[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

Summer will be much better than now and much cheaper if you are do a LifeStyle.
That said, TV is the best place to be with or without masks, with or without shut downs, with or without distancing.

I agree with this. Wait a few months. A few reasons: Things will be much more 'normal' as we get vaccinations done, and you will be able to interact with residents better. Some folks hate Florida in the summer. You need to test that. The reduced population makes a big difference with restaurants, taverns, activities, etc.

[Girlcopper]

Originally Posted by tbrock555

Thanks for the info. Actually my concerns are the opposite. I will give people all the space they want but will I get attacked for not wearing a mask outdoors? Will people freak out if I accidently get to close to them, and so on. And lipstick has not been a concern for me since, well since I was born, but thanks.

You will get the paranoid ones who scream if you come within 10 feet of them. If youre mask isnt on exactly right there is always the “one” nearby who will educate you. Ignore all of them. They obviously had a miserable life before covid and still have one. Wear a mask where required and thats only indoors not outdoors. Keep your 6 foot distance in stores or at events. If crowded outdoor events, common sense, wear a mask. Basicly do whats right and ignore or smile at the people whose only goal is to play covid monitor. Welcome to life in TV

[Goodi70]

Please attend the Good Golf school before "trying" golf to acquaint yourself with the rules, protocol and etiquette of the game. Too many folks just "jump in" because it's free.

[sallyg]

Originally Posted by tbrock555

Thanks for the info. Actually my concerns are the opposite. I will give people all the space they want but will I get attacked for not wearing a mask outdoors? Will people freak out if I accidently get to close to them, and so on. And lipstick has not been a concern for me since, well since I was born, but thanks.

If you want to go maskfree, dine in restaurants, and act as tho there is no pandemic or risk, Florida is for you.
I see most people masking in the grocery, but that's it.

[dhdallas]

Originally Posted by tbrock555

I do not want to start any debates here, masks or no masks, shut downs or no shut downs, distancing or no distancing, etc. I do have strong feelings in a way I am sure half would agree with me and half would not but debate is not my purpose here. I am just trying to find out how things are there now. Me and my wife are planning to visit sometime soon to see if it is a good fit for a possible permanent move. Just wondering how close to what the villages normally are would we experience. Are most things open. We are not golfers at all but will surely try it when we are there. Also what is the situation with supermarkets, restaurants, churches, working out in the gym, swimming pools, walking paths, gun ranges, billiards clubs/tournaments and all the other clubs. In north Jersey now and it is miserable here, as it is in NYC as much of my family and friends still there tell me. I want to visit the villages to see all it has to offer, just trying to find out if I come there now or very soon how much of what it has to offer will be available. Again, not looking for any debates, just trying to find out how much I would miss out on if I came down there now or are things fairly close to normal. Thanks again for all the help.

I came for the winter to The Villages last month from PA where Gov Wolf seems determined to bankrupt the small business owner with his dictatorial lockdowns, curfews, & mandatory mask wearing even outdoors. My wife, myself, my neighbors & my 4 grown children got COVID anyway (and it wasn't a big deal).

Gov DeSantis of FL is the polar opposite of Gov Wolf. No pointless statewide mandates. Most everything is open. Some businesses ask that you wear a mask but that's about it. Florida's COVID rate is right in the middle of the rate in all the other states & less than 27 states that have strict statewide measures.

Come on down and see what normal living is like.

PS: as you will find wherever you go, there are a lot of Chicken Littles & Nervous Nellies living here who swallow every gloom & doom story they read or hear about as if it were gospel.

[Bill1701]

Most things are open. Wear a mask indoors. Golf courses and driving ranges are packed so don't plan on playing much. The golf schools are open so you could take lessons.

[Villages Kahuna]

Not remotely close to what was “normal”. And don’t rely on the state or local government to dictate safety limitations. It’s pretty much up to the local businesses and residents to protect themselves, and way too many residents refuse to wear masks or social distance. Like most of the rest of the country COVID continues to spike in Florida.

We would never encourage friends or family to visit, as hard as that is. And we almost never go out for activities, restaurants or even to visit friends’ houses. Our outside activities are limited to rides in our car or golf cart.

[Burgy]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Most things are pretty close to normal in The Villages. Almost everything you listed is open except there may be some organized clubs that are not meeting on a regular basis. I would estimate The Villages overall activity at about 90 percent of normal. Bring a mask.

As one who has had 2 outdoor restaurant meals in 10 months, gets 80% of food with pickup orders, never goes to squares or bars or gym because of covid, and whose 3 clubs are not meeting I think 90% is way too high, more like50- 60%. That being said we can walk, golf cart, golf most any day. And you are probably safer in general with what crowds we have.

[merrymini]

Way better than NJ. Open for dinner and most other things. Some clubs are not meetings but others are. Golf is open and so is pickleball. Reasonable to wear a mask in stores or shopping of any kind. I never wear a mask outside unless I am at Disney. Do not let the nuttiest get to you or order you about. I have been out to dinner a great deal and dancing with my husband. You can still get a good feel for this place even if some clubs are not meeting.

[FromNY]

Get your vaccine where you live. Follow the recommended safe behaviors and check it all out. Some will tell you COVID is a hoax. Some will tell you a friend died from or with it. Basicly everything is open and the Villages keeps growing.

[lindaelane]

If you are over 65, you could probably get part 1 of your vaccine while visiting. Might be worth it, with low plane fares these day, to come back for part 2.

You will have essentially no problem taking the mask off outdoors (except maybe at an outdoor concert or something - I don't attend those). You will be asked to wear a mask in stores and usually in restaurants before food comes. You never are forced to wear a mask outdoors or after food comes in a restaurant.

Everything is open here. I am 99 percent certain it will remain open no matter what because remaining open is the philosophy of our governor and older people get vaccines now here, unlike other places - please no comments on whether you agree or disagree with the governor - I am only telling a newcomer what to expect. Thanks!

[PugMom]

Originally Posted by dhdallas

I came for the winter to The Villages last month from PA where Gov Wolf seems determined to bankrupt the small business owner with his dictatorial lockdowns, curfews, & mandatory mask wearing even outdoors. My wife, myself, my neighbors & my 4 grown children got COVID anyway (and it wasn't a big deal).

Gov DeSantis of FL is the polar opposite of Gov Wolf. No pointless statewide mandates. Most everything is open. Some businesses ask that you wear a mask but that's about it. Florida's COVID rate is right in the middle of the rate in all the other states & less than 27 states that have strict statewide measures.

Come on down and see what normal living is like.

PS: as you will find wherever you go, there are a lot of Chicken Littles & Nervous Nellies living here who swallow every gloom & doom story they read or hear about as if it were gospel.

dittos

[vintageogauge]

I would agree that you wait until summer, get your vaccination at home as it really hasn't even started down here and I believe you have to be a Florida resident 65 and over. It is starting to get crowded now, the positive cases are getting higher and higher every day, the tour trolleys are not running, most of the rec. center do not allow entertainment, the indoor activities are limited to a very few attendees, executive courses are crowded, doctors and dentists are way out in getting appointments, hospitals are getting crowded, a lot of stores and restaurants are in bankruptcy or actually closed. I'm not one of those that don't go anywhere because of the virus, I'm careful but not paranoid. It is just not the same here as it was a year ago. With over 1,000 people physically moving to Florida every day along with all the snowbirds and soon to be spring break crowds, I don't see this getting better for a long time.

[graciegirl]

I don't know, because I haven't been out. I am in the high risk group. My sweet husband is the "purchasing agent" and he does golf and it is pretty safe.

If I were you, I would wait until they sound the all clear, which I think is fairly soon, and see us in our beautiful glorious usual fun atmosphere.

There will be new homes and old ones and each will be in Village with almost all wonderful people who have such amazing stories to tell about what happened in all of the years before they arrived here. You will still see 100 rec centers all decorated in different themes with beautiful accessories and furniture and if you wait, you will see me painting and crafting at Laurel Manor. (I can paint and craft at any of them but Laurel Manor is a regional rec center and it is the closest to my house, and that is where all my buds gather in good times....which are coming soon.

I don't work for The Villages, don't know the Morses, but I have been absolutely amazed and delighted for fourteen years, after being at first skeptical that there wasn't a catch somewhere.

Buy as much space as you can comfortably afford. (Try to get a house with a golf cart garage) Remember it is incredibly affordable to hire the grass cut. (less than $50 bucks a month...paying during the three winter months when the grass doesn't grow, of course) This place is a wonderful gathering of mostly responsible and hard working people who have managed to plan ahead and land here.

I love The Villages. I know you will too. Hurry home when the bug is gone.

[Bill14564]

As you can see, the glass is half <something>.

People: Some are isolating until Covid is over, others are out as if Covid never happened. Most that I have observed are in the middle - taking precautions as they try to live life as normally as possible.

Pools: I believe there are no restrictions other than the chilly weather.

Activities: I see a lot of golf and hear a lot of pickleball. We are relatively new ourselves and haven't joined any clubs yet so I can't speak to those. There are a lot of people out walking and biking as well.

Squares: Can be moderately crowded for a very popular act or empty on a cool night. The number of people in the squares is controlled but will seem like too many to some and will seem like too few to those waiting in line to get in.

Restaurants: Seem to be completely open though some might have removed tables to allow more distancing.

Grocery stores: Seem normal. Masks are recommended and most wear them.

It sounds like you haven't scheduled anything yet so you won't be arriving until Spring at the earliest. The weather will be a bit warmer with more people out and moving around. Hopefully, the pace of vaccinations will have increased which will make people feel more comfortable and will work to reduce the Covid numbers.

Things are pretty normal now but should be getting even better in late Spring or Summer.