[mom2five]

Sounds like fun.

Wow I am so glad I found this thread. !! I was sure I would hate the cold cloudy north but I am loving it. It was a beautiful drive home and my skin is made for this weather. My dog and I walk for miles in big wide open spaces with spring flowers and flowering trees and little song birds. I love the rolling hills and slow pace. I love Lake Erie and the sunsets.
I guess I love both places. I think I would love to be a snowbird but we don't think our budget will allow it

If anyone is sitting on the fence about where you live now and moving to TV permanently, you should really take a good look at where your heart belongs. The first time we visited TV we were convinced that was where we wanted to spend our remaining years. In NJ I sit at home between November and June waiting for the weather to break so I can play tennis and softball. That's almost 8 months, which leaves 4 months to live, so to speak. In TV I have 12 months in which to live. If we want to go out for a snack or shop anytime of year we can without 50 mph winds and wind chill in the teens. I WANT TV AND I WANT IT NOW!!!!!! I could care less about some wildflowers blooming. I WANT A PALM TREE TO STARE AT OUTSIDE MY LANAI. As far as family and friends, they can visit any time of year and have a ball. As it is now we don't see anyone but for a few times a year on holidays. Everyone has "their" schedules and "their" school activities. Well they can find time to fit "their" schedule to come and visit. It would be more quality time when they did as it would be for a week or two. You all are scaring me into thinking because spring is here TV is not as enticing. Get a grip guys. TV is going to be our Dante's Inferno (so to speak). Viva TV!

[nONIE]

PHEW! Thanks Johnny, I felt myself slipping a bit. That was like a good shaking back to reality! Im Fine now! Got to get down in the cellar and start throwing things out.

[samhass]

Woohoooooo! Yes, Thanks, Johnny. Today is gray and so nasty. Yuck!!!!!!! I still have things to do here, but will head back down soon. I'm wasting sunshine.

[Rokinronda]

My 2 cents worth: I visited my beautiful, beautiful little historic state of RI last Nov. for a week. Our home was 2 miles from a most beautiful beach. Newport, RI was a ten minute drive. The visit was for my Dads funeral. :'( The only time the sun peeked out was during the funeral. We saw some foliage and some snow flurries, it was damp, raw and gloomy and we couldn't wait to get HOME to the Villages. We were freezing! My mom won't step outside for months for fear of slipping on ice! After being here 3+ years, this is home. The SUN IS SHINING, the hibiscus are blooming, the sweetest smelling gardenias fill my lanai with the finest aroma, and the birds are at the feeder and singing!! Palm trees and flowers are everywhere. My friends in RI are envious that the sun is always shining here. It is raining or snowing and gray there 300+ days of the year. The temp. was 45 last week. Raining, cold, windy. This is May!! I DO NOT MISS THE COLD!! Friends and family visit us here and are really tired of the greyness they live with! Friends and family are depressed and wait for months and months for about 8 weeks of good weather. Even when summer finally arrives, it usually rains on weekends! They are all planning on joining us very soon!! My dad loved TV and was thinking of moving here, and he's italian with solid deep roots in RI. I wished it had happened for him, but he suddenly passed away. I am, however, very happy that he saw this great beautiful place and knows how happy I am!!!!

[Barefoot]

Ronda, I am so sorry to hear that you lost your dad. My sympathies are with you.

Your description of The Villages is beautiful! I bet my hibiscus is blooming also, unfortunately I'm not there to enjoy it. Stupid immigration laws. I won't be back until October, but it's a good thing that I never have to endure another Canadian winter!

[nONIE]

Ronda,

I really appreciate your post. You have helped me to be confident that I am making the right decision.You are so right about the very short "good" weather season. Most of the year we are stuck in looking out the window at gray gloomy skies. Its time to start living ALL year not just 3 or 4 months a year.

Im so sorry your dad did not get to enjoy TV but Im sure hes looking down and really happy that your happy!

[Rokinronda]

AWWWW! GEEZ Thanks!!! Now that I am making so many new friends here it is even better than I could imagine! I look forward to my new TOTV friends getting back down here. Bare, we have to get you 2 married to Tom and Susan. Nonie, keep throwing that accumulation out. Tell Bernie and fireboy hello!!! I miss everyone (HI EVERYONE) who has left and look forward to a big REUNION PARTY!!!! YAY!!!

[chelsea24]

Ronda, I'm so sorry about your Dad. My Dad was my best friend and unfortunately he didn't get to see it here. But, he trusted that vetman would take care of me and moving here was the biggest blessing and gift I could have received.

Now, Bare, we still have to figure out that immigration problem. :verymad:

And Nonie, hurry hurry and pack!

Love to all.

Rokinronda,
So sorry about your Dad. So glad I met you before I left. Glad I met you too Chelsea . Looking forward to seeing you all again.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Rokinronda

Bare, we have to get you 2 married to Tom and Susan. Nonie, keep throwing that accumulation out. Tell Bernie and fireboy hello!!! I miss everyone (HI EVERYONE) who has left and look forward to a big REUNION PARTY!!!! YAY!!!

Ronda, we'll be having a reunion party on the September TOTV cruise for sure ... why don't you come on the cruise? In October, I'll be back for six months and believe me, the hills will be alive with the sound of music. Or something.

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Kathie and Nonie, count me in on going to the ocean. I grew up on the ocean and miss it.

Right now we are in Boston and the weather is good, drive up was beautiful. We go back home Wednesday.

It is very beautiful where we live this time of the year with all the bulbs coming up, trees blooming and the orchards with the mountains behind them is also fantastic site.

Went to Mohonk Mountain House and as usual the place brought back many wonderful memories and we had a good time there.

With all of these positives in my life, including the most important ones - family, I still miss TV and all of my Sistahs.

See you soon.

HB

[marianne237]

Have been reading the notes posted since I last was here. I have to tell you how much your notes about old homes and new homes at TV have really cheered me up. I'm now in Indiana for my moms funeral. I had been taking care of her full time for a number of years and then the family placed her in assisted living while I was recovering from surgery. She loved it there and wanted to stay put. My husband was anxious to move to Florida for his health. I was really torn and in a lot of conflict...wouldn't all of us be.
Mom never did have the chance to see my Florida house. She loved my sending her pictures of things down here, flowers and green grass when she had winter up there, and shots of places we might visit down here..postcards meant a whole lot to her and I found her favorite ones tacked up on the bulletin board.

Anyway, the point is, she made new friends and new life and I wasn't. I had my FL house and a couple of friends but it still didn't seem right. So, admittedly, there has been some soul searching the last few days, and I now have a feeling that I can make the FL house now a HOME.

I'd really like those who post here that reading some of your notes helps shy people like me feel that there are friends out there that I just haven't met yet.

I had the same fears as I was living by myself going to a strange place. I have to tell you-these are the friendlest people you will ever find!!
You have been through a lot but welcome. You will always have friends and people to help you here on TOTV.
Hi everybody and Marianne!