Liking Treasure Island

[Posh 08]

I hope we like TV when we come for a look on Saturday. Right now there is some attractive home pricing in the Treasure Island area. Give me some good reasons not to buy at the beach. :ohdear:

[ijusluvit]

I hope we like TV when we come for a look on Saturday. Right now there is some attractive home pricing in the Treasure Island area. Give me some good reasons not to buy at the beach. :ohdear:

The home pricing is better than TV EVERYWHERE in Florida.

You don't buy a house in TV. You buy a lifestyle.

Because TV is so large and the folks so varied, you don't get a narrow 350- home, single golf course and rec center lifestyle, you get to PICK the lifestyle you want. Your immediate neighbors will be nice and you may connect well with a few or lots of them. But as you move into the activities of your choice (more than you ever dreamed could be available), you will connect with whole bunches of folks whom you will really enjoy being with. It's a wonderful way to live!

Best of luck with your decision.

[Barefoot]

I hope we like TV when we come for a look on Saturday. Right now there is some attractive home pricing in the Treasure Island area. Give me some good reasons not to buy at the beach. :ohdear:

I have to admit, there are many times I wish we were closer to the ocean. I think if I had to do it over, I'd buy near the coast. But I think you'll find The Villages is unique and be swept off your feet by the ambiance. There is nothing to compare. And now that I've got very dear friends in TV, I wouldn't change things.

[ceejay]

You don't buy a house in TV. You buy a lifestyle.


We have been here for 2 1/2 years and I think to myself EVERY DAY, "Why would anyone want to live anywhere BUT The Villages?"

I hope you have the chance (if you haven't already) to experience The Villages. I can almost guarantee that you will be asking yourself the same question.:)

[hansel]

Nice to live by the ocean but consider the cost of home insurance and the damage to everything because of the salt air.

[Trish Crocker]

I've spent many, many vacations in the Treasure Island area and the thing I don't like about it is the fact that it is sooo touristy. Everything seems to close up early there also and other than the beach, there isn't a lot to do. The advantage of choosing TV is the fact that it is clean, well cared for, safer than coastal areas because there are less transients, lots of friendly people with common interests and, whenever you want, you can drive over to the beaches. I'm planning on finding a clean, cleap hotel on the beach that we can visit for a few days whenever the beach yearning comes up. Good luck with whatever you decide!!!

[Posh 08]

Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it. 3 more days and we'll get a small taste of TV. It may WOW us, maybe not. We'll have to see. Thanks again. :)

[deano_hoosier]

I'm a fan of Treasure Island and my "dream" was a 3bdrm 2 bath house on Boca Cieaga Bay with a dock. But, in reality, I love golf and my wife loves activities (all day long)... neither are good options for the coastal areas. Land for golf courses is too expensive so you end up driving 30-40 minutes to get to an inland golf course. Of course you can't get anywhere in a golf cart. Activities are limited to the TI activity center.

So, while I still have that "dream", as a couple we are happier in The Villages.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it. 3 more days and we'll get a small taste of TV. It may WOW us, maybe not. We'll have to see. Thanks again. :)

And don't forget: Bring your checkbook!!!! You never know what you'll buy!

Let us know your feedback - - -

Bill :)

[Freeda]

We love the Treasure Island area, too; it is great to visit. It probably would even be great to live there if we didn't know about TV.

But after being here, nothing else compares in the diversity of what is offered, in terms of activities and recreation. Plus, even though there are nice people everywhere, what makes TV so special and unique is that we are all transplants from somewhere else, and I think many of us have this 'we're all in this together, let's make it work' mentality. It truly becomes like a new 'home town' in that we have started the new and final (and probably best!) part of our lives here, so we are building new permanent roots and relationships. I'm not sure you would have that same sense of alliance in other places, where you would be trying to build relationships in areas where many people may be natives or longterm residents, without the same attitude of inclusiveness, acceptance and neighborhood that we have here.

Not to mention the practical aspects of so many golf courses, pools, rec centers, the amazing nightly music on the squares (where else, anywhere, has that!), etc; and the central location from which to visit ALL of the beautiful beaches of Florida.

I wonder if I lived in Treasure Island if I would have any real motivation to go visit Daytona or other Atlantic beaches, for example; or even other gulf beaches; and yet all of them are so wonderful. I also wonder if I would appreciate the beach as much if I lived there all the time.

[jebartle]

Good pont by previous poster about Beach ownership, salt water causes havok on homes, cars etc....A firend of ours has a beautiful penthouse in Naples but they can not see out of their windows from the salt residue and their car has salt related problems also....Not to mention those nasty hurricanes that hit beach areas first.....Besides why not have the best of both worlds, come to TV, meet all of us great TOTV'rs and then go visit the beach during those "gotta see the ocean" moments!

[graciegirl]

Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it. 3 more days and we'll get a small taste of TV. It may WOW us, maybe not. We'll have to see. Thanks again. :)

Waiting to hear. I just love to hear when people come here for the first time. Things like. I didn't think it was so BIG...it is so clean...how old is it? How many pools do they have? (62)....How many golf courses do they have? (34 executives and ten championships) Is every recreation center decorated differently?? omg omg omg....These live oaks must be hundreds of years old. How many town squares? (two and one to be built) What is a designer home? Villa? Ranch? Premier? It is so PRETTY....

Oh the fun to hear the responses to folks new here. PM us and stop by our new house!

Welcome. Enjoy.

Get the paper...rent a golf cart. Oh...and the golf carts. You might see one that looks like a fire engine, a semi truck, a ups truck, a Jim Beam comfort station.......the golf carts alone are enough to see all on their own.

I forgot.

I LOVE it here!

No...I DON'T work for the developer but I would like to meet Gary Morse and shake his hand.

[tainsley]

Once we visited TV...every place else dropped off the list!

[Posh 08]

Good pont by previous poster about Beach ownership, salt water causes havok on homes, cars etc....A firend of ours has a beautiful penthouse in Naples but they can not see out of their windows from the salt residue and their car has salt related problems also....Not to mention those nasty hurricanes that hit beach areas first.....Besides why not have the best of both worlds, come to TV, meet all of us great TOTV'rs and then go visit the beach during those "gotta see the ocean" moments!

Sage advise.

[John_W]

I hope we like TV when we come for a look on Saturday. Right now there is some attractive home pricing in the Treasure Island area. Give me some good reasons not to buy at the beach. :ohdear:

I grew up in St. Petersburg, not far from Treasure Island, graduate of St. Petersburg High 1968. If you're looking to save money go to Spring Hill, about 50 miles north on Hwy 19, home to Weeki Wachee Springs to a development called Timber Pines.

My parents retired in Timber Pines in 1984 about a year after it opened. It was built out about ten years ago, developed by US Homes, which was one of the largest builders in America back then. It is a small version of TV. It has 3 golf courses, 1200 acres and about 2000 homes, and you can drive your golf cart anywhere inside. Unfortunately there is nowhere to drive it other than the club house or the golf course. All shopping and restaurants are outside in the town of Spring Hill.

Going online I found masonary single homes 2 BR 2 BA 2 car garages with beautiful yards in the $130K to $180 range built in the 90's and many with pools. However, you see where I decided to move. I actually stayed in Timber Pines in 1989 for about six months and played the courses many times.

It's like another poster said, in the TV you are paying for the lifestyle. I could of gotten a used masonary home with a pool and a bigger garage then the price I paid for my new masonary courtyard villa, but I wanted the lifestyle.

[debzaranti]

Initially my husband and I wanted to live close to the water....then those 4 hurricanes hit a few years ago. Best reason I can give for NOT living on the beach! LOL!

We've been Villages residents for 3.5 years and we still can't believe we're fortunate enough to live here. We are definitely "frogs" (here till we croak). We're in our late 50s. We LOVE it here! It's maybe not for everybody, but those people are few.

If possible, try to spend more than a single day here. You really can't take it all in during a single day. A week would be better. Enjoy your visit....I'll wager there is a 95%+ chance you will LOVE it TOO! :welcome:

[Posh 08]

I grew up in St. Petersburg, not far from Treasure Island, graduate of St. Petersburg High 1968. If you're looking to save money go to Spring Hill, about 50 miles north on Hwy 19, home to Weeki Wachee Springs to a development called Timber Pines.

My parents retired in Timber Pines in 1984 about a year after it opened. It was built out about ten years ago, developed by US Homes, which was one of the largest builders in America back then. It is a small version of TV. It has 3 golf courses, 1200 acres and about 2000 homes, and you can drive your golf cart anywhere inside. Unfortunately there is nowhere to drive it other than the club house or the golf course. All shopping and restaurants are outside in the town of Spring Hill.

Going online I found masonary single homes 2 BR 2 BA 2 car garages with beautiful yards in the $130K to $180 range built in the 90's and many with pools. However, you see where I decided to move. I actually stayed in Timber Pines in 1989 for about six months and played the courses many times.

It's like another poster said, in the TV you are paying for the lifestyle. I could of gotten a used masonary home with a pool and a bigger garage then the price I paid for my new masonary courtyard villa, but I wanted the lifestyle.
Funny we were just passing that place on the way to crystal river, at no price would I choose that. Not my cup of tea out here.

[John_W]

Funny we were just passing that place on the way to crystal river, at no price would I choose that. Not my cup of tea out here.

Your probably referring to the appearance of Spring Hill. Once you come to TV you'll find many of our neighboring communities are very much the same. Wildwood, Fruitland Park and Oxford are much like Spring Hill. The difference is TV is 30 square miles, so your surrounded by beautiful grounds most of the time. Whereas, in Timber Pines you need to venture out into Spring Hill to do any sort of shopping. The one difference is Timber Pines is surrounded by a high concrete wall and is truly a gated community. They have two entrances which are manned 24/7 and you don't get in unless a resident has left word at the gate that you'll be visiting.

So when you do come to TV and you'll probably exit I-75 in Wildwood don't be surprised that's it 'not your cup of tea'. Then again that's what makes TV seem like you've entered Disney World after traveling through some of the less desirable areas that surround us. I guess since I first came to Florida in 1959 I have become accustomed to places like Spring Hill and Wildwood and I've gotten use to it.

[2BNTV]

Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it. 3 more days and we'll get a small taste of TV. It may WOW us, maybe not. We'll have to see. Thanks again. :)

Prepare to be wow'ed by TV and bring your checkbook. :)

I just love the idea of waking up and having so many options of what to do on a particular day. Life can get boring when one's options are limited.

Their are not enough words to decribe the beauty of TV. It must be experienced to be fully appreciated.

I hope you report what you thought after visiting.

Good luck with your decision.

[Posh 08]

Initially my husband and I wanted to live close to the water....then those 4 hurricanes hit a few years ago. Best reason I can give for NOT living on the beach! LOL!

We've been Villages residents for 3.5 years and we still can't believe we're fortunate enough to live here. We are definitely "frogs" (here till we croak). We're in our late 50s. We LOVE it here! It's maybe not for everybody, but those people are few.

If possible, try to spend more than a single day here. You really can't take it all in during a single day. A week would be better. Enjoy your visit....I'll wager there is a 95%+ chance you will LOVE it TOO! :welcome:

Hope it's better than crystal river, bleck. My twin lives there and I want to be close to him in our "good" years but I can't do that area. We are enjoying our time here and off to pecks tomorrow for anniversary celebration.

[Posh 08]

Your probably referring to the appearance of Spring Hill. Once you come to TV you'll find many of our neighboring communities are very much the same. Wildwood, Fruitland Park and Oxford are much like Spring Hill. The difference is TV is 30 square miles, so your surrounded by beautiful grounds most of the time. Whereas, in Timber Pines you need to venture out into Spring Hill to do any sort of shopping. The one difference is Timber Pines is surrounded by a high concrete wall and is truly a gated community. They have two entrances which are manned 24/7 and you don't get in unless a resident has left word at the gate that you'll be visiting.

So when you do come to TV and you'll probably exit I-75 in Wildwood don't be surprised that's it 'not your cup of tea'. Then again that's what makes TV seem like you've entered Disney World after traveling through some of the less desirable areas that surround us. I guess since I first came to Florida in 1959 I have become accustomed to places like Spring Hill and Wildwood and I've gotten use to it.

We went to school at harris and then woodlawn before we moved back to virginia. So we did spend some time in st petersburg.

[John_W]

We went to school at harris and then woodlawn before we moved back to virginia. So we did spend some time in st petersburg.

I'm not familiar with those schools. I went to Roser Park Elementary, Southside Jr. High and then St. Petersburg High.

Lakewood High opened when I was a junior and half of St. Pete High was transferred over to there, we went from 2400 students to 1200. I also remember Dixie Hollins High, Northeast High, Pasadena High and Seminole High. Don't know Woodlawn or Harris.

I haven't been back to St. Petersburg since 1977, so I'm curious to see how it has changed. I-275 wasn't even built yet and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were just awarded the franchise.

[Posh 08]

I'm not familiar with those schools. I went to Roser Park Elementary, Southside Jr. High and then St. Petersburg High.

Lakewood High opened when I was a junior and half of St. Pete High was transferred over to there, we went from 2400 students to 1200. I also remember Dixie Hollins High, Northeast High, Pasadena High and Seminole High. Don't know Woodlawn or Harris.

I haven't been back to St. Petersburg since 1977, so I'm curious to see how it has changed. I-275 wasn't even built yet and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were just awarded the franchise.

I miss spoke the one school, it was Haines Elementary on Haines Rd. Woodlawn is on 16th st. I did a google street view of our old neighborhood. The palms and pines are gone with big oak trees in their place. 50 yrs makes a big difference.

[Posh 08]

Initially my husband and I wanted to live close to the water....then those 4 hurricanes hit a few years ago. Best reason I can give for NOT living on the beach! LOL!

We've been Villages residents for 3.5 years and we still can't believe we're fortunate enough to live here. We are definitely "frogs" (here till we croak). We're in our late 50s. We LOVE it here! It's maybe not for everybody, but those people are few.

If possible, try to spend more than a single day here. You really can't take it all in during a single day. A week would be better. Enjoy your visit....I'll wager there is a 95%+ chance you will LOVE it TOO! :welcome:

Our plan is to do the one day/night to see if we get that warm and fuzzy everybody talks about. If so we will be back to do a lifestyle for a week.

[graciegirl]

Our plan is to do the one day/night to see if we get that warm and fuzzy everybody talks about. If so we will be back to do a lifestyle for a week.


Betcha can't do one...............:clap2: