When our oldest daughter and husband moved to Orlando in 2002, I was ready to HATE FL for taking her away!
) However, their move gave me lots of opportunities for visits and as they got to know the area...lots of fun and interesting trips exploring the central part of the state. Hubby, Boilermaker Dave, and I visited a number of 55+ retirement communities during the 5 years our kids lived there using their home as "base". It was a great educational experience for us and one that we wouldn't have been able to have if kids hadn't been there already.
We have looked at Solivita, Kings Ridge (Clermont), both Del Webb's Spruce and Stone Creek, The Plantation at Leesburg, Oak Run, OTOW, Summer Glen, Ocala Palms, Stone Crest, a Pringle communtiy that I can't remember the name of, Pennbrook Fairway, Rainbow Springs and then we did a Lifestyle visit in TV last May as a celebratory trip for my retirement from Purdue. We had visited TV a few times previously with our daughter and I really liked it...but Boiler Dave was leary. The Lifesyle preview visit was what put TV on the top of his list and that is now where we will move to when we retire, hopefully, within a couple of years or sooner depending on the economy. To be honest, I had some doubts and thought all along we would end up in Spruce Creek...but after we had lunch at Katie Belle's on the day we left TV and then drove immediately over to Spruce Creek...the difference between the 2 communities jumped in our faces!!! It was quiet as a tomb over there and NO ONE was out and about except one guy shooting free throws at a basketball half court! We stopped and talked to him and he said most of the time he is by himself at the court. The contrast between the 2 communities was obvious. That cemented TV for us!
I know that everyone is different and that is what makes the world go round...but with the friendliness of the people we met, the variety of activities, the beautiful surroundings and the "feeling" we got during our stay...it made our choice easy! I would highly recommend the Lifestyle preview to anyone who is considering their options.
JMHO! (Always wanted to write that!!!!
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