I really did not have a problem with snow birds until I found one golf cart, owned by a snow bird parked 6 inches from my front bumper and a second golf cart, owned by a snow bird parked 6 inchs from my rear bumper in front of Two Jays. Then, I had a problem.

Love snowbirds. My
Snowbird neighbors are great. Always look forward to their return.

What about all of the FROGS who don't want to "conform" and are "****ed off"?

How did you know they were owned by snowbirds?

Winter Floridians
 

Becca, I share your concern and even offered a suggestion in the Daily Sun a couple of years ago. What if TV management and business owners modeled a welcoming attitude as is displayed in the southern valley of Texas with banners "Welcome Winter Texans". Our parents looked forward to returning to Texas each year to renew acquaintances and experience the gratitude of the community.

What if the Daily Sun, business owners on the town squares, and recreational centers displayed "Welcome Floridians" banners as an opportunity to celebrate a reunion of all our residents? The TV community has a well deserved history of displaying celebrations for multiple occasions throughout the year.

and you sound so happy.

Don’t hate anyone. Snowbirds are great. So are us full-timers. I think we just have some grumpy people who need something to complain about

Great question, right up there with "When did you quit beating your wife".

Seriously, the closest thing I've seen to anybody despising snowbirds is this stupid thread. Like most of these complainer threads, it bears absolutely no relationship to the reality of living in the Villages. In fact, most of the full timers I've met since we moved here seem to have previously spent years as snowbirds before going full-monty.

Hey, I have a great question!

What do Villagers get out of stirring up their neighbors on Talk of the Villages?

not despised
 

I wouldn't say despised. Fact is, snowbirds do very much to contribute to a healthy economy all over Florida, including TV, and many of my friends and family are snowbirds and I love to see them again when it's "in season" time and they are back in Florida.

On the flip side, here are a few reasons some might groan over snowbirds:

1. Definitely more crowded "in season" -- can't get a table in a restaurant when you want -- definitely can't just be an in-the-moment walk-in, the tee time you wanted is harder to come by, stand in line for a lot of things "in season" that you don't have to stand in line for when the snowbirds are back north.

2. Sometimes it's the few who spoil it for the many. Every season I always run into at least one snow bird who decides to "show off" their entitled side . . . "WE don't do it like that in NY" . . . "step aside I'm coming through" . . . "it's my first day back and I'm going to run you over in Publix buying up EVERYTHING I can get my hands on even if it means shoving past you to grab that last loaf of multi-grain on the bakery shelf" . . . "I'm cutting you off in the round-about because I am in a hurry (license plate: Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, etc. . . )" . . . receive the one-finger salute for going to slow at 20 mph as I'm cut you off in my golf cart because they have GOT to get that seat in the square . . . you get the picture. DEFINITELY not everyone . . . but does happen with greater frequency "in season" . . .

3. Have a visiting guest who can't join me in my weekly yoga/aerobics/water exercise class because it's full with seasonal residents . . . sigh

4. Having my backside rammed with a cart in Fresh Market because it's busier ahead of Christmas . . . when if I tried to move myself I'd have to ram the person in front of me because it's just that busy . . . and then when I look back to see who rammed me . . . I get glared out. Hmmm.

Mainly, it's just more crowded and that makes people grouchier. Plus there are a preponderance of "old, angries" in TV . . . and they are perpetually cranky.

Snowbirds are not despised . . . but it does give those who are prone to complaining something to complain about.

:clap2: thank you! i think the anti-snowbird thing is blown way out of proportion by a handful of malcontents

I wonder if this poster retired from a career in Advertising. I vote no.

I was a snowbird, now a frog. I do see why SOME renter snowbirds annoy SOME folks, they don't own here and some do not care like people who OWN property do.

I do so like the summer when traffic drops and things aren't so "busy". But we have many friends are snowbirds or even come less than that, and they are treasured.

The Villages treasures snowbirds.

Snowbirds
I run several leagues in TV, snowbirds want to join my leagues, the problem is they come to TV after we start play and all slots are filled. And if I do let them in they leave before the league is over and now I am short people. Many get verbally abusive to me.

Snowbirds are a blessing. I have rented to several and they kept my place very clean. I sympathize with the hard core golfers who have trouble getting their preferred tee times but 8 months out of the year it is not a problem.

They are a big reason why the word has gotten out and made The Villages as special as it is. The only problem I see with the Snowbirds is that there is not more of them.

Pretty interesting, since I've had the exact same experience and observations of people who live here year-round. They don't treat it like a temporary playground, they treat it like their own private back yard where they can do what they want, break whatever rules they want, break laws if they want to, get in peoples' faces if they get called out on it. Because "they pay fees" so they have the "right" to do what they want.

Here's a hint: it has nothing to do with how many months of the year they live here. It has everything to do with them, personally. Buttholes come in many shapes and sizes, from all cultures, in every color, in every income group, and live here both short term and long term, seasonally and year-round. Entitlement knows no boundaries, I've observed. All you need is to think that your freedoms are more important than their rights, and you have the makings of a butthole.