[Aces4]

Originally Posted by Worldseries27

hypothetical "if's" never carry the day. When i was younger this was mine

Yep, you're living right where you need to be. Not everyone is built for an interesting and varied life. Of course, there are all different clubhouses, golf courses and pools.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by SaucyJim

I use multiple rec centers and pools for various activities that fit my schedule. My sister has one pool, one golf course, and one clubhouse. All are overcrowded and the community is only half built out.

My two cents. Dot com!!

Sorry your sister made a poor choice on the development she choose. Most have better planning than that. Do people sneak in and use their amenities also?

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by SaucyJim

One recent carjacking that made the news versus so many that they do not make the news. Make your choice. I’ll choose one a year over several a day any day.

That is just the one you heard about...

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Please inform us what MI has to do with villages vs Illinois?

On the whole, this thread is about "bang for the buck" for all the fees, taxes and charges in The Villages. I don't understand why hearing about another scenario would be so upsetting unless is the great deal for the money vs here that's annoying to those here. Everywhere has it's pros and cons.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by maistocars

OP, did you conveniently forget State income taxes in IL? Hey, most of us have come from other cities, so we have gotten our fill of that "vibrant" life. Rather than go outside and risk my life in those vibrant cities, I'll enjoy the rest of my time right here in beautiful TV!

It is definitely a place for old people, enjoy!

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by rsmurano

Crime will never be under control in Chicago, NYC, LA, SF, and their corresponding states. If they counted all the crime it would be much higher. Taxes will never be decreased in these cities/states where DeSantis wants to eliminate property taxes. Also, if you are going to compare taxes, include all of them, don’t cherry pick so they look better. None of those cities/states will eliminate their income taxes where we have 0. Let’s also compare cost of gas? We are less than 1/2 of the avg of California, and over $1.50 less than Washington, Oregon, and Chicago.
As for music, where can you hear good music for free every night of the year, in 4 locations? Sure you might go to bars to hear a little band but the drinks will cost you. If you go to any concerts it’s going to cost you.
I can go on and on.
The nice thing in the states, if you don’t like it here, MOVE!!

One has to look where much of the population that moved here came from and hope that shortly, Florida doesn't look like the rest of those cities. Florida is cheaper that some states cost of living but definitely not one of the cheapest.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Tvflguy

...reading between the lines, I think I know what you mean by your last line. But if I state it (the P word) I will get dinged...

It's a variety of things. That's a part of it, sure. It's also the weather. I hate Florida weather. My body hates Florida weather, my arthritis hates Florida weather. I have a personal aversion to really big cockroaches. Strangely enough, I don't skeeve out upon seeing a scorpion in my shoe (that happened when we visited Corpus Cristi, TX one year). But if I saw a cockroach in my shoe I'd be traumatized for at least a couple of weeks after the incident.

The division line between the haves and the have-nots. It's so wide. The folks living between "have" and "have not" are few and rare. I find that pathetic, and that window of "inbetween" is growing thinner every week, it seems.

The food. In some small areas of cities near the coast, you can find decent ethnic food of ALL sorts. But from the Everglades to the Panhandle, (except for Orlando), Central Florida is an ethnic food desert. And apparently, the overall population of this region is fine sticking with their choice of Chili's style chain restaurants, or $300/couple ultra-fancy "American wagyu" steaks with truffle sauce and braised avocado with wilted purple kale and shallot foam monstrosities.

[merrymini]

I love this country, you are free to say what you want, think what you want and leave when you want.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Please inform us what MI has to do with villages vs Illinois?

Please inform us about what Illinois has to do with Florida. Personally, I’ve always wondered what Ohio has to do with Hawaii. Secondly would be West Virginia with New Mexico.

Maybe it’s just the massively different infrastructures, roads, lights and their maintenance? Maybe it’s the totally different economic situations and costs of living?

[jimhoward]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

It's a variety of things. That's a part of it, sure. It's also the weather. I hate Florida weather. My body hates Florida weather, my arthritis hates Florida weather. I have a personal aversion to really big cockroaches. Strangely enough, I don't skeeve out upon seeing a scorpion in my shoe (that happened when we visited Corpus Cristi, TX one year). But if I saw a cockroach in my shoe I'd be traumatized for at least a couple of weeks after the incident.

The division line between the haves and the have-nots. It's so wide. The folks living between "have" and "have not" are few and rare. I find that pathetic, and that window of "inbetween" is growing thinner every week, it seems.

The food. In some small areas of cities near the coast, you can find decent ethnic food of ALL sorts. But from the Everglades to the Panhandle, (except for Orlando), Central Florida is an ethnic food desert. And apparently, the overall population of this region is fine sticking with their choice of Chili's style chain restaurants, or $300/couple ultra-fancy "American wagyu" steaks with truffle sauce and braised avocado with wilted purple kale and shallot foam monstrosities.

I thought the heat was supposed to be good for arthritis? Is that wrong?

Florida overall is diverse, but the Villages seems to be quite homogeneous. Not many "haves" or "have nots". Its mostly all middle class. 90+% of the homes cost less than $1M. So I don't think the in-between group is small within the Villages.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by jimhoward

I thought the heat was supposed to be good for arthritis? Is that wrong?

Dry heat is better for arthritis. Humidity can actually cause flare ups.

[Pugchief]

Originally Posted by Normal

Dry heat is better for arthritis. Humidity can actually cause flare ups.

There are lots of retirement communities in AZ.....

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Apples and oranges. Your tax bill at "the old homestead in DuPage County Illinois" probably didn't have an amenity fee that supported 80+ rec center, 120+ pools, 45 exec golf courses, community watch passing by your "old homestead" 3x/day and flowers in RBs and entrances changed out quarterly, nor did your local businesses support live music in 4 different venues 365 days/year.

So please subtract about $2400/year from that 7K false equivalency. And for the coup de gras---this is NOT Illinois.

I agree with about 90%. I would rather have perennial plants in the round-abouts. Also, I would rather have the money for community watch used for more REAL Police and more neighborhood cameras. Personally, I don't believe that the community watch is effective at all. My house was burglarized about 7 years ago when I was away. And I read about many such a crimes happening daily on NewsBreak.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Aces4

One has to look where much of the population that moved here came from and hope that shortly, Florida doesn't look like the rest of those cities. Florida is cheaper that some states cost of living but definitely not one of the cheapest.

The people committing crimes in those cities are not the ones moving here.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Heh I feel the same way about people insisting that Florida is heaven on earth, that you feel about people insisting the Villages is heaven on earth. And I always get the "if you don't like it, leave" ergo decedo (traitorous critic fallacy) response from people who don't have the mental fortitude to address the substance of the discussion.

My response to them is usually something along the lines of "pay for me to live somewhere else in a similar style and comfort level and I'll get in line for a ticket out." If The Villages was in Albuequerque or Santa Fe, and had the same cost of living, we would be there instead of Florida. Alas, TV is in Florida. It sucks, but it is what it is.

20 Years ago, I thought Portland, Or. was a great city. Winter was difficult with cold and too much rain, but summers were outstanding. Unfortunately, it attracted too many people and a lot of crime and that changed it. California was wonderful in the 60s and 70s. Basically, locations change. Increasing summer heat and hurricanes are making year around living in Florida less pleasant.