[QUOTE=ivanhoe;270300].
My wife would like to access things via golf cart as she is a non-driver so that will be a factor, however, we have learned that you can virtually get everywhere with only a short interval in traffic.
As I’ve said we haven’t gotten the complete layout of TV so we're in the blind just now.
so it will only be health insurance that could crimp the budget.
QUOTE]
A couple of thoughts. And they are worth what I am charging ie maybe nothing.
Driving a golf cart although easier than a car is driving. I went around in one when we were in TV and it was fun but I drive. So you will probably want to be pretty close to a market and whatever activity your wife likes. When I went on the villages web site and filled out the info link they sent me a big packet of stuff that included an overall map.
We have also only physically visited once, we are trying to fit in another visit between now and when we retire however even with that, we plan to put our stuff in moving cubes and store it, and rent for the first 6 months, that way we can get the lay of the land. A furnished rental will include utilities and I figured a six month stay would help me refine my buget. (especially if I could get what was acctually spent info from the landlord or utilities for a place I am actually in)
(6 month rentals don't have to pay the FLA tax. When checking rentals alot include the tax in the monthly rent be sure to adjust before signing a lease)
My husbands unions retirement counselors have told me to figure $500 a month for medical insurance for myself during the gap between when I am covered under his pension and when I hit medicare eligible. I have no idea if this is correct and with the new legislation still being amended I don't think anyone knows.
Comparitive cost of living estimators I have used as an overall guide in our past moves are at.
http://www.bestplaces.net/COL/?salar...city2=51250750
Compares Manhattan with Ocala as follows:
A salary of $60,000 in New York, New York could decrease to $31,967 in Ocala, Florida There is a breakdown by catagory on the site.
http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/...alculator.aspx Only compares to Orlando but has NYC broken out by bourghs.
I also find good misc info and calculators on the AARP website.
Hope this helps.
Trudy the number cruncher.