I had, and still have a big problem with the small building lots. Even the larger lots are tiny compared to what we're used to. It's something we discussed at length prior to buying in TV. We figured we could tolerate it since we never plan to be full time TV residents.
The first two winters in TV were quite a bit colder that we expected. I talked with a lot of locals and they assured me that those winters were colder than usual. Last winter the weather was fantastic. I hope the mild winters continue. The only thing we were trying to escape in buying in Florida was the cold, snowy New York winters. Another stretch of cold winters will mean a for sale sign on the TV house.
Other than those two issues we're very happy in TV. We've made a lot of friends and are probably busier than we want to be but it's fun. We're active in our church and in several local organizations, both within TV and out of the bubble.
When we visit friends in Stonecrest and Spruce Creek it's interesting that they seem just as happy in their new digs as we are in ours. I guess home really is where you hang your hat.

As for the lot sizes, I for one am ready for a small lot. We have had several homes with 3 to 8 acre lots, and currently have a 2/3 acre lake lot that is as much work as a small farm. Time to play more and work less.

We too have met people from both Stonecrest and Spruce Creek, and they say they are happy, and from all appearences, are. However, when you dig into their thinking they have, without exception, at least one of the couple who is extemely non-social. I don't mean that as a negative, but one or both simply don't like mixing with strangers, and don't really like a lot of outside activities. One man we met who used to live in TV, and now lives in Stonecrest was just furious about the mail situation in TV, having clustered mailboxes where everyone went at 4:30 and about ran each other over. I am not exaggerating, that is why he left the Villages and moved to Stonecrest. Everyone has different ideas about what life should be about, and most definitely not everyone is cut out for The Villages. One reason TV is so great for most that are there is because they are among like-minded, active, outgoing people. The people who are not probably don't buy there for the most part, and in most cases probably shouldn't.

I haven't met any introverts in Stonecrest or Spruce Creek. Granted, I only know a few couples in each place but they're just as friendly and outgoing as anyone I know in TV. They just found the other areas more to their liking. We're close friends with another couple from Lake Panasoffkee and they think we're all nuts in TV, in a nice way. Like most of us, they're from up north and are extremely busy in their Florida home. They're both friendly and likable and I'm sure would bored silly in TV. They just have a different lifestyle. I'm fortunate to have met them through a lodge I belong to in Leesburg.

I was not speaking negatively when I said I though TV is like a tourist area. I like those kind of towns because things stay vibrant and it is fun to live where other people come to visit and are happy being there and enjoying life. We have a half acre in Seattle and are happy to be transitioning to a beautiful backyard with little upkeep, we pay a lot now for weekly landscaping in Seattle as we do not have time to look after property this size with so much lush greenery and flowers. There are lots of places to buy less expensive and bigger more palatial homes in Florida-it is a foreclosure paradise except in TV, though there are some there too. You are paying for the lifestyle, the beauty and maintenance of everywhere you turn; the activties, entertainment, golf cart roads, etc. If you love it, live it. If you don't, choose somewhere else. It seems so simple to me. When you make your choice of where to go, you do so because it fulfills you. If you find a lot wrong with a place, look elsewhere. My husband would never have considered retirement before we found TV. He always says when his clients retire, and then he meets with them a few months later, they tell him how they fell off the roof cleaning the gutters or are not doing anything because of the rainy weather....it was not attractive to him. Then he saw everyone living life with retirement, and now we will too! Thank you The Villages!

I enjoy living here, except for one reason. I hear of blocks that are very close and people go out for lunch, dinner or just sit in someone's house and spend a nice evening. The block I live on is not all that friendly. We say hello and that is about as far as it does. No body seems to want to get together as a group. So I have found friends in other villages and they are very friendly and you can always count on them and we do alot of things together.

I am neither a grandparent nor a dog owner but I wish that TV had:

1. A large playground with age-specific play structures that are fun and interesting.

2. A true passive park with several acres of open space and shaded areas.

3. A modern dog park.

I agree

gmcneill: if there are such areas available I assure you the Developer will put a house on it. "The Village Lifestyle" is what the Developer sells and so that "Lifestyle" costs people a hefty premium. But what you discover is that people who purchased outside TV benefit from that "Lifestyle"..They have access and utilize the golf cartpaths, golf courses, town squares, etc without paying amenities, fees , etc. What I hear in defense of this is "well they can't use our rec centers or pools, etc. I'll make book that they can and do. If I am wrong the cost of amenities still don't justify what is given in return. I have met folks who left TV and moved down the road for that reason.
Finally "Selling the Lifestyle" is so profitable that is my understanding the Developer has developed a seminar for other Developers on how to sell "The Lifestyle" concept and getting a hefty price for it.

Do not like
 

Do not like: Sinkholes, Winter Crowds, Chair Saving at the squares, Speeding Golf Carts and Roundabouts. As for the quailty of the house, it is "track housing" nothing better, nothing worse. But as long as it DOES NOT SNOW here, I like it.:pepper2:

negatives
 

Warning I love leaving my windows open in nice weather so does back door neighbor. If your going to have some HOT SEX involving sceaming, they can hear you. ha Homes are that close!! And we have an extra deep lot. can't imagine if we didn't.

Really does everyone go get their mail at 4:30? i guess i am not in the loop of mail pickup

The only thing I can think of is there are not enough time in the day to get everything done that you would like to do. :pepper2:

Your understanding of a seminar for other developers sounds pretty far fetched to me Rubicon. I respectfully disagree about the developer "putting a house" on ALL available property. First, the area was all planned out at the beginning. AND there are acres and acres and acrea of nothing but beautifully maintained green space along the roadways, my favorite being the area around Buena Vista and Stillwater. To me that area reminds me of my vision of heaven, the other one.

I grant we could have a lot of things that we don't have, many have mentioned indoor pools, more dog parks, charging stations for golf carts, separate golf cart paths all over, separate walking paths all over, separate bike paths all over,someone to police the saving seats, etc. etc. etc. We have so many things here for our $135 a month and yet we want more, more, more. We could have more but someone has to pay for them.

We have things so nice that others come into our campus and try to use them. I think our ambassadors do a fairly good job of checking pool passes and definitely checking ID's on the golf courses. They are told not to be challenging or rude to anyone and I haven't run into those behaviors from the ID checkers at all.

I do agree Rubicon that you can get bigger homes and larger lots for the same money outside The Villages. But. Not many choose to do that. And if they do they want a different set of things for themselves that brought me here to Florida that I said I would NEVER live in and brought me to the happiest part of my life.

I am still trying to understand why there is anger about certain things? I said it before, it is a choice to live anywhere, so if you do not like what is at TV or anywhere else, why focus on moving or living there? I am not referring to people who wish for certain things, more about the animosity of what TV is. It is what it is, so choose accordingly where you want to live, what you want to pay, what type of home you want, what you will sacrifice to be somewhere, and whether or not what the developer does, who he supports, how he lives his life, what plans he executes, and what he does for his wealth building is so distasteful to you that there is no way you can enjoy TV without being mad! Come to TV if you will enjoy it. There are so many other places to live too, it is a big country and big world. I think "just smile and be happy" should define retirement. I hope I am right about that.

:agree: :BigApplause: