You are so right about the beautiful landscaping and buildings. That is my favorite thing about the Villages is how clean it is and well cared for. I love to drive around to the different villages and see the flowers and how beautiful they are. I love driving through the tree-lined Buena Visa Blvd. during the Spring to see the blooming azaelas. I also love the beautiful recreation centers and that they are available for our use. We went to a club event last night at Colony Cottage and Rocky and the Rollers performed. They are an absolutely awesome band and we had a fantastic time.

We all walk through life on separate paths, no need to feel envious.

IMO The Villages has the best management in the 55 and over community business. Laguna Woods Village, CA where several of my friends reside is undergoing tremendous political upheaval since the inmates have become in charge of running the asylum. The CotoBuzz Journal : Laguna Woods Village transition from Associa/PC, HOA Professional Management to Self FAQsReport: Laguna Woods Village boards lack vision and direction - The Orange County Register

we did the same search a few years ago...spent 5 days and 1000 miles visiting 55+ communities up and down the coast and even into Georgia. What other communities call "active and social" are unbelievable (a pot luck supper in the "rec center that holds less than 50 people, or bingo once a month) just didn't cut it for us. plus lack of other amenities, fighting for pool space, etc...goes on and on. HOA fees were staggering for nothing. It just confirmed what in our hearts we knew but had to "test" one last time before biting the bullet...and was absolutely the right choice!

My other half is here 80% of the year and loves it. I am still working full time, and am not ready for the full time experience. We have people over and I enjoy entertaining, the rec centers, and amenities. I do find that rude question are you a RENTER annoying, unfriendly and put off by that. I like when you meet new people and ask where are you from, what village, how long, and don't you love it here. Much better conversation

Your rental/owner status is nobody's business. I find rude questions very typical down here. I tried for about 2 1/2 years to fit in. Obviously I'm the square peg in the round hole. Now I just keep to myself with my puppies and go out and do as the mood strikes me on my own.
If I don't let them in, they can't hurt me. I'm probably stuck here till they take me out toes up but so be it. I socialize with friends on the phone and on Facebook. It's pretty much the only way I avoid the nasty people who have lost the filter.

so true!
 

When we announced to friends that we were coming to tv, friend said, oh, Tom and I would hate tv... I asked her, have you been there?.. answer, well no.... silence






QUOTE=goodtimesintv;1233976]I didn't say I want thousands to come to TV. I was addressing how people prefer to listen to rumors when they and the rumor spreaders have never even been here.

It's the ignorance about TV that I was addressing.... Like the ignorance about thinking TV is condos with HOA.

We don't have condos and we don't have an HOA. All our homes are single-family and we own our house/villa building and lot.

We only pay a monthly Amenities Fee of $148 per month per household and increases are limited by being tied to Consumer Price Index. What we get for the Amenities Fee is the buy of the century.[/QUOTE]

[/QUOTE]

It's just hard to explain to people what The Villages is. People look at you like you are crazy, like no place like that exists. You'll just have to invite them down so they can see for themselves.

We have been here for only 3 weeks and, having never visited before, have no opinion about whether some people here are more or less nasty than some people back in our former hometown. I would guess the ratio is probably about the same – maybe less here due to the abundance of sunshine and the fact that time is spent in planning fun activities and not negotiating the subway system or earning a living and more because some may be experiencing daily aches and pains that advancing age brings or the sorrows of widow/widowhood and/or the death of friends.

I have found that strangers seem more willing to help, hold doors open, the clerks in the supermarkets go out of their way to help you find something, offer to bring your packages to your car, etc etc. – atypical of behaviors up North. It also seems that far many more people smile and say good morning than we are accustomed to.

Interestingly, it never occurred to me that there would be anything untoward in asking whether someone is an owner or renter. Thank you for pointing that out since I wouldn’t want inadvertently to be considered rude.

I don’t think my husband and I are attracted to “communal living” either – although I’m not sure exactly what that means. So far it seems we have the option of either socializing with our neighbors or keeping to ourselves – which isn’t so different from where we lived in Brooklyn.

We may also be the “square peg in the round hole” since we don’t play golf or tennis or pickleball and numerous other activities (although we are planning on eventually trying some of these activities on for size LOL).

But putting aside all the usual hype for TV, what attracted me most to The Villages are the OPTIONS afforded to us that we did not have before. Options that we may or may not exercise.

I hope you eventually find your bliss – whether in solitary, among 1 or 2 choice friends, in prayer, in the love and joy that comes from your puppies or even Facebook. Feel free to pm me if you ever feel the need or just want to speak with someone who is not (yet) addicted to Kool-Aid.

You do realize the inmates have been running the districts north of 466 for some time?

I guess I won't post my reply only because I would of liked to hear from the other side. I've lived here for only 5 yrs. & I've talked to people that have lived here for 20 yrs. & they tell it like it is. They tell you both sides of the equation, some good & some bad. Overall it sounds like most people are very happy here. I love it here but I have found different places that have cheaper better built homes & yes their community is booming too. I guess to put it in a nutshell in 5 yrs. I've found out a lot of the pro's & con's.

The Villages defined is "A lifestyle about change." Many things aren't what they used to be. Businesses, restaurants, banks, medical personnel e.g. physicians fail and move on just like any community. As the population increases, the hometown flavor decreases. I moved here when the population was 12,000 and rumors had it that construction and build-out were going to be under 20,000. As more land was purchased, more homes built, that hometown flavor became a town and then a major city with all the social issues found in any large city. The Villages still remain a phenomenal concept developed by visionary Germans who saw a lucrative need for retiring seniors and an income for their families and associates for generations to come. For the complainers, move out.

I was hoping that organizing "Hooks and Needles" and involvement in the Long Island Club would make things better.

I second that emotion
 

Please know that I wish you every joy and happiness possible in your new home. I'm sure you will do terrific