[lanabanana73]

I definitely recommend renting several times before you decide. We came for the month of October in 2012 and were struck by how ACTIVE everyone is. No one seems to be sitting around waiting to die. People are up and moving at the crack of dawn and there is something in The Villages for everyone. My husband loves to play basketball and that's something that is not offered at most other retirement communities. In The Villages, he can play six days a week!

We bought our home just a year ago and though we are a few years from retiring, we can rent it during the high season and earn enough to pay all of its expenses for the year. We chose to purchase a preowned home, as south of 466A was too far south for us. We prefer a more central location. The first time we rented, it was in Springdale, in the northwest corner of TV. The next time we came, we rented in Bonita and LOVED it! So much easier to get around and lots of stuff close by. We ended up buying in Tamarind Grove and have 13 executive courses within a ten minute cart ride. Golf Nirvana!

Good luck to you in your search. As suggested, talk to the people. I ask everyone for their "Villages Story" whenever I run into them. I love hearing it all.