[Greg Nelson]

Some people have a hard time living with themselves, regardless of where they are.. being from a rural lake area of Minnesota, where most people retire to Arizona, the only drawback in TV is where homes are too close together. Our rental in Quail Ridge is at the end of the street, with only one neighbor Carol who is very sweet. From the hot tub we look out on the Lopez golf course..nice!

[Cobh521]

I'm very happy living in The Villages

[Jima64]

I wonder if they were also unhappy where they previously lived. Hard to imagine being retired, living in a clean safe community with so many possible activities and not be happy.

[DonH57]

In our experiences of living here for about 2 and half years we haven't met but maybe 3 people that were unhappy with the villages. Anywhere you go you will find unhappy people and malcontents. Some are unhappy no matter where they are. As for me, I'm just as happy as if I had good sense!

[samhass]

This is a wonderful place to live. I think many older people become unhappy because of pain, illness, loss of a loved one, missing family, etc. These factors would affect them no matter where they lived, but if you have to be miserable, sunshine is just what you need for brightening up your day. And we have it!

[TheVillageChicken]

I am not happy about the golf here. I have been playing since 1953, and this is the first place I have played regularly that doesn't have empowered marshals.

Aside from that, the only thing I don't like about living here is the downsizing aspect. Back in Rooster Poot, I had a fully equipped metal fabricating shop and lots of toys...I miss them all.

[MikeV]

I love it here but I must admit I am a little concerned about the expansion of TV and the limited resources. I think it will be snow bird season year round once the so called build out is done.

[Bonny]

I hate it here !! The golf courses are awful ! They have yet to let me get a hole in one !! LOL
Actually, we've been here over 15 years and we "LOVE" it here. I could never imagine living anywhere else!

[tomwed]

Originally Posted by TheVillageChicken

I am not happy about the golf here. I have been playing since 1953, and this is the first place I have played regularly that doesn't have empowered marshals.

Aside from that, the only thing I don't like about living here is the downsizing aspect. Back in Rooster Poot, I had a fully equipped metal fabricating shop and lots of toys...I miss them all.

The woodshop is great and I used to be a shop teacher. I do wonder what it would be like to have a metal shop too. I've given up on making furniture. It's truly a labor of love meant for people who love the working with wood. It's rare that a piece looks as good as store bought.

But the fixes I need to make or the projects I dream up seem to be more metal working then wood. Just a minor thought not to be taken seriously. some people would put legs on a snake,

[buzzy]

Originally Posted by TheVillageChicken

I am not happy about the golf here. I have been playing since 1953, and this is the first place I have played regularly that doesn't have empowered marshals.

Aside from that, the only thing I don't like about living here is the downsizing aspect. Back in Rooster Poot, I had a fully equipped metal fabricating shop and lots of toys...I miss them all.

Boy, it's all relative. We moved here after 19 yrs in a 1100 sq ft condo. I had to rent a 12x24 garage bay for my workshop. Now it is right out through the kitchen door.

[Coach Fritz]

The fact of the matter is that there is no other place like this in the rest of the world!! We have everything.....2,500 clubs.....all filled up with happy folks doing EXACTLY what they want to do. Our new performing arts center is spectacular! What sport do you want to try? What music do you want to listen to or participate in? What service do you want to participate in? ETC IT'S ALL HERE!! The greatest majority of people in the Villages areextremely happy. Most of us wish that we had moved here sooner.

[TheVillageChicken]

Originally Posted by buzzy

Boy, it's all relative. We moved here after 19 yrs in a 1100 sq ft condo. I had to rent a 12x24 garage bay for my workshop. Now it is right out through the kitchen door.

I just don't think the neighbors would like to hear me pounding steel into shape and I am pretty sure State Farm would get a little grumpy about the welder and cutting torch.

[Walt.]

Originally Posted by buzzy

Boy, it's all relative. We moved here after 19 yrs in a 1100 sq ft condo. I had to rent a 12x24 garage bay for my workshop. Now it is right out through the kitchen door.

Wow. I also moved here after 19 years in an 1100 sq ft. condo (with no garage). I also had neighbors I didn't know... no activities... and a trip through bad neighborhoods if I had to go somewhere.
Now I have a bigger house with a garage... great neighbors... lots to do.
I couldn't be happier.

[queasy27]

I'm not gonna do it, but my guess is that if you searched the post history of everyone here who has shared their happiness, there would be a few complaints scattered around. A hearty bitchfest once in a while doesn't necessarily mean people are unhappy, either with TV or their lives in general.

But people do leave -- 2 on my street moved out of TV to nearby cities last year because they were dissatisfied for one reason or another.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by outlaw

Based on TOTV and the online news comments/letters, there seem to be a lot of unhappy TVers. Could it be disillusionment in the reality of living here versus the vacation lifestyle visit that sold them on TV? Could it be TV changing from the "friendliest village" to just another overcrowded municipal area with a lot of stressed out people competing for limited resources? Or maybe, it has to do with world politics and global unrest. It's just a sense I have. I'm not sure it even exists. Just wondering if others sense this undercurrent of discontent.

outlaw: you will never get a satisfactory answer. I happened to agree with your assessment. You should bear in mind that marketing is what The Villages Lake-Sumter, Inc. (TVLSI) (Developer) are best at. In fact that packaged it and offered it out to other communities (Developers) for a hefty price.

That's why you find references to The Villages being an adult Disneyworld or Florida's Friendliest Hometown"or Florida's Healthiest Town or build you dream home all marketing I believe this type of marketing hype actually hurts more than it helps in the long run because it sets unrealistic expectations.

I built my dream home in the Minneapolis area. I left Minneapolis area which I loved for two main reasons snow and taxes. But, thankfully I didn't leave family behind. I know many people who moved here that miss their families and go back often because of that fact either as snow birds or even full time residents.

The sheen wears off this place quickly and I for one accept it as to what it is to me and that was an investment which my kids can use or sell as this so wish because after 9 years I still could not recoup my investment and make a reasonable profit and I live on a champion golf course. To be sure it is a safe place and a clean place and most people I find are friendly and my kids enjoy their visits.