[brianherlihy]

Its not paradise or the frienliest place. we live down below 44 my wife went to the mail box and a guy in a red golf cart called her all the names he new and called her on thye phone so now i drive by his home all the time

[SGriff01]

This is encouraging to hear! I will be moving to TV ( closed on my home a few weeks ago) in 2 weeks . My 2 lifestyle visits were very positive and felt people were warm and friendly. I’m looking forward to making new friends and excited it may not be as challenging as I originally thought!

[Worldseries27]

Originally Posted by sgriff01

this is encouraging to hear! I will be moving to tv ( closed on my home a few weeks ago) in 2 weeks . My 2 lifestyle visits were very positive and felt people were warm and friendly. I’m looking forward to making new friends and excited it may not be as challenging as i originally thought!

welcome aboard. ///

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

Hi - thanks for asking - initially it was a big challenge to meet neighbors, as I have three Air BnB’s on my block, and the rest of homes on my block are short term rentals. However, during my twice-daily walks, I have met some wonderful neighbors on the streets nearby, and have begun to socialize with them at their homes, and out at the squares, Boozy Bingo at Sawgrass, and at Trivia at Lake Okahumpka. Also, playing pickleball golf, shuffleboard and water volleyball with lots of Richmond (and surrounding villages) folks. My social calendar has really taken off - I’m building a birdcage this week, and looking forward to using it to entertain and having neighbors over. I just had to be a bit patient with meeting neighbors, but meeting lots now.

That's the way it is sometimes... everything changes. When we built our home many years back now, Lake Sumter was the "new" area, and the square had not yet opened. Our neighborhood street was more than we ever dreamed, everyone offered to lend a hand, folks brought home made holiday cookies and candy sometimes, and we found many sheets of paper inside our screen door inviting us to bring a drink and a chair to various "driveway" get togethers. Everyone knew everyone, and all new arrivals were made to feel a part of the neighborhood. How things have changed, never dreamed folks would turn the largest model homes into short term rentals (at the time our thinking was that would be more likely to happen in villa neighborhoods where people just wanted an easier to maintain vacation home here), but now our small neighborhood has only 3 full time residents. Even when we walk over when we see the newest people checking in and out of the other homes, they just "nod" when we greet them, introduce ourselves, and point to our house, most NEVER even then introduce themselves ! The couple across the street brought one couple a lovely plate of home made macaroons, they did thank them, and then said, "pardon us, we've only got 3 nights here and we have a tee time". They (the neighbors across the street never again tried). Nothing stays the same, so yes, we do have to reach out further and further and "be a friend" to make a friend". Thankfully, all the activities and clubs here give us the ability to do that...would be very difficult to do where most of us came from, usually involved automobile trip to seek out such things.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by SGriff01

This is encouraging to hear! I will be moving to TV ( closed on my home a few weeks ago) in 2 weeks . My 2 lifestyle visits were very positive and felt people were warm and friendly. I’m looking forward to making new friends and excited it may not be as challenging as I originally thought!

Not challenging at all. If you're positive and encouraging you'll attract exactly those kinds of people.

Don't be put off by the occasional toad. We have 'em here, just like every place else. But in all honesty they're a rare critter.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by brianherlihy

Its not paradise or the frienliest place. we live down below 44 my wife went to the mail box and a guy in a red golf cart called her all the names he new and called her on thye phone so now i drive by his home all the time

If this is true?



Main Numbers
Sheriff's Office Main Number (352) 569-1600
Sheriff's Office Main (Villages Toll-Free) (352) 728-6909

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Escape Artist

I find that store or restaurant employees aren’t too nice or helpful. But the neighbors are, yes, I’ve found that to be true.

We found the opposite. The people at our Publix (Lake Deaton Plaza) are a delight. We've yet to have a server who wasn't pleasant.

Maybe we're just lucky...

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by brianherlihy

Its not paradise or the frienliest place. we live down below 44 my wife went to the mail box and a guy in a red golf cart called her all the names he new and called her on thye phone so now i drive by his home all the time

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

If this is true?



Main Numbers
Sheriff's Office Main Number (352) 569-1600
Sheriff's Office Main (Villages Toll-Free) (352) 728-6909

There's got to be more to this story.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

My guess is Jim Jones/Guyana/Jonestown/People's Temple and hence the Kool-Aid reference.

Oh, thanks GE. I get it now.

[Michael 61]

Originally Posted by SGriff01

This is encouraging to hear! I will be moving to TV ( closed on my home a few weeks ago) in 2 weeks . My 2 lifestyle visits were very positive and felt people were warm and friendly. I’m looking forward to making new friends and excited it may not be as challenging as I originally thought!

Congrats on the soon closing of your home here in TV! I think you just might find that this community will exceed your expections. You’ll have many new friends in no time! 😀

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

We found the opposite. The people at our Publix (Lake Deaton Plaza) are a delight. We've yet to have a server who wasn't pleasant.

Maybe we're just lucky...

Were you lucky? I doubt it.

Service people are like everyone else. Polite and respectful treatment on the part of the customer usually elicits the same from the service person. However if someone comes across on the initial contact as rude and entitled, don't be surprised if the service person in question puts up a wall and becomes curt and distant. Self-preservation and all that. Or employs other techniques.

Best one I've ever seen was waaaaay back quite a few years ago. I was at a restaurant in northern MN. One of the waitresses (who I knew) was waiting on a table of four college-age guys who were giving her a pretty rough time. I was amazed that she had the aplomb to maintain her dignity and not retaliate in some manner. I was wrong: after a few minutes, while walking past their table with a tray full of water glasses (plastic), she tripped, barely able to maintain herself upright while grabbing the back of a booth. As it happened the booth was the one occupied by the four boors. Unfortunately she lost control over the tray; the water glasses when every which way and pretty much soaked the guys in the booth.

You reap what you sow.

[mikeycereal]

At one year I'm still drinkin' it!

[SHIBUMI]

Its always a wonderful day in the neighbor hood, a wonderful day to be neighborly. Best place in the world bar none. Just leave it for a while and you will see. You will come back very grateful.
Tough world out there.

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I’m at my 5 month mark of living here, I am continually amazed how friendly and welcoming the majority of residents are here in The Villages. The bonding and instant friendship or neighbors, the smiles and hellos of people you pass on the walking trails and streets, the enthusiasm and good sportsmanship of those you play golf and pickleball with, the politeness and friendly checkers at Publix, the community where people have manners and practice good etiquette, and especially the kind, caring, positive and patient people (mostly) on TOTV. This all still overwhelms me, and I hope over time I don’t forget how blessed I am to live here (especially in this crazy world) and take The Villages for granted. Retirement IS really the best times of our lives if we want it to be. 😀🙏🏻

[brianherlihy]

i now go buy his home and i will get to see him and tell him his wife

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by brianherlihy

i now go buy his home and i will get to see him and tell him his wife