Leisureville: Adventures in America's Retirement Utopias

The author started out not wanting to like The Villages. After spending a month visiting and fully immersing himself in the lifestyle, he came away with new friends and a new perspective on living a life without children around. He still prefers a traditional, mixed-age neighborhood, but I think he has a better understanding of why some of us have opted to live in an adult community (we're 2 year Villages residents). We raised our children and now we want to be able to still see them as often as we can, but not have to live around other's children and all that entails, i.e., noise, crime, danger, destruction of property, etc. The only thing I didn't like about this book is that Mr. Blechman devoted far too many pages to his visits to a couple of AZ retirement communities. I bought the book because it is (mostly) about The Villages, I couldn't care less about Sun City or Youngstown in AZ. He gives a fairly accurate account of what life and living is like in The Villages, but I did feel there was some age bias on his part (he's in his early 40's I think). Of particular interest are the interviews he conducted with some residents. It was fun to read and say to myself, "Hey...I know exactly what or where he is talking about!" Been there, done that. I would recommend the book for all Villages residents, people who are considering purchasing a home here and people who are curious to learn what all the fuss is about. Even after reading the book...you still need to come for a visit and spend as many days here as you can before you will truly understand that living in The Villages is as much a state of mind as it is a place.

This book is a must read for people living in or contemplating moving to a senior community. It is an excellent expose on these communities.

"Leisureville" is an interesting, entertaining, balanced and easily readable inquiry into the somewhat unknown world of AARP-aged seniors and their age restricted communities in the United States. Andrew Blechman's reporting is understandable without one having to sort through all of the governmental statistics, numerical percentages and political hype. He interviews and briefly follows the senior lifestyles of several human specimens that may be -- some would say -- are not -- typical of the residents found in seniors-only communities. One can only assume that Blechman has simply reported what he found. Blechman also considers and discusses the implications of government by Home Owners Association, CC & Rs and governing by politically influential developers, all of whom seem to also have control over the local media -- at least in one of the communities he visited. Although Blechman seems to find that a world without children may be acceptable to others, it is not acceptable to him. There are broader implications. Leisureville leaves one asking: Are the age-restricted developments an example of the "Me First" attitude? Cultural mores, in the U.S., appear to be moving away from working together as a society for the betterment of all. Isolation can't be the answer. Perhaps "I Got Mine" might seem an apt slogan for some of the age restricted communities (my suggestion, not the author's). Maybe age-restricted communities are a riposte for the degradation of our senior residents? The cultural norm seems to be: the older you are, the less value you have to society -- seniors are increasingly being seen as superfluous (that is at least part of what the hysterics and paranoia associated with President Obama's health care reform are about). Blechman asks and answers the question of: Where are the ageing members of our population that are financially unable to buy into the 'American Dream - Senior Style'? One may successfully argue that age restricted communities are a far better idea than squalid one-room flats in decaying downtowns to which many elderly have seemingly been abandoned. Maybe a better idea for those unable to afford the 'American Dream - Senior Style" is to stock up on books, be sure to include Andrew Blechman's "Pigeons", then wait in line for the ice floe.

Enjoyed this book very much as I could relate to most of everything regarding The Villages as I live very nearby. Was very well written and contained much useful and interesting details on retirement living.

Since I'm contemplating moving to a child-free retirement community, I thought it was fortuitous that I came across LEISUREVILLE by Andrew D. Blechmam . . . the book's subtitle, ADVENTURES IN AMERICA'S RETIREMENT UTOPIAS, intrigued me even more . . . so I got hold of my own copy and because it was so engrossing, I was able to finish it in just a few days. Blechman concentrates on The Villages, the largest gated community in the world (located in Florida, outside of Orlando) . . . his quote from one resident actually mirrored my reaction when I visited there this past December: * "Life in The Villages is really too much to describe," Betsy added."It's simply unforgettable. For me, it was love at first sight." She patted her heart for emphasis. "I can only equate it to the movie The Stepford Wives. Everyone had a smile on their face like it's too good to be true. But it really is." Another resident said something else that I heard often when I was there: * "Isn't it nice?" she asks. "People call it 'Disney for adults,' and I'm beginning to understand why. I just can't believe I'm here. I've met people that have been here for five years and they're still pinching themselves. It's like being on a permanent vacation." All is not perfect, though, as the author points out . . . there are detractors, such as this one: * "What do I think of The Villages and all this development?" Alan says. "I think it stinks. They're building without any regard to the land. I'm no tree hugger, but I hate to see the land raped the way they're doing it. They're shipping in all sorts of clay and sand just so they can make the land flat. They're cutting down trees, and putting in lakes where there weren't any. There's only one saving grace about this whole nonsense--it'll be gorgeous when it's done." What I especially liked about LEISUREVILLE was the fact that it provided additional insight into this housing trend . . . Blechman also went to Arizona to show what has happened to those who pioneered the concept, he attended a builders' conference, and he spoke with housing experts. He came away thinking that such a life is not for him, as he indicated toward the close of the book: * "But when push comes to shove, I'm not interested in the Faustian bargain that living in a controlled community demands. I love my town, arts and all, and take comfort in the knowledge that no entertainment specialist designed our downtown; nor can it be bought, sold or traded like a golf certificate." That I came to a different conclusion probably deals with my feelings about such a life . . . I like my present town, yet I think that life in The Villages (or someplace similar) would be something that I'd welcome!