[katezbox]

Hi Senior,

I have lived the entirety of my life in NE - until 2 months ago. Our home in Conn sold quickly - and we did not want to rush to buy in TV so are living in SC til the end of the month.

I grew up in Holyoke, Mass - a far cry from rural Vermont. After living in a small city, my first move after college was to northern Connecticut. I loved the rolling hills, the farms with barns, the country roads. Due to job transfers and such, we moved around Connecticut a bit - but always in communities where there was plenty of green space around us.

I was introduced to TV by a friend from Connecticut. When we watched the video - our thoughts were UGH! When we visited, like Gracie, we a lot to like.

In a community of 75,000 people, not everyone is dancing every night at the squares and seeking out the happy hours. I am someone who, like Gracie, looks forward to meeting our new neighbors and forming friendships. My friend says that some of the folks in her neighborhood participate in very little - but are friendly - just not huggers and joiners. TV is big enough to offer something for (nearly) everyone.

We chose a homesite with a villa wall at the back and a golf course to the side as I didn't want to back up to a road or someone's home. That was just our preference and there are many here who like the opposite for good reasons of their own.

Russ gives good counsel to come and visit before you make a decision. I would add that you may want to rent a couple of different types of homes in your price range and in different locations - to get a better feel for what best suits you.

As to the crime, my husband also reads the local papers of places we plan to visit. I think that to say crime is lurking just outside TV and that lots of children go missing is misleading. The Caylee case is very sad - but we probably would not know her name if the media had not swooped in and covered every aspect of the story. Because she seemed so very sweet and was so adorable - it made good news. Children go missing all across America every day - but not every one gets the type of press Caylee got. Horrible crimes happen everywhere - Columbine, CO is an incredible beautiful place.

TV is far closer to Ocala than Orlando - and Ocala DOES look a bit like Vermont. Granted - not so hilly - and you see more horses than cows. It is also one of the highest-income areas in the US.

So from one NE person to another - come see if it is right for you. If it is, you have found a home. If it isn't, you now know more about what you don't want.

Kate