[Kelevision]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

All the roads are straight? Really? I knew south is not as pretty as what we have here in the northern area (between the 6s) but I didn't realize that you don't have nice windy roads to add to the lovely atmosphere we have. I do also know that down south, there are not as many lovely plantings as we have in the more established areas.

You are correct, it is more a matter of preference.

Odd, because not a week ago, driving in the southern part, I verbally acknowledged how curvy the roads are. Lol. I was born here in Leesburg and have watched this place grow from the start. I stayed in several rentals in different areas before buying. I thought I’d prefer the more established areas most but wanted to buy new. Now, 4 years later, I never EVER go north of 44. I don’t like that vibe. It’s very cookie cutter and just basically homes and golf courses. to me personally. I much prefer the look of nature in the south where they kept a lot of the woods. Not to mention, I’m less than an hour from Orlando down here.I Love it!!

[Rzepecki]

Why not just give your village name? Probably won’t know where it is anyway.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

All the roads are straight? Really? I knew south is not as pretty as what we have here in the northern area (between the 6s) but I didn't realize that you don't have nice windy roads to add to the lovely atmosphere we have. I do also know that down south, there are not as many lovely plantings as we have in the more established areas.

You are correct, it is more a matter of preference.

I believe age has more to do with why one chooses to shelter in place between the 6’s. My parents would never move from the 6’s, but it wasn’t because of flowers or retail (which they detested) in their eighties it was easier to claim their love of the area than to venture to the south.

Both my parents felt safer with walking paths south of 44, instead of walking on roads in their neighborhood, with house after house. They loved the woods, prairie, and abundance of wildlife (except for the bears) which reminded them of our northern homes.

Mom loved the open concept of newer homes, larger bathrooms for devices and Less maintenance.
She did say it would be a bonus to live among younger neighbors. Listening to sirens daily, less active people, gets old, like them. But moving isn’t going to happen because we are too old.

[La lamy]

I think bashing where someone else has chosen to live is rude. There's pros and cons to everything in life.

[Ignatz]

Originally Posted by La lamy

I think bashing where someone else has chosen to live is rude. There's pros and cons to everything in life.

So true! Our village got ripped to shreds last year by the same old fools on TOTV and we just had to laugh at the ignorance.

[Harold.wiser]

I think your post will have the opposite effect that you were hoping for!

[Rwirish]

No Championship courses and the north has most of the rest plus more.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Rwirish

No Championship courses and the north has most of the rest plus more.

So you don’t travel past the 6’s to know what is available? About 60% of people we play golf with in the north have no idea where Brownwood is, and have never heard of Eastport or Middleton. Then again the age is usually between 80 to 90 plus years old, and they only play courses within 15 minutes of their house. Yet are extremely opposed to any growth to LSL and beyond

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by Kelevision

Odd, because not a week ago, driving in the southern part, I verbally acknowledged how curvy the roads are. Lol. I was born here in Leesburg and have watched this place grow from the start. I stayed in several rentals in different areas before buying. I thought I’d prefer the more established areas most but wanted to buy new. Now, 4 years later, I never EVER go north of 44. I don’t like that vibe. It’s very cookie cutter and just basically homes and golf courses. to me personally. I much prefer the look of nature in the south where they kept a lot of the woods. Not to mention, I’m less than an hour from Orlando down here.I Love it!!

We also love the south end. Well said.

[motherflippinpicker]

We live in the very far south, Moultrie Creek, at least for now this is the very far south. We tried to live in the North, but two sales fell through due to insurance reasons. So, we decided we would buy new and here we are. We absolutely love living here and have made so many friends. We were all moving in together, so forming strong friendships was easy and natural.

The South is a construction zone for the next several years. It looks nothing like the North and probably won't for a good ten years, as plants need time to mature and landscaping needs to get settled in and matured.

What I have noticed (and what I dislike) is that the developers do not invest as much into each village entrance. They've definitely went on the cheap. It bothers me because some of the charm has been forgotten.

The winding roads, well, they seem plenty winding enough, so I'm not sure what that particular person meant. The multi model paths here aren't as pretty, no boulevard style paths and the landscaping is immature.

When I'm up north, I experience ageism quite a lot and for that reason alone, I'm so happy we live in the South. I'm 56, and get a lot of rude remarks from women in the villages. Of course the majority is very kind but the mean spirited remarks in the northern end are hurtful enough that my brain keeps them on repeat. That was something I wasn't prepared for when moving here. I love everyone and I don't care about age.

It has been fun to watch the construction and marvel at the engineering the villages can do in a very short amount of time.

Speaking to the homes not having all the upgrades, for us, it was far cheaper to do our own upgrades at a lower purchase price than to buy a pre-owned home with them in place. The bond was not something we wanted to deal with, but here we are.

We do enjoy the villages from the farthest south to the most northern. We are frequently at LSL and we enjoy most of this by golf cart. We attend Fairway Christian Church and typically go by golf cart when the weather is nice. It's a golf cart lifestyle and we embrace it. We truly love every inch of the villages.

[opinionist]

I am happy to hear other people's experiences and am fine with their different preferences. However, I draw the line if they start telling me what I should do. I find such people repulsive.

[CarlR33]

Originally Posted by MrFlorida

Everybody likes where they live the best...it's human nature.

Yup, you won’t change their perception so enjoy what you have and realize everyone has an opinion and some just want you to hear it (part of their therapy I guess).

[nhkim]

Originally Posted by Kelevision

Odd, because not a week ago, driving in the southern part, I verbally acknowledged how curvy the roads are. Lol. I was born here in Leesburg and have watched this place grow from the start. I stayed in several rentals in different areas before buying. I thought I’d prefer the more established areas most but wanted to buy new. Now, 4 years later, I never EVER go north of 44. I don’t like that vibe. It’s very cookie cutter and just basically homes and golf courses. to me personally. I much prefer the look of nature in the south where they kept a lot of the woods. Not to mention, I’m less than an hour from Orlando down here.I Love it!!

We're south of 44 as well and now we rarely go north because there's so much to do down here. On the rare occasion I go north, I realize how dated everything now looks: the rec centers, the home styles, the landscaping. But of course, I wouldn't dream of saying that to someone who thinks they have to justify that up north is better.

So yes, to each his own.

[ROCKETMAN]

We moved here 2005 just a block from sea breeze. We were the furthest point south at that time. Since then I can now drive my car to 2 Publix, 1 Winn Dixie, 1aldi, and one Walmart market in 10 minutes. Same for Lowe’s, Home Depot, Outback, Culver’s and all the fast food chains plus Walgreens and cvs. Soon can drive golf cart to all grocery locations when Aldi is done in Sumter. Eventually the south end will have more places to eat, shop. Point is the central location now seems the best unless you want new construction.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by Dabatts

I have been out and about more than usual lately and I love to talk to people. May I offer one piece of advice to all residents of The Villages. If you want Spanish Springs and Eastport/Middleton and everything in between to continue to be a wonderful place to live, please stop comparing north to south. Recently I was at an establishment north of 466, as soon as I said “Hi” to an individual, the usual question was asked. What Village do you live in? My answer “ South of 44”. Immediately I get the lecture: I would never live south. There is nothing there, no trees, no golf courses, no rec centers, no pools. And the best one is all the roads are straight. I've had this conversation before and my answer is always the same, “everyone has their preferences.”
I don't want to get into that debate. But, the questions continue, how much did you pay for your house, how much is the bond, you guys are destroying our lifestyle.

These conversation are what will destroy our Lifestlye! Why can't everyone just have their preferences and be happy!
Let me hear your opinions.

I have a monthly engagement about ten minutes east of Sawgrass, at that rec center with a watermelon theme. I live five minutes from 466A and Buena Vista. It takes me thirty minutes to get there in my car. It gets over at 8:30. Sometimes I skip it because it’s such a long drive, and at night. (Though I enjoy the empty streets.)

I’ve heard the conversations you talk about. What I don’t like “down South” are the mosquitos in the evenings because of the nearby wetlands. I’ve lived north of 466A for four years and never seen a mosquito at my house, and I don’t have it sprayed.

However, the conversations after we talk about where we live tend to be about our medical problems, right? Would you prefer those? (Laughing.)