Talk of The Villages Florida - STOP Blaming Snowbirds!

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- The Villages, Florida, General Discussion (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/)

- - STOP Blaming Snowbirds! (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/stop-blaming-snowbirds-355430/)

Funny how all the whining and sniveling about bad driving comments never show up in the non snowbird season. Wait, that is not true either. Some of those perfect people that are here year around just like to whine and snivel.

OP...enjoy your time here making wonderful memories with your friends and family. We are ALL getting older and time is not on our side. Feel blessed that you can afford two (or more) homes, YOUR LIFE IS GOOD.

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Originally Posted by brianherlihy (Post 2397094)

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

Your sentences don't seem to stop either.

(I just knew that somebody would start an anti-biker tangent here eventually... :rolleyes:)

I, for one, appreciate the "true" snowbirds. You know, the folks who are homeowners in The Villages, yet choose to be seasonal residents. They pay the same amenity and maintenance fees as full timers, which helps subsidize the rest of us while they are not here. During the busy season is traffic worse, are the restaurants more crowded, is it harder to get tee times? Absolutely. But come May every year, the full time residents get to enjoy a much less crowded paradise for about 6 months.

My gripe is with the non-owner visitors...you know, the short term renters and the AirBnB crowd. And believe me, there are a bunch of them. Those people are not invested in the quality of life here, and just show up to do whatever they want and then leave, only to be replaced by the next group. The true snowbirds, and snowflakes, care as much about their homes and the quality of life as the rest of us. Rant over.

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Originally Posted by rustyp (Post 2396995)

Snowbirds are the reason you all are getting a Cosco.

In the unmentionable news today is a letter to the editor which states Cosco will bring more unwanted traffic congestion to The Villages.

Now I'm perplexed. Chicken or the egg ?

Perhaps if we didn't have all these amenities snowbirds would not want to buy houses. If TV would only stop maintaining amenities people would sell and the increased congestion would cease.

How about Snowflakes?

Can't we all just get along? We purchased a home and planned on moving in a while ago. Life got in the way so now we have to travel back and forth until we can make it down permanently. It really bothers me when folks blame others for their resentments. Everyone pays the dues. Maybe people should learn how to share. This wonderful place belongs to everyone that invested their hard earned money into It. Lets just be glad for today and enjoy it! It's the last chapter why waste it being discontent.

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Originally Posted by dhdallas (Post 2396791)

“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!

My very simple reality. Why do you care? Another word for complaining is GOSSIP.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rustyp (Post 2397113)

In the unmentionable news today is a letter to the editor which states Cosco will bring more unwanted traffic congestion to The Villages.

Now I'm perplexed. Chicken or the egg ?

Reality, change is constant. When we retired, I became aware of an Island for sale in North Carolina. It was like 10 acres a home and a small herd of wild horses. My own KINGDOM. Vetoed by the QUEEN-so we live in the Villages. IF, there is a Cosco how would you get there-boat?

"Chicken or the egg?" Perhaps, the question should be happy or not? That Island. After the hurricane it likely is a bit under water.

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Originally Posted by Topspinmo (Post 2396835)

Why should snowbirds get break?

I agree. Depends on what they are used to and bring those habits with them. My friend who drives me 20 hours from the north, likes to drive close to double the speed limit. When he does illegal traffic maneuvers he calls it, “Advanced driving skills”. He used to be a driver instructor. But when we enter TV I mention to him, ”Now you are in my town. We drive according to the rules.” And he does.

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Originally Posted by DAVES (Post 2397126)

Don't be silly. There are horses on the island.

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Originally Posted by Chamo (Post 2397057)

Anyone know a therapist that this OP can use while they are here for the short period.

Dr Jack Daniels has helped me relax from time to time.🫠😉

Quote:

Originally Posted by Velvet (Post 2397129)

I also was a driving instructor. Your "friend" sounds like a menace to society with a dangerously over inflated ego. No one's past job function gives them the right to break the law or endanger others, yourselfincluded. Thank you for insisting he drive properly here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhdallas (Post 2396791)

Too much of your defensive diatribe is solely from your personal perspective. You personally may drive well and not need lical meducal care. However, every snowbird season brings a super influx of medical appointments which noticeably impacts lead times. Each of these seasons attracts drivers totally confused by our roundabouts and who apparently do not know how to use gps navigation if one can judge from the number of last minute lane changes or stops in the middle of the road.
Your point that if birds all settled here full time is well taken. However, the culture here will not change for the foreseeable future. Hence, the reality is every year we have 50,000 people flock to The Villages who are in vacation mode and lost and hungry. We can still be friendly and accommodating and within our rights to complain. Just laugh it off. Generic complaints are nothing personal.

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Originally Posted by cwmmfink (Post 2397015)

They still taste like chicken!

Use a good marinade.

We are all snowbirds

Almost all of the villagers were snowbirds from other cities.
Not many native Floridians living in TV. Most everyone came from
somewhere else.
Snowbirds bring their cash with them when they come for the winter. They pay the many tourist taxes added to the bills. Thank them when you don't have to pay a state income tax.
"If you build it they will come"
You keep building and people keep coming.
Whose fault is that?
The family that is buying land all the way to Clermont?
Enjoy what you have and appreciate the role snowbirds play in the FL economy.