Between now and your planned retirement, you've got plenty of time to come for a lifestyle visit but also a "tour on your own" visit. As I'm sure you are aware, there are many nice rental properties you can stay in. Renting a home here for your vacation is a great way to experience actually living here -- all the fun stuff to do, but the practical stuff as well--grocery shopping, traffic, navigating traffic circles, getting lost in your golf cart and so on. We visited at least three times before deciding that getting vacation/retirement home was what we wanted. And the first home we chose, once we lived in it for a vacation, was actually not the home we really wanted! So use the time you have pre-retirement as other posters have said to get your own feel for this place. And I think your gonna like what you find
