Just back from our Villages visit and all I have to say is...

[cahweh1975]

you people are spoiled rotten!!! :thumbup: And now, we want to be spoiled too!!!

So, the plan is to get the house ready for showing, sell it, DH will retire and we'll be on our way to becoming Villagers! Hopefully, by next October we'll be there permanently.

Honestly, I've never seen such a beautiful "town." Everyone always talks about how beautiful Disney is, but they have nothing on The Villages. Living in The Villages would be like living in a park--a beautiful, well maintained, perfectly manicured park!! The homes were gorgeous, and people everywhere were very friendly. We did find a home that I was reluctant to leave. If we were in the market that house would have been ours. It had everything we will be looking for. I'm just hopeful that we'll find something similar when we are ready to buy.

The people we met and spoke with seemed very happy and were more than willing to share their thoughts and experiences of The Villages. WE didn't meet a single grouch in the entire week we were there. Except for me, that is. I had a project due right in the middle, so had to work a few hours. But, that will be my life when we move, so I guess you could call it a true Lifestyle Visit!

I got a kick out of the golf carts. I mean, I knew about them, but it is something else to see for yourself!

My only complaint was those darned roundabouts! They certainly are better than having stop signs every 500 feet, but I was getting dizzy going 'round and 'round! LOL!

So, we had a successful visit and cannot wait to get there permanently! I'm sure that as the time gets closer, I'll have lots of questions. For now, I just keep looking at homes for sale and dreaming of the day we'll be in a position to actually buy one!

[Trayderjoe]

We fell for the Villages as well, and it only took one visit. Loved the idea of being able to access things via golf cart. So much to do, or not do-your call. I already don't know if I will have time to do everything that I would like to once we are down there full time!

[2BNTV]

Thank you for telling us about your visit. TV is a place where no amount of words can sufficiently describe how beautiful it is. Sort of like going to a tropical island in that that your all smiles when you arrive and the tears flow when your leaving.

Glad to hear that you had a great visit. :smiley:

[cahweh1975]

...and the tears flow when your leaving

It's funny you mention that. I really did feel like crying when we left! I wondered for a second if DH would let me stay if I threw a full blown kicking and screaming temper tantrum! Yeah. I'm mature. LOL!

[wendyquat]

We did the same thing in May 2010, went home and started the task of downsizing "stuff"and getting the house ready to put on the market. As luck would have it the house sold and we became "frogs" May 1, 2011! It's just as good as it seems and you will love it!

[eweissenbach]

Hard to imagine anyone being unimpressed by The Villages. We took the lifestyle preview in 2010 after I had researched TV for months, including this site and both the Villages real estate site and the MLS sites. I was convinced it would make a great retirement destination, but my wife, having done little research, was skeptical. After six days in TV my wife was ready to "get with it" and buy a place in TV. We still haven't bought a place as we have to sell our current home in MO., but we have stayed two months in the winter the last two years and are booked for Feb. and Mar. this coming year. As I have told many friends, there is really no adequate way to describe The Villages, you have to experience it to comprehend it. Cruise ship on land is the best description I have heard, but I don't know of many cruise ships with golf cart trails and 30 + golf courses on board! If one is active and wants to take advantage of the opportunities, the lifestyle choices available in TV are unrivaled ANYWHERE, and they are doable for someone with a relatively modest retirement income!!!!

[Patty55]

I describe TV as like college only I'm smarter with more money but don't look as good.

The first time I saw this place I had done my research, but driving down I got off 75 too early. Driving through little towns I was thinking "I don't think so.", when I finally got here I was blown away by the beauty, the energy and the attitude.

I really don't understand how people cannot be blown away by it all.

[philnpat]

I initally felt guilty being here...then we realized that after all our years of hard work, we deserved it. We've never been so busy and being able to try so many new things has been wonderful. Another plus was that we've made many new friends. Love it here!

[CaptJohn]

That's a great report Cahweh. Fun to read. Thanks.

[duffysmom]

Cahweh, you said it all beautifully. After living here for 4 years I still wake up and smile when I look outside and see the Sun and the magnificent light. The only problem I have with living here is it's ruined my vacations; when we leave I'm anxious to get back home.:wave: Someone said it's like a cruise ship on land.

[bkcunningham1]

you people are spoiled rotten!!! :thumbup: And now, we want to be spoiled too!!!

So, the plan is to get the house ready for showing, sell it, DH will retire and we'll be on our way to becoming Villagers! Hopefully, by next October we'll be there permanently.

Honestly, I've never seen such a beautiful "town." Everyone always talks about how beautiful Disney is, but they have nothing on The Villages. Living in The Villages would be like living in a park--a beautiful, well maintained, perfectly manicured park!! The homes were gorgeous, and people everywhere were very friendly. We did find a home that I was reluctant to leave. If we were in the market that house would have been ours. It had everything we will be looking for. I'm just hopeful that we'll find something similar when we are ready to buy.

The people we met and spoke with seemed very happy and were more than willing to share their thoughts and experiences of The Villages. WE didn't meet a single grouch in the entire week we were there. Except for me, that is. I had a project due right in the middle, so had to work a few hours. But, that will be my life when we move, so I guess you could call it a true Lifestyle Visit!

I got a kick out of the golf carts. I mean, I knew about them, but it is something else to see for yourself!

My only complaint was those darned roundabouts! They certainly are better than having stop signs every 500 feet, but I was getting dizzy going 'round and 'round! LOL!

So, we had a successful visit and cannot wait to get there permanently! I'm sure that as the time gets closer, I'll have lots of questions. For now, I just keep looking at homes for sale and dreaming of the day we'll be in a position to actually buy one!

Nice post! Welcome to TOTV. I hope I get to welcome you to The Villages too.

[janeg]

I agree with you. We came for 4 days in June. In that time we bought a house, picked out furniture, hired someone to put it all together, got house insurance and eveything else necessary. WHIRLWIND FOR SURE!! We also drank lots of Panera coffee, visited family and friends who live in TV. We won't live there full time but it is rented for 3 months and we will use it for 3 months in the fall '13. I recommend Village of Fernandina between Bonifay Country Club and Brownwood. Happy times ahead!

[2BNTV]

Thank you for telling us about your visit. TV is a place where no amount of words can sufficiently describe how beautiful it is. Sort of like going to a tropical island in that that your all smiles when you arrive and the tears flow when your leaving.

Glad to hear that you had a great visit. :smiley:

It's funny you mention that. I really did feel like crying when we left! I wondered for a second if DH would let me stay if I threw a full blown kicking and screaming temper tantrum! Yeah. I'm mature. LOL!

:1rotfl:

[cahweh1975]

We started measuring and planning what needs to be done in each room--mostly painting and making things look fresh. Everything should be pretty simple. We have to start going through all of our stuff, too. We'll be downsizing from 2500+ square feet to something like 1200-1500. Can you tell we're excited about this?

[Schaumburger]

We started measuring and planning what needs to be done in each room--mostly painting and making things look fresh. Everything should be pretty simple. We have to start going through all of our stuff, too. We'll be downsizing from 2500+ square feet to something like 1200-1500. Can you tell we're excited about this?

cahweh1975, Glad your first visit to TOTV was so great. It is good that you are thinking ahead about how to stage your house for a sale and thinking about downsizing. Hope you and your husband will become frogs sooner rather than later! :wave:

[hotrodgirl]

I too did the same thing. Came for one week this May for "the visit". Drove around, looked at models and pre-owned and specs, talked to a million (or so it seemed) wonderful, happy people, shopped, dined, bought a lot, came home, sold a property, and my build will be complete in December! Holy Cow! Not like me to make such a rash decision,but one can hardly help themselves! Hope you have a quick sale and can be back to TV in a flash!

[mar/bob]

Hi Cahweh1975,
We have been back & forth to TV for 11 yrs. You could become sick returning home.
We will be arriving as you in Oct 2013. Trust me this 1 yr wait is getting to me.
We love it there and want to be there now. We never met anyone that was not nice.
Hope to meet you some day. We live in Pa. Keep in touch.
Mar/Bob