How did you hear about The Villages???

[angiefox10]

What made you decide to check it out??

[wendyquat]

We were retired, looking to relocate and visited a Holiday property in Cary NC. Although it was supposedly "independent living" it looked more like a nursing home. We asked about the average age and were told it was 82. We told the lady it was definitely NOT what we were looking for and she said, "Oh, you guys need to go to The Villages in Florida!" Never heard of it but looked it up on the puter, visited for a month last June, again the month of December, and here we are, till we croak!:beer3:

[gmcneill]

In 2005 I competed in the state senior games track and field championships that were hosted by TV. LSL had just opened, and the buffalo roamed!

We were a bit too young and a bit too far away from retirement, so we let TV drift away.

Since that time, 4 of my coworkers- including 2 from my very department moved to TV. That triggered our memories of 2005.

Wifey and I did a lifestyle preview last September. The buffalo no longer roamed but TV was better than what we remembered.

Retirement is now right around the corner. But our second home is just down the street, in the Village of St James. We close later this month on our newly constructed gardenia.

[teachnmo]

My husband has a cousin who has lived here for about five years. We took school breaks down to see them. Decided we were tired of shoveling snow and being cold so we bought a house at Winter break. Have been smiling ever since.

[CarGuys]

What made you decide to check it out??

My Son at the time was in the US Army Color Guard stationed in Colorado Springs. Two of their Army Horses were military retired and shipped to a Horse Farm in Gainsville. He and the other Cavalary team figured they were going to the glue farm not a pasture.

I said I would find his Horses and we did find them in good health and happily retired.

I was looking for Top of the World and like most of my recent mistakes hit the wrong Google search, Booked the Villages instead stayed for three day, extended for 7 days. Returned two years later to see if it was falling apart. Returned last Feb to see what it was like with all the Villagers present in winter.

Came back this July bought our lot I guess the rest is going to be history!

Pic is of Possum left and Houdini right unfortunately Houdini passed away first of July. He gets buried with honors in the " Field of Dreams" at the farm.

Herv

[Trish Crocker]

Years ago I worked with a gentleman that had a place in the Villages but, at the time, the thought of retirement was not on my mind. In April of this year, we went on a cruise and a tablemate of ours said that she lived there and that it wasn't just living, it was a lifestyle. That intrigued us and started me searching on the internet. We visited in July and now can't wait to move there!

[gmcneill]

What made you decide to check it out??

Angie: what's your and husband's story?

[eweissenbach]

Saw the commercials on a Golf Tournament. Checked it out on the internet for a year before we finally booked a LSP. We are planning to buy a pre-owned home within the next year.

[cappyjon431]

In the late 80s I drove through TV several times making my way from Gainesville to Miami. I thought what a neat looking place but because I was only in my late 20s and retirement was far from my mind I never envisioned moving there.

A couple of years ago my mother-in-law decided she had had enough of living in Panama (where we live) and I told her I remembered a great retirement community midway between Gainesville and Orlando. For the life of me I couldn't remember what the place was called. I called a friend in the Gainesville area and he said "you must be talking about The Villages." After that I suggested my mother-in-law check it out.

After she checked it out she was very impressed and bought immediatey. After settling her in we have returned to the States several times to visit her and each time we went we became more enamored with the place. Last month, after selling our business we were visiting her and we decided to look at a few homes to plan for our future retirement. We had no plans to buy in TV for the immediate future. We found a home we loved and VERY spontaneously put an offer in on the same day. The offer was accepted and we returned to Panama ready to move back to the States. We close the end of this month.

While we love our community in Panama and we are not quite ready for retirement, moving to TV gives us the opportunity to live closer to my mother-in-law (while she is still very active, she is 84, so she might need some help eventually). My parents, who are in their 70s live in Miami. Now I just need to convince them that they need to move to TV as well.

All of this because I happened to drive through TV over 20 years ago.

[uujudy]

In 2007 HoneyBoy was watching the Golf Channel & I was using the computer, and he said, "Go to The Villages Dot Com and check it out."

Of course, I typed it wrong and wound up at The Villages For Rent dot com. I told him I found a 3 bedroom house in a place called Lynnhaven, and we could rent it for the entire month of December for $1800, plus it came with a golf cart, and it was right around the corner from the pool. He said, "Book it!" so I did. The only thing we knew about this place was that it was in Florida in a golfing community. HoneyBoy's mother lives in St. Pete, and BabyGirl lives in Connecticut, so a 3-bedroom house seemed perfect for a Christmas get-together, and it was!

By our third day here we knew that this is where we wanted to be. We spent most of December going to open houses, and we went back to Utah knowing that we would move here, eventually. We had the big $5 map open on the kitchen counter as we checked the new listings every night for the next 6 months. We decided to visit TV the right way and do a Lifestyle Preview in August, to see if we could stand the summertime heat.

We came back in August with the Excel spreadsheet with all the features our house absolutely had to have... We needed a Gardenia, golf cart garage, double sinks, blah, blah, blah. Our Villages agent showed us a villa that had a truly wonderful view, and we were sold. Who needs all that room when you have a view like this? lol

We closed on the villa in our Utah kitchen, packed up 30 boxes for UPS and raced UPS cross country in October 2008, with 2 cats in the back of the car. (We had to get here before the UPS truck did)

So to answer your question, if HoneyBoy hadn't seen the commercial on the Golf Channel we would still be in Utah.

[Schaumburger]

Last year I was visiting my friend who moved to Titusville several years ago. My friend's sister was also in FL at this time checking out TV. I tagged along with my friend and her sister, and we went to many open houses in TV. After about 1 day of looking at open houses, I decided TV may be the place for me to spend my golden years. My friend's sister bought a house in the Village of Caroline last fall, and 2 months ago she became a frog after retiring from a long teaching career this past June. I rented in TV in July, and I will be back renting in TV in October. If I can rent in a few different villages, I hope to get a better feel for what it is like to live in TV. It will be a few years before I can buy a house in TV, but I plan to visit TV periodically and to become comfortable driving a golf cart. Looking forward to returning to TV in October.

[tippyclubb]

My dear sweet friend, who is a loner told me she heard about a place called The Villages and told me to goggle it, and I did. That was nine months ago and were both coming down Sept 14th for one day.

My friend Ruth is from Virgina and her sister lives in Tampa so that is where we gather once a year. Were spending a week in Florida so she can look at others areas too. I know my friend will not move to TV, to much action for a loner. I suspect she suggested TV to me knowing I am a social butterfly.

I am 90% sure I will end up in TV and she will most likely buy a home with a few acres of land in Ft Meyers. The two of us will retire to Florida and its just a short drive away to be with my friend Ruth and her sister in Tampa.

[momesu]

I have several friends who have moved to TV from MD. One 3 years ago and one last December. The friends that moved there 3 years ago kept telling me I needed to visit and then move there. I kept putting them off. Then when second set of friends moved down and the weather got so cold here last winter I said I'll be down the end of January. But just for a visit! I also told them I just knew it wasn't the place for me because I don't golf....they are all avid golfers and I thought that's all you did when you retired to FL and especially TV. BOY WAS I WRONG! They picked my up from the airport and we went right to LSL for dinner and the music on the square. The minute I stepped out of the car I just felt as if I had arrived home. It was the weirdest feeling I have ever had. I hope it will be home some time this fall if all goes well and "the creek don't rise" or the stock market fall anymore! :D

Suzanne

[GeorgeT]

My in-laws live here so we've been visiting for the past four years. Now we live here with my 89 year old Mom. This place is perfect for us and her.

[angiefox10]

Years ago I worked with a gentleman that had a place in the Villages but, at the time, the thought of retirement was not on my mind. In April of this year, we went on a cruise and a tablemate of ours said that she lived there and that it wasn't just living, it was a lifestyle. That intrigued us and started me searching on the internet. We visited in July and now can't wait to move there!

In April a friend of mine went on a cruise and a table mate of theirs said they lived in a villa in The Villages. She couldn't wait to come back to tell me about it. hmmmm I wonder if it was the same cruise??? Where did you go?

[angiefox10]

Angie: what's your and husband's story?

Hubby and I have friends who told us about TV. We knew we were going to move to Florida as the cost of living is too high here. Of course we didn't want to live in the middle of the state! We want to be on the beach!

We spent about eight years going down to Florida up and down the coast trying to find "that" perfect place to retire. While we found a lot of lovely homes, we couldn't find a neighborhood that we felt was what we were looking for.

One year we decided to stay in our timeshare in Orlando and check out the middle of the state, but NOT TV because their homes are a little more expensive. You know you can buy homes for almost NOTHING in other parts of the state!!!

So..... (to make a short story long) I told hubby... We really should go and see this place. Dan and Bonnie keep raving about it. At lease go see what it's about! So... we go down there! Well... we passed it and had to turn around and while we are diving by, all I could see were people walking, running, and playing pickle ball (I mean... What is that?).

We drive into the town square (there was only one then) and the people are walking hand in hand sitting in the outdoor cafes with their friends and driving around in there golf carts. Does anyone remember the movie with Chevy Chase where the neighbors were all paid to act like the town was a postcard town? Well, that's what I saw!!! We drove straight to the sales office and asked where we sign up to live there!!!!!

Do you know what they told us???? We had to take a bus tour to be sure if we would like it... Are you kidding??? I thought I died and went to heaven!!! Like it???? I LOVED it!

That was eight years ago. I wouldn't come back for the eight years because I knew if I did, I would buy before I was ready to retire. We secured our lot in June and will start building in December.

So... That's my story! *smile*

[asianthree]

Golf channel

[Oren L Miller]

I have the whole thing planned out in Excel also. One spreadsheet with 7 tabs. I wonder why people called me anally retentive? But the sale purchase and move should go smoothly. :posting:

[tainsley]

With alot of coaxing from hubby, I decided to do the Lifestyle visit one year ago. I will say from the moment I stepped into LSL I just had this overwhelming feeling that TV was the place for us. (Sometimes I think fairies fly above TV and sprinkle everyone with pixie dust!) We now have a new home in Tamarind Grove and have never felt happier! OMG I just love this place I now call home! You all have a TV kinda day!:smiley:

[Yorio]

We bought a land in Pinehurst, NC with a plan to retire there. Our friends are meticulous researcher and went up and down the east coast from NC to Florida visiting at least a dozen places but finally did a life style package and shortly thereafter bought a place at TV. We went to visit them and I liked the place very much but my wife was non-committal. She was initially shocked by just the mass of gray hairs at the restaurants we visited. Pinehurst is not a retirement community per se but when we went there one time in winter, the quaint little town was so deserted. We remembered how active TV was. While we were still contemplating, we mentioned TV to a friend who was contemplating retirement. They visited for the first time for a few days and came back with a grin and told us they bought a model home with all the furnitures. With all these happenings and the great east coast snow storm of 2010, my wife finally agreed that we should be Frogs there. The fact that grandkids moved from NY to Orlamdo this August helped make the decision easier also. Our son says he doesn't mind retiring there when he reaches 55.

[Grannygail]

July 2010 I was online and googled 'retirement in fl' and I would probaby of bought sight unseen when I saw the website. My hubby has seen it advertised on Golf Channel he said. The place sounded wonderful. We came down for a weekend and stayed at Hamtpon Inn to see if this place was real in Sept. Did a Lifestyle in November 2010 and we will be frogs in June 2011. 9 months 18 days...you think I'm excited????

[shawngarkey]

a lot of freinds told us about it. It is great

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Here are some additional insights/posts from an earlier thread on the topic:

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35622

Bill :)

[billmar]

My Son at the time was in the US Army Color Guard stationed in Colorado Springs. Two of their Army Horses were military retired and shipped to a Horse Farm in Gainsville. He and the other Cavalary team figured they were going to the glue farm not a pasture.

I said I would find his Horses and we did find them in good health and happily retired.

I was looking for Top of the World and like most of my recent mistakes hit the wrong Google search, Booked the Villages instead stayed for three day, extended for 7 days. Returned two years later to see if it was falling apart. Returned last Feb to see what it was like with all the Villagers present in winter.

Came back this July bought our lot I guess the rest is going to be history!

Pic is of Possum left and Houdini right unfortunately Houdini passed away first of July. He gets buried with honors in the " Field of Dreams" at the farm.

Herv

What an interesting journey to find the villages. Really liked your story and the horse pic. sounds like they both were well taken care of in retirement. Houdini looks like he was smiling.

[Schaumburger]

I have several friends who have moved to TV from MD. One 3 years ago and one last December. The friends that moved there 3 years ago kept telling me I needed to visit and then move there. I kept putting them off. Then when second set of friends moved down and the weather got so cold here last winter I said I'll be down the end of January. But just for a visit! I also told them I just knew it wasn't the place for me because I don't golf....they are all avid golfers and I thought that's all you did when you retired to FL and especially TV. BOY WAS I WRONG! They picked my up from the airport and we went right to LSL for dinner and the music on the square. The minute I stepped out of the car I just felt as if I had arrived home. It was the weirdest feeling I have ever had. I hope it will be home some time this fall if all goes well and "the creek don't rise" or the stock market fall anymore! :D

Suzanne

Suzanne, I don't golf either (but maybe I would learn if I moved to TV), but my goodness there is so much to do -- clubs, classes, activities -- that if you can't find something in TV that interests you, you better check your pulse. And I hope you do get to move to TV this fall...:wave:

[Schaumburger]

July 2010 I was online and googled 'retirement in fl' and I would probaby of bought sight unseen when I saw the website. My hubby has seen it advertised on Golf Channel he said. The place sounded wonderful. We came down for a weekend and stayed at Hamtpon Inn to see if this place was real in Sept. Did a Lifestyle in November 2010 and we will be frogs in June 2011. 9 months 18 days...you think I'm excited????

Grannygail,

Congratulations on your upcoming transition to froghood. Do you know what village you and your husband will be moving to? :wave:

[Schaumburger]

Hubby and I have friends who told us about TV. We knew we were going to move to Florida as the cost of living is too high here. Of course we didn't want to live in the middle of the state! We want to be on the beach!

We spent about eight years going down to Florida up and down the coast trying to find "that" perfect place to retire. While we found a lot of lovely homes, we couldn't find a neighborhood that we felt was what we were looking for.

One year we decided to stay in our timeshare in Orlando and check out the middle of the state, but NOT TV because their homes are a little more expensive. You know you can buy homes for almost NOTHING in other parts of the state!!!

So..... (to make a short story long) I told hubby... We really should go and see this place. Dan and Bonnie keep raving about it. At lease go see what it's about! So... we go down there! Well... we passed it and had to turn around and while we are diving by, all I could see were people walking, running, and playing pickle ball (I mean... What is that?).

We drive into the town square (there was only one then) and the people are walking hand in hand sitting in the outdoor cafes with their friends and driving around in there golf carts. Does anyone remember the movie with Chevy Chase where the neighbors were all paid to act like the town was a postcard town? Well, that's what I saw!!! We drove straight to the sales office and asked where we sign up to live there!!!!!

Do you know what they told us???? We had to take a bus tour to be sure if we would like it... Are you kidding??? I thought I died and went to heaven!!! Like it???? I LOVED it!

That was eight years ago. I wouldn't come back for the eight years because I knew if I did, I would buy before I was ready to retire. We secured our lot in June and will start building in December.

So... That's my story! *smile*

Angie -- What do you mean the cost of living is too high in the Chicago area? Cook County sales tax is only 9.5% :( Wow, you and your husband waited 8 yrs. to buy...you must have the patience of saints.

[Trish Crocker]

In April a friend of mine went on a cruise and a table mate of theirs said they lived in a villa in The Villages. She couldn't wait to come back to tell me about it. hmmmm I wonder if it was the same cruise??? Where did you go?

It was a Western Caribbean on Princess. I loved the cruise, but even more since I learned about TV!

[ariel]

I heard from friends who live/own here and from the ads associated with golf broadcasts. Visited a few years ago, came home and told my husband about it; he said he didn't want to live in Florida. Brought him last year and in a couple of days he was a "convert"! We bought in June and are so looking forward to moving full time in about a year. Love it! Also, thanks for all of the info I get on TOTV. And, please let me know if my posts are coming through - I'm not a computer wiz! The Admin has done his best to help me! E.

[jgbama]

An Air National Guard friend emailed me saying he would be offline for about 3 weeks and moving to The Villages, Florida. I said, "going to be a beach bum ugh?". He told us no it was middle of the state below Ocala. About a month later, the company I was contracted with had a meeting in Orlando. We went early and spent the weekend in TV visiting our friends. We were hooked!! They actually moved in with his mother-in-law who has lived there for 30 years. After her husband died (about 12 years ago), she told them she wasn't moving back to Alabama. So they moved in with her in Silver Lakes after he retired.

We hope to be there hopefully in about a year. We truly want to live there until we croak!! :D

[angiefox10]

It was a Western Caribbean on Princess. I loved the cruise, but even more since I learned about TV!


I don't think that was it... but I PM'd her....

[angiefox10]

My Son at the time was in the US Army Color Guard stationed in Colorado Springs. Two of their Army Horses were military retired and shipped to a Horse Farm in Gainsville. He and the other Cavalary team figured they were going to the glue farm not a pasture.

I said I would find his Horses and we did find them in good health and happily retired.

I was looking for Top of the World and like most of my recent mistakes hit the wrong Google search, Booked the Villages instead stayed for three day, extended for 7 days. Returned two years later to see if it was falling apart. Returned last Feb to see what it was like with all the Villagers present in winter.

Came back this July bought our lot I guess the rest is going to be history!

Pic is of Possum left and Houdini right unfortunately Houdini passed away first of July. He gets buried with honors in the " Field of Dreams" at the farm.

Herv

I too loved this story!!! I love animals! so this story touched my heart! Thanks for the pictures!

[batman911]

Saw the add on The Golf Channel. We decided to look at several areas during a summer trip. Visited Lely Resort in Naples, Terra Vista at Citrus Hills near Hernando, Harbor Hills near TV and a few more in the Palm Beach area. Initially picked Terra Vista at Citrus Hills because of the quality of the homes and ammenities. Our TV sales agent only showed us unfurnished models during our first visit and we were less than impressed with the homes. Visited Terra Vista again the next summer. One night there we went out for a walk and it felt like we were in a ghost town. Not very many lights on in the homes at 8PM. Took another look at TV. Models looked better when decorated and with furniture. 16 months to retirement date.

[bernardbrunswick]

I got into a car accident here and moved in two months later.

[angiefox10]

I got into a car accident here and moved in two months later.

Karma!!! :D

[CarGuys]

What an interesting journey to find the villages. Really liked your story and the horse pic. sounds like they both were well taken care of in retirement. Houdini looks like he was smiling.

The retirement farm is open for visits and of course donations. He takes in all retired abused or abondoned horses and pays for their care out of pocket.

Every morning he drives around the entire farm and gives each animal a carrot and a greeting. Some are healthy others on special feed some have cancer and are being treated by practicing Vets. Volunteers come up each day to groom and take care of the animals.

The Owner was! a very wealth man and now is late 80's + he gives all to these animals. http://millcreekfarm.org/home.html For those interested its day trip there and back from TV.

Yes Houdini had that special smile! Here is a link to Army.mil the day of their retirement day. http://www.army.mil/article/21370/