[cappyjon431]

I'm a lifetime Floridian and when I haven't lived in Florida I've lived in other hurricane prone areas (Bahamas, Belize, and coastal North Carolina). I've been through some really bad ones (Hurricane Andrew in south Florida, Hurricane Iris in Belize, Hurricane Irene in the Bahamas) and lots of wimpy ones and near misses. Don't let the fear of these storms keep you from moving here. Being inland (The villages) minimizes the risk and the nice thing about hurricanes is that at least you get plenty of notice to prepare (the news media has become so sensationalized that you start hearing about potential threats well in advance).

Almost anywhere you live there are threats of natural disaster--tornados in the midwest, earthquakes on the west coast, blizzards and ice storms up north. Unlike earthquakes and tornados at least you get plenty of time to prepare for hurricanes. We actually moved to Panama and thought to ourselves, we'll never see another hurricane (the Caribbean coastal area of Panama where we lived had NEVER experienced a hurricane), but we were not there for two months when I experienced my first eartyhquake--I'll take hurricanes anytime!

As for gators and snakes, they are here and they are part of the beautiful natural environment. I am not afraid of them (I grew up around them so I never developed that fear), but my wife is. She gives them their space and they give her space as well (she says they only make good belts). They really are not a threat, especially in a well developed neighborhood like The Villages. you might see an occasional snake here or an occasional gator in one of the lakes or ponds, but they are just as afraid of you as you are of them.