[graciegirl]

When we moved into our now house 18 years ago, we were 50, and I began having "Meet and Greets" because it was a new neighborhood. We soon realized that the twenty and thirty somethings would have parties and we weren't invited, although they kept coming to my luncheons and would stay long and seemingly have fun. I heard through the grapevine that we were "great" but just didn't have similar interests, we didn't have little kids etc., we were "older". It could be that I am a pain or a pill, but they would come by and sit on the porch and wave and hug me....and everybody, always, loves my warm, funny, comfortable husband, (aka Sweetie.)

Is there a similar problem of age grouping in The Villages?

I know there is a broad range, and Russ Boston said he was in a hurry to move here while he was "young enough to enjoy it".

In my heart I am 16. I thoroughly enjoy meeting people of all ages. I hope that I won't be a young twerp to the eighties bunch and an old fogey to the fifty somethings. Has anyone encountered that kind of problem in Paradise?

[Rokinronda]

Age does not matter. I am a young 51 and have met wonderful new friends into their late 70's. We are a like minded bunch here with the same good intentions of embracing life to the fullest!!! I may not have as much time to play, but am enjoying meeting all the people who had the mindset to move to Paradise! We have more in common than you realize!!

[billethkid]

Age doesn't matter in TV....at least to date nobody has asked how old we are....actually nobody cares.
Remember age is only a number...there are as many in their 50's that act like they are older than 70 and 70's that look and act like 50's.
It's your mind set....your health...your outlook...and how active you wanna be.
Personally I find the same holds true outside TV....there seems to be a stigma.....well earned unfortunately about how old people behave. And like anything else some do confirm the stigma.....unfortunately.
Just live it up and don't worry about who is how old...IT DOESN'T MATTER.

BTK

[Boomer]

Good morning GG,

I am not there yet so I am speaking from the standpoint of having absolutely no idea what I am talking about. But that has never stopped me before. So when I should be doing more useful things here around the house, let me confess my own similar thoughts.

Here goes:

I must admit to being somewhat taken aback when someone here on TOTV talked about how downright snotty some of the clubs are, what with pulling chairs out from under newcomers, and such. (Yeah. I say snotty not snooty, but I like to create imagery sometimes when I write.) As I recall in that thread, I commented as to how the ignored newcomers may have attended the wrong club meeting. I suggested three names for such clubs. One of them was the "We Are What We Were in High School and Never Could Get Over It" club.

And when I read that, I thought, "Oh no, could it be that TV is a great big high school?" You know, I think I did see one of those bad girls from high school (you know who I mean) hanging on two or three guys at an outside bar there in TV. (I think the guys might have been old jocks.)

And when I read that article about TV a couple of years ago in "Smart Money" magazine, I was gripped with the fear that because I am not too coordinated, it would be for me like high school all over again. I have to confess that in high school, even my very best friend would not pick me for her team. And we are actually still friends, although I often remind her of that traumatic experience. You see, GG, I would always duck when I saw a softball coming at me. Sometimes I did not see the softball coming because I was way too busy blabbing to whoever was playing the position closest to mine. The only thing I was good at was the trampoline. But the "Smart Money" article made it look like everybody in TV is really good at sports and that's what they do all the time. It scared me. But then I learned that's not the case.

And then there is the issue of golf. I play. Pathetically. It's more about taking a walk in beautiful surroundings, not getting too excited about any of it, not keeping score, knowing when to pick up your ball, not holding up the serious golfers behind you, and then going out for lunch and gossip afterward.

And then I saw those people in those ads for TV. I was so afraid that everyone there looked like that.

And then I wondered if there was a lot of pretentiousness in TV. I read a lot of books on money matters. (I know. It's boring. But I like it.) Anyway, one of my favorites is "The Millionaire Next Door." And my personal philosophy is that if somebody wants to start trying to outsnot everybody else, I don't want to know that person better anyway.

I know that your original question had to do with age. My guess is that among all those people, there will be some who want to make age a barrier to friendship, just like there will be some who want to make an issue out of any or all of the other things I have talked about here.

btw, Mr. Boomer and I are not hung up on age at all. His favorite group when we visited was the "Airplane Hangar Flyers" who meet over in Orange Blossom. All ages and boy do they know flying, from WWII on through. He can't wait to go back to those meetings when we get there.

So you are going to find some issues in TV, like everywhere else. See, you are not alone in your angst. It's a big place so it's got it all.

I think the key to TV is probably to have a nice relationship with your neighbors, seeing them at the neighborhood events. But not expecting your new best friend to necessarily be in your neighborhood. Maybe. Maybe not. Time will tell.

When you become involved in your own interests through clubs, classes, whatever, you will find your place.

Have you ever had an aquarium, one big enough to hold several different kinds of fish? Well, if you know about aquariums, you know that when you bring the fish home from the fish store in their plastic bags, you float them in the bag for a little while. Then you open the bag and you let them out. And every single time, those fish find their own kind and things go along quite swimmingly.

So, GG, just float for awhile. You will find your people.

And apologies to anybody who has read this far. I know this thing needs a good edit but I have to leave. Mark Twain, one of my favorite students of human nature, said, "I would have made this letter shorter, but I don't have time."

Your friend,
Boomer

[njgranny]

Thinking about this and looking back at our lives, I realize that our friends ranged all over the age scale. We had lots of older friends when we were younger and vice versa. I hope it will be that way in the Villages, and I'm sure it will. We never thought much about the ages of our friends at the time - unless it was to admire how much stamina our older friends had. We're still waiting for that "burst of energy," they seemed to have going for them. :-)

[graciegirl]

Hijacking my own thread!

OH MAN Boomer, are you my clone or what? I am the worst athlete ever created. I am clumsy as a cow on a crutch. The only thing I do well on a golf course is swear.

However, I want to impress you with the furniture that we will have in our Hadley HOME.
It will be the cast offs from our Ohio place, with me trying to put it together, kinda, sorta, until we move full time and then I will have my good stuff and be a snot. Snoot. Whatever.

[redwitch]

The group I have dinner with on a weekly basis and play dominoes and mah-jongg with are all women ranging from their late 60s to early 80s. I'm the baby of the group being 57. We have a great time together. The only thing they ask is when we meet at my house is that I pick a little less rock since I start singing to it and I'm totally tone deaf.

At bridge, the ages range from late 40s to one lady in her early 90s. Age is not a factor.

It does seem that the TOTV group is the closest in age and even there can be a 15-year age difference.

I've found that here it is more a matter of interests than age. Sometimes being single can make it a bit harder -- too many things are done by couples. Even so, I've managed to find people that I enjoy being around. A few are close to me in age. The majority are older. Have no fear, you won't be excluded because of your age.

[Frangyomory]

Age means nothing once you buy. People here are at such varying ages that we have a great mix of friends. Some of my friends are in early 50s and others in mid 80s and who cares, as long as you have fun together!!!!

[Russ_Boston]

I'm 51 shortly and Linda is 48. After spending last week in TV we both feel like we could fit in. I think i would find people that are like minded activities wise and age wouldn't be a factor. I like athletic endeavors and Linda enjoys some athletic and some crafty stuff. We felt right at home and EVERYONE was so nice!!!!

Not even an issue as far as we are concerned.

[nONIE]

Russ,

Its not an issue as far as anyones concerned. So nice meeting you & Linda at the JR get together. ;D

[The Great Fumar]

Actually they do frown on people over 103 from moving here as the tend to clog up the roundabouts...........

fumar, ace reporter ;D ;D ;D

[nONIE]

Yes Fumar, right you are! dead bodies are definitely a disadvantage in the roundabouts! 1rnfl

[The Great Fumar]

NONIE, YOUR A SOULMATE.........

FUME

[swrinfla]

Not often that I laugh/chuckle out loud all by myself, but Fumar's possibility of cluttered roundabouts really tickled me!

Graciegirl: Consider this - my cul-de-sac street has 16 houses, 28 residents. We range in age from 55 to 82-83. We have the best parties every first Friday, as well as in the holiday season. We joke about our resident "children" - she of 55, he of 60 - and our resident "ancients" - both those eligible for the Four Score Club. We have a huge variety of backgrounds, interests, activities, etc.

But, it's the only place I've ever lived where it is sometimes hard to get down the street because you have to stop to say "howdy!" all along the way!

In retrospect, some of our closeness probably stems from the fact that most of us moved here within six-nine months of each other. However, I'm convinced that we'd be as happy together had we all come over a period of years.

Bottom line, I guess, is TV is what you make of it! I've been here just over three years and have met only two, possibly three, "grumps!"

SWR

[Floridagal]

I found age is not a problem here in TV. I have friends of all ages and most of my friends do not live near by. Age is not a problem here. We are all here for a good time and to enjoy each other's company and interests.