[downeaster]

I guess it is that time of year. I am seeing more and more instances of animosity on this forum towards "Snowbirds". Frankly, it bothers me. I do not find it amusing if some of the negative and sarcastic comments are tongue in check. I do believe many such remarks are serious.

I agree our restaurants are going to fill up, tee times are going to get more difficult to find and traffic will increase. Don't blame it on seasonal residents and renters. It is a fact of life here in The Villages.

There are benefits we enjoy a great part of the year as a result of seasonal residents being absent, however, that is not the point. The point is they are "us". When they are here they belong.

I am a frog. (I hate to leave The Villages for even a short "vacation"). I am looking forward to the return of my many Snowbird friends.

[njbchbum]

Thanx for taking the time to post. It's good to read that we snowbirds are not a burden to all.

I consider myself a 3 season porch! I'm here 8 1/2 months a year and in New Hampshire the rest.Thank you ...we do belong here!!

[Ajack]

From what I understand alot of businesses would go under if not for the influx of money the snowbirds contribute. I will be a frog shortly, and I am grateful for them because we need to keep the $$$ flowing to compensate for the "slow" summer months. IMHO

[bike42]

Don't forget that people who live here only a few months still pay their amenity fees all year so the $$$ for all our fabulous perks keep flowing in even though they are not using them.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by downeaster

I guess it is that time of year. I am seeing more and more instances of animosity on this forum towards "Snowbirds". Frankly, it bothers me. I do not find it amusing if some of the negative and sarcastic comments are tongue in check. I do believe many such remarks are serious.

I agree our restaurants are going to fill up, tee times are going to get more difficult to find and traffic will increase. Don't blame it on seasonal residents and renters. It is a fact of life here in The Villages.

There are benefits we enjoy a great part of the year as a result of seasonal residents being absent, however, that is not the point. The point is they are "us". When they are here they belong.

I am a frog. (I hate to leave The Villages for even a short "vacation"). I am looking forward to the return of my many Snowbird friends.

Thank you for saying that. We are trying hard to be frogs...just because of people like you!

[downeaster]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Thank you for saying that. We are trying hard to be frogs...just because of people like you!

Thank you for those kind words, graciegirl. I have had a very good day but you topped it off by putting icing on my cake.

[pooh]

My "seasonal" friends are returning earlier this year.....hooray, they have been truly missed.

You know, I think it's something people throughout the country say when seasonal residents return... the .....are back. (Insert your own descriptive word) In CA, we had people fleeing from the excessive heat in AZ, (they were called Zonies), on Cape Cod, we had people spending the summer, making it very crowded, BUT, those who come seasonally do provide income, for vendors, for municipalities. They are a part of the community and without them, some of the things we appreciate, restaurants, shops, events, might not be there.

I prefer to think of my seasonal friends as frogs that spend the summer in other locales, sort of taking a vacation, visiting with family and friends.

[LuvItHere]

I think it's more interesting when people take some "risks" and live somewhere else part of the year.

Whether it's up north, or here in TV, I think it's kind of boring when a person/couple thinks this (or that) is the ONLY place to live.

I like it when neighbors expand their horizons and don't think there is only one nice place to live. I like the diversity people bring to TV from many states and countries.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

We're 'snowflakes' so we're probably at the bottom of the food chain. But we're trying our best to learn things as we go and not cause any problems/confusion/accidents along the way. We view ourselves as outsiders and as guests and try to behave accordingly.

We just love it when we're in TV.........and we're pouting every time we have to leave and go back home.

Someday...............

Bill

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by downeaster

I guess it is that time of year. I am seeing more and more instances of animosity on this forum towards "Snowbirds". Frankly, it bothers me. I do not find it amusing if some of the negative and sarcastic comments are tongue in check. I do believe many such remarks are serious.

I agree our restaurants are going to fill up, tee times are going to get more difficult to find and traffic will increase. Don't blame it on seasonal residents and renters. It is a fact of life here in The Villages.

There are benefits we enjoy a great part of the year as a result of seasonal residents being absent, however, that is not the point. The point is they are "us". When they are here they belong.

Yep. Thanks for saying it, Downeaster.

Welcome Home Snowflakes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[redwitch]

Frankly, I don't care of you're a snowflake, a snowbird, a frog, a local or just a visitor. I don't care if you're purple, green, gay straight, liberal or conservative. I don't care if you love the Pats (sorry, I hate 'em) or think the Yanks walk on water. I do care that you're kind, courteous, considerate.

We need all of the above (well, maybe not a Pats fan, but I'm sure they fit into another of the groups as well) to make TV the place that it is. We even need the occasional grouch and general jerk to remind us how wonderful the rest of the people in TV are.

Without snowbirds, the town squares would die. Without snowbirds, we frogs wouldn't get the special deals for meals in the summer (the restaurants would either shut down for the season or go broke). Without snowbirds, we'd lose a certain vitality. Sorry, I love you guys and am so glad you are part of TV.

As to snowflakes, I don't think they're at the bottom of the pole because I don't think there is a pole. We're all equal. You come when you can and have the advantage of being able to pop down for a quickie. You also have the disadvantage of not being to be here as often as you want, but you do come when you can because you love it here and it is your second home (or maybe your home but one you just can't quite live in yet). So, enjoy your time when you can. You can share my chaise at the pool any time.

If we have to wait a little longer to get what we want, so what? We can either adjust our times to do something earlier or later. I used to loath standing in lines. Don't mind it a bit here -- it's a chance to meet and talk to people who were once strangers and have become, at the very least, acquaintances.

So, for those who are in TV but are not frogs, ignore the selfish ones who don't appreciate you for your joy and love of TV. There's more than enough of us frogs who love when you're here and wish you could stay longer.

Originally Posted by redwitch

We need all of the above (well, maybe not a Pats fan, but I'm sure they fit into another of the groups as well) .

Sorry red, pats fan here and I'm not going anywhere!! You'll see me driving around in my golf car with the biggest Patriots flag around blowing out the back.Go Pats!!

[Larryandlinda]

Originally Posted by bike42

Don't forget that people who live here only a few months still pay their amenity fees all year so the $$$ for all our fabulous perks keep flowing in even though they are not using them.

How true.
Why not look at it this way....'they/we' pay all year and the compound has it's 80k warm fuzzy bodies.....
so when tens of thousands of souls go 'back up' that's all the more bonus room on the roads, paths, courses, and eating places.

And those 'bikebirds' ?
Same thing . they pay taxes on homes, cars, and sales. They choose to leave their horseless carriage in the carriage houses - and leave more room for the carts, the cars, and whatever else shares the roadways and trails.


and there are those like us, even kinder and gentler - we pay double amenity fees, and sun- and snowbird barely 10 times a year (we admit to enjoying the quieter summers
and have visited on the hottest days) so that's more room for the frogs.

L and L

[escapequeen]

We own a home in TV and we are enjoying coming and going at our leisure. We have found that coming north causes us to appreciate TV even more. Our children and grandchildren are very important to us and we are not ready to be away from them on a fulltime basis yet. Until then, we are loving it at TV.