[ssmith]

Well we first visited the Villages as a "joke" while vacationing in Florida. It was a rainy day and couldn't go to the beech. Boy were we surprised!!! We loved it!!. We had known several people who moved there and we were just curious. Now we dearly do want to move.

You see I hated Florida (ok to vacation but not to live) and was very resentful when my In-laws moved there 30 years ago. They left the grandkids and us. They did not move to TV and it does seem VERY boring where they live; but then TV is not Florida...to me they are 2 very different places

Yes, we too have heard all the same reactions to TV. My brother, who is retired, even mentioned all the STD's from the book Leisureville, of course. I just can't wait for him to visit some day. He has a Winter home in Virginia Beech and a summer home in the mountains of West Virginia...which is great for him; but we already lost our hearts to TV.

Our problem is...we visited too early. My hubby is only 56 now and was 53 when we first visitted. There is no way we can move there currently. You see, his job is the type that cannot be found in or near the Villages; so we wait and vacation there and dream and pray. Oh Woe is me!!! He has checked out some jobs in Florida; but jobs are in short supply you know. So I remain a constant reader of TOTV and wait knowing GOD is in control not me.

BTW, I do understand the sensitivity of the term "drinking the Kool-Aid" and Jonestown....I believe most people make that connection; but I have heard that reference used many, many other times not in relation to TV. To me, it means I am "all in" like in poker., all is on the line..putting all you have on the table/hand. Weather it is liked or not, I believe it is just a slang term that has been adopted into our language. That's just my thoughts on it. Sure wouldn't want to offend anyone.

[graciegirl]

This is not the first time that the phrase "drinking the kool-aid" has come up for continued discussion on this forum. I believe most people on this forum do not want to hurt or aggravate anyone. The posters here are well traveled, cultured, educated people with most having a wonderful sense of humor. I agree that the phrase has been integrated into our language and it doesn't have an emotional reaction to me, but several people in the past have vehemently objected to it.

It shows that we are not a cookie cutter group. We certainly do not all use the phrase and probably do not think of ourselves as a group other than that we all live in The Villages.

One of the things I like most about this place is the respect most people have for the differences of others. With age comes wisdom and tolerance. I am still working on both of those. I have the age part handled.

[salpal]

GracieGirl,

You are always the diplomat and say the right things! You should run for mayor of TV....OMG, can you hear the remarks now for me just making that statement? Just kidding folks, I know there is no mayor and do not explain how TV works to me, already know. Thanks.

[getdul981]

Originally Posted by skip0358

We became frogs here last Sept.We were told about the heat. My comment I don't have to shovel heat.

I love that line. I'll have to remember it when people start talking about how hot it is.

Originally Posted by ssmith

He has a Winter home in Virginia Beech and a summer home in the mountains of West Virginia...

I know the coast of VA is supposed to be nicer that in the mountains, but I would NEVER have considered that for a winter home. It's still cold there and they do get snow. I can't see that as much of an improvement.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by kentucky blue

Sorry, beg to differ, ask anybody about the phrase "drinking the kool aid" and nobody will bring up Thomas Wolfe, but they remember Jonestown.I've got a great sense of humor and have always beat to a different drummer, but any association at all to Jonestown is not funny.By the way, i find your post insightful and thought provoking, but we will have to agree to disagree on this topic. You all need to hear the opinions of people outside "the bubble" and take them as constructive criticism.

Kentucky,

In re-reading my post, I see it was argumentative. I agree that your criticism is constructive and your viewpoint valid. I'm good with agreeing to disagree.

[carm310]

I had not heard the term "drinking the kool-aid" for some time and have seen it on occasion since joining TOTV. I more or less knew what it referred to but never gave it much thought. I can see though how it can be hurtful to some, especially since it refers to an awful event in recent history.

I thought I would look up the meaning and most everything refers to Jonestown, though there is history before that event as PTurner pointed out.

What struck me though is dictionary websites also refer to the term as blindly following someone, a belief, philosophy, etc. without thoughtfulness behind doing so.

In my humble opinion I must say those who decide to live in TV are doing so with much thought and intention...don't you think so? As many have said, you really don't believe it until you come and experience TV that it is all everyone says and so much more!

So going back to the original message - about being tired of hearing all the negatives from family and friends - maybe the term applies more to them than TV'ers - they are blindly making a judgment without even experiencing TV - or they may be feeling threatened by the thought of "losing" a friend or family member and they deal with it by focusing on the negatives - whether real or imagined.

I must admit I am counting the days until our next visit...41 and the days until we can move there permanently...1100. Some days I can make myself roll out of bed at 5AM, make the 1 1/2 hour commute to and from work, pay bills on two households because we are working towards a goal and a longtime dream. I would say that is intentional and thoughtful. No kool-aid here! : D

[graciegirl]

PTurner? I know that you are not supposed to make personal remarks about any poster, but I have to say that in my mind you are PERFECT. And you are nice to old ladies too.

[Pturner]

OMG. Check's in the mail, Gracie!

[TrudyM]

Ok I have been bitten by the TV bug. Infected with the idea of living among you guys.
I have been influenced by the warmth of the people I met when we visited for a week but more by the warmth of the people on this forum.
And unlike "drinking the Kool-aid" which implys a blind following; financially the numbers work. Bang for the buck. Even if it is a little pricer than the rest of florida, if you factor in the cost of golf and recreation I think it is very doable.

The #1 repsonse I get to we are favoring the Villages in Fla. is
"You arn't retireing home to Hawaii??"

I would rather be living in a nice courtyard villa with activities to attend than in a studio apartment with nothing to do but drive to the park and look at the ocean. The living in TV is much more economical by my estimates than living in alot of metro areas. Bank rate puts central florida at 21% less than metro Seattle and 41% less than Hawaii. (25% less than metro Boston) Did I mention FLa has no inheritance tax.

[batman911]

It could be that some people cannot move to the villages (or other places) because of financial, medical or family issues. They may try to discourage you because they do not want to loose a good friend or family member to TV. Just a thought.

[kit9240]

Charm - I think you have pinpointed some of the real reasons behind the negative attitudes some of us experience when leaving family and friends to move to The Villages. In my case, most of my friends are happy for me and promise to visit, some family members will miss my not being there to help. I set their expectations by always being there, and now it is hard to accept that I want to move away.

"So going back to the original message - about being tired of hearing all the negatives from family and friends - maybe the term applies more to them than TV'ers - they are blindly making a judgment without even experiencing TV - or they may be feeling threatened by the thought of "losing" a friend or family member and they deal with it by focusing on the negatives - whether real or imagined."

One of the reasons (and there are many) that I love being in The Villages is that when I am there, I love being with people my age. I love the music, I remember all the words to all of the songs and I am singing them for weeks after I am back home. But reminiscing with people who grew up in the same era is wonderful. We all have a lot in common and have many stories and experiences that we can all relate to. Happy memories of good times in our lives. And having the opportunity to create new memories with so many new friends is wonderful. I would never meet so many new and wonderful people if I stay up north.

Kathy

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by TrudyM

Even if it is a little pricer than the rest of florida, if you factor in the cost of golf and recreation I think it is very doable.

Hi Trudy, TV is pricier than the surrounding area of rural, middle Florida. It's quite a bit less pricey than the southern coastal areas.

And we are not deterred. In fact, God willing, we will be closing on our house in Pennecamp on August 12th.

We're moving from Los Angeles. You cannot imagine how stupid people think we are! How can we move from "perfect" southern California to sticky, humid Florida?

Well, four years ago I saw a sponsored golf game... (we don't play golf either) and TV looked like a happy place, so I sent away for the DVD. The video was nice, but a little white bread. 2 subsequent DVD's arrived and the people looked a little more diverse. So, my husband and I came for the visit in July 2008. (I wanted to be in Florida in the hotest, stickiest, buggiest weather.) My best friend of 35 years from Boston flew down to meet us. I had the best time in my life... I was 16 again, riding around in the golf cart, whooping it up like a high schooler.... dancing in the center of Lake Sumter Square. We had too much fun. I felt lighter than air for days. The weather... well... it rained every afternoon and the air smelled clean and green. No smog. No brown hills. The landscaping, the flowers, the Spanish moss. I don't have to play golf to love the color green. What bugs? I love the gekkos.

The houses were so pretty and so much more reasonable than life in So. CAL. I am so tired of taking my life in my hands just to get a quart of milk. A wrong way driver nearly creamed me at the Post Office 2 years ago {he was in his 20's trying to take a short cut, angry at me in HIS way} I was shaken to the core for months. I want to drive the golf cart to my Mahj game & the market. I want to install neon under the golf cart, too!

My friend has been back 6 more times and kept scouting out houses for us. She finally put her house up for sale. Alas, we can only lease ours out, but that isn't stopping us from moving. TV is around 65% Republican but even that won't stop me. Opening the webpage with Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck and trying to explain to my friends that I can co-exist was kinda hard. I found the Synagogue, I'll find the Democrats, too.

So.... to heck with them all. I'll turn on the fans. I don't have to live near the beach. I don't live near a beach in Los Angeles either. We can go to the Caribbean now that the airfare is cheaper!

Laurie

NYC, CT, CA, Pennecamp (Aug)

[dizz42]

Whenever we would talk to someone about our move to TV, we had an aconym - HHBL. Until we were alone, we would whisper "HHBL". It meant that one of us just endured the "Heat, Humidity, Bugs and Lightning" speech. We too just stopped trying to convince people how wonderful TV is and, instead, would just tell them to come visit.

[salpal]

dizz,
You sound like hubby and I, we just "take it" now but love the HHBL shortcut to one another. We just say, come visit us! We know they will see it for themselves.

I confess I said all the HHBL stuff to my cousin when they moved to TV two years ago and were trying to convince us to visit. It took me about three days of being in TV on a LSV to start looking to buy a place, bought one three days after that.