[KEVIN & JOSIE]

Originally Posted by senior citizen

We just both like to keep well informed. Actually, this morning we were looking at all the virtual tours of the newest model homes and loved them all.

Again, not losing sleep over the sinkholes. We've never been hasty to come to a final decision, preferring to do our research ahead of time.

We've always vacationed in Florida for the past 47 years of our marriage, but central Florida is a hidden gem for sure. Sinkholes or not.

We like the fact that TV is surrounded by lakes and horse farms and very very GREEN.........plus the home designs and prices can't be beat....again, we were very impressed with The Villages..........more so than we thought we might be. However, we still feel we should know everything about the area that there is to know. Common sense, no matter what our age.

ACTUALLY, we kept reminding each other that we have many options and should not rush into anything. Having owned many many homes in our lifetime and remodeled many of them, we want this final purchase to be just that.

Having lived in Florida twice before, in the early 1970's and again in the early 1990's, returning both times to Vermont.........we also have to decide do we want to move full time or just be snow birds. We have options.

We are constantly discussing it. Our plan at the moment is to take a long leisurely road trip and check out other areas on the way down to THE VILLAGES again........both seacoast and foothills of the Carolina mountains, etc.

Having JUST retired a year ago, we want to enjoy the journey before we put our present home on the market for sale in a not so great real estate climate up here..........so doing the research ahead of time is a "natural thing" for both of us. When the sinkhole controversy came up, it was very natural to do the research on it. I did read that scientific minds seem to think it is on the increase.

p.s. Every town has something worrisome or not so great about it; up here everyone has the right to free speech and to express an opinion or to question or look into things that might be negatives........we don't disallow other opinions if they question why Vermont has so many pot holes and frost heaves. We sold our last house to a Floridian who was just escaping Andrew back in 1994. It was a beautiful house; she compared it to a Florida house which it was not.........Florida doesn't have to deal with frost and sub zero temps. Anyway, I appreciated all the input about the sinkholes, maps and the difficulty in getting insurance for such and all the private messages as well on the subject. NOT EVERYTHING IS A JOKE IN LIFE. SOME PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO LOSE THEIR ENTIRE INVESTMENT. THANKS.

My home equity is a lifetime of work and savings. To invest in a property only to be told that "maybe"you can insure, and get true full coverage of your assets, is not good enough for me. And to be told down the road as claims increase, that we will no longer cover you against loss, is not good enough. A red flag went up when I checked for homeowners insurance with all of the large companies, and found that none of them would write a policy in Florida. They would refer you to the smaller carriers. My current company, whom I've been with for 20 years, would not write a policy there. True, we will all die, and none of this will matter, but if a catostrophic loss happens in my senior years, it does matter!