The Villages in Florida?

[mn54]

I think the concept of the over 55 communties is great but you have to find the one that suits you .They range from mobile home parks where shuffle board is king to million dollar exclusive golf communities and everything in between . I could see myself in a small upper class community with a swimming pool ,tennis and a clubhouse that has yoga classes and a book club that is within driving distance of a city .

When you find this place please let the rest of us know. Sounds good to me.

 

[tangomonster]

I've not (yet) read this book, but thought it may be of interest to some here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/books/review/Leland-t.html

It's:
LEISUREVILLE


Adventures in America’s Retirement Utopias.


by Andrew D. Blechman


The author feels that "the resulting so-called life can’t “hide the fact that these communities are based on a selfish and fraudulent premise” and that Americans pay “the high societal price of this exclusionary lifestyle. ry as I might to keep an open mind, I grew increasingly disenchanted with those ... who embraced the Villages’ age-restricted lifestyle. It struck me as segregation, pure and simple, with children taking the place of previous ‘undesirables.’” Blechman smacks the Villagers coming and going. They have not only deserted authentic towns for bogus Disneylands, but also refused to let younger people join them."


But---he does admit that the residents love it:


This view is not shared by Villages residents or their neighbors, who tell Blechman they like the community. “Don’t you miss the real world?” he asks a former teacher named Mr. Midnight, whose main problem is having enough Viagra around to keep up with his social life. “I don’t want the real world anymore,” he says. He just wants sex. “Whatever happens now, you guys have to worry about it — it doesn’t affect me.”

 

[Khan]

I grew increasingly disenchanted with those ... who embraced the Villages’ age-restricted lifestyle. It struck me as segregation, pure and simple, with children taking the place of previous ‘undesirables.’” Blechman smacks the Villagers coming and going. They have not only deserted authentic towns for bogus Disneylands, but also refused to let younger people join them."

So I'm evil and selfish for wanting to live somewhere without the screamers and vandals?

 

[tangomonster]

So I'm evil and selfish for wanting to live somewhere without the screamers and vandals?

Well, the reporter/reviewer did acknowledge that "it’s not the kids who make life insufferable but their parents, who insist that kids be included in everything."

But the author paints the residents as being rabidly anti-child with extreme examples:

"A skinny sixteen-year-old, Chaz Cope moved in with his grandparents in 1996 to escape a physically abusive stepfather. Rather than try to hide him, Chaz's grandparents went to Youngtown officials and asked for an extension of the visitation limit due to extenuating circumstances. They were charged a filing fee and forced to plead their case in front of the town council. A three-month extension was granted, and town officials staked a placard on the family's front lawn informing neighbors that the family was housing a juvenile.

When they went before the council a second time, a second extension was unanimously denied. The council further voted to fine them $100 a day. Chaz was relegated to the status of human contraband. He and his grandparents suffered frequent harassment. A town councilman even circulated a fabricated juvenile court record alleging that Chaz had been charged with possession of marijuana. "My goal was to let people know that this boy wasn't the kind of angel that he was portrayed to be by the press," the councilman later said."

 

[Cruisinthru]

During the years that we were working and raising families most of us lived in areas that attracted people just like us. We all tend to surrounded ourselves with those that are dealing with the same life issues that we are. We start out in small apartments side by side with other young couples, then progress to starter houses as the kids arrive, etc. We choose an over-55 as the next stage of our lives. We are healthy, active, non-working adults who want to be around others like ourselves. We worked hard to accumulate enough to retire early and enjoy what life brings.

Granted, I do not live in the Villages. It didn't appeal to me. I live in a small community (1100 homes). My community is upscale compared to the Villages.

I don't understand the bashing that goes on here about over-55's.

I for one would be miserable in a "normal" neighborhood. You guys can have your small houses in the woods and small houses in college towns. I am retired, but not to tired to continue enjoying life.

Therefore I choose to live with those like myself. People that share the same values and are currently in the same stage of life. We worked hard to accumulate enough to retire early and do all the things that the others are still dreaming about.

These are the good years! I am healthy and active. I take care of myself and my husband. We travel and are constantly learning. I plan to continue to make the most of life and our community is a big part of it.

Yes, I live in an upscale over 55 community and love the heck out of it. I have made some of the most wonderful friends. I can walk to the gym and pool. I can walk to dances and lectures.

I can not imagine living in a small town in a regular neighborhood.

 

[Cruisinthru]

Well, the reporter/reviewer did acknowledge that "it’s not the kids who make life insufferable but their parents, who insist that kids be included in everything."

But the author paints the residents as being rabidly anti-child with extreme examples:

"A skinny sixteen-year-old, Chaz Cope moved in with his grandparents in 1996 to escape a physically abusive stepfather. Rather than try to hide him, Chaz's grandparents went to Youngtown officials and asked for an extension of the visitation limit due to extenuating circumstances. They were charged a filing fee and forced to plead their case in front of the town council. A three-month extension was granted, and town officials staked a placard on the family's front lawn informing neighbors that the family was housing a juvenile.

When they went before the council a second time, a second extension was unanimously denied. The council further voted to fine them $100 a day. Chaz was relegated to the status of human contraband. He and his grandparents suffered frequent harassment. A town councilman even circulated a fabricated juvenile court record alleging that Chaz had been charged with possession of marijuana. "My goal was to let people know that this boy wasn't the kind of angel that he was portrayed to be by the press," the councilman later said."

The grandparents knew the rules when they moved in to the community. They had a choice to have their grandson or not. I personally would not have a hard time making the choice in favor of my grandson. In that case, the For Sale sign would have been up in the yard the moment that I knew I was taking on that responsibility. I would not expect the community to bend rules because of my choice.

 

[52andout]

We visited The Villages when we were in Florida once. I agree the location wasn't ideal but it was full of happy people. There are trails that you can bike ride or drive golf carts, and the area is structured so that you have easy access to groceries or restaurants without having to go on major roads. Then you paid $20 to take a shuttle to the Orlando airport if you wanted to travel (there were about six a day back then.)

We plan to rent there next year for a month to get a good taste. In our situation one of us is disabled and it is very difficult to live in a normal town. It appeals to me to be able to get around year round without having to depend on someone else, as in being able to drive a golf cart or scooter not on a major road.

On the other hand we have dealt with aging parents staying in their home as it literally crumbles around them. Dealing with the snow and changes in their neighborhood has been difficult, but being stubborn they don't want to move.

And grandchildren can come to visit, just with restrictions. For some people that is a good thing. There are pools and areas that are senior only for crabby people like me that don't have grandchildren and areas that are for families that visit. As in any neighborhood there were some people that had beautiful rose gardens and fancy decorated golf carts and others that were more interested in eating out and being entertained by others.

There are also medical facilities there. And you can leave any time you want to- so it isn't like you can't travel or go Kayak with the manatees or visit your children. Many people also like to work part time so with all the shops and restaurants as well as guides that work for the Villages or rent out golf carts etc. there is some work there.

 

[tangomonster]

It does seem like a fairly ideal situation for you, 52. The month-long rental should be long enough to allow you to decide about a permanent move. Let us know your impressions and decision next year.....

 

[eridanus]

The grandparents knew the rules when they moved in to the community. They had a choice to have their grandson or not.

True. They could have left their grandson in the hands of his abusive stepfather.

 

[Marquette]

True. They could have left their grandson in the hands of his abusive stepfather.

That's just an appeal to emotion.

They could have sold the house and moved rather than trying to force the community to change the rules when the community was formed explicitly to prevent having kids staying there long-term.

They had ample warning to start transitioning out of the community.

Or, to look at it another way... the community changes the rules for this person, then why not the next? Where do you draw the line and why?

 

[eridanus]

Insults removed.

NM.

 

[eridanus]

NM.

 

[Jay_Gatsby]

I have no problem with 55+ communities. They're legal, and can enforce reasonable rules regarding their residents. My grandparents all lived in 55+ communities after about age 70. In fact, I'd say those communities contributed in large part to the longevity of their lives.

Yet they often expressed disdain about visiting children who were left unsupervised that created mischief for the permanent residents of their community. My grandfather once went as far as to confiscate an air rifle from a kid who thought it was "fun" to shoot out the street lamps on his block! The kid's parents and grandparents accused him of stealing the rifle and threatened to call the police. He told them to go ahead, as he planned on filing a police report on their kid. The kid's grandparents never said another word to him and the kid never came to visit again. It was a win-win in his book.

 

[playaman]

In about a week DW and I move into a 55+ community.

I'll try it out for six months or so and opine about the experience on this or a similar thread. So far, I've liked what I've seen ... folks are superfriendly, homes are well-maintained, swimming pools and gym are full of people who look like me. There do seem to be a few kids around visiting their grandparents, which in my book is not only OK but the way it should be.

 

[spideyrdpd]

Darn yall removed the insults....

My Sis lives in a 55 n older and I have visted the cematary villages. Its not like they make you join things you dont wish to join. Its nice because they have a theater. They have a library and card rooms. Century villages have pool tables and of course there is the nice pools. Although you dont need to be in an elder commune to have a pool. My place has that too
Interestingly many of these places are less expensive then other places. Although I wonder how the costs break down by sq foot costs. My sisters place has been hit hard by the real estate downturn. Places like kings point and century villages have many apartments. Which go for around 100k.
Of course you can always get in the car and visit the beaches and hope for some topless young ladies or men in there speedo's for the ladies.

 

[inkitnow]

Did you find that smallish community with a pool, yoga, a book club and golf..that is within 20 minutes of a city?
That's what I'm looking for. I realize you didn't say "golf". I added that. I don't want to be in an isolated location like The Villages where, if you don't like the quality of the yoga class, you have no alternative within 50 miles!
Please let me know what you've discovered.

 

[Johanna]

Too much like high school

What I've heard about these over-55 communities that gives me pause is that they are so much like high school. You have the kool kids and the hangers-on and the out -of-its. It's all about who went where with whom. I had enough of that as a teen to last a lifetime; I never was so happy as the year I went off to college. I'd feel more accepted and comfortable with a more heterogeneous community; I'm not a kool kid and don't aspire to be one.

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

What I've heard about these over-55 communities that gives me pause is that they are so much like high school. You have the kool kids and the hangers-on and the out -of-its. It's all about who went where with whom. I had enough of that as a teen to last a lifetime; I never was so happy as the year I went off to college. I'd feel more accepted and comfortable with a more heterogeneous community; I'm not a kool kid and don't aspire to be one.

While it's not what DW and I would choose, I have never heard a negative word about The Villages. I meet plenty of people who live there and love it for what it is. In fact, they are about the happiest bunch of retirees I have met down here

They were probably the cool ones in high school .

 

[Orchidflower]

There's a guy who was the Meterologist for the local tv station here who lived across the street from my friend who went to live in The Villages. I guess they told him the wonders of the place. He went down to visit, immediately came back and bought a place off the internet! He just loves it as he plans on playing lots of golf till he dies.

I tend to go along with the poster that says it's wonderful there now...until the builder sells it and it falls all to h*ll. That's what I expect to happen, also, but it could take another 20-30 years to happen maybe.

Personally, I think The Villages is the cleverest concept to come along in ages. Wonderful marketing plan.

 

[Moemg]

Personally, I think The Villages is the cleverest concept to come along in ages. Wonderful marketing plan.

It is very similar to Disney World .
Buy land in central Florida where the land is cheaper and develop a huge amusement park for seniors .Put fake fronts on all the businesses like Main Street Disney and have a fair every night on main street ( pretty similar to Disney's parade ). Put in theme restaurants with different menus all serving bland food and instead of rides have activities . Lots and lots of activities . The admission price is inflated real estate and monthly fees . Obviously this is not my cup of tea but lots and lots of people love it there so they really have hit a massive marketing bulls eye .

 

[Cruisinthru]

I posted on this thread early on. I love the over 55 community that I live in. I am in North Texas. We have golf, tennis, indoor and outdoor pools, book clubs, library, walking trails, exercise classes, etc. There are only 1100 homes. We are in an upscale area just 30 miles from Dallas. We have now lived here three and a half years. We do not plan on selling or moving until we can no longer live in our home and need assisted living, etc.

Lately I have met several individuals who are renting in our community to see if they like it. A couple of them have already purchased before their lease was up. Most have taken 6 months leases on small homes here. I think this is a wonderful idea and really helps not to make the wrong decision about any move. (My husband and I originally retired to a lakehouse that was heaven for us as worker bees but it was hell as retirees since we felt a deep sense of isolation and boredom as year round residents.) Your view of your needs and wants may change as a retiree vs what you imagine them to be while still working. Giving yourself a chance to experience the new lifestyle makes a great deal of sense before buying into it.

As has been stated all over 55 communities are not the same. We were very lucky to find one that fit us perfectly. We visited the Villages and it did not fit with what we wanted. But there are a lot of happy people living there.

 

[Orchidflower]

Thanks, Moemg, for the heads up about the restaurants. That was one the differences of opinion that my girlfriend and her husband had about the restaurants at The Villages: he loved the food in the restaurants and she didn't. But she doesn't cook AT ALL, so I am guessing he's just happy to get a hot meal.

 

[inkitnow]

Moemg..
You sound like my kind of person. I'm looking for

a small upper class community with a swimming pool ,golf and a clubhouse that has yoga classes and a book club that is within driving distance of a city". Your words. Notice I substituted golf for tennis. And the part about it being near a city is very important.

Have you identified the ideal Florida community yet?

 

[Moemg]

Moemg..
You sound like my kind of person. I'm looking for

a small upper class community with a swimming pool ,golf and a clubhouse that has yoga classes and a book club that is within driving distance of a city". Your words. Notice I substituted golf for tennis. And the part about it being near a city is very important.

Have you identified the ideal Florida community yet?

You can find that type of community all over Florida . What you need to identify is the area you want to live in . I personally prefer Sarasota , Manatee County . It is a quick ride to Tampa plus Sarasota has a lot to offer in the arts and dining and of course yoga and book clubs . That area has many golf clubs .Just make sure the club is in great financial shape as many of them go belly up . If you would like a small town feel I prefer Venice ,Fl. It is a further drive from Tampa but just 20 minutes from Sarasota.Another area to consider is Lakewood Ranch . It is a huge upscale development with every amenity known including a main street of nicer restaurants and shops and tons of clubs . The population is mixed with families ,singles and lots of seniors . If you are looking for upscale at a reasonable price this is it .

 

[beach]

We are located just north of Dallas. We are in the town of Fairview which is sandwiched between Allen and Mckinney.

I came from Houston and now living in Abilene....do NOT like it here, the most unfriendly community I have ever been in.....going to Florida soon.