During January through the end of March is a great time to play golf on all the surrounding courses and to eat out outside the bubble. Do day trips to all the neat places around here. Take the Ferry down to Key West for a couple days. Take a vacation. Take advantage of the bubble when it's available and take advantage of the area when the bubble is full.

I am with Angie, if a place wasn't popular like the Villages, I doubt I would want to move there. I like people, most of the time, and make friends easily. I can work around the crowds. I just want to get there.

I have had people tell me on occasion "Gail, why don't you tell us what you really think?" Is this a problem? :a20:

Momesue,

100% agree with you. My wife and I moved to The Villages 2 years ago from Silver Spring. We really enjoy being able to get in the golf cart and be at entertainment, church, shopping, or restaurants within a leisurely 15 minute golf cart ride. No need to get on the Beltway, Rockville Pike, Georgia Avenue, or Columbia Pike in rush hour traffic to get anywhere.

Where in the DC area were you?

I would have to agree with other poster's here that "IF" we didn't have the amount of folks we do...we wouldn't have all the spots for shopping, eating out etc. TV has been a boon to the area, economically and we're also reaping the positives. Talk to folks who were here early on and you will hear that there wasn't nearly the amount of "amenities" that we have now. Yes, there was more of a small-town feel but everyone HAD to go to Ocala, Leesburg or beyond for many things. I moved here from a NIMBY (not in my backyard) attitude and it's refreshing to live in "The Bubble"!!!! I can't wait to see what happens on 466A and south of it!! Bring it!

Exactly, last January to March we visited all around here and it was fun. When the snowbirds left we decided to try one summer here to see how it really was. I think the summers here are one the best kept secrets. Walk onto the golf courses almost anytime from noon till dark. Going out to eat? No problem and no waits.

Waiting in line means having a chance to strike up a conversation. People come up from all over including beyond the "pond". People here enjoy talking with other people. There won't be people cutting in line like the college days in cafeteria. In general people here are very civilized. Even visitors to TV get TV "Koolaid" and they enjoy the atmosphere. Yes, it may get crowded but come on down.:welcome:

I agree. Outside of the high season, things are pretty normal here in The Villages. But Jan - March is incredibly hectic. All the tee times are pretty much taken up, waiting lines into all the restaurants unless you think ahead and make reservations, loads of traffic out on Rts. 466 and 27. I plan any excursions to avoid rush hour traffic which means I go out really early or really late. You can work around all the business, and I do enjoy seeing my snow bird friends, but it is very busy and crowded at that time of year.

Crowded?
 

I grew up in NYC, if you go to a restaurant you make reservations or expect to wait. I think it adds a nice seasonal flow as the 'flocks' alight and then return to Capistrano(?). I still ride around in my cart and wave because it's the best way to say how ..er..DARN happy I am to be here!

:a040:

I agree....I lived in a very large city area and felt less crowded then I do here from October to May Tee times are hard to get, resturant waits too long, town square too crowded, stores seem to run out of certain inventory and The Villages is not yet finished. And as The Villages increases its population so does the surrounding area which adds to this problem. And on top of all that you have the tourist aspect (renters, residents 'guests,etc) and you really swell the ranks. Its the price you pay for florida living

not too bad
 

We've lived here three years and the only real time it seems crowded is from December through April when the snowbirds are here. You get use to making changes in your schedule for dining out, etc. Hope you make it here someday.

I'm glad so many people here can afford to dine out and cause lines in the restaurants Jan-March.....it speaks volumes about the sensible prices at most places, and about the financial health and sensible money management of TV residents.

One of the things we like most about TV is that people are good citizens and live within their means.

Been here 10 years. I hate the traffic and the lines and the crowds in the winter months - October thru May. The reason you do not see any complaints on this thread is because we will be bomblasted with comments about why we complain.

Just my thoughts.

I didn't know we could bomblast in TV... ;)

People aren't shy about complaining on this board, at least in my estimation. You've stated that you're not thrilled with the crowds and no one is beating on you...well....... not yet,... :icon_wink::icon_wink::icon_wink:

Even at it's most crowded it is not even close to the every day crowdedness I moved away from.

I would hope not. If this place gets as crowded as NYC, I'm outta here!