[manaboutown]

One of the books I read about moving to a retirement community was written by a Florida real estate broker who had been in the business several years. His recommendation based on the experiences of his many clients was to snowbird for a few years. He found that his happiest and most satisfied clients did this. Now this may not be practical for everyone but it is what he recommends rather than selling off everything, severing all ties to one's hometown and moving to Florida - or anywhere else for that matter.

Several native and long term central Florida residents I have known over the years had mountain cabins in North Carolina, motorhomes or other getaway means and removed themselves from the heat of the long central Florida summer when possible.

Back in 1965 one of my aunt's had a stroke in her late 40's. Her husband, who'd had a heart attack a couple years before her stroke, thought the Florida climate might help them so they bought a house in Winter Haven. They kept their home in Towson, MD for a few years but eventually sold it and resided in Florida thereafter. She and he ended up living into their late 80's! I personally believe the Florida climate played a huge role in their longevity. They were able to get outdoors, walk and enjoy life year round without being cooped up. Their only problem as they saw it was medical care. They went up to Johns Hopkins a few times a year to see their long time physicians.

As an aside, maintaining a strong social/support network is very important as one ages. As I see it The Villages provides an ideal environment to accomplish that.