[me4vt]

Most Village People think they’re “Better” than others that’s other developments not just locals and service people! And the majority of those Villagers are from one area of the United States which I needed say because they know who they are. I’d give $100 for the Readers Digest from the the early 80’s that invited people to the up and coming “Villages” in a advertisement…..

[Eg_cruz]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

We do have more in common with people in our age group.

Not sure what age has to do with reaching out the others that don’t live in TV but work here. This would be one of the those entitled educational moments

[Villages Kahuna]

You’ve discovered why people describe The Villages as “living in a bubble”.

The attitude of the locals towards Villagers ranges from indifferent tolerance to downright hatred. How would you feel if suddenly a community of 145,000 self-interested, non-working, almost entirely Caucasian, wealthy northerners dropped into the middle of your modest, unhurried, rural southern community?

We justify our existence by saying how much we’ve helped the locals by providing jobs and increased income and not thinking for a moment that the people who lived here liked it the way it was.

I remember a young woman who had to deliver something to our house in Mallory shaking her head over the massive development and saying that when she was a teenager this was all pastureland where she and her friends would ride their horses for hours on end. Now she observed, all that is gone.

That’s why Villagers often describe leaving the confines of The Villages and others who live here as “going off campus”.

[Eg_cruz]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Something that's becoming more and more apparent the longer we live here, is the (for want of a better word) disconnect between Villagers and locals. It is not too noticeable in TV, though there are some exceptions, but I've been making it a point to meet and talk to locals (golf course workers, yard service workers, pest control), and have made some friends outside TV, and there is a definite "us against them" attitude. Not on the part of everyone, to be sure; maybe not even on the part of a majority, but enough. Mostly it seems to be a benign mistrust, but on the part of some it is definite antipathy, bordering on hatred. But in general the prevailing feeling seems to be that we Villagers look down on the people who were born and raised here, or who come here for the laborer jobs.

I do my own yard work. A couple of weeks ago I was out mowing, drenched with sweat, then the trash collectors came; a couple of Hispanic men. I shut down the mower and asked "how ya doin"? The driver, noticing that I was bagging the clippings said "Your grass..I take!". I laughed and said I'd save it for the next pickup. They both laughed and continued on their way. Now every time they see me, they make sure to wave. The point? I am dead sure they'd never treat me in a friendly fashion if I hadn't made the first (positive) move.

We're the guests here. My thought is that we bear the lion's share of the responsibility in doing what we can to keep Villager-Local relations friendly. We live in a bubble, but that bubble has boundaries, and if those people peering into the bubble from the outside or meet our service needs inside don't like us or even actively hate us...well, that's uncomfortable. And it could conceivably be, in some circumstances, dangerous.

What can we do to make it less so?

The truth of the matter is a lot of people from out of state act is if the boarded a luxury cruise ship and the help is here to serve at their leisure.

[snhmhg]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Something that's becoming more and more apparent the longer we live here, is the (for want of a better word) disconnect between Villagers and locals. It is not too noticeable in TV, though there are some exceptions, but I've been making it a point to meet and talk to locals (golf course workers, yard service workers, pest control), and have made some friends outside TV, and there is a definite "us against them" attitude. Not on the part of everyone, to be sure; maybe not even on the part of a majority, but enough. Mostly it seems to be a benign mistrust, but on the part of some it is definite antipathy, bordering on hatred. But in general the prevailing feeling seems to be that we Villagers look down on the people who were born and raised here, or who come here for the laborer jobs.

I do my own yard work. A couple of weeks ago I was out mowing, drenched with sweat, then the trash collectors came; a couple of Hispanic men. I shut down the mower and asked "how ya doin"? The driver, noticing that I was bagging the clippings said "Your grass..I take!". I laughed and said I'd save it for the next pickup. They both laughed and continued on their way. Now every time they see me, they make sure to wave. The point? I am dead sure they'd never treat me in a friendly fashion if I hadn't made the first (positive) move.

We're the guests here. My thought is that we bear the lion's share of the responsibility in doing what we can to keep Villager-Local relations friendly. We live in a bubble, but that bubble has boundaries, and if those people peering into the bubble from the outside or meet our service needs inside don't like us or even actively hate us...well, that's uncomfortable. And it could conceivably be, in some circumstances, dangerous.

What can we do to make it less so?

It’s not the people at all. Many businesses have thrived, and many people have become financially benefited from the population growth. Local business owners truly appreciate your patronages, and the support your clubs and organizations give back to our communities. It’s the massive takeover of growth, the cutting down of all the gorgeous old oaks. It’s so hard, if not impossible, to find a piece of land for family to buy and build on, generations have lived near each other forever. Some of us just wish the continued growth and expansion would stop, so our area can still have a few spots that somewhat resemble the homesteads we have lived in all our lives. And the Villages school, you can’t send your kid unless you work for the villages. Public schools, while good schools, just don’t have the same resources for facilities and programs. Now comes the road expansion proposal through some of the prettiest lands left, taking homes and uprooting people who have been here all their lives, so the issue is it’s all development and politics, not you, so don’t feel unwelcome as a resident!

[egmcaninch]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Something that's becoming more and more apparent the longer we live here, is the (for want of a better word) disconnect between Villagers and locals. It is not too noticeable in TV, though there are some exceptions, but I've been making it a point to meet and talk to locals (golf course workers, yard service workers, pest control), and have made some friends outside TV, and there is a definite "us against them" attitude. Not on the part of everyone, to be sure; maybe not even on the part of a majority, but enough. Mostly it seems to be a benign mistrust, but on the part of some it is definite antipathy, bordering on hatred. But in general the prevailing feeling seems to be that we Villagers look down on the people who were born and raised here, or who come here for the laborer jobs.

I do my own yard work. A couple of weeks ago I was out mowing, drenched with sweat, then the trash collectors came; a couple of Hispanic men. I shut down the mower and asked "how ya doin"? The driver, noticing that I was bagging the clippings said "Your grass..I take!". I laughed and said I'd save it for the next pickup. They both laughed and continued on their way. Now every time they see me, they make sure to wave. The point? I am dead sure they'd never treat me in a friendly fashion if I hadn't made the first (positive) move.

We're the guests here. My thought is that we bear the lion's share of the responsibility in doing what we can to keep Villager-Local relations friendly. We live in a bubble, but that bubble has boundaries, and if those people peering into the bubble from the outside or meet our service needs inside don't like us or even actively hate us...well, that's uncomfortable. And it could conceivably be, in some circumstances, dangerous.

What can we do to make it less so?

My wife & I are active at FBC Leesburg. We also visit The Springs at Lady Lake (LTC facility) each Tuesday to sing, have a devotional and simply visit. At the same time, I enjoy my neighbors in Fenney, where we live. From our perspective, we don't feel segmented - we feel blessed.

[mkjelenbaas]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Something that's becoming more and more apparent the longer we live here, is the (for want of a better word) disconnect between Villagers and locals. It is not too noticeable in TV, though there are some exceptions, but I've been making it a point to meet and talk to locals (golf course workers, yard service workers, pest control), and have made some friends outside TV, and there is a definite "us against them" attitude. Not on the part of everyone, to be sure; maybe not even on the part of a majority, but enough. Mostly it seems to be a benign mistrust, but on the part of some it is definite antipathy, bordering on hatred. But in general the prevailing feeling seems to be that we Villagers look down on the people who were born and raised here, or who come here for the laborer jobs.

I do my own yard work. A couple of weeks ago I was out mowing, drenched with sweat, then the trash collectors came; a couple of Hispanic men. I shut down the mower and asked "how ya doin"? The driver, noticing that I was bagging the clippings said "Your grass..I take!". I laughed and said I'd save it for the next pickup. They both laughed and continued on their way. Now every time they see me, they make sure to wave. The point? I am dead sure they'd never treat me in a friendly fashion if I hadn't made the first (positive) move.

We're the guests here. My thought is that we bear the lion's share of the responsibility in doing what we can to keep Villager-Local relations friendly. We live in a bubble, but that bubble has boundaries, and if those people peering into the bubble from the outside or meet our service needs inside don't like us or even actively hate us...well, that's uncomfortable. And it could conceivably be, in some circumstances, dangerous.

What can we do to make it less so?

Good luck!!

[coconutmama]

Originally Posted by Villagevip

We not guest here, we are American citizens.....Free to travel all the states, and buy what we desire within our limits.....Buying property anywhere in America, eliminates any question of being a guest In the here and now...

Totally agree. Wish we’d all remember that we are all Americans, and truly are better together. Can buy property anywhere we can afford. And where that is does not make us better or less so than anyone else.

Unfortunately that is not always the attitude. Depending on the situation I have said I was from Wildwood or Leesburg rather than from TV. Sad but true. There can be a misconception out there of the people who live in our city, and a city is what it has become. It has just grown laterally as opposed to vertically (so far).

[airstreamingypsy]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

You’ve discovered why people describe The Villages as “living in a bubble”.

The attitude of the locals towards Villagers ranges from indifferent tolerance to downright hatred. How would you feel if suddenly a community of 145,000 self-interested, non-working, almost entirely Caucasian, wealthy northerners dropped into the middle of your modest, unhurried, rural southern community?

We justify our existence by saying how much we’ve helped the locals by providing jobs and increased income and not thinking for a moment that the people who lived here liked it the way it was.

Nailed it!! I get so tired of people blathering about "all the jobs we've created" People did like it the way it was. Villagers do treat locals like they are beneath them. It was beautiful when it was rolling meadows with horses and cattle grazing in the fields. Pave paradise and put up a parking lot.

[Bikehike]

If the Tri-County area is Rome then The Villages is Vatican City.... er maybe the Coliseum?

[G.R.I.T.S.]

I do the same thing, but it's just how I was raised. But to your point about "us against them," it was never more prevalent as when I entered the master gardener program many years ago. Back then, those from south Sumter pretty much despised those volunteers from TV. I bridged the gap with several of them, as we share a common southern heritage, but there were some that just were intolerant of us. What's funnier is that some of "them" were transplants from areas north of here but felt infringement into their rural lifestyle. I totally understand and empathize. But life's too short, especially at this stage! Just smile & go on.

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by airstreamingypsy

Nailed it!! I get so tired of people blathering about "all the jobs we've created" People did like it the way it was. Villagers do treat locals like they are beneath them. It was beautiful when it was rolling meadows with horses and cattle grazing in the fields. Pave paradise and put up a parking lot.

Is was so great here that your neighbors sold out to the developer.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by airstreamingypsy

Nailed it!! I get so tired of people blathering about "all the jobs we've created" People did like it the way it was. Villagers do treat locals like they are beneath them. It was beautiful when it was rolling meadows with horses and cattle grazing in the fields. Pave paradise and put up a parking lot.

Some of it is natural, I suppose. Human nature.

I dealt with it decades ago. Far northern Minnesota, where my family lived, is prime hunting country (grouse, deer, moose). Sparsely populated to say the least: I remember times as a kid when being snowed in for four or even five days was not uncommon, but we made do. Each November however there was an influx of hunters from the southern part of the state: many had purchased land up there and had hunting "cabins" where they and their cronies would use we headquarters for their stay. We called 'em "Joe Cities". Stories abounded about their poor woodsmanship skills, bad marksmanship and the fact that some of them didn't wait for the hunting to stop to for the drinking to start. Some stories were probably true, many probably not or greatly exaggerated, but we took them as gospel. They weren't especially liked by the locals and they knew it. They pretty much kept to themselves. Never did learn what they thought of us, but I imagine it wasn't all that complimentary.

Stereotypes may have their basis in truth but become highly exaggerated with time, and there were plenty of stereotypes back then. Not unlike here.

[Larchap49]

Originally Posted by Dond1959

The OP is spot on with his assessment. Being one of the few here born and raised in North Florida it is more of a South Georgia culture than the rest of Florida. South Florida is nothing like the small communities that dot North Florida such as Wildwood and Lady Lake and even Ocala. It definitely depends on how you treat the people who perform services and keep this place running. Engaging them and treating them respectfully will go a long way. Unfortunately there are a good number who demand and bully and give the Villagers a bad name. I always talk to anyone who comes out for a few minutes and talk about being raised and born in north Florida. It is amazing you can see them relax and open up when I talk to them.

I have only been here 4 years but I have unfortunately seen a lot of clueless Villagers. One example was at a restaurant recently. It was crowded and there were 3 of us waiting for the hostess to get a second to help us. Well, here comes a loud guy pushing his way in front of everyone and demanding he be helped. The hostess handled it well and had him wait until the others were helped. The guy was completely clueless that he did anything. You see it on social media all the time when someone doesn’t receive “perfect” service they hammer the business. Unfortunately I think those that feel entitled never recognize when they are acting like a spoiled brat.

In a lot of cases it may depend on our past life. I have always been blue collar or low to middle management both as an employee and business owner that had to supply a high level of customer service. I think a lot of people here come from the executive level or wealthy backgrounds and have been catered to most of their lives and are not willing to step back in retirement to being one of the crowd. Those types will go to their graves thinking that they better than most and deserve to have their butts kissed by anyone not of their perceived social standings. I love every opportunity I get or see to put them in their place.

[Niferlou06]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Something that's becoming more and more apparent the longer we live here, is the (for want of a better word) disconnect between Villagers and locals. It is not too noticeable in TV, though there are some exceptions, but I've been making it a point to meet and talk to locals (golf course workers, yard service workers, pest control), and have made some friends outside TV, and there is a definite "us against them" attitude. Not on the part of everyone, to be sure; maybe not even on the part of a majority, but enough. Mostly it seems to be a benign mistrust, but on the part of some it is definite antipathy, bordering on hatred. But in general the prevailing feeling seems to be that we Villagers look down on the people who were born and raised here, or who come here for the laborer jobs.

I do my own yard work. A couple of weeks ago I was out mowing, drenched with sweat, then the trash collectors came; a couple of Hispanic men. I shut down the mower and asked "how ya doin"? The driver, noticing that I was bagging the clippings said "Your grass..I take!". I laughed and said I'd save it for the next pickup. They both laughed and continued on their way. Now every time they see me, they make sure to wave. The point? I am dead sure they'd never treat me in a friendly fashion if I hadn't made the first (positive) move.

We're the guests here. My thought is that we bear the lion's share of the responsibility in doing what we can to keep Villager-Local relations friendly. We live in a bubble, but that bubble has boundaries, and if those people peering into the bubble from the outside or meet our service needs inside don't like us or even actively hate us...well, that's uncomfortable. And it could conceivably be, in some circumstances, dangerous.

What can we do to make it less so?

I agree completly with what you have said and the answer is to simply BE NICE. The world needs more of that. Treat everyone you meet with respect.