[jojo]

Been here 8 1/2 years and love it as much as the first day. The changes have been positive - The Sharon, Rohan, Eisenhower, many new restaurants, shops etc. I'm also amazed at the maintenance and upkeep of all the wonderful facilities. It is more crowded in season but manageable. There are options if you don't want to go to the "free" classes at the rec centers. The Lifelong Learning College has many fitness classes and you are guaranteed a spot - same with MVP. As I read this thread, it appears that others have experienced far more horror stories with bad drivers than I. I can't say I've ever had a near miss. Yes there are some speeding drivers but that's fairly ubiquitous throughout the country. I love the activity choices, good neighbors, tennis friends, bridge group, the nightly entertainment at the squares and the beautiful landscaping etc. I volunteer at the Villages hospital and it is definitely improving. I tell everyone that moving to The Villages was the best decision we've ever made.

[Garden guru]

Originally Posted by Cmgregory

For those of you who have been residents of TV for at least 2 to 5 years:

Is it as good as you thought it would be?

If you had it to do all over again, would you still buy in TV?

We would like to hear both the positives and negatives of living in TV.

We have visited TV several times and walked around the squares but have never stayed there. We have heard nothing but good comments but wonder if it as good as everyone says it is.

Thanks for your comments!

I've lived in The Villages for three years now, and I hope you're taking the feedback that you're getting to your inquiry with the grain of salt. This forum has a long track record of verbally attacking anyone who says anything negative about The Villages. The standard response to negative comments is generally some version of "If you don't like it, leave". Consequently, people stop voicing their opinions. In other words, it's important to keep in mind that this forum is not a representative sample of the overall population of The Villages by any stretch of the imagination.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by Garden guru

I've lived in The Villages for three years now, and I hope you're taking the feedback that you're getting to your inquiry with the grain of salt. This forum has a long track record of verbally attacking anyone who says anything negative about The Villages. The standard response to negative comments is generally some version of "If you don't like it, leave"...

Some truth to that...just like those who praise TV are accused of being blind supporters of the developer who can do no wrong. It goes both ways.

[kaseydog]

Have lived in villages over 3 years. I find the increase in population , traffic, morse bridge & $400 million in bonds situations very disturbing.. The worst of all is the tv health center disaster. On lifestyle visit they touted the wonderful health centers that would be available to use. Health care is vital to 65 & over retirement community.
My husband & i have wonderful health coverage through retirement packages. It was accepted for 3 years until we were notified that as of 12/31/16 we are out. We can join medicare advantage(way inferior & more expensive than my current plan.) also be warned you are signing up for the 2017 med adv plan. Agents told us many changes possible for 2018 version. Please no rude comments such as "so when are you moving". Not an option for everyone. We made a huge error in moving here. Have no one to blame but ourselves.

[billethkid]

We have been here over 12 years.
I f we had it to do over again, we surely would. With one exception, I would buy more tha a couple more homes here.

Talk about too much traffic?
I guess that depends where you are from. Traffic always moves along; a little busy during what some would call a rush hour. And maybe a little busier when the folks who live north get here. Being retired, there is no hurry.

We have watched TV more than triple in size since 2004.
We have also watched as TV attained a population size that was attractive to major national chains, food and retail.

In 2004 there was no Arnold Palmer CC, no Lake Sumter Square, no Home Depot, no Rolling Acres shopping center, no Kohls, almost none of the major restaurant changes, etc.

So the growth has been good. The way TV is planned with a sort of decentralized mail, pool and rec center location most close in needs are attended to within a few minutes from the house.

If one is flexible on when or where to play golf one will always get a t time. Restaurants....once past the early bird diners, there is no problem.

We enjoy TV as much as day one 12 years ago.
Ya see we are retired and we are not in a hurry!!!

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by blicata

Have lived in villages over 3 years. I find the increase in population , traffic, morse bridge & $400 million in bonds situations very disturbing.. The worst of all is the tv health center disaster. On lifestyle visit they touted the wonderful health centers that would be available to use. Health care is vital to 65 & over retirement community.
My husband & i have wonderful health coverage through retirement packages. It was accepted for 3 years until we were notified that as of 12/31/16 we are out. We can join medicare advantage(way inferior & more expensive than my current plan.) also be warned you are signing up for the 2017 med adv plan. Agents told us many changes possible for 2018 version. Please no rude comments such as "so when are you moving". Not an option for everyone. We made a huge error in moving here. Have no one to blame but ourselves.

Health care is a choice here just like any other place. There are amazing doctors and dentists and some that aren't so great. We wanted to get into that health care system and they wouldn't take our insurance from the very beginning. I think it was created to offer an alternative to some of the really not so great doctors who are around, just like the Southern Lifestyles and the restaurants...but everyone has an opinion as to the reason. It was meant to make money, not lose it for sure.

If you go back and read JoJo's post above, I would say that is how 90+ percent feel.

I love it here. LOVE IT...nine years now.

[Ohiogirl]

Bought 10 yrs ago, starting our 7th season as seasonal residents - we are Florida residents but spend 4-1/2 months or so in Ohio in the summer.

Like a lot of people, we wish the Villages had maxed out at 100,000 or less like we were all told, but still think there's no other place with so much to do for so little. I disagree with the poster who said it costs a lot to entertain yourself here. We spend much less day to day here than we do in Ohio.

We are too tired to go out and spend much as we play pickle ball (free here, have to buy balls temporary nets in Ohio in summer - pay rec center fee in winter), go to rehearsals (husband is a musician) in a golf cart, play duplicate bridge for $3 (it just went up from $2) whereas at duplicate bridge centers in Ohio it is $8/game. Social bridge and other card games are either free or $1 with a chance to win a few bucks. Pools are free, as are tons of exercise classes and things like water polo. And of course, there are the executive golf courses - free if you walk, very reasonable trail fee if you take your golf cart.

Groceries are more expensive here than in the Midwest, but probably not the northeast or west.

Lots of free interest groups and charities to volunteer in. Movies a little cheaper than most places, and lots of entertainment options are either free or not particularly expensive. More to do here than anywhere we have heard of. Every time we visit relatives in Ft. Myers (and we don't like to go often because of the traffic and because there's not that much to do), we meet people who are in process of moving here!

It's not for everyone, though. If you are not a joiner and a doer, you might not be happy here, or if you need to be near the water. We just do a long weekend or occasional visit to a beach area - for us, fun to visit, but wouldn't want to live there.

[plrbr1120]

End of this month we will be residents of the Villages 4 years. Would not make any drastic changes. During snowbird season, it's a little busier but we get thru it. Winters are warmer than they were in Illinois. Summers are hotter than in Illinois....but still lovin' livin' here.

[ColdNoMore]

I tell everyone that it's not all that great here and they will be much better off to wait and buy...a few months before build-out.

[bbbbbb]

[QUOTE=Garden guru;1307679]I've lived in The Villages for three years now, and I hope you're taking the feedback that you're getting to your inquiry with the grain of salt. This forum has a long track record of verbally attacking anyone who says anything negative about The Villages. The standard response to negative comments is generally some version of "If you don't like it, leave". Consequently, people stop voicing their opinions. In other words, it's important to keep in mind that this forum is not a representative sample of the overall population of The Villages by any stretch of the imagination.
Yes, we see your point. The drinking and driving is very popular and the drinking crew really gets riled up if we mention the problem. So the scene is to ignore it, there is nothing we can do, tolerate it or move. Too bad that someone has to be killed or maimed, maybe if someone sues the place for the push on happy hours???? Those folks perched on a bar stool for hours, well,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, they do not walk home, they drive, have seen it first hand. Also on the modal paths, it can get real scary at times. So be careful and be aware, the guy or gal in the car or cart may not do what you might expect from a careful driver.
bbbbbb

[spring_chicken]

And those who frequent the forum know the agendas of those who introduce the same tired topic in every response. I hope there is a community and message board for those who believe that everyone who drinks is a criminal and danger to society. Please find a community with no alcohol and move there. The vitriol is getting very tired.

[asianthree]

One can always move to dry counties in the south.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by Cmgregory

For those of you who have been residents of TV for at least 2 to 5 years:

Is it as good as you thought it would be?

If you had it to do all over again, would you still buy in TV?

We would like to hear both the positives and negatives of living in TV.

We have visited TV several times and walked around the squares but have never stayed there. We have heard nothing but good comments but wonder if it as good as everyone says it is.

Thanks for your comments!

First..............congratulations on starting a great thread.

As with any where in the world, there is the good, the bad and the ugly. A lot depends on if you are a half full, or half empty person. From 10,000 feet, something must be going good..........look at the explosive growth in TV.

One of the most amazing things about TV is the people (yes, the properties, the squares, the golf cart style living are all amazing but, ). People from every where, with amazing backgrounds all come together to enjoy the next phase of their lives. Some living 100% on Social Security, some on pensions, others living off their millions. Doesn't matter, we are enjoying the next phase.

Sure, there are some who don't like it here. Is it the place or the person, we will never know. I pray for them. Life is too short [ mostly at our old ages ;-) ] not to be happy.

I watched this place grow for 15 years before we purchased. I enjoyed the video's, but it's better than the video's. There will be some of the half fulls who attack me, but again..........all I can do is pray for them and their happiness.

Hope you come and join us, you will not be sorry.....I can tell.

Good Luck.

[rubicon]

Cmgregory: The question you pose can only be answered by you and based on your situation as respects family, finance, health, personality and temperament.

Here are some of the considerations we had that may mirror yours also. We moved to Florida because of the tax advantages;albeit property taxes are higher than what we expected. The last six summers that we have lived here have been very hot and humid especially for my wife. It use to be that there was some relief from congestion in off season but no longer. We adjust .

There are plenty of things to do here but again it depends on the person which carries me to the amenities. You need to consider how active you desire to be given your interests and your health because you will be paying a monthly fee whether you use any amenities or not.

We live in a very friendly and active neighborhood and that is a blessing because without family around they in a limited sense become your support system

I knew The Villages expansion would become a victim of its own success but then reasoned that it is a well planned community with rules that assist in keeping properties from deteriorating .

Some residents here compare The Villages to that of an adult Disney World which they view as a positive. Again because we are all different that concept to me translates to not real and not real translates to artificial

Finally The Villages is marketed as an 55 and over retirement community but it is increasingly becoming a vacation destination for many and that also tempers the meaning of community.

To my wife and I this is not a right or wrong, love it or leave it thing, it just is and we adjust.

The best of luck with your decision and your decision will be the right one.

Personal Best Regards:

[PaPaLarry]

Make the move!!!!!! You will not be sorry.