The longer you are here, the more you know about how all things work. The developers will look better as time goes on. The real truth is that you know the flavor and mindset and even, politics of certain people and that colors their views of the developers. Both pro and con.

Many folks have an agenda. I have been accused of working for the developer and even a rumor was spread that Gary Morse bought my house for me. Which really makes my hair curl. Sweetie and I worked hard for every single thing we have.

those would be the 'nirvana nancies'

That may be true with you, but, having been here about as long as you, it is the opposite with me. When we first moved here, I thought the developer was great and had the best interest of us Villagers as his primary interest. My glasses were tinted deep rose. Now, after seeing the many changes, almost all done from the perspective of profit and most often at the detrimant of what I value in terms of quality of life, I see the developers as just very good business people who know how to make tons of money. There's nothing wrong with that per se, but any notion that decisions are being made because it will make us happier has long gone for me.

The good news for us is that if we think about moving to any other place we can't think of one that is better. Our hope is that with continued changes that from our perspective are bad, that in 20 years we will continue to think that TV is the best place to be. That is why I titled one of my posts "Death by a Thousand Cuts". Any one thing, like the closing of KB, is not enough to make a great thing bad. However, a string of such changes may ultimately sway our view. It hasn't happened yet and when we talk to our friends and relatives, we still tell them we are living in a great place, because we are.

I wasn't born yesterday and can certainly discern between a legitimate beef and a position based upon someones political ideology. There are some who struggle with those that are incredibly successful living out the American Dream. You know, those 1 percenters. How dare they make a profit. To your point, either extreme would be tiring. However, I can't subscribe to the examples given for their extreme displeasure, if not hatred. For the record I consider myself a pragmatist and a realist with a highly sensitive internal bs detector.

Well said. This place has a lot going for it, but is not perfect. We accept the imperfections at this point in time, but as time goes on, we may become less accepting.

Posters should read back on negative posters posts. Just about EVERY one of them is the same. I would wager that 90 percent or more of some folks only have negative posts and they really get worked up to almost saliviicating when they can find ANYTHING to nail on the developer. Why is that??????

On the other hand there are those that are called Pollyanna's. Obviously those Pollyanna posters are not too bright, naïve, unfocused, uneducated, failures in life and under the spell of this place. Poor them.

I guess what bothers me are the posts that are certain changes will be negative before they even occur. A good example was the reconstruction of the Spanish Springs square. All the complaints that the pavers would catch heels and cause injury. Well, I don't see any problem with the result. Looks like a pretty smooth surface.

We have all the concern about parking with the opening of The Sharon, followed by more concern about valet parking which may be an attempt to mitigate problems. Posts are made asserting it will fail, even hoping it will fail. Posts certain that the area for valet parking will take away the best slots. How do they know the particulars? They don't. It's just speculation without any basis in facts.


How about waiting to see how it works first? Criticism of a real, existing problem is always worth discussing. I've seen many instances in my years here where a change was announced that raised some concern only to have it work out well. Their track record is pretty good.

And then what? No place is perfect. However, I would dare to say it's more perfect than most, if not all. This is not just me as about a hundred thousand seem to concur. It just happens to be the same old usual suspects with some sort of axe to grind. It's not as if there aren't things we think of that would make things even better and there is disappointment when things that are enjoyed or cherished are removed. In the case of the latter however our first reaction is not to double down on character assassination but more accepting of the changes with the hopes it all works out in the end (glass half full). Although in my mind it is not conceivable at this time, if at any time in the future we are not in favor of the then current status or direction The Villages is heading, we would simply sell.

I only have one thing to say......
I love the Villages & the developers !!! This is an awesome place to live. 15 years and I still think it's fabulous. Thank you Harold and the Morse family for creating this place so I can live the wonderful lifestyle I live !!!
Just sayin' ! :D

I honestly can't say it any better. And I've only been here 3 years.

;).