bethk wrote: Crybaby wrote:
We'd want to go in the golf carts, too Beth -- just like Jeanie's grands! I know you still drive, Beth, but I have a question. Do some of the people who live there who no longer feel like they can drive an auto or don't have a license anymore, still drive a golf cart?
Yes, Michelle, if you are no longer feeling qualified to drive a car you can still get around The Villages in a golf cart. We live in an 'older' area of The Villages (built in the 1990's) and many of our golf cart paths are simply striped off areas on the edges of the roads. But as the developers 'learned' as they expanded south, they built "Multi-Modol Paths', paved roadways separate from streets for golf carts, bicycles, walkers, etc. To cross over multi lane highways there are either bridges or tunnels so the golf carts aren't in a ''bumper car'' situation with cars & trucks.
And even though we have to drive our carts on the edge of the street, keep in mind the posted speed limit is usually 30 MPH or less. Even on 6 lane highways (where golf carts are not allowed, of course) the speed limit is 45 MPH to keep traffic controlled.
We have a great number of people who have failing eyesight and are not good at driving a car. They feel much safer getting around by golf cart, especially if they have lived here for a number of years and know all the 'back-way routes' to get from Point A to Point B. And they love they don't have to depend upon others to get to the grocery store, restaurants, hair salon, department/clothing store, hardware store, many doctor/dentist offices ~ just about anywhere you need to go. I just like the slower pace and beauty of the ride when I drive along the highway, safe from cars & trucks, and can enjoy a leisurely drive to Fresh Market or WalMart. It's about a 30 minute ride by golf cart to get there but it's lovely when the weather is nice ~ we pay a lot of money to keep everything mowed, planted & beautiful. I love to take advantage of that.
I KNOW I would feel less isolated if I could still get around via golf cart once I can no longer drive; wish I had that option for Brian but our alley isn't wide enough for a golf cart even if he could get away with using it just in the 'hood! I know living in an over 55 community is not for everyone, Beth, but I've got to say that you always make it sound really nice. I mean no malice by that but even though I always thought it's not for me, it definitely has its bennies and you're always so kind about describing the area where you live when I ask and how things work there. I laughed recently when you said Dane plays golf every single morning so I know darn well that must've been a big draw for you two as golf can be very expensive! It's so neat to know he can play whenever he wants and also has guys there as nuts about the game as he is.
It's truly amazing how BIG it is yet is still seems to be managed so well! Figured your "condo fee" or whatever it's called was no picnic but when you pay a fee like that and really do have everything taken care of for you like the place promised, I'd wager to say you probably save some money in the long run, the area looks its best all the time. Having someone taking care of everything outside the home also has to remove a lot of stress from peoples' lives, especially once their spouse passes away and they're alone.
I feel guilty now that I'm doing everything because I often leave our giant black plastic garbage bins (we have one for garbage and one for recycling, city issued and you HAVE to use them) out for more than a day prior to unlocking the gate at the end of the alley and dragging it in right after pickup (garbage is picked up on Tuesdays and Fridays and Monday is when recyclables are picked up)! Brian was always so good about it and I try to get to it but most often don't! If I'm out and about, I'll pull the can out of the street over the curb, over the sidewalk, and will leave it up against the fence but like I said, it might be a day or two until I bring it out of sight down the alley. And (don't laugh) but if it's Thursday (like today), I just pulled it next to the fence this morning but left it out as I'm going to pull it out to the curb tonight for tomorrow's pickup!
I often wish my neighbor Keith (he lost his wife about 1.5 years ago, sold his house about 4 blocks away from here suddenly when his neighbor's parents asked him if he wanted to sell, and moved into the lower apt. in the house next door, where the "man of the house" passed away last summer but his wife (Sharon) still comes down for 6 months of the year and lives the other six months in Upstate NY like she and her husband did for the last 9 years since they purchased the house. (We have a $75,000 property tax exemption in LA which they can take advantage of as long as they live HERE six months and one day every year, which they made sure they did!) Keith always took care of the house next door when Sharon and Trevor were back in NY as he and Ann, his late wife, were neighborhood friends with our neighbors and hit the bar down the street with them just about every weekday afternoon. So now Keith lives next door. He even knew Brian from years before when Brian worked downtown (they frequented the same old N.O. bar for lunch and often for a beer after work if he didn't need to run off to pick me up). I always hope Keith will pull the garbage can in next to the fence for me, as he knows Brian's having a hard time and he walks his dog past the house every single morning but no luck so far!! I have to laugh, as no. 1, he doesn't owe me anything and no. 2, I'm just used to Brian who's the kind of guy who would do this for a neighbor in a heartbeat, especially since Brian would've noticed how good the man of the house was about pulling it in the backyard before he got ill. He's got this THING about women shouldn't have to deal with putting the garbage out or putting out/taking in the can out on the street!
I know it sounds like I'm whining but trust me, I'm laughing at myself here, as I really don't EXPECT it but just wish my male neighbor would surprise me one day and help me out (he's probably my age or older and recently all the grey in his hair miraculously turned dark brown)! Plus it kills Brian to see me mess with the cans so I try to pull them in when he's upstairs so he won't hear me as he always comments about how bad he feels that I'm dealing with garbage cans -- that's the main reason I wish Keith would pull it in for me! I know it would make Brian feel better and not worry so much if things don't go our way...
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