We lived for many years in New York on the Hudson and my recommendation would be Rhinebeck, New York and a rental. It is a great community, close to a number of places to go to and not far. Some examples: Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park/Roosevelt homestead, the Catskill Mountains, Olana Castle in Hudson, NY, The Dutchess County Fair which is one of the best in New York and beyond, Restaurants on the Hudson, a lot of visitors and residents come to Rhinebeck on the weekends and there are some rather notable people who have homes there on the Hudson. Also you get some of the best fruit during the season. Guess I have said enough. Just a place to look at to get away for a few months. Hudson which is about 1/2 hour away is a center for Antique shopping and a fun place to walk around. This kind of gets you away from the "organized" way of living vis vis the Villages. Also, Woodstock is not far away and a fun place to visit on the weekends. You can always catch a train at the small station there and take the train to NYC for a day (about 1-2 hour ride down the Hudson) and through all of the small villages on the Hudson. A movie was just made about the ride. If I were to go back for a couple months and rent I would probably choose Rhinebeck.
Good Luck