[chelsea24]

I agree wholeheartedly with Johnny, Ronda, Nonie, etc. Here's to the "rose colored glasses".

FYI, I've never been accused nor do I look at the world through rose colored glasses. I'm a realist. And here's what's real to me.

I am completely happy and content with my home. (I'm a bricklayer's kid and believe me I know it's well built!) When we moved in (6 mos. ago) and had to make any service calls, which is usual with new construction, not only did they call back right away, the repairs were practically done before I could hang up the phone.

The rec centers, pools, golf courses, country clubs, the list goes on and on, far exceed standards of other communities. (And we looked at quite a few.)

When I drive around, I see nothing but beauty. Everywhere I look, by any standards, The Villages is absolutely breathtaking. I keep wanting to pinch myself because I still can't believe what a glorious community this is and that I really live here.

In Illinois, we paid $175 a month in association fees and all we had was a retention pond that they called a lake.

As far as the people go, be they snowbirds or frogs, I've never ever come across such a wonderful, friendly, welcoming group in all of my life. It actually took me by surprise and warms my heart everyday.

When I wake up in the morning, I thank God that my husband and I are living here and the joy we feel is overwhelming.

As far as the Morse family goes, I think they are brilliant, creative people who deserve every penny they get. And I don't give out compliments easily. They have set up something here that staggers the mind. Is anyone or anything perfect? No. But, I have to say, The Villages is as perfect as you can get.

I come from an advertising background. I was a member of the "Gold Ring" at Ralston Purina. This is a group of creatives that would meet in St. Louis and brainstorm to create new product ideas. I'm telling you this, because I look at things with a critical eye. What can be presented in a better way? What can be improved? What can be added or subtracted to make this product close to perfect.

If there's something missing in The Villages -- I haven't found it. And believe me, I've been looking.

So BRAVO to the Morse family! :#1: May you all continue to improve this planet for generations to come.

[samhass]

Well said, Chels!!!!!!1 :bigthumbsup:

[handieman]

op:

Can ya feel da love?? lovehorse

Color me Happy

Handie :joke:

We love "Happy Land"!! Really miss the beauty of TV when I drive around our home town of Bloomington. After the terrible winter there are many potholes and road repair to be done. More new schools to be built in our area because all of the new people moving in since we have two Universities and State Farm home headquarters.Our taxes are about as high as Chicago and continue to go up yearly to keep up with what a city has to do with 100,000 population.We return here because we want to be with friends and family and to come home to Il. is a very real balance for us and makes us appreciate what the Village is all about. It is not a surprise to have the fees increase yearly --take a look at everything else from eggs to bread to gas. Go with the flow and enjoy the minute!! The family is :#1: with us and they truly amaze us in their plans for the balance of the Villages. If they are able to make their fortune by building this Retirement Community I for one am happy for them. Hey, you can always move!! :'( :'(

[chelsea24]

1rnfl LOL Uncle Muncle, I love you!

[graciegirl]

Chelsea,

What a lovely articulate post!

[jadebox]

Originally Posted by Hope2bforever

I love my rose colored glasses and happy hour!!! Everything here is not perfect but not bad enough to be so angry about it.

Not a newbie been here 7 years!!!!

[redwitch]

OK, I'm a newbie. I love TV. I love the people of TV. I love the landscaping, the golf carts, even the silly gates and especially the greeters. I have yet to drive around and not see somthing that makes me smile. I thank the Schwartz and Morse families from the bottom of my heart for giving me this.

That being said, I understand what Fran is saying. The Morse family is in this for the money. TV was not created out of the goodness of their hearts but to make a profit. I'm sure they were well aware that there was a risk of sinkholes considering that risk is true of about 99% of Florida. They did foul up on the amenities issue and a lawsuit was required to straighten that mess up. However, they did post a couple of articles about it in the Sun and acknowledged that had the POA not stepped to right a wrong, the wrong would have been continued. They didn't say, but did imply it was not deliberate but rather one of those things that just hadn't been well thought out. No one is perfect, not developers, not attorneys. Some things are overlooked -- that's one of the reasons there are lawsuits. Taking our beloved buffalo away is a tragedy. Understandable considering the stupidity of some but a tragedy nonetheless.

So, my view is three cheers to TV and TVers as a whole! Five cheers to Harold Schwartz for having the vision to create TV. Three cheers to the Morse family for continuing that vision. Zero cheers for the business side -- don't care how good, honest, etc. you try to be, it's still business and the greed factor does step in and make things less palatable than the average person wants it to be.

[villages07]

Chels,

Thanks for your honest, uplifting post that puts life here in TV back in perspective.

Sometimes folks can get mired in negatives and complaints and lose sight of all the good, beautiful, positive things surrounding them.

Yes, the family business is concerned with selling houses and making money, but, I still have to believe that there is also a lot of family pride about the community they have built and their legacy going forward.

[Beltlady]

I can see just fine through my rose colored glasses, thank you. Maybe Mark Morse is for making a lot of money, but isn't thats why you go into a business. This just happens to be a BIG one. Lots of money to be made, and while he's at it makes a lot of people happy. Maybe he has learned a lesson from the $40 million episode. I watch the HOA meeting on VNN and thought he was quiet sincere. He might not have apologised or confessed but don't forget he's a MAN.
Now let's get back to saving our buffalo. I really think we can change his mind when he sees all the petitions and letters.

[golfnut]

I would like to add my .02, I think Schwartz was a visionary and the Morse family has done a great job carrying on his legacy, of course they have to make money or they wouldn't be able to stay in business. This is a project of epic proportions and carries with it a lot of risk, when you assume a lot of risk you also typically reap a lot of benefit. But as many have already stated what a beautiful, upscale product this business continues to put out, actually I think they get better every year, which means they care enough about it to learn from their errors and adjust accordingly. As far as the POA goes yes they can be crude, loud and unpolished but the squeaky wheel gets the grease, I look at them as our squeaky wheel. That's my take on all this, I'll have the grape kool-aid today thank you. Now Rhonda you've been around long enough to know that every issue will attract negative as well as positive comments so I suggest you stick to your guns and don't worry about those who may not agree with you.

Now does anyone remember where the post is that was an article written by one of the Morse family members that talked about the settlement and how it came to be??..GN

[gfmucci]

Originally Posted by redwitch

Zero cheers for the business side -- don't care how good, honest, etc. you try to be, it's still business and the greed factor does step in and make things less palatable than the average person wants it to be.

So, Red, the other options are what:* A magical Theocracy, another government socialist program, or "evil" business which enables people to*earn a living providing products or services people want?

[Indy-Guy]

PROFIT IS ONLY A DIRTY WORD WHEN THE OTHER GUY IS GETTING IT!
BUT WHEN YOU ARE GETTING IT THAT IS A GREAT THING

I would think that anyone who lives in The Villages must of worked for a company that made a profit or how can we afford to live in such a great place.

Or perhaps my neighbors are bank robbers.

BRAVO to the Morse family keep making a good profit and thanks for putting a part of that profit back into our community.

[JohnM]

Has anyone run across a complete transcript of the Mark Morse speech? I saw the summary in the Sun and as I am out of town I cannot watch the VNN broadcasts this weekend.

TIA

John

[DennisStGermain]

Yes, I have watched it a couple of times now ....BUT.... I don't think he should openly compare and criticize another publication simple because he disagrees with it.

Freedom of the press and all that stuff guaranteed by the Constitution, you know.

It goes with the territory. Take your lumps and let it go. Seems like he will just add fuel to the fire if he responds and compares the POA paper with the Daily Sun.

If the courts awarded the money then there must have been some credible evidence proved.

Besides, if I had half his money I couldn't care less about the negative press, right or wrong.

There will always be people who complain and disagree with what you are trying to do.

Dennis