California version of TV?

[Ron G.]

I spent a couple hours in TV over the weekend and really liked what I saw.

However, my wife (who was home in Baltimore while I was visiting my mother near Tampa) likes the idea of retiring to California.

Does anyone know of a similar place in Southern California?

At first, I was put off by the sheer size of TV, but later decided that the size brings with it many opportunities for activities, etc. Also, it seems like TV is a truly active retirement community...far more to do than play cards, bocce, shuffleboard, etc.

So, I think we're looking for a large, active retirement community....but, maybe in Southern California.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Ron

[KathieI]

Hi Ron,

I'm from Los Angeles and am retiring to TV so obviously I haven't found anything close to TV in the SoCal area. There may be something south of Los Angeles near the San Diego area, I haven't looked there, but I think, without having investigated it yet, the prices for houses would be a lot higher, cost of living would be a lot higher and I don't think you'd find as much in the way of activities as there are in TV. Also, the people are so friendly in TV and I know that you won't match that anywhere in SoCal. Maybe someone has experience with this in NoCal but we'll see who responds to this post.

Ron, its true that the weather is fantastic in California, but there are many more pluses in TV which I'm willing to trade for the weather. Good luck in your planning. You'll get a ton of information from this post, I'm sure. Kathie :redface:

[golfnut]

Just out of curiosity where do you live now Ron. I'm thinking KathieI can give some insight about retiring in So Cal.

[KathieI]

Golfnut, you beat me to the punch. My computer is slow as I'm sitting in a coffee shop by the Pacific Ocean working from a WiFi system. Thanks for thinking of me. Hope we can help Ron to move to TV.... Kathie :redface:

[golfnut]

Kathie, looks like we were both working on this one at the same time! Yes we're addicts.

[Bubbalarry]

There is absolutely nothing similar to TV in California period. Now if your looking for an active adult community I may suggest Sun City part of Dell Webb in Palm Desert, CA.

Actually Dell Webb has 2 communities close to one another and the older section is the best. I can't recall the community name at this time but its right off of I-10 at Washington Blvd.

I have a few freinds who live in this area and I spend February every year except this year as we have purchased a new home here and are getting it all setup for the winter season.

In Palm Desert during the winter would be the best time since 115 to 120 degrees is the norm during the summer, and it can get humid at times. My freinds leave to go to Coronado Bch by San Diego then.

Palm Desert/Palm Springs now have multiple golf courses and new Casino's too. The rates for public courses are very reasonable but scatered. Mesquite CC is my favorite.

If you plan on staying and playing in the San Diego area bring a large pocketbook.

:bigthumbsup:

[chuckinca]

Nothing in Norcal of the size of TV. There are a lot of smaller towns in the Sierra foothills and up and down the coast that people retire to, a Sun City near Sacramento, Rossmore East of Oakland, and many folks move to Oregon, Nevada and Arizona/New Mexico to escape the high cost of living in the Bay Area. And a few to other places such as Florida.

[The Great Fumar]

I played golf with an ophthalmologist about a month ago who had retired from pleasanton CA and when I asked why he came here he replied," You can't live in calif. on a retirement income"..Needless to say I was surprised....but after thinking about it , there are a lot of people here from calif. Enough that they have their own club.....Don't know what that tells you but I know what it tells me...

Fumar
PS...I was stationed in oakland several years ago and I loved it, but back then it was fun there.......

[chuckinca]

I played golf with an ophthalmologist about a month ago who had retired from pleasanton CA and when I asked why he came here he replied," You can't live in calif. on a retirement income"..Needless to say I was surprised....but after thinking about it , there are a lot of people here from calif. Enough that they have their own club.....Don't know what that tells you but I know what it tells me...

Fumar
PS...I was stationed in oakland several years ago and I loved it, but back then it was fun there.......




Fumar:

You can live in Cailf on a retirement income but you don't want to be in the large cities (like anywhere else). We plan on spending summers on a large mountain lake, 3 hours North of San Francisco, that has a large retirement segment. Calif in the winter is rainy and chilly (not snowy - except the Sierra's) and Florida is a nicer place than Arizona! (Plus - being originally from the Midwest, my family retires to Florida)

PS: I live about 15 miles from Pleasanton and drive on the FWY thru it every work day.

PSS: Another branch of my family retires to South Haven, MI

[JohnN]

I've thought The Villages have a concept that could/should be duplicated elsewhere in teh country by some devloper. Del Webb's are pretty nice and a good choice, however TV is where I'll be.

[KathieI]

There is absolutely nothing similar to TV in California period. Now if your looking for an active adult community I may suggest Sun City part of Dell Webb in Palm Desert, CA.

Bubba, I never checked out Sun City. Good suggestion!


In Palm Desert during the winter would be the best time since 115 to 120 degrees is the norm during the summer, and it can get humid at times.
Palm Desert/Palm Springs now have multiple golf courses and new Casino's too. The rates for public courses are very reasonable but scatered. Mesquite CC is my favorite.

I have a home in Los Angeles 1 mile from the ocean and another in Palm Springs. I just hated P.S. cause the 100+ temp starts in May through Oct. and with 0 humidity, its a killer. My Dad literally couldn't breath. So that let that out - Dad comes first.!!! Also, I found people were not nearly as friendly as TV and it was very difficult to get into a group. I was extremely lonely and we all know I'm so outgoing, if I'm lonely can you imagine how a really shy :redface: person would feel lonely.

When I looked at all my options and spent almost a month in November in TV, there was just no alternative, TV it was. It had all I wanted and more......

I agree with JohnN, a smart developer should look at duplicating TV elsewhere in the country, but TV in FL is for me....

This is all, of course, my opinion. Kathie (now admitting, not so :redface:)

[jtdraig]

I have a thing for coastal California. I was stationed there at Camp Pendleton and over the course of a LONG career in the Marine Reserves went to the US Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado more than 50 times for classes, ATDs, conferences, etc. I like Coronado but to live there you have to have major league big bucks. I basically prefer the coastal areas between San Diego and Orange County after which you skip to north of Santa Barbara and on up the Coastline...skipping San Francisco and on up to the Oregon border. Those areas have their own charm and beauty no matter where you look. I like San Francisco but for a weekend and I just never could get into Los Angeles or Oakland or any of the other cities out there. Long story about how we got here but here we are and happily so.

[KathieI]

Jt: Totally agree about the coastal area of socal. Actually in the 70's, we planned to retire there between Newport Beach and San Diego but you're right, you need big time bucks to do that today. We should have invested in property there at that time, not in Los Angeles, like we did, cause now it would be worth a fortune.

Can't say I like anything above SF cause the weather is too damp and chilly for me but it sure is pretty coast line. Los Angeles has changed so much in the past 10 years, its unliveable now. >>>>>>>>>>>here I come TV - hope you can put up with me!!!

040 040

[jtdraig]

My wife dragged me here kicking and screaming (well, not really, but under "sort of" protest) and I am happy to be here....almost 3 years later!

As one who spent many years in NY, CT, and Massachusetts, I could make the north coast work for me really well...especially around Bodega Bay.....but....maybe in the next life.

You will really enjoy the Villages.

[Muncle]

I would think it extremely difficult, nigh on impossible, to duplicate TV in other states. First of all, the other location would have to have something akin to the Community Development District concept. Secondly, the area must have sufficient "affordable" land that is not so remote as to be impractical, e.g., the mountains of Montana or the high desert of New Mexico. Seemingly, it would have to be as close to major population centers as we are to Orlando and Tampa Bay while having smaller cities like Ocala and Leesburg nearby. Thirdly, it must have attractive weather. Nobody is going to flock to an area that's uninhabitable for months at a time, especially for people of our advanced years. :yikes:

Without the CDD concept, a developer would need mucho, mucho millions in seed money to get something like this started. Additionally, this area has a fairly deep pool of affordable labor, much more affordable than California. Today the unemployment rate for Sumter County is ungodly low, but when TV started, unemployment was high and there was little competition for workers.

Another factor is the drawing area. So many of us are late Depression, WWII, and early boomer babies who were born and spent our lives in the northeast and upper midwest. Relatively few TVers come here from the left/ :redface: oops / west coast or mountain states. Florida is a natural migration for us. I would be a huge jump for most Yankees, Buckeyes, or Hoosiers to relocate to Arizona. I know that's kind of a weak point, but I do believe it has an impact on the success of TV. And Florida is a much more natural destination for our many expats.

And, of course, our cost of living compares very favorably with anything on either FL coast and especially California. Don't know about Arizona.

[Bubbalarry]

Bubba, I never checked out Sun City. Good suggestion!

I have a home in Los Angeles 1 mile from the ocean and another in Palm Springs. I just hated P.S. cause the 100+ temp starts in May through Oct. and with 0 humidity, its a killer. My Dad literally couldn't breath. So that let that out - Dad comes first.!!! Also, I found people were not nearly as friendly as TV and it was very difficult to get into a group. I was extremely lonely and we all know I'm so outgoing, if I'm lonely can you imagine how a really shy :redface: person would feel lonely.

When I looked at all my options and spent almost a month in November in TV, there was just no alternative, TV it was. It had all I wanted and more......

I agree with JohnN, a smart developer should look at duplicating TV elsewhere in the country, but TV in FL is for me....

This is all, of course, my opinion. Kathie (now admitting, not so :redface:)






I am surprised to hear about the climate being bad for your dad. Usually people who suffer from breathing problems need the dry climate to survive. It suits me well simply because I have contracted a southeast asia (Viet Nam) jungle rot. That when humidity rises I get it bad all over my hotspots. Under arms, and many other spots on my body. It is a pain in the you know what and I have to stay on top of it at all times down here in TV.

[chuckinca]

Muncle:

Arizona is full of retired midwesterners. And it's uninhabitable 6 months of the year outside of an AC space.

The cost of living in the California Northern coast and inland (say, starting 30 miles north of Santa Rosa or Sacramento) isn't that much different than the retirement areas of Florida.

[BUC]

I would move back to Calf. today if I could afford it. I bought a house in Oxnard in 1970 and sold it in 1990. and moved to Ga. I hope to be living in the villages inabout 3 years.

[KathieI]

Buc, I think you'd be surprised at what the houses cost in Oxnard these days. Its a booming area with Angelinos who can't afford L.A. near the ocean. But it is beautiful, I must admit. I actually thought of retiring in Port Hueneme at one time.

Bubba, sorry about your breathing problems from the VN war. Dad got asbestos exposure during WWII that's what his breathing problems are, so he can't take deep breaths and when its dry like that, he literally can't catch his breath. Its very sad but at 91, and still dancing, I guess its not all that bad for him. Hope we all see that age.

Good Luck!!!

[Frangyomory]

You can buy a retirement home anywhere but you can't find the Villages lifestyle anywhere else. We looked for years at other places and I liked California for the climate. All you will find is a lovely community, high cost, tennis, golf and swimming with one, perhaps two country clubs. That's about it. You won't find all the community clubs the town centers, etc.

The Villages sells a lifestyle and most places are selling you a house.

I also believe the cost of living here is a bit better than in California. Housing is out of this world in many So. California locations. Del Webb builds a beautiful home but does not put into the community the thought and lifestyle that the Villages does.

Wish you much luck but even this California lover found the Villages a much better solution for us.

[chuckinca]

I would move back to Calf. today if I could afford it. I bought a house in Oxnard in 1970 and sold it in 1990. and moved to Ga. I hope to be living in the villages inabout 3 years.



We sold our condo in '85 to a family that moved from the East Bay to Atlanta, hated it and moved back to CA.

[Bubbalarry]

Buc, I think you'd be surprised at what the houses cost in Oxnard these days. Its a booming area with Angelinos who can't afford L.A. near the ocean. But it is beautiful, I must admit. I actually thought of retiring in Port Hueneme at one time.

Bubba, sorry about your breathing problems from the VN war. Dad got asbestos exposure during WWII that's what his breathing problems are, so he can't take deep breaths and when its dry like that, he literally can't catch his breath. Its very sad but at 91, and still dancing, I guess its not all that bad for him. Hope we all see that age.

Good Luck!!!


Sorry if I led you wrong but I didn't say it was breathing but jungle rot that affects my skin when humidity is high along with temps from the mid 60's on up.

[dalecrenshaw]

We have a place in the Villages and also have our full time home in California. We love California lifestyle and weather, but there is no place like the Villages. I have found that the lifestyle, friendliness, activities, golf courses and country clubs, Town Centers, entertainment, safety, weather, relatively low costs of living compared to most anywhere else, etc. etc. can not be matched anywhere. There are only a couple of months that are particularily hot, but with air conditioning everywhere, I don't notice the heat that much. Saying all that, there is a very nice builder that specializes in retirement homes here in California and elsewhere in the country, called Horvanian. Several of my friends live in one of these developments and love it. They build a very nice home. Their retirement communities are generally gated and they usually have a very nice large clubhouse. However, it is "nothing" like the Villages. If you want to check them out, go to their website at: http://www.khov.com

[Time for Tee]

:agree: We lived in the Palm Desert area for 8 years -- great mountains (which I miss) and beautiful weather in the Winter. Really hot in the summer. Golf is expensive at all of the courses. Dell Webb is beautiful but boring. You never see anyone out on the streets except if they were heading for the golf course. Clubhouse also not active. We were at Disney for a wedding and decided to drive to the Dell Webb here and on the way we passed the Villages. We thought it was a shopping center and thought that it was strange as far from Orlando. Came for a look see, took the tour bus and went back to Calif. and sold. People here are alive!!! :joke:
Green Valley in Ariz. has several golf courses and small areas of communities and has a small shopping center and several clubhouses. Lifestyle is not the same as everthing is scattered from the top of a mountain to the low point. We have some friends there from the Midwest. They hike because of the cost of the golf! We looked at many places and the Villages are A++++++ 040 LIFESTYLE IS SUPER!!

[Ron G.]

Hi,

I was the original poster and I appreciate the many responses.

I'm not really surprised that there isn't a similar community in California. TV seems unique.

I've also gotten the sense before that the retirement communities in S. California tend to be in the desert and don't enjoy the year-round moderate climate that you find in the more expensive parts of the state.

Actually, my preference is Florida, anyway. My wife is concerned about very hot summers and hurricanes. We live in Baltimore and I talk 'most every day to my mother in the Tampa area. In fact, the Baltimore summers tend to be hotter (and more humid) than Tampa (although not as long).

We'll see if my wife opens up her mind a bit.

Thanks, again, for the replies.

Ron

[punkpup]

Ron,

As I mentioned in a previous post my family owns a condo in the Walnut Creek, CA Rossmore but none of us wants to live there so it's rented to a family friend. We play golf there 'cuz it's cheap when visiting my parents in the East Bay. Even my 81 year old mother refuses to live there saying, "why :dontknow: would I want to hang around a bunch of old fogeys"; she just sneers when I point out that she too could be considered an old fogey and then I duck. :duck:

At some point when my parents who are both 81 get tired of going up and down all the stairs in their hillside split ranch we will build them a smaller, single floor or 2 floor w/elevator house at the top of the lot and we will occupy the ranch house but in all honesty I don't really see us spending that much time there. I felt differently about it before I had "experienced" TV; up until then we had planned to retire in CA but I much prefer TV.

[funnygirl]

We moved to TV from Alameda, Calif. Loved the climate there but couldn't really find anything remotely like TV in Northern Ca. Did see one much smaller 55+ community in The Delta. I think it was called The Vinyards.... the prices started at $600,000+.... nice golf course and community center but that's about all. I mentioned TV to the rep. and I must have sounded like a commercial because she went to her desk top and pulled up the website. There is really no comparison.... anywhere.

[Time for Tee]

:agree: :agree: :agree: This place is Disney, Universal, and Pleasure Island in one package. In this area there are also many things to do such as sailing, deep sea fishing, hiking, and Silver Springs with all of the stars. Saw Willy Nelson yesterday and with a park pass for $50.00 you can attend all of the concerts free with free parking. I believe they have stars every weekend from Dec. to April. Lots of plays in the small towns around the Villages. Orlando is just a hour or so away. You can be so busy here you may never venture out of the area but you do have options.
If you told me three years ago that I would leave Calif. for Central Florida I would have laughed. 1rnfl After one visit HERE I AM with no regrets. You just never know where life will take you!