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next post: The Best of the “Best Places to Retire” Lists
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Category: Active adult communities
 In 2006 Central Florida was shocked and titillated to read this headline in the Orlando News: “STDs Running Rampant in Retirement Community“. The community in question being The Villages, the sprawling active adult enclave spanning several towns and home to over 60,000 people. Dr. Colleen McQuade, a gynecologist, was quoted that she “treats more cases of herpes and the human papilloma virus in the retirement community than she did in the city of Miami.” The patients, as old as 80, are “very shocked (to hear the diagnosis)”. Viagra, no risk of pregnancy, and lack of sex education were viewed as the culprits.
That bit of press was a source of merriment to talk show hosts around the country. On the other hand, it is probably a minor activity in a community obsessed with golf and non-stop activities of all types. Indeed, if you lurk on “Talk of the Villages“, a popular Forum for residents of The Villages, you will find that life there is more typical than sensational. Topretirements has just reviewed 2 books that discuss The Villages. In “Leisureville”, Andrew Blechman follows his 55+ neighbors to the active adult community. It is a fascinating read but tends to show life there through a (much younger) prism than his former neighbor’s. Here’s how our Topretirements Guide OldNaussau described the book: “Repeatedly, the retirees with whom he speaks, or who speak to him, quite clearly contradict him. He tries to present the Villages, and several other retirement communities, as sterile, lock-step, isolated, vacuous – like the towns in the movie “Pleasantville” or the novel “Fahrenheit 451″ - but the Villagers praise the activities, security, economy, and socializing around them.”
Ryan Erisman’s “Complete Guide to The Villages Florida” is a much more straightforward and factual guide to the ins and outs of buying and living at TV, as insiders call it. Check out the entire article in our Tips & Picks section, The Villages - Facts and Opinions
Do you Know The Villages? If so, report on what you think, either in the Comments section below, or in the TR Forum - Is Leisureville on or off the Mark
For Further Reference
The Villages CDDs get Proposed Tax-Free Bond Settlement from IRS
Posted by Admin on May 24th, 2009
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2 Comments
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[...] free municipal bonds as a way to finance infrastructure. Topretirements readers may recall in our recent story about The Villages that its complicated ownership structure was a great concern to Andrew Blechman in his book about [...]
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June 2nd, 2009 | #
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We know 10 couples who own homes in the Villages, FL and they absolutely LOVE it–very affordable and endless things to do–1300 clubs, sports teams/leagues, and activites, all free to homeowners and renters.
Regarding the RUMOR about rampant STD’s:
The free, promotional DVD on the Villages includes about 30 seconds showing visits there by Jeb Bush, Ollie North, and Pres. G. W. Bush. Also, Sarah Palin campaigned there, and so of course, endless ridicule and mockery followed.
This INFURIATES Hollywood-liberal followers of Obama, Pelosi, Ried, Franken, etc., and of course, total destruction of character of ANYONE embracing a conservative idea must ensue. (Just as all McCain voters had to be labelled “racist” for not voting for Obama “because of his race”–the disciples of Hollywood liberals were not about to be hindered by the reality and truth of it being because of his policies and agenda.)
And so, Village residents and management must be punished with the rumor, that I was told at first was HIV and AIDS “being the highest number in the state”. Later, I read the Orlando Sentinel article quoting a gynecologist saying it was a high number of herpes and HPV cases amongst octegenarians who’ve reactivated their sex lives, (and HIV AIDS was not mentioned).
Bottom line is the same for ANY community in America — don’t mess around outside of marriage or your committed, blood tested partner, and you won’t get STD’s.
What is totally DIFFERENT from most American urban centers is The Villages’ CLEANLINESS everywhere, friendly, law-abiding people who know it’s safe to leave your golf bags on the cart in the parking lot at Publix or Target, and it is safe to walk the streets day and night. That, too, infuriates the urban freeloaders who vote for a living instead of work for a living.
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August 5th, 2009 | #
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