Reverse Age Discrimination in Naples, FL (St. Petersburg, Orlando: fit in, neighborhoods, college)

[bellagabby]

Just in case any young families are thinking about relocating to Naples, FL please reconsider. I was lured to Naples from Chicago by the weather and beauty but have come to know the real town in the 4 years that I have lived here. My husband and are are well-to-do with graduate and doctorate degrees so we thought we'd fit into the well-to-do community, however, we have two young daughters. We moved into a gated community with no age qualifications like many who require residents to be 55 years and older. We've had numerous run-ins with our neighbors because our children
-ride tricycles on the sidewalks
-play in our kiddie pool on our patio
-draw in chalk on our driveway
-swim in our neighborhood pool
(Yes, I know....all major offenses!) Today, I had a senior citizen approach my family at the pool and ask me whether my girls were wearing "swim diapers" because she did not want the pool contaminated. The first time a neighbor asked me was bad enough, but by the 20th time, I had had it and had to contact our community board association regarding the harrassment. The few young families in the neighborhood have had even worse experiences and I can honestly say that all of the young families that I have spoken with in my neighborhood are trying to relocate. My husband and I are looking for jobs out of state to escape the reverse age discrimination. Do yourself a favor and vacation in Naples but don't live here if you have kids!

[SKB]

Originally Posted by bellagabby

Just in case any young families are thinking about relocating to Naples, FL please reconsider. I was lured to Naples from Chicago by the weather and beauty but have come to know the real town in the 4 years that I have lived here. My husband and are are well-to-do with graduate and doctorate degrees so we thought we'd fit into the well-to-do community, however, we have two young daughters. We moved into a gated community with no age qualifications like many who require residents to be 55 years and older. We've had numerous run-ins with our neighbors because our children
-ride tricycles on the sidewalks
-play in our kiddie pool on our patio
-draw in chalk on our driveway
-swim in our neighborhood pool
(Yes, I know....all major offenses!) Today, I had a senior citizen approach my family at the pool and ask me whether my girls were wearing "swim diapers" because she did not want the pool contaminated. The first time a neighbor asked me was bad enough, but by the 20th time, I had had it and had to contact our community board association regarding the harrassment. The few young families in the neighborhood have had even worse experiences and I can honestly say that all of the young families that I have spoken with in my neighborhood are trying to relocate. My husband and I are looking for jobs out of state to escape the reverse age discrimination. Do yourself a favor and vacation in Naples but don't live here if you have kids!

The nerve of some people, I mean really.

I would be more concerned with their bladder incontinence and besides that, this is what chlorine is for.
It is so obvious that people like this have far to much time on their hands and go out looking for things to complain about.

I wouldn't let these people push me out of my neighborhood you should just fight back.

[Floridabound09]

I would already be talking to the board, this is unacceptable. If you are within the guidlines they have no right to hassle you. It is not age discrimination, it is they are forcing their lifestyle on you and the community.

I wouldnt leave Florida, thats what these type of folks want you to do, I would try to get it settled and if it doesnt work out move, but I wouldnt allow someone in Florida to force me out because my kids are drawing on the sidewalk, that wont happen.

I would re read the rules and regs of your community very close and make sure nothing has been missed, then I would go to the board.
Are there other couples with kids in the community?

You know the more I think and type maybe they should be the ones to move to a old folks community, if they do not like kids then they should have read the darn rules and regs too!

[HockeyMom72]

Originally Posted by Floridabound09

I would already be talking to the board, this is unacceptable. If you are within the guidlines they have no right to hassle you. It is not age discrimination, it is they are forcing their lifestyle on you and the community.

I wouldnt leave Florida, thats what these type of folks want you to do, I would try to get it settled and if it doesnt work out move, but I wouldnt allow someone in Florida to force me out because my kids are drawing on the sidewalk, that wont happen.

I would re read the rules and regs of your community very close and make sure nothing has been missed, then I would go to the board.
Are there other couples with kids in the community?

You know the more I think and type maybe they should be the ones to move to a old folks community, if they do not like kids then they should have read the darn rules and regs too!

I am 58. Thank you for confirming my decision NOT to move into some Senior Community. SHOOT ME if I ever become like these old coots.

Children are our FUTURE. I guess these people have forgotten that?

[Chromedome]

absolutely true. naples is where the wealthy come to get away and "relax" meaning,for the most part they dont want to deal with children. they want quiet,peace. they dont want children loitering in pools or hanging out anywhere, playing in their neighberhoods etc.

this entire area was built on attracting wealthy retirees with a place to "escape", so its not very child-friendly.this is ESPECIALLY true in gated communities.

the onlyy areas that ive seen tolerate children pretty well are the neighborhoods right off 41 in north naples.

i agree with you moving away and hopefully ill be joining you when i get out of college. best of luck

[Prichard]

Just don't take any crap from cranky old people! Fortunately I live in Orlando so I don't have to deal with this, but I've visited enough of these south florida old-folks communities to know exactly what its like.

If some old buzzard complained about my kid wearing swim diapers in the public pool, first thing I would do is take them off and let the kid swim in there naked. See how they like that! As far as chalk drawings go on YOUR OWN sidewalk, (as long as it's not a violation of the Deed Restrictions) you aught to join in with them. Try drawing a picture of a cranky old man with his cane swinging from a noose from a big oak tree.

Regarding complaints about tricycles on the sidewalks, just shout over them about how awful it is that they let old deranged buzzards drive cars on the public roads; or golf carts on the roads; or wheelchairs on the sidewalks; or even be seen in public.

Yes, I'm still bitter over my run-ins with mean old buzzards from when I was a kid - didn't like them then; had fun terrorizing them as a teenager; had to live with them for awhile in St. Petersburg; and still don't like them. Sorry if this offends anyone, but since I've had a small child, I've only had two run-ins with old buzzards (one in a public swimming pool; another in a restaurant.) All I can say is that I'm bigger, I'm stronger, I'm louder, and, when it comes to my kid, I'm meaner than a horse-whipped alligator.

[Floridabound09]

Originally Posted by Chromedome

absolutely true. naples is where the wealthy come to get away and "relax" meaning,for the most part they dont want to deal with children. they want quiet,peace. they dont want children loitering in pools or hanging out anywhere, playing in their neighberhoods etc.

this entire area was built on attracting wealthy retirees with a place to "escape", so its not very child-friendly.this is ESPECIALLY true in gated communities.

the onlyy areas that ive seen tolerate children pretty well are the neighborhoods right off 41 in north naples.

i agree with you moving away and hopefully ill be joining you when i get out of college. best of luck

Gosh you eating this one up, I can see you chomping on this issue.
Anything to make SW fla look bad you will agree to.

Heck no, she should not move away, like I said maybe the grumpy asses who dont want children playing should.

She owns the property, she pays the bills, the heck with those people.
Why should she change to accomadate them, that is what they want.

She did not say she dislikes Florida at all, fact is she acts like she loves it there, just some rowdy neighbors who hate kids playing is her problem.

Florida is not the issue here Chrome, not at all.

[Yac]

Everybody please calm down.
Yac.

[emmapeel]

Originally Posted by Yac

Everybody please calm down.
Yac.

thank you to the administrator who asked people to hush. some of us are just going on 54, have had it with population growth, can't wait to turn 55 and get back to the sanity of having 55-plus communities.

if you don't want to live around old people, why on earth would you have chosen a 55-plus community? duh.

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by emmapeel

thank you to the administrator who asked people to hush. some of us are just going on 54, have had it with population growth, can't wait to turn 55 and get back to the sanity of having 55-plus communities.

if you don't want to live around old people, why on earth would you have chosen a 55-plus community? duh.

The OP said she chose a Non-55+ community...