This will be my first season for the snowbird arrival and everyone tells me that it is hell.

dianem - it is only really bad if one is not flexible and finds adjusting difficult - or has an entitlement attitude [snowbirds can have those, too]!

it is like summer on the jersey shore or leaf-peeping in new england. all of a sudden swarms of people are clogging hiways, byways and cart paths - and some have no idea where they are going; creating long lines at restaurants - where the locals were able to just walk thru the doors at any hour to dine [i think that's where the 'sr early-bird rep comes from - trying to beat the crowd and avoid a line]!; there is no place to sit in st tim's if ya don't get there for the next mass just as the last mass is exiting!; and the colony shopping plaza is jammed all time because folks don't take the time to head to sweetbay or southern trace plazas!

not to leave out - that golfers become exceedingly frustrated by the difficulty in securing tee times [and tee times at their favorite courses, no less] - rather than just be glad that they got a tee time! popular activities, pool time and work-out facilities also book up quickly!

it's another reason why i am so happy to live on the original historic side! 2 post offices nearby - one by cart, one by car; no golf cart paths thru our villages and mostly the only traffic there LIVES there; a quick ride by car or cart and i have the choice of 2 grocery stores, two chain pharmacies a reasonably priced gas station with convenience store [read lottery tix]; and easy auto access to several big box stores and aldi's!

we snowbirds really do take the complaining on the chin from some here in the villages - those who have little to no respect that we all pay the same amenity fees. some forget that most snowbirds only use those amenities for a short time rather than yr-round - which helps keep the cost of everyone's amenity fees lower than if each of us just paid for amenities for the months we are in residence.

so if you can modify your existence for a few months, you will see that when we all fly back to our northern nests, life in the villages returns to normal and folks have a hard time finding things to complain about! some locals even lament that snowbird friends have left again - they're the rare gems that we treasure! ;)

would love to see pottery barn or william sonoma

I really don't know what people expect during slow or busy season that is either acceptable or unacceptable.

When all the gum banging gets done it is no different than any other place one lives.

Popular places are crowded. Restaurants, the good ones, you have to wait.
One thing that is different here is way too many people all think they have to eat dinner between 4 and 5 pm and get their underwear all in a knot when they have to wait a little. go to dinner after 6:30 usually no problem most places.

Ditto on golf t times....which the complaining is extremely over exaggerated...10 years here and have never not gotten a t time or not been able to play whenever we wanted to play. The griping comes when some don't get the course they want or the time they want......it just is not the problem it is gabbed about.

Traffic...less of a problem than most cities of our population size. The biggest problem here is the newbies who think they have to drive like they did back home. The other is the number of people who are driving and should have turned in their keys years ago.

Does it ease up in the summertime? Some places and some things yes.

Remember now that we approach 100,000 population and for the sake of argument assume 50% are gone in the summertime, hence 50,000 during the slow season....that slow season poulation is 20,000 more than the total population when we moved in to the villages.

All is relative. Hell if you want it to be....just like where you live now!

btk

I could go for a Starbucks in Brownwood. But being a snowbird for a while yet I think I only get 1/2 of 1 vote. :D

I would like to put my vote in for Tim Horton's. :thumbup:Dunkin Doughnuts will due until they arrive :D Starbucks could service as a distant 3rd:sigh:

As others have posted, it really isn't that bad. The problem, IMO. is that we get spoiled during the May through October period where we can pretty much do what we want when we want. So when our seasonal residents return, the change seems overwhelming and frustrating. What is anticipated this year is that, with the tremendous growth south of 466A, there will be more people than the existing shops, restaurants, golf courses, etc. can handle. As more commercial development occurs and more golf courses are opened, the difficulties will be somewhat reduced. The same thing happened years ago to a lesser degree when they crossed 466 and LSL had not been fully developed/occupied.

yep a little more crowds, but i would not say it's hell

Whether the statement is true depends on your attitude or point of view. The statement can be made for EVERY warm-weather location.

:agree:
you should see the increase in traffic down by Naples or Ft. Lauderdale or even the beaches by Sarasota like Siesta Key. Much worse than anything we have here. :pepper2:

Here Here! for the Caribou Coffee

I would like to see a Texas Roadhouse! My favorite steak place back in Virginia. Not a coffee drinker so that part doesn't bother me.

I agree with you and the reasons.
I like certain duplicates, like Toojays, but not the Chinese place which
I don't like ( do we really need one 1 mile and 3 miles away?)
You're probably right that it will take time to shake out.

We moved here in January and it really didn't seem any busier than it is now. I'm sure getting a tee time is harder but other than that I didn't see a problem.

I agree. No one makes coffee at home anymore?????

(Or, does Starbucks also serve food?)

I had Starbucks once, in a hospital waiting room. it was too strong.
In the morning at our house, either Sweetie or Helene makes the coffee and they bring me a cup with a little half and half.

Makes me want to sing the Folgers song.


Back to the subject.

Because the southernmost areas are selling even faster with the return of building only spec homes, I am looking for a lot of traffic problems this high season, especially getting out of the feeder roads to the main drags of Buena Vista and Morse that will take all of the new residents to the existing restaurants and groceries.

We will have much sturm und drang on this forum. I think this is the fastest we have moved foreward in population since I have lived here.

We need to practice deep breaths now and no horn blowing or obscene gestures. ;)

So, just with the traffic congestion uppermost in mind (at high season of the year), would you say that certain villages such as :

Virginia Trace
Sabal Chase
Village of Caroline

......would be in good proximity to what Lake Sumter Landing has to offer?
If my memory holds correct, they were the closest.......I'll have to drag out my latest map.

We have no problem with going for "early bird" suppers, but when one has visitors it isn't always easy to get everyone ready at the same time......especially dealing with baby's naptimes, etc..........so in my opinion, it's easier to be closer to whatever it is you want to be close to.

Hubby thoroughly liked being in the upper northwest quadrant past the polo grounds and going north towards Mulberry Grove...which was a small shopping center but did have a Publix. It's a toss.

Off topic!

Yes, we definitely need a Dunkin Donuts! :agree:

starbucks bakery need help.( i think they are dry)...but they are testing out new products from france so maybe a good thing..and yea i make good coffee at home..but on a cold day in the cart i still want a really good cup of coffee..and GG if you try blond at starbucks you might find it a good fit for you..not a bold flavor...just a good cup of coffee

A DD is coming to 466A soon. The new owners of the SS location along with other DD in the area is planning one on 466A

Will it be golf cart accesible

Have any new restaurants or coffee shops opened at Brownwood? When we left in the Spring, City Fire was pretty much the only restaurant open.

Wide World of Beer opened a few weeks ago, and they serve food.

If you go on The Villages web site, on the home page there is a video promoting the opening of the World of Beer. I will have to check out the World of Beer next month when I am visiting TV. :pepper2:

Any coffee shop in Brownwood would be awesome.