[ugotme]

Originally Posted by Didiwinbob

Don't be afraid of getting lost! That is part of the "get to know" the lay of the land. We visited for 5 yrs. I was sold the second time, not sure when hubby decided but when he did we both knew exactly where we wanted to buy! Enjoy and also travel outside the "bubble" (Leesburg, Ocala, etc). We can only stay for short periods of time but soon I can transfer my nursing and driver's license to FL!!!Chris

Silly but I kinda like getting lost! Forces me to go to places I might not go!
Now if my wife is navigating I will DEFINITELY get lost!

[aljetmet]

While we were designing Thanksgiving week we saw the Trolley south of 466A. You must get to Brownwood. Take Bueno Vista south and you won't miss it. Actually most of it has not been built yet it but will be a great place once complete. Enjoy your stay and make sure you do get to all Town squares and drop by a rec center or two.

[rmcpklinefelter]

I do think the trolley is worth the ride. You'll get all turned around trying to figure out where in TV you are at the moment, but will just decide to sit back, admire the beauty,
marvel at the variety of golf carts and listen to the pitch.

[senior citizen]

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[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by senior citizen

I think any of us would be lucky to have Gracie as a neighbor, and she just might change your mind. She's been through it all and made a great adjustment, twice. Gracie has a good head on her shoulders.

In our one month rental, one of the next door neighbors came over to welcome us and offer his help if needed. The others were just indoors most of the the time. Others "waved" as we drove by. In the lifestyle visit home there really were no neighbors, just "visitors" like ourselves.
Everyone kept to themselves. They appeared to be aged 55 and up to our age of 67 at the time.

Those we met in the restaurants were very friendly.....and all the hostesses, etc. told us their stories of how they moved down to TV and some stated where they "wished" they had stayed or moved to, such as the Carolina beaches. Everyone missed the beaches....or the mountains.
When everyone heard we were from Vermont, they said that they would never leave Vermont as it was so beautiful.......which it is. And SAFE.

The one thing that slightly "turned us off" was the older woman who kept calling from the sales office saying "We want to get you out into the community"...........like we couldn't get ourselves to where we wanted to go? It slightly smacked of Stepford Wives. I can see how that correlation has been applied by others in the past. It also slightly reminded me of my deceased mom's "senior citizen club" where the nurses and activity assistants kept a close eye on those who attended daily.

Maybe we are too independent living up here in Vermont for 43+ years where people know their own minds and do not need a "cruise director".

TV sells itself. It's beautiful. For those who buy into that "lifestyle jargon" I'm sure it is a dream come true. But for more independent retirees, it's just "different" from what we have been used to, to say the very least. Also, too many rules and regulations. We've owned a lot of homes during our marriage..........and still have our brains, thankfully, so would have preferred less phone calls.

Not everyone wants to be physically active 24/7. Some are the more creative type, working with their hands, etc. or minds......and I do realize there are clubs for all of that.........which is great. We also find it hard to believe that everyone is out golfing in 100% HUMIDITY and 95 degrees temps with a heat index of God only knows what.....with intense sun.

We can't even take the heat up here.

As someone else said, the first visit is OVERWHELMING and most folks are exhausted from a long day of airports, picking up rental cars, getting lost on the roundabouts to really care about "getting into the community".....we needed a long rest first. Just us. Again, we are not 49 years old anymore. I've had many people private message me to say the same exact thing........and the simple fact that TV was so OVERWHELMING and tiring (esp. if one came from a small town), that they felt it "would not be in the cards" based on one spouse or the other's initial impression. My husband, who was lacking his nicotine fix after a day of traveling........did actually like the place. However, he hates THE HEAT AND THE HUMIDITY. Again, been there, done that.

On one hand we can see the advantages which are many.......but on the other hand it is very expensive to move..........only to return back north, yet again.

Wintering down there seems to be the solution..........esp. since I found out that most people do return north for the late spring and summers...and only rent for the winters.

The "younger generation" LOVES THE VILLAGES.........but we are no longer the younger generation. Really really doubt if we'd be in those squares at night.

Others our age, family members and friends of ours, who also visited..........say it is "artificial". It all depends upon where you are coming from.

WE thought it was lovely to look at. But it would take many more visits, other than SIX WEEKS to come to an ultimate yes or no.

I am confused by your reference to an "older woman who called from the sales office". I have NEVER heard of anyone calling from the sales office with a request to "get you out into the community", . I wonder if it was an MLS person who got wind you were renting. They can be annoyingly persistent. Not so the sales staff from The Villages.

I bet that everyone will agree with me on that..I am an avid reader of this forum and have talked to a lot of people over five years and have never heard of anyone being harassed or even bothered slightly by the sales staff from The Villages. That is one of the things that "sold" me on this place. No one has to "sell" you anything and the sales staff only come when called.

I am the perfect example of someone who was not interested EVER in moving to Florida and stopped by for a brief visit with old friends and they took us on a tour and gave us a Kool refreshing drink. I was in love and so was Sweetie.

Don't forget to go in SEVERAL of the rec centers, the decor is just amazing in all of them and different in each. Go to several pools, both adult and family and chat with folks; all you need say is .." I am new here. What do you think of The Villages.

And stop by our house. We will be glad to drive you around, Ugotme.

I am pretty sure you will love it here.

I do NOT work for The Villages, I do not know the Morses and I don't think I have a chip embedded in me anywhere.

I am just so glad to be alive everyday I wake up here and...well...

come see for yourself.

[senior citizen]

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[senior citizen]

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[ugotme]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

And stop by our house. We will be glad to drive you around, Ugotme.

I am pretty sure you will love it here.come see for yourself.

Thank you VERY MUCH for the invite Gracie. Be careful - I may take you up on it!!!!

Actually I would love to meet you and your hubby. Will PM you, again, when we are coming up.

Thanks again - we really do appreciate it.

[lovesports]

Originally Posted by senior citizen

P.S.
Not everything in this world is black and white........there are also shades of grey.
While we can see the beauty and convenience of certain things, many actually, in THE VILLAGES........it is just so different (HUGE) than what we have been used to.
We live in a place where varying opinions are tolerated. Not everyone has to "fit into a certain mold" or "lifestyle".

Senior Citizen you speak truth.
People who love the Villages- post here.
There is especially one person and others on TOTV who will jump on and argue with anyone who says anything less than glowing about the Villages.

That why people who don"t like it here will not post.

I like it here but it is not for everybody. There are things I don't like and things I do like here.
Next time you come to The Villages, pm me. We (my wife and I) would like to meet you.

[rhondac]

I have been here 8 years. I STILL LOVE IT!

[perrjojo]

[QUOTE=senior citizen;588367]


No one up here in Vermont would ever say, "We want to get you into the community". People here would decide , on their own, "when" , "where" and "if" they wanted to attend something or other. Also, no one up here would say, "We should get you right into water aerobics". (after just arriving from a day of travel and two airports and rental car maze in Orlando, which I'm sure others can agree with, esp. if they woke up at 3 a.m.)........again, just too overwhelming.

This made me smile. Sometimes people from other areas do not understand "Southern Hospitality". We can't stand for anyone to feel left out or ignored..It would be rude. We are gonna come right over to meet you, bring cookies and ask, How's your Momma. You bet, we will want you to feel a part of the community immediatley. Some people think we are nosey but "sugar", that's just the way we are in the South.

By the way, I think Vermont is lovely even if you didn't invite me to be a part of the community.

[Barefoot]

It's true that TOTV primarily attracts newbies and wannabees. Some of the most enthusiastic posts are from people who don't live in TV yet! As a Seasonal Resident, I'm a big fan of TOTV because it helps me "keep in touch" while I'm up north. However I've noticed that people who live here and are less than enthusiastic rarely post, often because they don't want to be told "You're just negative, you must be depressed. There is something wrong with anyone who doesn't enjoy TV". I can see that after a few years, some people find TV artificial and contrived, because we are somewhat protected here from the grit and grind of life outside The Bubble.

Having said that, I LOVE wintering in TV and the wonderful friends we've made since 2007. The Villages is a beautiful (huge) city, incredibly clean and well manicured, and a great retirement community with lots of choices. You can be active, zooming around to golf, zumba classes and pickleball. Or you can stay at home and read and garden and bbq in your lanai. I think some older folks are nervous about moving to TV because they feel there would be too much pressure to be active. And while the younger Villagers are zipping around doing six activites a day, there are many people who lead quiet lives, and fill their time with friends, volunteer work, or church activities.

There is a right answer for each and every one of us. Those who don't choose TV, or who sell and move on, may just prefer a quieter life style with less restrictions. It doesn't mean they "don't get it", or that they are depressed or anti-social.

[senior citizen]

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[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

It's true that TOTV primarily attracts newbies and wannabees. Some of the most enthusiastic posts are from people who don't live in TV yet! As a Seasonal Resident, I'm a big fan of TOTV because it helps me "keep in touch" while I'm up north. However I've noticed that people who live here and are less than enthusiastic rarely post, often because they don't want to be told "You're just negative, you must be depressed. There is something wrong with anyone who doesn't enjoy TV". I can see that after a few yeaars, some people find TV artificial and contrived.

Having said that, I LOVE wintering in TV and the wonderful friends we've made since 2007. The Villages is a beautiful (huge) city, and a great retirement community with lots of choices. You can be active, zooming around to golf, zumba classes and pickleball. Or you can stay at home and read and garden and bbq in your lanai. I think some older folks are nervous about moving to TV because they feel there would be too much pressure to be active. And while the younger Villagers are zipping around doing six activites a day, there are many people who lead quiet lives, and fill their time with friends, volunteer work, or church activities.

There is a right answer for each and every one of us. Those who don't choose TV, or who sell and move on, may just prefer a quieter life style with less restrictions. It doesn't mean they "don't get it", or that they are depressed or anti-social.

Very very true. There are 76 million people over the age of 50 in the U.S. And, believe it or not, Barefoot, there are several million in Canada and other parts of the world as well. Thank God TV is not the right or favored place for all of them. If it were, I would have no hope for being able to buy a home there, and patio villas would be selling for over a million dollars. I understand clearly that not everyone thinks like me - thank goodness!

[senior citizen]

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