[T-325]

I was thinking that these guest passes may have actually been for guests... not renters. My guess is new owners have many guests over the course of the year, especially the first few as their family and friends want to see where they have settled in retirement. This is not a linear relationship with the number of new homes being built and more a function of demographics.

With all the baby boomers just starting to retire I would think the number of passes used for this purpose will go up significantly.

[asianthree]

We are not contributing to numbers in January, February, March or April. Boys come in May, no kids in tow. How do the guest pass numbers look in summer?

[rubicon]

In the event it escaped some the marketing from The Villages has and continues to depict idyllic retirement living worthy of a millionaire and on retirement savings.

How any one can celebrate a departure from that implied promise is surprising. Perhaps overcrowded streets, multi-modal paths, restaurants, stores, golf courses etc is someone's idea of a good time but to me there is this thing called over saturation. Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder and many of us left congested cities for a more relax life style but for the previous four or five month I was just not feeling the love.

As to the economic benefit I do understand but The Villages and surrounding area has grown so much I suspect the year around population would sufficiently support the business community without many businesses missing a beat. And as to your personal investment does all of this add or subtract from it?

The saddest aspect of all is that build out continues ad nauseam

C�st la vie

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by rubicon

In the event it escaped some the marketing from The Villages has and continues to depict idyllic retirement living worthy of a millionaire and on retirement savings.

How any one can celebrate a departure from that implied promise is surprising. Perhaps overcrowded streets, multi-modal paths, restaurants, stores, golf courses etc is someone's idea of a good time but to me there is this thing called over saturation. Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder and many of us left congested cities for a more relax life style but for the previous four or five month I was just not feeling the love.

And as to your personal investment does all of this add or subtract from it?

The saddest aspect of all is that build out continues ad nauseam

C�st la vie

Totally disagree with this. In the summertime the restaurants & shops are not busy at all. I see so many of the young service staff struggling to make ends meet as their hours get cut or they drive all the way here just to be cut early and told to go home. Several of the restaurants cut down on the entertainment a few nights a week because not as much money coming in. Thank goodness for season when they can make some money.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Bonny

Totally disagree with this. In the summertime the restaurants & shops are not busy at all. I see so many of the young service staff struggling to make ends meet as their hours get cut or they drive all the way here just to be cut early and told to go home. Several of the restaurants cut down on the entertainment a few nights a week because not as much money coming in. Thank goodness for season when they can make some money.

That is a very good point. It is of course what it is. I like it when we have things busy and I like the less busy times.


The whole state of Florida has experienced an uptick in population. Florida is now the third most populous state.

[Jima64]

Originally Posted by Rango

I think the point is that snow birds are not the only cause of traffic etc in The Villages.

Maybe when the snowbirds are here reflects how busy the villages would be if they ere here year round. Would reflect the true population.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Jima64

Maybe when the snowbirds are here reflects how busy the villages would be if they ere here year round. Would reflect the true population.

I wonder if that will ever be, all of us who own living here all of the time. Some of us are leaving all of the time. This has been a sad week for us for friends leaving us. They say it happens in threes and it did.


And as we age and die, new folks will come and join The Villages, probably at first as part timers.


I hope in the future that some of the changes some folks want to make here won't make this place just ordinary. I hope that when the inmates run the asylum that somehow it will stay the same. I hope Janet Tutt lives forever so generation after generation of people who carefully planned and sacrificed will have the same kind of fourth quarter to their game of life that we all do now.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

The article indicated guest ID's.

Originally Posted by T-325

I was thinking that these guest passes may have actually been for guests... not renters. My guess is new owners have many guests over the course of the year, especially the first few as their family and friends want to see where they have settled in retirement. This is not a linear relationship with the number of new homes being built and more a function of demographics.

With all the baby boomers just starting to retire I would think the number of passes used for this purpose will go up significantly.

Yep!

[asianthree]

I do find it much quieter on the lanai mid April

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by OBXNana

I find stats interesting. Bogie, please keep them coming for those of us that find there is more to the forum than complaining.

Perhaps you would be so kind as to explain your definition of complaining vis a vis disagreement/and difference of opinion? And perhaps you would further qualify it with the difference between either it being legitimate or illegitimate?

I politely ask this because it seems too often on this forum if one does not conform with the opinion of some members then it is taken as an affront, and an illegitimate one at that. It seems some favor collective thought rather than individual thought. Do you suppose this is a byproduct of political correctness?

Do you suppose that if one labels an opposing opinion as "complaining" it accomplishes the same goal as political correctness ending free speech in its tracks?

Personal Best Regards:

[Coal Miner]

Bogie Shooter, thanks for the info. I missed that in the paper. There are too many people who make fun of such informative remarks.

[OBXNana]

I rarely come to this forum, but we were able to escape the snow in March and the couple inches in PA yesterday for the sun in The Villages for a short period of time. I like the forum for updates on what is going on and interesting conversation. I personally am not interested in personal attacks on anyone, regardless of their thoughts or beliefs. I am a firm believer in live and let live. Discussion is one thing. That is not what I am referring to.

Why can't someone post a comment on stats without being criticized? I'm certain Bogie Shooter is more than capable of defending himself. We have learned a tremendous amount from this forum and Bogie has been one of the people that has helped us greatly. No, we have never met and probably never will. My question remains, why can't someone post something that may be of interest to few without someone "complaining" or if you prefer, criticizing the content..

I will now sign off for the time being and possibly come back to the forum at another time.

[perrjojo]

It's likely all 50,000 vistors were not here at the same time. I had two visitors for 2 days and one for 7 days. All were grandchildren. I don't think they added any cart or automobile traffic.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by perrjojo

It's likely all 50,000 vistors were not here at the same time. I had two visitors for 2 days and one for 7 days. All were grandchildren. I don't think they added any cart or automobile traffic.

You are right they were at Disney, the place was wall to wall for the two days we were there.

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by rubicon

Perhaps you would be so kind as to explain your definition of complaining vis a vis disagreement/and difference of opinion? And perhaps you would further qualify it with the difference between either it being legitimate or illegitimate?

I politely ask this because it seems too often on this forum if one does not conform with the opinion of some members then it is taken as an affront, and an illegitimate one at that. It seems some favor collective thought rather than individual thought. Do you suppose this is a byproduct of political correctness?

Do you suppose that if one labels an opposing opinion as "complaining" it accomplishes the same goal as political correctness ending free speech in its tracks?

Personal Best Regards:

I personally see a big difference between complaining or having a different opinion. I don't mind a different opinion. Sometimes I like that. I do not like complainers and many are chronic complainers. Never anything good to say say & never happy.