🦃 Morning, Villages! Happy Thanksgiving. I hope your day is filled with good food, easy conversations, and a house that smells like heaven. Thanks for starting your holiday with the Pulse. Today: your relationship poll results, Dinner Club launch, a wild 4-year Villages transformation, and a major win for 2026 healthcare coverage.

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On this day in 1924: The inaugural Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade rolled through New York, a now-beloved American holiday tradition that many will watch today.

— Kevin Rogers, Publisher

Monday’s Poll Recap

💙 Relationship Status in The Villages

You showed up in a big way for this one. With 664 votes, the picture is clear — The Villages is overwhelmingly a couples town, and proud of it. Nearly 500 readers checked the Married/Partnered box, many of them adding notes about “loving the good life,” “best years together,” and even a few “found my person here” stories that hit you right in the chest.

But the comments also painted a fuller, very Villages-style mosaic. Widowed readers shared that they’re staying active, connected, and finding genuine community through clubs, neighbors, and daily routines. Singles chimed in with everything from “flying solo and loving it” to “still looking, but in no rush.” A few divorced readers said they’re “finally getting my groove back,” and the “It’s complicated” crowd kept things… exactly that.

What stood out most was the tone — open, honest, and hopeful. Whether paired up, starting over, or navigating life on your own terms, Villagers keep finding ways to build friendships, find joy, and stay plugged in.

Thanks for voting and for sharing your stories.

Thanks for voting and keep those poll ideas coming — hit reply if you’ve got a fun one for next week!

Non Couples Dinner Club is Live

🍽️ Join the Villages Pulse Dinner Club

You asked for it, so here it is! The very first Villages Pulse Dinner Club is officially happening and you’re invited to be part of the launch night. This is your chance to meet new folks, enjoy a great meal, and have a night out that feels a little different from the usual routine.

How It Works

✦︎ Take a quick quiz about your interests, food preferences, and the type of people you’d like to be matched with. Easy stuff.

✦︎ Get matched with five other Villages Pulse readers based on your quiz answers. Currently, we can not handle couples matching, so only solo signups allowed.

✦︎ On the morning of the dinner, you’ll receive your invite with your group and the surprise Villages area restaurant where you’ll all be eating. (don’t worry, you can select north, central, or southern-ish locations in the quiz!)

✦︎ Dinner will take place on Wednesday, December 10 at 5:30 PM. After dinner, all tables will be invited to a designated spot to keep the good times rolling. This after party is optional, so if you’re in a food coma, you can go home and sleep it off.

The Logistics: I’ll put it all together; from the quiz, to the matching, to the reservations, and sending reminders. The signup fee is $15.99 per seat, you pay for your own meal at the end of dinner. All you have to do is show up, meet some new friends, and have some fun.

P.S. This is our inaugural dinner, so if it goes well (and I think it will), we'll do these regularly, all across the Villages, and surrounding areas. If you have any questions there is a little chat bubble at the bottom right of the page when you sign up.

Villages Development News

🚧 Watch The Villages Transform in 4 Years

If you want to see The Villages changing in real time, this week’s Construction Update video is a must-watch. Don takes you from the Turnpike bridge work at CR 470 all the way down to Eastport, showing exactly how fast the south end is transforming. The Then and Now segment is wild — in just four years the open pasture between Monarch Grove and Eastport has turned into full neighborhoods, golf courses, ponds, and a completely new road network. You’ll also get a look at newly emerging growth corridors, the Meadow View course taking shape, Prime and Ember buzzing in Eastport, and a stunning low-altitude nighttime fly-through of the entire downtown. It’s one of the most eye-opening updates yet and gives you a clear picture of what’s coming next.

Pulse Travel

Ready to put something unforgettable on your calendar? Our Pulse Travel partner, Vacationeeze, is rolling out a new round of Virgin Voyages deals — the kind that make you want to pack a bag today. These adults-only ships mix luxury, fun, and just the right hint of mischief, and the current pricing is some of the best we’ve seen all year. 🌴🚢

👉 Here are the three standout sailings worth a serious look:

• Aruban Sights & Antiguan Nights (Jan 3 - 10, 2026) - sun-soaked ports and island-hopping bliss.

• Picturesque Panama Canal (Oct 29 - Nov 15) - a bucket-list passage through one of the world’s great wonders.

• French Riviera, Italy, Rome & Ibiza (July 4–11, 2026) - Mediterranean magic wrapped in a week of elegance and nightlife.

If one of these trips is calling your name, don’t wait. Pulse readers get first crack at these rates, and they tend to disappear fast once word spreads. Let Vacationeeze handle the details — you just decide which ocean view you want waking you up next.

Business Briefs

🩺 Villagers Finally Get an Answer on 2026 UHC Coverage

After months of uncertainty, The Villages Health and CenterWell Senior Primary Care have reached a deal with UnitedHealthcare for 2026. This means Villagers using UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans will continue to have in-network access to both systems next year — avoiding the disruption many feared.

Early chatter suggested a potential split for 2025 and beyond, but negotiations have wrapped with a resolution that keeps primary care, specialists, and wellness services available without major changes for enrollees.

It’s a solid win for residents who rely on these providers and didn’t want to switch doctors or insurance plans. More details are expected soon, but for now, Villagers can breathe easier knowing their coverage stays intact for 2026.

Upcoming Events

Want a Featured Event with a poster/image? Reach out.

🐎 Equestrian Vaulting World Cup Qualifier | WEC | Nov 28 - 30 | Details

❄️ Winter Wonderland | World Equestrian Center | Nov 28 - Dec 23

Dirty Birds Live | Oxford Downs Tiki Bar | Nov 28 | 7 - 10 PM

Small Business Saturday | Various Locations | Nov 29 | 8 am - 5 pm

 🎸 Weekends at The Winery | Lakeridge Winery | Sat: Zac Denby Duo; Sun: Kara & Jordan | Details

🍸️ Patio Nights: cocktails and music | Brownwood Hotel | Nov 29 | Details

🎄 Tree Lighting Festival | Spanish Springs | Nov 29 | 8 pm | Details

🎄 Tree Lighting Festival | Brownwood | Nov 29 | 8 pm | Details

⛳️ New To Golf School | Sarasota | Dec 1 | 9 am | Details

 🏌️‍♂️ Full Swing Clinic | Lopez | Dec 1 | 10:30 am | Details

⛳️ Ladies Basics of Golf | Palmer | Dec 2 | 9 am | Details

Tom Petty Tribute Band | Whispering Oaks | Dec 4 | Details + Tickets

Donna & Dunning Better than Vegas | Evans Prairie | Dec 11 | Tickets

On Sale This Week

The Beat Goes On: CHER | Savannah Center | Jan 28 | Details

The Dreamboats | Savannah Center | Jan 29 | Details

Steinway Series: Luigi Borzillo | The Sharon | Mar 31 | Details

If you have an event you want to announce to 8,100+ local Villagers, email us the details at [email protected]

Live Music Lowdown

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Thanks!

Thanks for reading! If you found something useful please share it with someone who loves the turkey drumstick.

P.S. Want to get your business in front of 8,100+ local Villagers? Reach out here.