Originally Posted by Taltarzac725 (Post 2044029)

Find Villages clubs that have members with similar outlooks as you have. There are many clubs in the Villages.

Most of my friends I made here in the Villages were at the various local dog parks and/or while out walking with the different pooches we have had here. Unfortunately many of the dog park friends have moved or passed away or their dogs crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.

Originally Posted by La lamy (Post 2043850)

I think making friends is very easy here. In a retirement community people have lots of extra time on their hands and willing to get to know and spend time with you. I like the suggestion of inviting neighbours to a cocktail party (it can be outside if needed). If you have a dog, that's always an easy way to get to know people in dog parks or just walking around the neighbourhood. Enjoy "Florida's friendliest hometown"!

Originally Posted by AbbyPye (Post 2043792)

After a number of months of carefully planning, I am finally progressing to find a spot to move to The Villages on a more permanent basis along with the person that will be a spouse-type figure. (No, I am not legally married to the other person, but that is all besides the point!)

I keep reading various written posts as well as viewing imagery that stress the fact that once a couple (even a single person as well, through I can’t voice myself regarding that fact) moves to The Villages community, they will be making friends that they have never experienced first hand before, comparing to what it was like when they lived within the communities they came from. This notion presents an illusion that within a short period of time from the start of their official residency, these new residents will have a number of personal contacts that they can consider as their “friends”.

So I will ask this inquiry as I have yet to discover these facts myself. Once somebody does relocate to this Villages community, can a person and/or a couple really make these kinds of friends this quickly? I understand that if one engages is some form of activity be it playing a sport, becoming a participant is a organized group, or some other factor that requires social activity, one can make friends. But what would happen if this person/couple spends little time in such social activities, but one lives in the area just as a standard resident?

Both I as well as my domestic partner are working full time. (*gasp!*) We are employed outside of the community, meaning that we are away from home during the weekday hours, with an occasional weekend stance on the job. So while everyone is doing something during the weekday daylight hours such as playing golf or participating in a ceramics class, I, along with my “spouse” will be engaged in working at some facility that is far off from all of these forms of play and leisure.

I will state that having all of this leisure on hand is far from being unsettling or nothing to be desired. (In fact, it’s great!!) But let’s face it! I may not have the time to engage in all of these activities as I do have those personal responsibilities I must tend to that hold a first priority for my household.

The reason why I and my partner is moving to this Villages community is for various purposes, mostly because of financial elements. But those specific reasons can and will be discussed not here, but on another discussion thread that will be posted in the near future.

So if anyone can honestly speak up on this inquiry, I would deeply appreciate it as I know I am not the only person or persons that might want to know what they may be facing upon their arrival. So call this inquiry as one that can be considered as a public service.

Thank you to all!

-Abby and domestic partner Terry

Originally Posted by AbbyPye (Post 2043792)

So I will ask this inquiry as I have yet to discover these facts myself. Once somebody does relocate to this Villages community, can a person and/or a couple really make these kinds of friends this quickly? I understand that if one engages is some form of activity be it playing a sport, becoming a participant is a organized group, or some other factor that requires social activity, one can make friends. But what would happen if this person/couple spends little time in such social activities, but one lives in the area just as a standard resident?


-Abby and domestic partner Terry

Originally Posted by AbbyPye (Post 2043792)

I understand that if one engages is some form of activity be it playing a sport, becoming a participant is a organized group, or some other factor that requires social activity, one can make friends.

Originally Posted by AbbyPye (Post 2043792)

But what would happen if this person/couple spends little time in such social activities, but one lives in the area just as a standard resident?

Originally Posted by Hifred (Post 2044122)

I think it depends on where you are moving to. In newer neighborhoods there is a sense of building a community and people are more open to friendships. Typically people all tend to be new to the neighborhood and so everyone is new. We made the mistake of moving into an area we liked but most of our neighbors are 8-10 years older. We retired in 2019 before Covid and still found that the people in our neighborhood all had their golf groups and friends. I had heard about driveway parties but where I live there wasn't events that we were invited to and I didn't see neighborhood functions even before Covid. As such although we live between 466 A and 44 all of our friends are mostly in Fenny, Marsh Bend, Linden, and the newer areas. This is because these people were more our age and more open to forming friendships. I have tried to be a good neighbor and talk to those who live close. I have invited neighbors over for dinner and game nights but no one has reciprocated in the 2 and a half years we have lived in our home. I have brought meals to those who live nearby when they were sick, baked holiday goodies and brought them to neighbors. People in my neighborhood are friendly but not that social I think because they are very comfortable with the social groups they have established. If I had it to do over again I would move into a newly established area so we could be part of the making of the community from the ground up.

Originally Posted by GypsyRN (Post 2044084)

Just don't be a prick (like entitled, know-it-all, etc,) and you should be OkeyDokey!!

Originally Posted by KMGraham (Post 2044258)

We will be moving to TV in June! Cannot wait as we have been visiting there, 4 or 5 times a year now, for 3 years for long weekends. 🙂
However, I too am concerned as we will still need to work full time (somewhere). I'm imagining that most 'socializing' will be on the weekends. But, I am hopeful that in time we will make a handful of what we will consider good friends as opposed to acquaintances that we just run into now and again. Fingers crossed!