[SoCalGal]

There's "cool aid" in The Villages? What temperature, exactly? What kind of aid?

[jnieman]

I’m there with you Rusty. Dr appointments my busiest activity lately. Hoping to change that.

[mikelin]

Originally Posted by rustyp

The cool aid wore off about year 10. In hindsight after the slowing down of activities due to COVID restrictions I realized the activities were becoming like groundhog day and I was becoming a slave to schedules - mind you this was year 15. At year 18 now my busiest activity is doctor appointments.

My hubby and I have been here for 17 full-time permanent years. We each make decisions what to add/detract from our calendars. Take the time to enjoy retirement, sniff the flowers, try and make the necessary required time to enjoy all that life offers! Hugs! The Mazers...Meow and The Folks!

[JC and John]

We have been here 12 years. I would say around 6 years we settled down and cut back on TV activities and concentrated on RVing with the TV RV clubs and traveling. COVID hit and we have not gone back to socializing in TV. We prefer RV traveling, when health allows, and neighborhood get togethers. We rarely go to the squares for entertainment or events because of crowds and lack of parking. Hubby still participates with one club and I continue with one club. We are considering going back to golf if health allows. We love our life and are surely blessed.

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

I’m busier than I ever have been! And I don’t even golf!

[Michael 61]

Originally Posted by jimdecastro

And you were the guy on Jerry and Linda who was concerned about not having any friends. ������ I am beyond happy that you are doing well here. But you are entitled to slow down and say no if you need to.

Thank you — that Jerry and Linda video jump started my social life here in The Villages for sure! I will be forever indebted to them.

[Michael 61]

Originally Posted by MandoMan

I moved here four years ago to make friends and do things in groups and play music in jams at the rec centers. However, I’m sort of a hermit at heart and can’t be around people a lot, so I made some acquaintances ap but only a few friends. I found myself playing and singing in nine jams a week, plus spending the rest of my time studying music and writing about it. Eventually I burnt out and had to just stop going to anything for a few months. Then I played at three jams for a couple years. Now I’m up to seven. I’m free on Friday, Saturday, and Monday. If I didn’t have these activities, life would be sad, but I find I look forward to my three “days off”, and I’m never bored.

To me it seems that you are way too active and social and running away from time to read and think and recuperate. I think you are going to burn out. But there are different sorts of people, and you are a different sort from me. Takes all types. I’m glad you are enjoying yourself here. Isn’t retirement wonderful?

Yes - retirement is even better than I imagined it would be!

[westernrider75]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I think most of us were attracted to The Villages because we sought an active retirement. I’ve been a resident here now almost two years, and am busier now than ever. I keep a huge desk calendar to track all my activities, clubs, entertainment, recreational and social obligations. For the next several months, I literally have at least 2-4 obligations every day, with no downtime on my calendar. I hit the ground running first thing in the morning and stay busy into the evening most days. After two years here, I am busier now than when I first moved here, checking out all the activities. Granted, it’s a “good busy”, and I love everything I do, but it can be exhausting at times keeping up with everything. It’s common for me to be double and tripled booked, having to reschedule and juggle social obligations. I keep saying I need to “pair back” on some of my activities, but I enjoy socializing with all my various friends here. Does anyone else share this sentiment ? Two years here - and the “cool aid” effect that others told me about hasn’t worn off yet (thinking now it may never will - lol)

That was my life BEFORE coming to The Villages and I’m very happy to have a slower less busy life now. While I still need my calendar, there are enough blank days to suit me. When we first moved here a new friend offered this advice, “learn to say no.” I’m glad took that advice. Very happy with my level of downtime.

[La lamy]

Originally Posted by sallyg

Definitely busier. After a certain point, we decided to dial it back a little. Didn't need to be swamped. Some newcomers suffer injuries due to all the exercise they are not used to! That also happened to us! It's great to have access to so many activities.

Agreed! At the beginning of my retirement I would play 4 hours of pickleball in a row until I injured my forearm. I played left handed while healing it. I've now dialed it down to 2 hours, and so far, it's working out great!

[thelegges]

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580

Have another cup of coffee, put your feet up and play sudoku. You've earned it. Forget the sudoku, just rest your eyes. That's what I am going to do.😊☺️

Sadly adrenaline junkies have great difficulty letting your mind calm, sleep alludes your being.

You have no idea how much your life rubs off on your children, until you realize that two of the three have the same adrenaline addiction as you.
Then one of three grandchildren also have that adrenaline passion.

We keep to a small group, of friends, like in our past life. After 40 years of not spending much time together we actually enjoy just spending time with ourselves. Something we didn’t have in our early life with both of us specializing in trauma.

[SaucyJim]

Don’t read too much into that name. It looks alcohol-related, but it is a screen name I came up with at the inception of Yahoo in the nineties. I was playing keys and guitars in a band called Secret Sauce and having the name James, I shortened it to Jim and fused it with Saucy.

That fact that I’ve since become a drunk (not an alcoholic, mind you, because they go meetings) has nothing to do with the screen name. That’s just convenient. lol!!

[Karmanng]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I think most of us were attracted to The Villages because we sought an active retirement. I’ve been a resident here now almost two years, and am busier now than ever. I keep a huge desk calendar to track all my activities, clubs, entertainment, recreational and social obligations. For the next several months, I literally have at least 2-4 obligations every day, with no downtime on my calendar. I hit the ground running first thing in the morning and stay busy into the evening most days. After two years here, I am busier now than when I first moved here, checking out all the activities. Granted, it’s a “good busy”, and I love everything I do, but it can be exhausting at times keeping up with everything. It’s common for me to be double and tripled booked, having to reschedule and juggle social obligations. I keep saying I need to “pair back” on some of my activities, but I enjoy socializing with all my various friends here. Does anyone else share this sentiment ? Two years here - and the “cool aid” effect that others told me about hasn’t worn off yet (thinking now it may never will - lol)

I am busier but not by that much........I never fully drank the kool aid here and some activities are try it once and dont do it again as I find it corny or lame........TV is overrated for most of us too.......and is kinda pricey in lots of ways..............hope your groups dont constantly ask for money it adds up

[tophcfa]

Same amount of busy. Big difference is I spend most of my time doing stuff I WANT to do instead of stuff I HAVE to do.

[npwalters]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I think most of us were attracted to The Villages because we sought an active retirement. I’ve been a resident here now almost two years, and am busier now than ever. I keep a huge desk calendar to track all my activities, clubs, entertainment, recreational and social obligations. For the next several months, I literally have at least 2-4 obligations every day, with no downtime on my calendar. I hit the ground running first thing in the morning and stay busy into the evening most days. After two years here, I am busier now than when I first moved here, checking out all the activities. Granted, it’s a “good busy”, and I love everything I do, but it can be exhausting at times keeping up with everything. It’s common for me to be double and tripled booked, having to reschedule and juggle social obligations. I keep saying I need to “pair back” on some of my activities, but I enjoy socializing with all my various friends here. Does anyone else share this sentiment ? Two years here - and the “cool aid” effect that others told me about hasn’t worn off yet (thinking now it may never will - lol)

I stay as busy as I want to be but busier than when I worked......no way.