[punkpup]

Hi Kathy-o,

We have a friend who is a single woman and moved to The Villages in June of 2006. She is one of the most difficult people to get hold of these days!!! She loves it, has made tons of friends and has a new love interest as well. As a matter of fact she often says that if she only knew what life in The Villages was really like she would have moved ten years earlier!

The first thing I would do is check out the official web site of The Villages, which you probably already have, then call 1-800-245-1081. Once you have spoken to someone you will be assigned a "Guest Coordinator" who can help you set up a Lifestyle Preview. Previews can be 3, 4, 5 or 6 days and you can even request to stay in a particular style of home that you may have in mind to purchase, if not ask to stay at the cottages in Lake Sumter Landing as they are delightful. The cost is minimal regardless of your choice of accommodations, $75 a night. (I also recommend renting a golf cart for an additional $18.95 a day I think; not everyone agrees on the golf cart thing but we have used one both times we visited and had a ton of fun!) You will be given a special guest pass with free meals, movie tickets, rounds of golf and tennis, discounts at a Spa, a Hair Salon as well as 20% off at either of the two Villages Mercantile stores. If another person accompanies you they would be given a guest pass too.During our five day preview we had to seriously plan how to use all of the freebies, lol.

Unfortunately we do not yet live in The Villages yet otherwise we would volunteer to show you around but their are plenty of folks here on TOTV who do live there and will be happy to show you around; some are couples and some are singles.

Also I'd recommend planning your Preview during a time when there is the TOTV monthly Luncheon and/or any other TOTV gathering for that matter. You will find the folks there to be extremely fun, welcoming and helpful. One woman even drove out of her way to show me the way home when I got lost! Since you love to dance make sure you connect with a woman here on TOTV named Rokinronda who also loves to dance!!!

Good luck, you'll have a fabulous time!!!