Why TV?

[allus70]

I was wondering, when you were deciding to move to Florida upon retirement, why did you choose TV over other retirement communities, i.e. Terra Vista and Brentwood among many more. Did you fall in love with the Villages and look no further, or did you compare TV with other communities before making your decision. What was the tipping point?

[2 Oldcrabs]

Wife wanted to live in TV. I liked "Top of the World" in Ocala. The increase cost of TV was cheaper than a divorce!:wave:

[Figmo Bohica]

2 Oldcrabs, I know of what you speak.

[starflyte1]

I moved here because almost every store I need is golf cart accessible.

[bandsdavis]

We are not TV residents yet, but will be once we sell out house in VA. We were not specifically looking to move to FL, just further south for more warmth more of the year. When we visited TV, we were struck by how unique it is compared to other places we had seen. There is simply nowhere like it. The size of the community gives opportunities that can't exist other places that are smaller (and most are siginificantly smaller). We like to perform in choral groups and musicals, and NO other retirement community has the options available that TV has. TV simply has more to do than anywhere else. We have visited 3 times over the last 5 years, and each visit convinces us more that it's the place for us. Are there things we would change if we could? About the only one we think of is the lot size. That will take some getting used to, but we think it's a more than fair trade off for what you get, which is the opportunity to do as much or as little as you want in a lovely setting with a lot of fun people around you. We can't wait to get there.

B.

[graciegirl]

Had NO plans to leave Ohio ever.

We are not impulsive.

Absolutely fell in love with this place. Still on the honeymoon after almost four years and second house.

[B. Johnson]

ALCON,
I agree with everything just said above; we have been living in Germany for the last 40 years and actually planned on retiring here and maybe doing the 6 month USA Florida Winter - Europe Summer thing, as a few of our German acquaintences are doing. Well after a couple of vacation trips to The Villages we were both convinced there was no other place we would rather be. We did check out Solivita near Orlando but while beautiful, the happy feeling you get in TV was just not there. Solivita does get bonus points for their home styles; I don't think there is a Premier home in TV that can compare to the styling offered there for less money. The level of home style was not the deciding factor, however, THERE IS NO OTHER PLACE IN THE WORLD LIKE THE VILLAGES, I'm convinced of that as I have lived and travelled extensively in Europe and Asia. We feel very Blessed and humbled to have the opportunity to soon join all of the happy people living in The Villages! In our view; the grass is not greener.....

[jebartle]

so it was a no-brainer BUT we were looking at Solivita (south of Orlando) when prices for "condo's" near SS became a bidding war but fortunately found our little yellow house and are living happily ever after....

[2BNTV]

Wife wanted to live in TV. I liked "Top of the World" in Ocala. The increase cost of TV was cheaper than a divorce!:wave:

So true and :a20:

[2BNTV]

TV is the first and only retirement community that I have checked out.

It blew me away on so many levels. The beauty of the landscaping, friendly people, the squares, music, activities that will keep one feeling younger, etc. etc, etc.

I just knew deep in my soul this place was built for me. :)

Then, I found TOTV with it's smart, funny members and knew they was no need to look any further. They confirmed what I instintively knew, there is no other place like TV.

When you step into heaven, can any other place compare?

[njbchbum]

we had ABSOLUTELY NO INTENTION of purchasing a home in florida! but when i found out that the villages had it's own polo fields, barns and followers i KNEW that this was the kind of community that if we did buy a florida house - this was where it should be!

and so, when this little manufactured house on the historic side cried out to us as we were driving by, we investigated and figured that the price was soooo good we could not go back to jersey without buying it! we have never regretted that purchase! and our arrival in mid jan cannot come soon enough for me!

[Bill-n-Brillo]

We checked out a bunch of 55-and-over places all around FL - all types of housing, price points, amenities, etc. For us, TV provided the whole package - the lifestyle - we concluded we were looking for. Can you get more "house" elsewhere for less money? Absolutely! Can you find the same lifestyle elsewhere..........at any price? Not that we could find. Nothing else even came close!!

TV sure isn't perfect - ANYTHING in life is always a series of compromises. But it fit the 'bill' for us........no pun intended, of course! :a040:

Sandy reminds me of the "countdown" - on nearly a daily basis - of the number of weeks/days til our next trip down there!!! :pepper2: Woo-hoo!!!

Bill :)

[Turtlediver]

Looked at may retirement life styles, condo, houses, over 55 and etc. The other 55 and over had no one there when we visited in the summer-a ghost town...gods waiting room...not the style of living I wanted...I am raring to go and start a new lifet. they were not. The villages is a perfect fit...none like it that I found....will be down to stay permanently soon I hope.....It is a Disney World or adults......so happy I am going to get to start a new life with people who are interested in starting a new life and I do meanLIFE

[CarGuys]

Had NO plans to leave Ohio ever.

We are not impulsive.

Absolutely fell in love with this place. Still on the honeymoon after almost four years and second house.

And your still keeping us newbies in line and on Track!

Thank you Gracie

Herv & Ruth

[eweissenbach]

As Gracie has said before, we didn't even like Florida. But TV is a whole different deal. We are not there yet, but will spend Feb and Mar. there hoping to buy. We spent one afternoon looking at Stonecrest, and found the houses there very appealing. However, on a beautiful April Saturday, there was almost no one at the pools or rec center, the golf course was not busy, we saw few people out of their homes, in carts, on bicycles, walking........ We looked at each other and said "why in the world would be move here when we are obviously in love with The Villages? Couldn't think of a good reason, so Stonecrest was/is out of the picture. TV is like no place else that I have seen, my cousin lives in Sun City just outside of Austin, and while it is nice, there is no comparison in my opinion. My motivation is to enjoy the miriad of activities available and no place else has them to the extent of TV.

[cappyjon431]

We initially bought here to be closer to my mother-in-law (who lives in TV) so that we will be around to help her as she ages. We've only been here a couple of months and we love it here, so why move?

[GTTPF]

We have traveled the country extensively for the last 15 years keeping in mind, a place where we would like to retire. We visited many retirement communities, saw some beautiful homes but no one has the amenities that TV offers. What we found were not what we would consider an active lifestyle, instead just a bunch of people waiting to die. That wasn't what we wanted at all.! We wanted a place where we can be active and enjoy every minute of our retirement. I plan on wearing my body out completely before I kick the bucket. There are too many nice people to meet, things to do and places to go. In case I'm only going around one time in life I plan on enjoying it until the end. When we came to TV after a full day and evening last February my wife and I looked at each other and said let's do a little research and have a lifestyle visit. It was a no brainier. We close on December 5th. Believe me when I tell you there is no other place like TV in the USA. If there is we couldn't find it. We've been retired for almost 3 years now. We believe that we have found what we have been looking for. Not saying that TV is perfect but close enough.:wave:

[Pturner]

:wave: Allus70,
Welcome to TOTV!

For us, it wasn't Florida we didn't like, it was retirement communities. Never pictured ourselves in one. We saw some beautiful ones, to be sure, where the one or two golf courses were pristine and saw plenty of activity; but, the one community pool was empty, the gorgeous clubhouse was unused, the other fabulous amenities were... um, there weren't other fabulous amenities.

No lifelong learning college. No clubs for every hobby, art or sport you could imagine. No free music and dancing on the squares seven nights a week. No bustling neighborhood pools and rec. centers. No movies, live theater, concerns, restaurants and shopping on site and golf cart accessible. Not too many people outside waving and smiling and looking like there's nowhere on earth they'd rather be.

You see, this isn't a place to grow old! It's a place to stay young.

[Dirigo]

You see, this isn't a place to grow old! It's a place to stay young.

I agree!

[Bill-n-Brillo]

.......No lifelong learning college. No clubs for every hobby, art or sport you could imagine. No free music and dancing on the squares seven nights a week. No bustling neighborhood pools and rec. centers. No movies, live theater, concerns, restaurants and shopping on site and golf cart accessible. Not too many people outside waving and smiling and looking like there's nowhere on earth they'd rather be. .....

And no "Talk of (insert community name here)", either!!! :pepper2:

Bill :)

[uujudy]

. . . What was the tipping point? . . .

Ditto, ditto, and ditto to everything that's been said here.

But you know what my 'tipping point' was? We had spent the day looking at everthing, and going to all the open houses, and we were exhausted. We stopped at the Canal Street rec center to use the um, facilities, and I smelled coffee. "Do I smell coffee?" I said. The rec center person said, "Yes, we always have coffee. Help yourself." I know this might not sound like much to you, but it was then and there that I KNEW that this was the place for us. Rec center coffee was my tipping point. :mornincoffee:

[Yorio]

Since I love to play tennis and golf, I originally thought of moving to Pinehurst, NC. I bought a plot of land with the idea of building when we retired. I even joined the Pinehurst Club as out of state member. I love the quaint small village of Pinehurst BUT we stopped by one winter before heading to TV. We were shocked to see the town deserted and even the club house bar was practically empty. The rest as they say is history.

[JimPete]

Looked at may retirement life styles, condo, houses, over 55 and etc. The other 55 and over had no one there when we visited in the summer-a ghost town...gods waiting room...not the style of living I wanted...I am raring to go and start a new lifet. they were not. The villages is a perfect fit...none like it that I found....will be down to stay permanently soon I hope.....It is a Disney World or adults......so happy I am going to get to start a new life with people who are interested in starting a new life and I do meanLIFE

Agree, agree, agree. We visited other retirement communities in Florida and found the same thing. They seemed dead compared to TV. When we visited The Villages, we felt we were among people who were full of life and enjoying every minute of it instead of waiting for the grim reaper.

Jim

[Bosoxfan]

TV is the first and only retirement community that I have checked out.

It blew me away on so many levels. The beauty of the landscaping, friendly people, the squares, music, activities that will keep one feeling younger, etc. etc, etc.

I just knew deep in my soul this place was built for me. :)


When you step into heaven, can any other place compare?

Couldn't have said it better!!:BigApplause:

[scottiee]

My bug guy talked about TV. It sounded good to me.My wife and I were in Ocala and saw a sign.Stopped the whole time she told me I was crazy to listen to the bug guy.HOWEVER the minute she saw the place she was SOLD.At that time I wondered what if I dont like it worried for nothing looking forward to the move

[2BNTV]

It sounds like the buy guy planted a bug in your head. :)

I see you are a fairly new member so :welcome: to TOTV.

I glad you checked TV out and best wishes on moving to TV.

Keep on posting!!!!!!

[2BNTV]

:wave: Allus70,
Welcome to TOTV!

For us, it wasn't Florida we didn't like, it was retirement communities. Never pictured ourselves in one. We saw some beautiful ones, to be sure, where the one or two golf courses were pristine and saw plenty of activity; but, the one community pool was empty, the gorgeous clubhouse was unused, the other fabulous amenities were... um, there weren't other fabulous amenities.

No lifelong learning college. No clubs for every hobby, art or sport you could imagine. No free music and dancing on the squares seven nights a week. No bustling neighborhood pools and rec. centers. No movies, live theater, concerns, restaurants and shopping on site and golf cart accessible. Not too many people outside waving and smiling and looking like there's nowhere on earth they'd rather be.

You see, this isn't a place to grow old! It's a place to stay young.


Elegantly stated.

You see, this isn't a place to grow old! It's a place to stay young.[/QUOTE]

As they say, used it or lose it.

:BigApplause:

[John_W]

I grew up in St. Petersburg so I knew I wanted to return to Florida. My parents retired in 1984 to Timber Pines, a 55+ community in Spring Hill, Florida. That's about an hour north of Tampa/St. Pete at Weeki Wachee Springs. When I visited my parents I liked the fact my dad owned a golf cart and could drive it from his house a few blocks to the course.

Timber Pines is much smaller than TV, it's 1200 acres with 2000 homes with two golf courses and was built out about ten years ago. I could fine masonry resale homes with a full 2 car garage in the low to mid 100's and was considering moving there. However, I wasn't as crazy about the town of Spring Hill. Timber Pines is a true private community with a six foot wall and security gates but no stores inside, meaning trips into Spring Hill everyday. After we visited TV last April for a week we decided this was the place for us and we moved here July 5th permanently.

[dillywho]

We actually bought into Hot Springs Village, AR a few years before we retired. We even had our house plans drawn up and our lot was located in an area that had land behind us that would never be developed as housing. With hubby being several years older, I drug my feet about relocating until I could at least have SS widow's benefits (60) knowing that employment opportunities would be pretty much nil there and I could return to my old employment if something should happen to him before then. He gave in and decided to go back to work.

In 2002, he saw the ad for TV on the golf channel; we came and decided that it was for us. Hot Springs Village couldn't even come close!! HSV was more money and much, much less for what it cost. You can't drive your cart anywhere except on the courses and had to trailer it with you to get there. Golf was not included and the one and only country club was separate and expensive. There were no rec centers or pools all over the place...nada. We moved in in 2004, later sold our lot in HSV, and as the saying goes, "the rest is history". Best thing we could have ever done for ourselves with absolutely no regrets.

[Sunshine Mary]

so it was a no-brainer BUT we were looking at Solivita (south of Orlando) when prices for "condo's" near SS became a bidding war but fortunately found our little yellow house and are living happily ever after....

How did you like Solivita????

[Bill-n-Brillo]

How did you like Solivita????

Make sure you check out the surrounding area.

Bill :)

[lovsthosebigdogs]

For me, it's the dog friendly aspect. I can't see spending my whole life walking a dog without a fenced yard. That is the main reason I was interested enough to first check it out. Then I saw all the fun pages and pages of activiites and its tbeen all I can do to hang on until my visit in 3 weeks. I love how friendly people are on the message board also. I am so anxious to see if its as great in person as I have imagined it to be. My girlfriend owns a place in TV and she has talked about it for years, but I wasn't convinced enough to check it out til recently. I am glad we did and can't wait til we visit. My husband and I are even thinking of ways to retire a couple of years sooner. Now we have more of an incentive.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

For me, it's the dog friendly aspect. I can't see spending my whole life walking a dog without a fenced yard. That is the main reason I was interested enough to first check it out. ......

Keep in mind that the only homes in TV with "fenced yards" are the CYVs.......and they're actually walls, not fences.

Bill :)

[lovsthosebigdogs]

:sing:Keep in mind that the only homes in TV with "fenced yards" are the CYVs.......and they're actually walls, not fences.

Bill :)

Thanks, Bill. Works for us. Anything that contains my dogs works the same. I actually like the high walls and feel very secure with them. Does anyone know if doggy doors are allowed? We have one now and it allows for incredible freedom. I thought I saw one in an advertised home. We would only consider a CYV for that reason.

[Ohiogirl]

I don't have one but have talked to people who do - a golfer told me theirs is installed somehow in their slider. Others have enclosed lanais and it's installed out there somehow.

[Gretch298]

Home depo has them....We are moving to a CYV and have looked at them..Mr. Dieter and Miss Heidi will be getting one from "Santa"

[graciegirl]

Home depo has them....We are moving to a CYV and have looked at them..Mr. Dieter and Miss Heidi will be getting one from "Santa"


Sounds like a good Irish family!:wave:

[uujudy]

We have the 'slider' doggie/kitty door. Home Depot has them back by the window department, and I think they're ~ $130? They just snap into place. Baby Monroe uses his all the time. In, out, in, out, in, out, in, out....