Another Note on Speeding
 

At one of the safety clinics we attended, the police chief said, "If your cart is involved in an accident, the first thing we will do is check the speed. If your cart has been modified to go over 20 mph, you're mine." When Lt. Wolfe of the Sumter Co. SO spoke at one of our neighborhood meetings, he said that not only would you get a ticket for speeding, you would have to appear in Bushnell before the judge (not just pay your fine) and explain to him why you were operating an unregistered motor vehicle.

Yet another reason to leave the governor alone! I thought about modifying it, and then read the warranty booklet and heard about speeding tickets. And realized that if I need to go faster I'll take my car.

I agree with Steve. Its a GOLF CART, not a street rod. If you live in TV you are probably either on vacation or retired...what's the rush? Just because some other modified (read "illegal") carts zip by yours doesn't mean souping up your cart is the smart thing to do.

On our LSP, Villagers told us of some very large fines for improper use of golf carts. Not to mention the liability issues if you are driving a golf cart that can travel at over the legal cart speed limit. You worked hard all you life to get here, don't put everything at risk just to go faster in a golf cart.

Besides, you're in a flimsy vehicle moving at, hopefully, not more than 19mph. If you are involved in an accident, the damage to your body at that speed could be severe enough to disable you for the rest of your life.

If I was in a hurry, or had a long distance to travel, I would certainly take my car.

Dirigo

I do not pretend to know how many visits it would take to sell an individual on TV. 'Individual' is the operative word here. We have not done the Lifestyle yet. We rented for a month in the fall of 2007. I could feel then that the times they were a changin'.

TV sales reps were just coming down off the hot, hot market when people were lining up to throw checks at them. Being in the market for a second home, not a primary residence, made it so much easier for us to wait and see. We started with a month rental in order to spend enough time to get a feel for things.

As we got into the process of getting the lay of the land, I had more and more questions. Property taxes and contract contingencies and inspections and, of course, the bond were all so different from what I had been used to through the buying and selling of several houses in Ohio.

This kind of investment is not something to take lightly and so I asked lots and lots of questions on the first go-round. (And some day I may tell you the rest of that story here, about how I know I ticked our TV sales rep off by asking all those questions.) Anyway, I asked them nicely. It was not a drill and grill. But I really needed to understand all the stuff that was so new to me. Not necessarily bad. Just new. Well, we left without buying. As we left a model home on the last day, a sales rep on duty there called out, "You will be so sorry if you do not buy right now." Why yes, that parting shot set really well with me. Uh huh. I wanted to tell her that the boatload of Boomers they were expecting might be delayed somewhat. That was in 2007.

The point of all this (other than the fact that I am typing here because I am procrastinating on tax stuff still, working at it in spurts and looking for distraction) is that to buy or not to buy is a different timeline for everybody. And TV will respond to the changes in the market by doing whatever. The cost of doing business will always reveal itself and morph and maybe even evolve.

But the other thing I want to throw in here is that we surely all know daggone good and well that there are those who take advantage of everything and everybody if they can. People who think they can say whatever they want to say, treat others rudely if they feel like it, be nasty to those they consider to be "servile," and just generally barge through life in entitlement mode.

And I would lay good money that there were Lifestylers who, when there were no limits on those meals, were wolfing down lobster tail after lobster tail, even if it meant a visit to the vomitorium afterward. And just behaving badly in general because hey it was free. Entitlement mode. Sticking it to somebody. Whatever. Some people just have no manners. Some people are just nasty people down deep in their hearts. It's just the way it is. And those people sometimes ruin things for others. And although most people would not turn into wolfer-downers of lobster tails and Kobe after Kobe, there were some who did. I'm sure. They did until the cost of doing business had to kick in. Had to adjust. Better than passing the cost of the pigs on to the nice people, more than it already is.

Gee, are there any other examples out there in our country today of those who operate in entitlement mode or those for whom it is never enough.

And now, for me, back to my whole approach/avoidance issue with these stupid tax things I am supposed to be getting together.

Boomer the Grouchy

Houses are still selling here, maybe not as fast and they were and they are still building here a lot. People are gonna be people and take advantage, but most of the people I have met here in TV are grown ups with kind hearts and giving attitudes.

I wish Boomer would return and try it again.

She will.

Well, here I am back again in this thread. Diversion from tax prep stuff today.

Anyway, while we were there renting, we did a couple of things that helped us to get a better feel for things outside of the ins and outs of the business of a purchase. We had a resident pass and so we could go to any pool in TV. We visited a few different ones. Without fail, people were friendly, helpful, and welcoming. They gave us great information about life in TV and pointers on which restaurants were good and were just generally all around nice. (I am not scary to talk to.)

Another thing was that Mr. Boomer attended a couple of club meetings. One was the Ham Club. (No they did not make sandwiches.) The other was the Airplane Hangar Flyers. He liked both of the meetings. But he really liked those hangar flyers. I think he could have listened to flying stories all day from them. Some seriously experienced pilots live in that place.

Anyway, I bet many of the clubs in TV are welcoming to visitors. Just get the list and go for it. Even if you are just renting for right now.

So if you find yourself in a rental, feeling a little cut off and wanting to know more about day-to-day life in TV, just get out and among 'em and they will help. You will meet some really nice people.

But meanwhile, back at the ranch (the ranch style house back in Ohio) life goes on. But we will return. We may do a Lifestyle attached to a longer rental this time. Don't know yet for sure. I do know though that if I have to put up with another wretched winter here, I will be crazier than I already am. Time will tell I guess.

Boomer

P. S. No, Mr. Tony, before you even ask, I do not think there is a club for English majors in TV. Perhaps you could start one.

I've been following this thread for a couple of days now. I've had two lifes style visits in the past year. I'm still in the process of selling my home, just retired last month and am still trying to decide what to do. My sister-in-law who lives in Jacksonville is in a similar situation. One thing we're trying to decide by visiting is whether as single women we would enjoy tv on a fulltime basis. Ironically, we wanted to go next weekend for a three day visit. My sister-in-law called and was told that you can only take one lifestyle visit! News to me after two and to her after three, but I just got reservations at the Marriott Town Suites. We are glad to do that, just thought perhaps we got more of a feeling of "living there" the other way. Oh well, it'll be fun, anyway.

Lelandjane, really? They told you just one? Wow, they must have just started that policy. Now I feel bad, may with venting my thoughts, they agreed......

Army Guy

Last year they told me just one and then this winter they e-mailed me and wondered when I wanted to come again.

Boomer,

The Villages real estate team we worked with were absolutely fabulous - I would be happy to recommend them. The also have an assistant who is a single gal, living in Caroline She loves TV. Before we met (based on her enthusiasm and cheerful attitude I thought she was probably in her 20's - TV reverse ages people!

We hope you will visit us on your next trip down. Just think of all the different models you could see by doing a TOTV tour!

I learned that TV sold over 250 homes (new) in January. In February they kept the discount at 5% (it was 4.5% in December, then 5.0% in January) but have dropped it back to 4.5% in March. So things are selling. However, everyone does have the right time to buy - and getting the lowest price is nice, but happiness in the long term is better.

Kate

PS - not that I know you are an English major, you must cringe at my postings. I tend to type the way I speak - and use commas, dashes and parenthesis interchangeably. :shrug:

Hey Army Guy,
I don't know what the Lifestyle tour is charging in May but that month alot of us with private rentals are only charging $400/week (6 nights). Mine includes an electric cart and internet. It's 2 bedrooms and den and located in Ashland Village. Pictures can be seen at www.************.com/2135