This article will be a hit here at DL

That place sounds fucking disgusting. I drove through it once and found it dense and creepy. Was hoping to find some delight in the article but it was too weird, although this was a hoot:

[quote]a club of women with the same name: 'Hi, my name is Elaine. Hi, my name is Elaine. Hi my name is Elaine. Elaine is our name.'

This sounds like something from a John Waters film.

A retirement community in Florida fill with republican drunken whores, who would have guessed?

Every elder-care facility has mandatory Seniors&Sexuality seminars featuring studies from this hell hole.

Since seniors don’t need protection from pregnancy, one wandering dick can spread herpes, syphilis, and HIV. Grown children tried to hold the company liable for Mom’s STDs.

A policy was also drafted for memory care patients - they are allowed to fuck, but it has to be documented in case one or another party forgets they gave consent.

[quote] But unlike his peers who can afford the median home price of $295K - Dennis lives out of his illegally parked van within the gated community. He prowls the swimming pools, town centers, churches and polyurethane pickleball courts (friendlier on the joints) while looking for a gullible girlfriend that will take him in and he's not embarrassed to admit it: 'I came down here from California to meet some wealthy women and get set up for life,' he tells the camera.

I mean this guy is just unhappy because he's not found a rich widow who wants an aging sexual predator living out of his van.

I have relatives that live there, and have stayed there for a few days. It really is bizarre, like being on a cruise ship that never puts to sea. I would never want to live there, but then again I’m not an AARPer. For a certain sort of person, I can see the appeal: if you like the routine of scheduled activities (there are many to choose from), puttering around town in golf carts, going swimming and playing golf and dancing, it’s a great place. Extroverts and gregarious types get their money’s worth there. For bookish, introspective people, it could be nightmarish at worst, or a waste of money at best.

There’s no shortage of people to hook up with, if your taste runs to GMILFs & old bears with money. Since no one’s getting knocked up and everyone has viagra, STDs are a big thing there. It’s very common for people to carry nondescript mugs filled with mixed drinks in public. Probably half of the homeowners are snowbirds, and rent their houses (really more like large, externally identical cottages) out while they live in their primary residences in NY, PA, NJ, Michigan, etc during the summers.

About 20% of the homes are eligible to be owned by under-55s at any given time; otherwise kids/grandkids are only allowed to visit for 7 days at a time, 30 days per year total. People are mostly nice, even though it’s majority MAGA. It wasn’t awful when I visited, but I couldn’t live there.

How does the under 55 ownership ban works when one of the old MAGAts there die and leave it to their heirs?

A friend from high school lives near the villages and he thinks it some type of luxury community. "I live up near The Villages"

Like it's Beverly Hills, California

The documentary is available to torrent.

[Quote] Like it's Beverly Hills, California

Sorry. It is No Beverly Hills. R7 is nuts. That place is put in the boonies. Imagine the Barstow or Palmdale, CA area with a new development near-by.

My sister lives in The Villages. Her husband picked the place out and loved it. Sister hates it. Husband has since died. Had a lot of friends at the after funeral gathering. They seemed nice regular old farts.

I'd off myself first.

I dunno, I sometimes fantasize about heading off to a gay retirement community in my sunset years in some place warm. Can you imagine a "DL Villages", with screenings of VOTD and Mommy Dearest every week and boozy bridge parties and drag shows so bad they're good? Could be fun.

You can tell it’s the land of former high school cool kids, where conformity is demanded. Old cheerleaders go there to die.

[quote]Old cheerleaders go there to die.

Jokes on them. It says there's a two-year waiting list to get on the geezer-lady cheer squad.

There has to be one of you living there! Tell us more!

The Villages forum, mentioned in the article, has a thread about the article.

[quote] For bookish, introspective people, it could be nightmarish at worst, or a waste of money at best.

Since I retired, I love that I have the time to read, take long solo walks, visit museums, and do nothing. My partner still works and I had no idea I'd enjoy my solitary time so much.

The thought of waking up to a laundry list of planned activities and social events sounds like hell.

And I have no intention of living amidst a bunch of Republicans.

I know a woman who is 56 who lives there and she customized a golf cart and rides it into town too, that part looks fun. But I wouldn’t like it because you have nosy neighbors and forced socializing.

I said good for them. Seems miles better than Shapy Pines.

I know an elderly, married, straight couple who live there, both dyed-in-the-wool, bluer than blue liberals. They jokingly reported once that the local Democratic Club meets in a phone booth.

Not for nuthin' but ..... In the British TV series "The Prisoner," the community wherein all the mind-numbing and mind-bending activities occur is called 'The Village.'

Jus' sayin'.

i aint mad at 'em. I mean i sort of like Palm Springs in my retirement for similar reasons. Escape bad weather, crime, "death and destruction, manicured landscape ( although PS has a gritty side.) The Villages just would not be for me. I feel sorry for those going into a place like that not fully understanding what they signed up for. I appreciate R5 's honest assessment and unbiased view.

What's shocking is that these were once the cool youths of the 1960s and 70s.

Have gay retirement villages been invented yet?

R6, I suspect that it works just like other retirement communities where one buys a unit. The unit goes back to the corporation and the heirs get a predetermined amount of money.

[quote]Sorry. It is No Beverly Hills. [R7] is nuts.

Reading comprehension isn’t really your forte.

[quote] although PS has a gritty side.

Ah, yes, that side of town.

Where they deign to wear white after Labor Day and, I hear tell anyway, some of the flowers on the porches are *gasp* fake!

The real seedy side of town.

Funny R25. but i was thinking more the Valley in general, i.s Desert Hot Springs,etc.

I’m just teasing you, r26!

I woke up in a GREAT mood today and that part of your post tickled me.

*kisses*

It seems like a a good place for people who were really into high school - lunch in the cafeteria, model UN, Friday night lights. Not for those of us who smoked behind the bike sheds.

the commodore at my yacht club lives in the Villages during the winter , THAT IS ALL

Is that really a thing in the real world?

I thought that was only on 70s TV shows.

The Villagers themselves are dishing about the documentary here

[quote]Not for nuthin' but ..... In the British TV series "The Prisoner," the community wherein all the mind-numbing and mind-bending activities occur is called 'The Village.'

That was the first thing that popped into my head, [r19]

"I am not a number! I am a free man!"

I looked at houses for sale. What struck me was how poorly landscaped everything is. Most homes have a lanai at the back which looks out on a half dead strip of grass and the air conditioning of the house behind. The front is two or three pathetic shrubs and, maybe, a half withered tree.

The one house I found that had nice landscaping also had a forbidden satellite dish; so, it is probably the exception.

I looked at the homes for sale too. They seem like mobile homes. Especially the bath and kitchen rooms.

So is this the place Disney built or runs?

R33, r34, can you link to a site where homes there are for sale? I wouldn’t even know what town to start in.

TIA!

[quote] There’s no shortage of people to hook up with, if your taste runs to GMILFs & old bears with money

That really DOES sound just like Palm Springs.

r34, I agree. The synthetic siding may be inevitable in Florida. At some point I was told that the only wood that can withstand the Florida climate is cypress. The interiors are decidedly crackerbox.

Although I am generally anti-social and haven't ever surrounded myself with groups of people voluntarily, there is something weirdly appealing about this (if it were a gay version though). If I had my own space, and could dip in and out of the activities when I wanted, and there was plentiful viagra then I reckon this could be quite fun. It beats rotting to death in front of the TV alone which is how a lot of old people with no kids end up.

[quote] So is this the place Disney built or runs?

I think you're referring to Celebration, FL., which is equally hideous, IMHO

There are similar, although somewhat smaller, retirement communities all over the country. Rossmoor in Walnut Creek, CA, has over 9,000 residents. It was built as a Leisure World (which some people call "Seizure World") --there are two more in southern California (Laguna Woods and Seal Beach.)

For those asking about a DL or gay retirement community -- here's an upscale one in Santa Rosa, CA.

The documentary was much better than the trailer. I doubt any of us want to end up alone...or in a bubble of people keeping up appearances that don't genuinely care about one another. It's worth an 80 minute viewing.

As an introvert, it sounds ghastly.

Thirty Elaines agree!

Some more homes for sale link.

It's a massive place, everybody--there are old prefab homes in the original northern section, million-dollar McMansions farther south, and all sorts of other houses in between. They're privately owned just like any other place; nothing returns to the developer when someone dies. You can live a very quiet suburban life if you choose, though of course most people are drawn there by the more social aspects. The description comparing it to a cruise ship that never puts out to sea is quite accurate; it's really creepy to be surrounded by people who are deliberately walling themselves off from the real world and attempting to relive their high school glory days. Plus, there's the repugnance of the predominant political mindset.

I agree, R44. The place sound ghastly. Just ghastly.

How is their brunch? Do they have free parking?

How many murders occur there a year?

I'll bet lots.

Translation: Jewish Mellinnial from the East Coast with lots of daddy's money, longs to be a 'serious' filmmaker, discovers he can con his way into a mostly Xtian retirement community that the entire planet has known about for decades, and manages to convince the most bottom-feeding of bottom-feeder publications to print his story as if it's Watergate and Jewnior is Deepthroat. Hard pass.

Leave these crazed old deplorables alone and go "document" a Brooklyn-based nest of your own psychotic demographic that's literally bringing the world to its knees.

Golf carts, drinking all day, walled off from reality, copious amounts of viagra and rampant venereal disease. Sounds like The Woods Campground!

R42 do you have idea what those places go for? I assume in Santa Rosa they're not cheap (even if the place burns down every few years!)

Same here R44. This is not for me.

r53 My thoughts exactly. There is a place a bit further from there with tract homes from the 70s called Oakmont (affectionately-ish also called Strokemont), and those dumps go for upwards of 800k

Speaking of elder documentaries wasn't there a documentary a few years ago about old gay men meeting up to have orgies?

For anyone who watches Bob's Burgers, do you recall the homage to it back in 2013?

"It Snakes a Village"

I agree with R39, it doesn't sound so bad to me. Is there a gay section there?

The Sun Cities in Arizona.

Old people are fucking everywhere in the Sun Cities.

June 1, 2001 -- The residents of Sun City West, a senior citizens' community in Arizona, are glad that their neighbors have an active love life, they just wish it wasn't quite so active. Community leaders have asked the local sheriff's department to help reel in some of the randier residents, who have been seen showing their affection a bit too publicly — in parked cars, in a dog run, on benches. "We have many beautiful settings, and I'm sure it's people who have been in love a long time getting a little carried away," said Mauryne Hall, a spokeswoman for the Recreation Centers of Sun City West. "We just wish they'd show a little more decorum."

This place was rocking since day one. There was a sheriff's sting operation for a sex club and the place that they contacted each other and passed on info was the produce section at Safeway. There are serial car accidents involving cars driving into buildings, secret sex clubs, cars driven into swimming pools, and all manner of old people insanity.

[quote]But unlike his peers who can afford the median home price of $295K - Dennis lives out of his illegally parked van within the gated community. He prowls the swimming pools, town centers, churches and polyurethane pickleball courts (friendlier on the joints) while looking for a gullible girlfriend that will take him in and he's not embarrassed to admit it: 'I came down here from California to meet some wealthy women and get set up for life,' he tells the camera.

It's so funny to me that in a place where women vastly outnumber men, there are no takers for Dennis. Read the room, dude.

[quote]Dennis Dean is one of the four subjects followed in the documentary. He tells cameras: 'What I'm looking for is a companion, a nice looking lady with some money that looks good, that I would not be embarrassed to be seen on the street with.' He adds: 'Down here they're rare, it's rare to find a classic lady down here.'

Nothing says 'classic lady' to me like a financially stable, attractive woman who will take in a predatory 81 year old bum to nurse and provide for because he just deserves it, goddammit.

The documentary is fantastic from beginning to end, as are some of the interviews with the filmmaker. Not everyone fits into the cookie cutter mold of The Villages, and that's what this film is about.

I shudder at the thought of this. White boomers are monsters for the most part.

r62 What are your thoughts about the green ones?

Is heavy and drinking and sex among retirees supposed to be shocking?

Why do all the houses have poor people appliances? And those weird “dining areas” off the front door? They’re charging a lot of money for some really horrid houses.

Dennis is the most interesting part of the documentary. He's on the run from California and freely admits he's just out to scam some lonely old woman into letting him move in with her as he's broke. At one point he makes a series of calls to people asking for money and a place to stay or he'll kill himself.

It doesn't sound like my thing but it really doesn't seem like the percentage of residents with negative outcomes and who don't like it is anymore than any other retirement community or place where there are lots of seniors.

The strict rules could be any HOA and the "bubble" nature of it echoes any number of mixed used developments.

My parents live in Sun Lakes development in Chandler, AZ outside of Phoenix - while much smaller and much less all-inclusive, it has the same Trumpism and racism as this place. This isn't exactly uncommon in these types of communities.

So yeah, it seems sort of awful to me, but not uniquely awful.

When I get old, I hope I still have enough faculties to avoid places like this.

Seems horrible. Full of mean girls and trumptards.

R31, learn to read. R15 posted that earth-shattering link long before you 'broke the news'.

Sounds miserable to me.

With a two year wait for the cheerleading squad, what percentage of would be cheerleaders make it that far?

A HS classmate lives there. He doesn't spend much time promoting it but seems happy there. OTOH, he likes to travel so I assume he sees at as a home base rather than a dream community. It does seem pretty awful to me---living among 100K old farts (and growing) seems like a depressing way to spend your senior years. I'm sure it's "active" but it probably reinforces a stuck in the past sort of nostalgia for stuff that never really existed.

I love mature men. I wonder if it's easy to hook up with gay older men there.

[quote] living among 100K old farts (and growing) seems like a depressing way to spend your senior years.

I see your point, but you’d be one of those old farts.

You don’t want to hang around or be around too much youth in your twilight years.

Ask Rose and her beach friends.

I know people who live at the Walnut Creek Rossmoor development. It is a very liberal community - the largest Democratic club in California. Gay and lesbian social groups are listed in their directory. The range of housing includes apartment-style units to duplexes to individual homes. It is built in a box canyon and has nature reserves surrounding it. The units higher up on the hillsides have some great views. I still prefer city life, but this wouldn't be a bad place to live in terms of climate, housing, community activity and ease of access to San Francisco (BART station is a short drive). I don't know how large the gay population is, and it will be interesting to see how the population changes once the current boomer and pre-boomers die or go into care facilities.

Everything with the "active adult". I am a slothful adult.

There have to be more like me. Fellow, slothful hermits over 55 needing something at least somewhat affordable and preferably with a rent option. We are all just renting, really anyway.

I want a community (just don't get to communal with me) like that.

Friends of ours visit their parents who retired to a place next door to The Villages and they love it but they’re very clubby.

[quote]Letting your shirt tag stick out tells people that you're open for business.

More like skin tags.

How is this any different from Sun City in Arizona in the fifties? It's a tired concept that becomes something else within a generation. And then somebody somewhere builds a new one.

R39 We could live there together! I've read many of your posts and know we would be a great couple!

Odd that The Villages' radio station only plays 50's and 60's music. Also no mention of churches or any other type of religious or meditation/spiritual weekly meetings. Plus you're not allowed to display any Christmas decorations outside your home, not even on your front door.

R73 I checked Doublelist and...I don't think it'd be hard at all.

Got it!

They are parts of zip codes 32159, 32162, 32163, 34731, and 34785 for those who want to look up real estate on Realtor.com

It looks like from the Postal Service web site that only 32162 and 32163 are official ZIP codes for The Villages while the others have other primary city names.

R81, there are many, many churches; but you are right, they don't advertise them.

I agree that 50s-60s music seems odd. I actually wonder if that is an overstatement. I bet the music does go up to the 70s, at least.

On the face of it, the total Christmas ban doesn't seem that odd. I know of HOAs that not only do not allow Christmas decor outside the home, but nothing inside the home can be viewed from the street. One person was fined because the pattern of the colored Christmas tree lights could be seen on the ceiling from the street.

Where I did find it odd was when someone mentioned that homeowner's flags were being shredded during the elections. I assume that means that one can have those "garden" flags.

It sounds like a lot of fun for a certain type of person-- fully retired, still in decent health, looking to downsize from a big suburban house but underwhelmed by condo options near where they raised their families, retired friends in Northeast burbs are moving away and so they are feeling isolated, and any kids and grandkids no longer live locally.

Plus, as my own grandparents, who flit between the Sarasota area and the Northeast note, snow sucks when you're old, even if you don't have to shovel it yourself.

You have to be social though to enjoy the cruise ship aspect of it, though I suspect that fills in the long hours of doing nothing for most people, sort of how summer camp fills in the long hours of doing nothing for many kids.

Personally I would find it to be one of the rings of Hell, but I am sure it is heaven for many of the residents.

[Also notable that elder straight men seem content to bang women their own age. Compare that to elder gay men.]

There are plenty of Christmas decorations, R81--and "Keep Christ in Christmas" is all over the place. Oh, and the radio station? It pipes in regular updates from Fox News Radio from loudspeakers in the "town centers."

[quote][Also notable that elder straight men seem content to bang women their own age. Compare that to elder gay men.]

So true. Elder gay men don't want to bang women of ANY age.

There are a lot of retired cops and fire fighters from NY and NJ that live in the Villages

I have a Korean friend who calls the one where her mom lives “SilverTown”. She’s such a sweet and non-sarcastic person that it cracked me up that she calls it that.

I'm surprised more people aren't talking about the actual documentary. It's very DL.

I live in The Villages. I haven't seen the documentary. While there is plenty to complain about, much of what has been written here is untrue. There are satellite dishes all over, holiday decorations are permitted and there there is even a large Democratic club, of which I am part of. The villages is a-changing with the newer communities, more liberal and diverse, though it still has a ways to go in that area. One third of the newer households are democratic. We had fun golf cart parades for Biden. Most of the people are very nice. All types, social, non-social. there's a lot of music and the variety goes way beyond 50-60's. There are three town squares with free music every night of the week, 365 days a year. there's usually classic rock, latin, country and jazz. Smaller clubs all over the Villages, also with music. I am partnered up but I know plenty of gay couples. Most are out and I haven't heard of ugly incidents. As for sex, I'm sure it's the same at all 55+ communities, but I think the talk is far more than the reality. There are one or two bars that the more adventurous types go to . A lot of the people here love golf and sports. I don't but I do like music and theatre. There is that here as well. We bought because we wanted a change , the house was well built and one story. The price was right ad the houses here are a good investment. I don't know if we'll be here forever, but it's a really active lifestyle for those retired or semi-retired. The only thing I really miss is living by the beach but I'd say it's a good life here.

R92, I was quoting from media articles re all of the restrictions on outside Christmas decorations including wreaths on doors as well as the total control of the local radio and TV station by the one family that owns The Villages. If some of the neighborhoods are less demanding I wouldn't know either way.

Good that music beyond the 50's and 60's is widely enjoyed. Retired LE means even more security for elderly residents and a big drawing card. Still I bet there's a lot of women who seem to live to gossip about their neighbors. It could get claustrophobic after awhile.

R92, thanks for the real scoop. It would be impossible to film a completely accurate documentary without interviewing all 130K residents there. The documentary focused on one couple and two single people, one of whom ended up partnered. Nice to know it's a decent place to live.

Are there any gay men that live in these places, or is it just old straight people?

R95, guess what? It pays to read previous posts before posting a question like your's.

Guess what R96 people make mistakes, just ask your mom.

R92, thanks for the post.

I am curious what theater there is at the Villages. Given the number of clubs, it would make sense that there would be an amateur dramatic society or similar.

As I noted in a previous post, is the landscaping as bad as it appears in the real estate offerings? It seems like a lot of nearly dead grass and a few pathetic shrubs. (Though, the one exception I found was gorgeous. The owners had obviously been there a while and had healthy, well established plantings.)

[quote] and there there is even a large Democratic club, of which I am part of.

If you live in the villages, it’s probably too late anyway. The hell with it.

[quote] It pays to read previous posts before posting a question like your's.

Oh fucking dear!

Forget it, Jake -- it's Florida.

I am in awe that there are 50 golf courses for 130K residents. Is this really true? Is there that much demand or are they largely empty serving as green spaces with walking trials around the perimeters?

R47/R87 here: I'm glad you've had a pretty good experience there so far, R92. Not sure how long you've been there, but my parents have lived there full-time for almost twelve years (and part-time for a couple years before that)--I've been there many, many times. My parents are fairly middle-of-the-road, and not nutjob Trumpers, but even they have certainly been changed by living in the true bubble that is The Villages. It's a strange, strange place, and it depresses the shit out of me to have to visit them there.

This is the village resident again. I'll try to satisfy people's curiosity There are really over 50 gold courses and more are being built . however there are both executive or 9 hole courses and the championship ones. I don't know the exact number but many more 9 hole courses than the 18 hole ones. There is also pitch and putt courses, driving ranges, a golf academy. Much ado about golf! Forgot to mention, the courses are all used all the time. There is a computer system for booking time. Golf on the 9 hole courses cost $4 or a yearly trail fee of about $120. That's it, except the championship courses are a little more expensive. I don't know exactly how many, but each village has a family pool, sports pool and neighborhood pool. They're all pretty busy. Mixed in are archery, bocce, pickleball and tennis courts. And more. There are over 3000 clubs , from music, dance, crafts, art to political discourse and debate clubs. I'm a history buff so after Covid, I'm planning on joining several history and book clubs. There is also a learning academy which teaches college level courses. lots of smart and professional people here. As for the more rabid Trumpers, yes, they are here and plenty of them. Most people are not into arguing after this emotionally exhausting election. Mostly people were horrified by the bad publicity caused by a few who can't be respectful of others. Most of the people we hang with are Democrats but that's because we have similar opinions. People of like opinions band together normally. Human behavior. However, we have casual friends who are of the other party. We just don't talk politics. I do agree that the older villages (North ad Central ones) are more openly political. If I don't like something, I ignore it or don't participate. As for theatre, there are numerous amateur and semi amateur groups. We also have a professional large theatre and two smaller theatres. As for landscaping, the Northern villages which are more mature, actually has some beautiful trees and landscaping. The other villages are newer so it does look a little sparser . There are some people who are avid gardeners. Not us, but we admire these types. We're currently looking for a landscaper to plan for the Spring.

People come here for different reasons. No, I'm not "hopeless" because I live here. I was born in NYC, lived there for much of my life. I've also lived in Georgia and and another very liberal part of Florida. I'm a professional who still works from home, as does my partner. We laugh because we're both non-sporty yet we live here. However there is a lot here for more intellectual and artsy types as well. I'm not giving up by living here , far from it. It's not all positive as I freely admit. The development family does control a lot, a radio and tv station but there are lots of other choices. Yes, I take the local paper, mostly for the ads, but I also read the NY Times and Washington Post. I hope that answers more questions.

I saw the documentary last week and enjoyed it, although to me it played more like a reality show where the camera follows three different storylines.

Three teachers of mine from high school retired to The Villages. The thought of them participating in drunken sex parties has me laughing out loud.