Were Scared!!!

[merled]

Hello All,
My wife and I live in southern Indiana and have recently visited my Navy friend who lives in the Villages. We took a trolley tour and just hung out for a couple of days. We even looked at a couple houses we liked went to a few restaurants, rented a golf car etc. We were really impressed with TV especially the cleanliness of the entire area. We saw a lot to keep us busy when we wanted to be or just relax and do nothing. The closeness of the homes would be to get used too. Some of the poeple we met looked ten years younger than they actually were. We both liked that thought a lot as in winter here there is really nothing to do but watch the television. I hate being cold as I age also.
My fear is the change from this life style we are in now. We live on 12 acres three miles from the nearest town. Most of our family are within 30 miles. I can ride my ATV, hunt, shoot and fish anytime I want. Well I do work still so other than that. Yet we are drawn to TV because we feel like we are in a rut here. I do not like some of the area any longer due to a casino coming into our town and changing everything. Mostly for the better but still nothing for us to do in a few more years. Keeping up a larger property is very demanding and we just plain won't feel up to the task eventually.
Is there anyone else out there like that???? Did you go thru a real fear of change and how did you cope? I really want to move to TV but making that final decision and going for it is rough.
Sorry for being a whiner, we are just scared.

[Pturner]

Hi merled,
It didn't sound like whining to me, just legitimate concerns. Since it would be such as change, you live near family and you have mixed feelings, it probably would benefit you to rent a place in TV for up to a year and see what you think.

If you are concerned or would feel some guilt about leaving family, could you go often to visit, or could they? Is living in TV part-time an option?

Major adjustments can be hard. You are wise to ask. An excellent first step is to come down for a Lifestyles Tour. Fair warning: It's hard not to drink the Kool-aid.
:wave:

[swrinfla]

merled:

I agree that you would have a pretty serious adjustment to make. But, everyone who lives in TV absolutely loves it (or at least, I've never met anyone who doesn't!).

There has been a previous thread along these lines. I think you can enter a search for something along the lines of "too crowded," or "houses too close to one another," or similar phrases in the search box.

Others who are more adept in maneuvering these pages will, I hope, offer you some further/better guidance.

Good Luck! And, no matter how bg a change you'll experience, you'll still find The Villages = Paradise!

SWR
:beer3:

[graciegirl]

:agree:The two wonderful folks who just posted are absolutely right.

We own a house in Hadley and are snowbirds for now but when it comes to really leaving Cincinnati where our family is, it scares me too.

I think we will though, because the happiness we feel when we are there is just incredible.

Good luck....and Welcome!

[rshoffer]

When your time permits why don't you rent a place for 3 mos in winter (when it's jammed and really hoppin) and the dead of summer (when it's HOT and really bakin). If you are used to a rural life of tranquility, hunting and fishing a move to TV will be an adjustment. The Villages is part community and part resort. It's certainly very different than what most of us experienced in our first 50-60 years. it's a ton of fun living here which makes the transition easy for most.

[golfnut]

1) don't be scared, 2) i think rsh hit the nail on the head, come down and rent, i would suspect after renting for a month you will have your answer (we knew the answer in 2 days and have been happy ever since), if not step out of line as there are a lot of people behind you, and come back and try it again in a couple of years, good luck with your decision....gn

[skip0358]

Wife and I moved down in Sept. worked all the time , spare time revolved around the Fire house, Children and grand Daughter. There is more then enough here to keep you as busy as you want to be. Your Family can visit, we talk as often as we want we hooked up to skype so we can see each other. As fas as visiting they're only a plane ride away. As far as closeness we're all friends and family. I think renting might just be the right thing for you. If you rent in the right neighborhood it won't take that long for you to get hooked. TV is a great place and so are all the residents. Come enjoy life you've worked hard enough.

[graciegirl]

Wife and I moved down in Sept. worked all the time , spare time revolved around the Fire house, Children and grand Daughter. There is more then enough here to keep you as busy as you want to be. Your Family can visit, we talk as often as we want we hooked up to skype so we can see each other. As fas as visiting they're only a plane ride away. As far as closeness we're all friends and family. I think renting might just be the right thing for you. If you rent in the right neighborhood it won't take that long for you to get hooked. TV is a great place and so are all the residents. Come enjoy life you've worked hard enough.

:wave: I agree. Great post.

[Bosoxfan]

Wife and I moved down in Sept. worked all the time , spare time revolved around the Fire house, Children and grand Daughter. There is more then enough here to keep you as busy as you want to be. Your Family can visit, we talk as often as we want we hooked up to skype so we can see each other. As fas as visiting they're only a plane ride away. As far as closeness we're all friends and family. I think renting might just be the right thing for you. If you rent in the right neighborhood it won't take that long for you to get hooked. TV is a great place and so are all the residents. Come enjoy life you've worked hard enough.
Excellent post.My wife and I both come from big close families and were the first to move away.We've been here since september and haven't regretted the move at all .Of course you're going to miss the peolpe you leave behind but as stated in the above post you & they are only a plane ride away.Skype is also something we have setup on our computer and it allows us to keep in touch and see each other as often as we like.I've heard it said & I truly believe that the villages is disney for adults.So come on down and enjoy the life you deserve!!:pepper2:

[EdV]

Merled, you mentioned fishing as one of your outdoor activities. Remember that Florida is the fishing capitol of the world. TV has several fishing clubs oriented towards deep sea, fly, or freshwater fishing.

And TV is situated right near the Harris Chain of Lakes (http://www.lakefrontflorida.com/harris_chain.html)with 76,000 acres of water to challenge your skills.

[Army Guy]

Although we live in a sub division, it has over sized lots and we are really out in the country in that we are surrounded by cows & horses, so we understand your concerns. But, the transition to TV was easy for us. In retirement we did not want to spend the 4-5 hours every weekend, and 1 hourly daily maintained all the property we have. Also didn't want the up keep on a large house, so downsizing both was very easy for us. We bought a CYV which has the fence all around plus an end unit so others don't seem close to us. And hey, the golf cart will replace the ATV!
Now as far as family, yes, we are far in TV, 450 from wife's and 1100 from mine. But we have to live our own lives.

Army Guy

[Barefoot]

Merled, when we first considered moving to TV, we shared many of your concerns. I think we all feel a "fear of change" when making this type of huge lifestyle change. I raised horses for many years and backed on a national forest. I was used to privacy and a country lifestyle.

We think that buying a home in TV was the smartest decision we've ever made! We bought a Villa that backed on a golf course for the view and privacy. We spend a lot of time at the dog park which is beside a horse farm. So I get to sit on a swing and watch horses any time I need to "get back to nature". I'm planning on taking up golf, something I thought I'd never do! As well, we spend our summers at a lake cottage in Canada.

The greatest thing about TV is that you can be active and busy and have many friends. Or you can seek out a more relaxed path. There is even an Archery Range available.

Florida is full of lakes for fishing and beaches for relaxing. TV is close to the Ocala forest. I'm sure that you will find a combination that works perfectly for you.

[clod]

As they say, "You ain't getting any younger". It is common to want to preserve what was. After all, "we always did it this way". Because of this fear of the new and the now, huge amounts of time,energy & $$$ are wasted trying to preserve that which cannot be preserved. You are older, your wants & capabilities have changed- lead, follow or get out of the way.
"The moving finger of fate writes, and having writ, moves on" whether we do or not.
Come on down & see what's behind door #2!
Steve :)

[REH7380]

Hi Merled..Know exactly what you mean. We stumbled on The Villages by accident, rented for a month one year and 3 months the next to see if we would like it. We came from one of the best spots in Florida. We will never regret the move. The community is great, the people are great, there is everything anyone would want to do and if we get homesick for the kids we are an hour from the airport and 2 1/2 hour flight from them. What was that famous movie title, "It's a Wonderful Life". :a040:

[kb8tpw]

Meried, I think I can relate to your post, my hometown is Rising Sun, IN so I understand your current scenario. To date you have gotten some good advice here and there is more to be had throughout this forum - milk it for what you can get out of it. I spend some time with TOTV every single day. I do not live in RS now, but will be going down the 28th to TV to finish our purchase after buying the land in August, when we did our second preview. I have lived more places that I care to recall and understand the closeness, etc., but have no reservations about that aspect. You are where you need to be to get the low down on everything, take a review, experience TV and the Hoosier state will be a pleasant memory. We were initially going to try the snowbord routine and decided to go for all of the gusto. Good luck !

[Renegade]

I am 62 now and have lived in sort of a different situation than u. I come from south Fl. and it got quite busy and crowded over the 50 yrs. I lived here. This is the greatest place to retire. There is so many things here for all tastes. They even have a TV station dedicated to notifying you of all the events going on. The people are so friendly here that you immediately make friends. As u ride down the street everyone waves. Its a nice place and affordable for all that is offered. So go for it.....You will adapt. The thing that most impressed me is for all the people that are here it is so quiet. Even the dogs hardly ever bark. If they do and get on ur nerves u just have to let the local village security people that ride around all the time and they will approach the owner. So I hope this helps u decide. Can't beat the weather{today it was in the 80s and low in the mid 50s} We don't snow here to often .......... Good luck

[whartonjelly]

Hey there,
We are from Lawrenceburg , also in southern Indiana and cannot wait to leave the winters behind. We should be buying down there within the next 2 years. Waiting on certain things to go thru, figure out our budget and how not to gloat on how happy we are in our decision to move to TV !!!!

Yes it is very scary but we know we do not need out big house, the stairs, the driveway to shovel and the big yard to take care of.

Home to meet you down there!!!!

[redwitch]

You already know the pluses to living here. You have valid concerns about leaving where you are. So, I agree with those who suggested you rent here first -- at least one month during the high season and one month during the summer. Check out different areas, types of structures.

Change is frightening. I've moved more than most my entire life and it still frightened me to move here. I was leaving the first place I'd lived in for more than 2 years at a time. I was leaving my friends (family all deceased). I was leaving my beloved mountains to go to a state that was flat (which I still hate lol). I was too young to retire so was going to have to start all over in finding a job. It all worked out, up to and including a total career change (former legal secretary, now self-employed).

If you find you really a little more space, go for a corner lot or a courtyard villa. The historic side has much larger lots. You could buy there just for the land and then either have a larger manufactured home installed or build a new home on the site.

Your hometown is changing. A casino means crowds, noise, the whole nine yards of things you don't want in your hometown. It also means jobs, more money for the community, more things to do, an influx of new, young people in the town.

So, c'mon down again. Give it a longer try and see if you still feel the same way about how wonderful TV is (bet you will!).

[JenAjd]

I'd say what some others have already said here...don't make it permenant at first. Be a snowbird or seasonal resident here to test the water so to speak. THEN decide. Some don't find the life-style to be for them and move back north. For the life of me I can't relate to that as I HATE the cold and all that comes with it.
Keep in mind....LIFE is full of changes! You already said it in that your community is changing (the casino etc) and we can't stop it. Another change is that we're aging and there is something about being here that seems to help with that process. We are out and about more due to the weather. Anyway...this thread could become a very long one. ONLY YOU can make the decision!

[rjm1cc]

You mentioned not wanting to worry about taking care of the property. You might look arround for some communities that take care of the yard etc. Then compare.

The first step is do you want to move to an over 55 community. Next, do you want to do it close to your home or someplace else. Then what life style do you want.

[K9-Lovers]

We shared those fears. We lived on several acres, as did our only neighbors. We couldn't really even see our neighbors except in winter when the trees were bare. Behind us was a lake, in front was an unihabited mountain. We had a very large home.

We were ready to retire and tired of maintaining the home and property. When we visited The Villages, we bought a courtyard villa before going home. A courtyard villa (CYV) helps with privacy. We found one open on two sides to a nature preserve so we have a long view from every window, which makes you feel out in the country.

Look for a CYV on a corner that abutts a preserve, is our advice.

We've been here 6 months and haven't had a minute's regret. You give up some things to gain other things. And the things you are giving up you quickly will no longer be able to do -- or want to do.

Don't wait too long . . . aging catches up with you quickly sometimes.

[JUREK]

Merled:

Don't worry just leave your problems behind. I'm from Northern Indiana and we live on 7 acres with an acre pond. What I thought I'd miss is having a large pole barn with 5 cars and a tractor. I enjoy the Villages now with one car and two golf carts. I especially enjoy not having excessive tools or worrying about mowing the yard. Come on down you will enjoy it.
You will forget about having real close neighbors in no time at all.