[opinionist]

Stereotyping is never helpful in describing a large group of people. Yes, there is more traffic. If you want to complain about that, feel free to rant away. Judging people by the group is for the ignorant.

[rrman77]

Snowbirds are blamed for extra congestion. Let us not forget that full time residents also have visitors that flock into TV.

[cwmmfink]

They still taste like chicken!

[Johnsocat]

The more the merrier!
Isn't there enough division and hate already?
Slow down, enjoy your your retirement and, if youve forgotten how, learn tolerance and patience.

[Justputt]

Do you feel better? Hope so. Did or will anything change? Unlikely. A more productive post would be suggestions, tips, tricks, and such to get around, get tee times, reservations, etc. easier, or getting out of the bubble for fun when things get crazy in TV.

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by Johnsocat

The more the merrier!
Isn't there enough division and hate already?
Slow down, enjoy your your retirement and, if youve forgotten how, learn tolerance and patience.

Well said!!

[RoboVil]

Originally Posted by shut the front door

Odd how the OP knows the personal driving habits of every single one of the snowbirds who come to FL.
And yes, full timers can gripe about snowbirds, and there is absolutely nothing that you can do about it other than complaining and griping about it on a message board.

Some people need to complain, it is in their soul - I don't know why. Some people need some group they are not part of to look down on - don't know why.

[Bay Kid]

Air B & B people

[tophcfa]

What is the misconception about snowbirds and roundabouts? The novelty of going everywhere in a golf cart never gets old for the birds, it’s a rare day that they use their car in the Villages. The bigger issue is that after not using a car for a couple months, the birds have to resist the unconscious feeling that they should be driving their car in a golf cart lane.

[mkjelenbaas]

Originally Posted by dhdallas

“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore” ranted Peter Finch’s character, Howard Beale, in the film “Network”. I feel the same about the relentless snide remarks & overt negativity directed at and about snowbirds. Let’s look at some facts & common complaints.

We increase traffic congestion.
Hard to argue with that one but we also reduce congestion by leaving for 6 months or more so is the glass half full or half empty?

Snowbirds are bad drivers. Really? Snowbirds come to Florida from all over the U.S. & Canada, driving thousands of miles. How are we able to do this without causing accidents & chaos? It’s really very simple.

We are healthy overall; without vision & hearing problems, coordination deficits, mental lapses or dementia.
We keep our speed at the level of the posted speed limits or with the natural flow of traffic.
We keep to the right lane unless passing.
We use our turn signals.
We can properly & legally park a vehicle (as in between-the-lines & without blocking other vehicles, fire lanes, handicap spaces, etc.).
We put down the phone in order to pay attention to our driving.
We drive defensively.
We practice patience & courtesy.

Floridians seem to think we are clueless as to navigating roundabouts. Newsflash! Florida does not have a monopoly on roundabouts. We have many in my home state & an accident in a roundabout is actually quite rare & never a daily/weekly occurrence as it is here.

Snowbirds living in The Villages pay the same as full time residents in regard to amenity fees, bonds, insurance, property taxes, school taxes & more, yet we are here less than 6 months. We do not vote or influence local & state elections & leave the politics, policies, laws, etc. to the permanent residents of Florida. It is the politicians you have elected who continue to approve new developments attracting more snowbirds to Florida. “If you build it, they will come”

Snowbird money is important to Florida. In 2019, snowbirds contributed over $95 billion to the Florida economy. That equates to 1.6 million jobs in Florida.

To summarize, people love a scapegoat & snowbirds make an easy target but look at the facts:

We are safe drivers.
We pay the same for year-round services.
We benefit the economy.
We leave the politics to you.
We go away for at least half of the year.

Of course there is one way that we snowbirds could put an end to the complaining; we could all just move here permanently. Now, there’s an idea!

That a lot of typing - I wonder how many minds you have changed. What is that saying about “bigger fish to fry” - time to relax!

[Windguy]

Originally Posted by PennyAnn

If it weren't for us, everything would be this busy and hectic all year. Blame The Villages, not the snowbirds.

But the part you are not getting is that they could justify building bigger/better roads to handle the peak traffic if y’all stayed year round. Fewer restaurants would fail and more restauranteurs would be willing to open a business here if they could depend on year-round crowds. This applies to all kinds of businesses.

[Driller703]

Originally Posted by Normal

Are the roadways crowded, are restaurants packed, are their ridiculously long lines,….absolutely. The place has become a crowded cesspool in the winter. But, when they all leave for summer, we get paradise back!

Cesspool? Really?

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by Normal

Are the roadways crowded, are restaurants packed, are their ridiculously long lines,….absolutely. The place has become a crowded cesspool in the winter. But, when they all leave for summer, we get paradise back!

Answer this, if the place is a cesspool in winter then why do so many people covet spending the winter there? The real cesspool is the place they are migrating from to come to the Villages.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by rrman77

Snowbirds are blamed for extra congestion. Let us not forget that full time residents also have visitors that flock into TV.

Originally Posted by tophcfa

What is the misconception about snowbirds and roundabouts? The novelty of going everywhere in a golf cart never gets old for the birds, it’s a rare day that they use their car in the Villages. The bigger issue is that after not using a car for a couple months, the birds have to resist the unconscious feeling that they should be driving their car in a golf cart lane.

My guests visit throughout the year, not just late December through early May. When they visit, they typically travel in my golf cart or the back seat of my car, neither of which add any cars to the roads.

What misconception? The full time residents don't add more cars to the roads in late December through early May, the full time residents are there all year. The guests of the full time residents don't add a significant number of cars during only that time period. So where does the additional traffic come from if not the seasonal residents?

[brianherlihy]

i like snowbirds i hate bike riders don't stop now i don't stop just keep on driving my golf cart nonstop