Talk of The Villages Florida - Just making sure The Villages is THE place for us

Talk of The Villages Florida (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/)

- The Villages, Florida, General Discussion (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/)

- - Just making sure The Villages is THE place for us (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/just-making-sure-villages-place-us-20776/)

Your first forum? Wow. Thanks for landing here. I'm glad you stayed.

I've heard others say this is their first forum, too. That is so nice to hear that people feel welcome.

Now, wasn't that a self-serving hijack?

I hope somebody will push this thread back on topic to help the original poster decide if The Villages is the right place. Wasn't that the original topic?

We love the villages:eclipsee_gold_cup: every thing about it and when our house sells in Iowa we will be moing to the villages. Hopefully to a CYV :crap2:

Daryl - have you vistied TV or other FLA communites yet?

Quote:

Originally Posted by katezbox (Post 198834)

I was a newbie not too long ago - and this is the first forum I ever posted on. People made me feel welcome.

Me too...my first (and only) forum!

Dirigo

Quote:

Originally Posted by katezbox (Post 198834)

Tony,

Newbies are important to keep the forum fresh - but I think many of the "seniors" may drift away if the same topics keep being raised when there is really nothing new to say about them.

I think Kate's comment above is very perceptive. And although it is off topic, sometimes threads meander into interesting side territories.

I agree that newbies are important to keep the forum fresh. Obviously we all started as newbies and were grateful for all information received. In the past year or two, we exchanged recommendations, discussed issues, made many friends. And some have drifted away, some continue to post.

And while newbies are very important, it is true that senior members may get bored and leave TOTV if the same topics keep being rehashed. For instance, "What is a bond" is an extremely interesting thread for a new members, but very boring for a senior member. And I totally understand the post by Russ Boston about Leisureville.

I don't know that answer to this issue, but I sure think it deserves some discussion.

As I said earlier - my take on it is that TV is not for you. It is very difficult to overcome a lot of negatives (even if they exist only in your frame of reference) and move away from something you enjoy and are comfortable with.

Maybe just a nice vacation or two each year would do the trick?

Good luck in any final decision you make.

Russ

I think you've made the right decision for you.
Good luck

Quote:

Originally Posted by senior citizen (Post 199371)

I would like to thank all of the very friendly folks in this forum, especially the lady from Connecticut, who seemed to have the most understanding of "why" I was asking certain questions (prior to a lifestyle visit) regarding various issues of living in a sub tropical climate after having done so in the past & relocated back to New England from both seacoasts of Florida. In the back of my mind, I was wondering if perhaps central Florida might be different.

Well, as of yesterday, my dear husband notified me that his retirement clock shows 638 days till his retirement; 509 days until he begins shutting down his business......which should take several months; then prepping our home for sale. He has a "plan" which will have us buying our retirement home in midcoast Maine. Our winters may be spent in Florida when the cold dreary days get to us. Now that glorious spring has sprung up here, that's all fine with me.

It isn't all about his boat and lack of convenient body of water........but mostly that we are so ingrained with the Yankee "Live Free or Die" philosophy of independence, I do believe that we would find it extremely difficult to be stifled in speech. Being politically correct (and I'm not talking politics) can get very old fast. We've always been the "honest plain speaking" type........and appreciate that in others. Perhaps I used the wrong words when I "joked" about the cheerleaders at TV........and I can understand that the ones who did not adjust well (whether to the intense sunshine and intense heat & humidity, the "critters" since I won't say what type I found out about, the density and the crime in the "rest of Florida......not in TV, but in the state in general", we just don't want to make another costly mistake.

I think TV would be a lovely place, as would other retirement communities for a month or so getaway...........but I know in my heart........we would not adjust. New Englanders are a more private sort and an adult Disney World might be nice for a spell, but not for 365 days a year. This is only the conclusion we've come to. My husband also has an intolerance to the heat, which I have to keep in mind.

I deleted all my own posts the past few days (after I figured it out) as I believe a lot of my questions were taken out of context when answered. I didn't think I was being that negative. Florida has many good attributes or there wouldn't be so many people moving there. We know that; we are not stupid. We also know that when the long dreary cold snowy icy winter gets to people, they think of balmy Florida. It's natural.

In deleting my own posts, I noticed some critical information which I had been trying to research.........and the "mom" who kept writing about the problem in TV was now BANNED. So much for free speech. All I can say in closing is how can an adult senior citizen make an educated choice to even come for the "lifestyle visit", which we had planned to do all along.........when their serious, not frivilous questions are considered negative. It's expensive to move long distance nowadays. The properties may indeed be cheaper down there, but the moving costs are not, not to mention buying new furniture. So, in trying to determine if we should even "think" of Florida again as a retirement zone..........the general tone of too many rules, regulations, restrictions made it seem like the town of Stepford all over again. A few only on this forum made me feel that way. I'm sure this will be deleted or banned.......but just want you to know we have finally decided. We will be living in a small village of 1,500 down to earth folks.
We have a beautiful home in a residential area now..........just want to be by the water so he can enjoy whatever years God gives him "on his boat".

When we moved to New England 40 years ago, we left a suburb in the greater New Jersey/ New York metro region because of the density and were fortunate to raise our children in small town America (no malls, no highways, no crime). Guess it rubbed off on us too well............so all I was trying to do was weigh the pros and cons of trying Florida once again as we did have many happy vacations there........but two long distance round trip relocations, in error. Happy Spring to all and again, thank you.

The best response I received was from a realtor in Ocala who in answer to my query on the "critters" was very very honest and told me the truth but also softened that truth with the fact that they were here before us (or their ancestors were) and we have to cohabit together;-) At least now I know they are not just on the barrier islands.
We were not being naive in asking these questions.........as it would impact on our lives in retirement. Again, I do appreciate all the sincere responses I did receive. You are all great.

Very well said. You sound like a very intelligent person. I thank you for your thoughts. Have a great life!

senior citizen,

The members of Talk of The Village read your long, searching posts and offered you the best answers they could. They tolerated your left-handed jabs at their style of living in your posts, yet answered you sincerely.

You then returned and removed the text of your posts, waving your arse in their faces, making their sincere answers difficult if not impossible to understand.

You will notice that none of these members are removing their answers in response to your disingenuous "thank you" posts.

There are a lot of special, caring people who welcome newcomers and answer their questions and show that newcomers are welcome among them. Your actions show that, really, you made the right choice, you don't belong among them.

Hi Senior,

I am "the lady from Connecticut" you mention earlier. I wish you the best of luck in Maine - the summers are more beautiful than anywhere I have ever been. Would you share what town you have selected. I think I mentioned in a previous post that my husband's family is from the Mid-coast area and many made their livings as sea captains.

TV is not for everyone - there are 75,000 people in TV plus a lot of wannabes, but that still lives quite a few million living in other places they, too, consider wonderful.

I do not believe that Tony or Talk Host were deleting posts because they reflected negatively on TV - I think they deleted them when one person was rude/critical or made fun of another. As a blunt woman from up north, I really hate censorship and would like more transparency, but would not like to be ridiculed.

Kate

Senior citizen......

I read your original long post this morning before I went to the fitness center and don't recall anything that would cause a person to misunderstand its content. As I recall, you were describing your impression of TV as it relates to your lifestyle - and isn't that exactly what this thread is all about?

I'm only a wannabee, haven't yet visited TV, but hope to do so in the near or far future (hopefully NEAR). I appreciate reading everyone's comments whether they appear to be negative, positive, or cheers from the cheerleaders because every opinion has merit and should be judged by its sincerity not because it might be a different opinion.

Who knows...... maybe someday we will be neighbors in TV - I'd like that!

Oh senior,

I'm sorry - I obviously wasn't clear. When I mentioned Tony deleting posts, I was referring to your comment regarding his having deleted posts that were negative about TV. "In deleting my own posts, I noticed some critical information which I had been trying to research.........and the "mom" who kept writing about the problem in TV was now BANNED. So much for free speech." Maybe I am naive, but I think he only deleted posts that he felt would be hurtful to others.

I really think TV is only made better by those who really want to be there. If it isn't the place for you, then you have made the best decision for yourself and it is your life. I am happy that you and your husband have found the right place in Maine. As I have said before, it is an incredibly beautiful place.

Peace - I wish you both well!

Kate

Senior - I meant the negatives outweighed the positive in your balance sheet.

There are negatives and positives for any place - no one says TV is perfect.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter (Post 199441)

Will this ever end?

:agree:
I think I wrote this one off last week, why are people still entertaining her/him?:shrug:

Quote:

Originally Posted by katezbox (Post 199440)

Mom still has many friends still on this board. Please don't make any assumptions.
You can meet her anytime you want as she is always up on stage at exercise classes. As a matter of fact you can also meet her in the Horsen'Around club, Polo Club, Rainy Villa club, Teaching English as a Second Language, Helping the homeless etc. She loves the Villages and has tons of friends here. Read all the well wishes on helping hands as she had surgery in July. She was banned but so were many others.
Again...please don't make any assumptions!!!

Came to The Villages 2 years ago for LifeStyle program and now we are ready to buy and coming back for month of May to try and find a 2 Car Villa near The Squares. Anyway the last time we came down I noticed my GPS navigation did not work "in" The Villages. Was told that they had problem with The Villages not allowing address to be installed for GPS and although I found that hard to believ I was wondering if anyone uses a GPS to get around in The Villages as we could use a map to try and locate property for sale a GPS is so much easier.

Also after being taken around the 1st day the Sales Rep kept pushing "NEW" houses and kept telling us that the BOND was not a factor in "the Sales price" to which I never understood how she could tell us that as well as "neglected" to tell us that "The Villages" sales Rep are not allowed to sell .. or show houses that are listed thru Realtors or BuyOwner! Would really like to "change" my Sales Rep as once your in their "system" you keep the same Sales Pre and hate to offend but feel like they could care less about what "I'm" looking for.

Looking forward to buying in The Villages for the main reason that we can have things to keep us occupied and was amazed at how nice the people in The Villages seem to be. Anyway just curious as to if anyone uses a GPS to get around and if anyone might know of a "deal?" near Spanish Springs that has a 2 car garage around $150K - $160K.

Thanks and wishing you a great day... :2excited:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex (Post 199457)

Hi Alex,

I sent you a PM on this and I am quite confused. I never meant to in any way criticize her. Maybe I have made (dangerous) assumptions. But it is my understanding that the censorship on this site has been primarily due to hostile/unfriendly comments by posters.

I may not always agree with their posts (as TH will tell you), but I don't think they are deleting posts that are critical of The Villages. I know people who are no longer on this site that are good people. I don't know if the admins were "right" or "wrong" in banning them. It is not my intent to judge. As Boomer pointed out on another thread, it is not always easy to control your tone as you type as opposed to as you speak.

My point, if I was unclear, was to tell Senior that the admins did not censor posts that were anti_TV. From my understanding of the Sticky Enough! thread, they censored posts they felt were meanspirited.

You are right- she is a very good person.!!! But you are still trying to make an assumption. Just leave Mom out of conversations as she can't speak for herself.
Peace

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex (Post 199669)

You are right- she is a very good person.!!! But you are still trying to make an assumption. Just leave Mom out of conversations as she can't speak for herself.
Peace

Alex,

Not for nothing - I did not bring her into the conversation. You did.

My post was about whether or no the admins deleted posts due to those posts being negative towards TV. It DID NOT address reasons why anyone was banned from this site.

I have had posts deleted and yet have chosen to continue to participate on this site by weighing the pros vs the cons. Not sure why you are here. I am not trying to be disingenuous or "make assumptions" but I don't understand what your initial post on this topic had to do with mine.

Kate