it ALWAYS was kept beautifully. Did everyone like it? No, and they moved away (always an option if you are so very unhappy). Personally, I am glad to be in TV.

[samhass]

Jbsmom, We're glad you are here also. The Villages Rock!!!
BTW,Is there a local cat salon where a cat can be coiffed??? Your kitty needs a do!