Quote:
Originally Posted by LiverpoolWalrus
I'm just curious...and I ask with no judgment either way. A number of people on this board have recently said they're not interested in TV's amenities. May I ask why you would move to the Villages if not for the activities? Is it because a significant other wanted those amenities? Is it because you just like central Florida? Home prices in TV are higher because of the lifestyle, so if it were me, I'd go with a community with fewer amenities and lower prices.
|
You have asked a very good question. We moved here in 2003, full time, both of us under 55. (1 disabled Veteran, one retired military, no kids.) We were completely enamored with TV the first few years. (There was nothing south of 466 then.) We were involved with lots of activities, social calendar had never been so full, spouse played sports 5 days a week, etc. It gradually became a number of different factors for us as TV grew and grew and grew; Traffic got bad, everything was crowded, long lines at restaurants, classes and activities at rec centers would fill up - you could get there an hour ahead of time, stand in line only to be turned away because the class was full by the time you got to the door. Tickets for any decent musical event sold out 5 minutes after going on sale. Wall to wall people standing room only at the squares. Could not find a sport pool with lap lanes to go swimming. That was final straw for me. I gave up. Had no choice but to buy a home with own pool. Third one. Had already paid off 2 ridiculous bonds to keep my tax bill low, but got no better price on either house than houses with unpaid bonds. So yes, it's expensive for what you get. Have given more than our share to TV; we're not paying off a third bond. Not in a position to move yet again. Spouse still likes it here and I love my home. I just can't deal with crowds (PTSD). No worries. If I should end up outliving my spouse, I am out of here. Without him here to take care of me, I plan to go to a life care CCRC to be taken care of, but it won't be Freedom Pointe, probably somewhere close to a military base and of course the VA. We are just more realistic and no longer enamored with TV, also getting older, more health issues, and not able to do as much, which is why we believe the more elderly residents don't get their money's worth in the overall big picture of The Villages lifestyle. Peace.