Missing All My Friends....
 

Hi, Everyone

Well, I've been in New Hampshire for a couple of weeks now and frankly it's pretty lonely being here without all of you. Added to that, it's just now warming up.

I tried to upload a picture, but I'm not sure if it will make it to this post, as this is the first time that I've tried it. But, if you see a photo, it's a picture of my view from the house. Miserable weather and all.

It's funny how the Villages has changed me. Before hanging around with all of you, I loved it here. But, having made so many wonderful friends, in such a short time, I now realize that friends are where the heart is. And I hope you'll keep me in yours.

Katie

We missed you last night at Ron's house for a movie. Hurry and come back to us. Your picture did come thru. Nice view to look at every day, but we rather have you here. Hurry back!

Hey Sweetie,
Hearts out to you. Yep we can see the photo and it looks gloomy at that moment.
I'm wondering about the smells, sounds, sights, critters coming in the night...in real nature, not as I am here on a fake pond.
And your family? Yeah, brag...go ahead.

of course you are greatly missed, katie! you can keep up with our shananigans here on this site and keep us posted as to what you are thinking about up there by yourself...sometimes a little time for introspection is valuable. but not too much!! :)

Where are you in NH? My son lives in Raymond and my sisters live in Kensington (Exeter) and Seabrook.

Hi Katie
We are in an every day rainy spell, so there is a downside to The Villages in the summer. But it is dry indoors.

Hi Katie,
I feel your pain because I'm going home to Philly next week for the summer. The Villages lifestyle and the wonderful people here make it so hard to leave. On the one hand I'm looking forward to seeing family and friends, but there is certainly a lot less to do. BTW your view is spectacular and I hope that brings a smile to your face. Take good care and maybe our paths will meet in the Fall.

Hey Katie, everyone misses you!! I'm still hoping to steal a day when I'm in Mass. and come to see you. Guess what? Floor issue resolved!! Kiss Oliver for me?

I was in Meredith last weekend and had a wonderful breakfast at George's Diner! We have rented a place on Paugus Bay in August for my daughter's wedding and my hubby and I were over there checking everything out. I have a feeling life is a bit slower paced than in The Villages! It's good for you to get a few months off to rest up, I'd think. Good luck!

after reading your post and seeing the picture could not figure out weather you were complaining or bragging

The lakes region
 

Katie :Hope to be talking to you as soon as I get up there.

Understand how one can miss such great friends

At least you aren't here in Rochester where beavers are pulling people from kayaks and attacking them!!!
Beaver attacks, pulls man off kayak - 13WHAM ABC Rochester NY - Top Stories

Thanks for all your nice posts. Since the weather has improved 100% I have been able to spend time in my rose garden - something I just finished a week before I left for the Villages. I took some photos of my new roses to share with you.

Most days are still pretty boring here - after all the good times I can easily recall there, but, the sun has finally taken over and that is magic for me.

I do have a nature story that is probably something you can't imagine happening there. I heard a noise at my trash can, outside, and assuming it was the pesky raccoon that has been plaguing me lately, I ran outside with broom in hand, yelling some obscenity and instead of watching the pest take off - as was his typical response - I came face to face with a huge black bear. To make matters worse, Oliver decided to play hero and snuck out behind me and ran right up to the bear, barking as if he was going to take him on. My first instinct was to run back in the house and hope the bear didn't get it into his head to come after me, but, with Oliver in attack mode I just stood there, with no idea what to do. Well, wouldn't you know, the bear turned tail and ran with Oliver at his heels. He smashed through my fence and took off and thankfully Oliver didn't follow. Fun times - in retrospect of course.

Hope my note finds you all well and happy.

Katie

wow, oliver fought off a black bear!!! :) how exciting! your roses are lovely! glad the sunshine has brightened your spirits. no beavers ready to attack you, i hope! :) keep us posted! miss you....

I was back in NH for 10 days for two graduations. Went to Ogunquit one day - it was so hot you could fry eggs on the sidewalk! The natives were walking around stripped down to strappy tops and shorts and sporting a great deal of very white skin. I imagine there were some 3rd degree burns that night. Then we had two days of non-stop rain and cold, then it warmed up and was hot and humid and the mosquitoes came out. They seem to be bigger and more aggressive this year. We were so very glad to get back home here to TV.

We also found it very expensive. Food prices very high. Missed the variety of fruit we take for granted. I guess we have become Floridians!

I'm surprised you find NH expensive since they don't have any State income tax or sales tax. My mom lives in Mass, but we do all of our shopping just over the border in NH. Don't feel like we're cheating though, because my son and 2 sisters all live in NH.

LOVED your roses, Girl. Hey, here in FL now, I have an even BETTER garden - and it's HUGE now so I have less grass to mow. Now it's too hot for some plants, but the roses still look great! Oh, and you know Fl has plenty of bears too (but not in TV) :)

I think the cost of living probably depends on how many you have in the family and how they eat. We are just two retired people. I can shop and stock up at the sales at Publix, I shop Aldi's and get certain items at Sam's. My daughter-in-laws who live in NH shop Market Basket for most of their groceries and don't have the luxury of the time needed to shop around at various stores. They are also feeding families which is far different from feeding two retired people.

I will give one small example - we eat Fage Yoghurt. This past week it has been on sale at Publix for 5 for $6.00. I purchased it in Merrimack last week for $1.99 per piece. Huge difference in price. On the other hand, they buy the store brand which is much cheaper than buying Fage. So it probably works out the same in the long run.

When I get back I'm going to try to do another rose garden and see if I can manage to have both. Maybe you can give me some tips.

I would like to think that when I'm back in the Villages, making sure that a bear - or any other critter for that matter - does not choose to enjoy his evening meal via my trash, won't be on my to do list. Cleaning up after that moocher was absolutely gross.

On the plus side, I really enjoy seeing the loons out on the lake and hearing their call to each other. It's very cool.

It seems that my thread has taken a bit of a side road, with all this chat about the cost of living in NH as compared to Fl. So, I feel like I should say something about it.

Since I now live in both places, I think I can weigh in with some first hand knowledge on the subject. If you live and work in NH, the savings is significant, because there is no state income tax. But, not only is the average home price higher here the property taxes are enough to choke a horse - my dad's expression - as is the cost of hotels and restaurant food - both highly taxed - The cost of food is slightly higher, as is the cost of heating, electric and other utilities. On the other hand, anything you buy on line - whether there is a store in the state or not and any non food item purchased in the state - which doesn't seem to cost any more than in Fl, has no sales tax, so you save in NH.

All in all, for me, the only down side to living here - because, it truly is a beautiful state (beside missing my friends, of course)- is the long, cold, snow laden winters, which can start as early Halloween and drag on until Mother's day (if you're lucky). 7 months of misery, and when outdoor sports are something you begin to avoid after you've had your 3rd 49th birthday. All I hear from everyone here is how I dodged a bullet by moving to FL last fall.

Katie

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Hi Katie,

A beautiful setting, a lovely rose garden accompanied by the sounds of loons on the lake sounds like the beginning of a good novel. Enjoy your summer!

Except for the difference in quality! Nothing compares to Fage, and it's one of the few Greek yoghurts that is still made the traditional way, taking the time to drain it.

However, at the rate our two sons went through yoghurt growing up, I'd go with the store brand too! Feeding teenage boys is not cheap. They have empty legs.

we have the sound of loons on the lake here, too! just listen outside city fire or rjgators at lake sumter some evening....alcohol has something to do with it :)

We have been back from our Merrimack/Concord, NH trip for just 5 days and I have to say I love this peculiar State we have adopted as our home. I was at one of the Rec Centers early this morning, met numerous people who "know" me and enjoyed stopping and chatting for a minute, met my early morning walking buddies even though they are going one way and I am going the other and saw my neighbors for a quick "good morning". There is something unique about living in The Villages and I love it. As we all know it is hotter than ****, we have had two really bad storms and enough rain to start building an Ark, but I love it here. I had coffee in Panera's with a recently widowed friend who is doing great. Tonight I'll be at Sumter Landing for a fish dinner - life is good.

So Katie, enjoy your wonderful summer and your family and then enjoy coming back to this great place TV! You can enjoy the best of both worlds.

Hey ron, I was on Beaver Patrol in upper MN and would tear dams up to get water flowing for the purpose of better paddling. Guess I was lucky not to get bushwacked, but then I was canoeing. Higher sides, ya know..

LOL, cha. that's funny. :highfive:

This is true ---- outside bar should be removed

Hi Katy.. We are back in NH as well - selling our lake home in Atkinson, NH. I've been here since the end of March and have been miserable on every level. Way too cold for me now. Lots of showings, but no offers yet. Hoping to have it sold and closed by end of July. Then we will be moving to our new apartment in Center Harbor (Near you, I think) in August. That will be our summer retreat for 3 months - July, August, Sept - then we will race back to TV for the good life.

lighten up
 

i was just joking...live and let live.... life is short!

Yes, Center Harbor is the next town north of me. It's truly lovely there. And now that the weather is the way it's supposed to be, the rest of the summer should be great.

Katie, your view is gorgeous. I'm a northern MA, southern NH native, mostly the Monadnock Region, near Keene. New Hampshire is the prettiest place in the world, as your photos reminded me. I grew up on a lovely, small but deep-water Massachusetts lake, swimming out to the island and picking blueberries, and I pine for it every day (in Illinois for now). Like missing a loved one, there's not a day that goes by when my mind does not think of New Hampshire--from the planes pulling banners at Hampton Beach, to the rural backroads of Salinger's Cornish--I adore it all.

I'm sort of living through you in a way. Why? You moved to TV not too long ago, and the entire keeping-two-homes thing intrigues me. Not the cost, but the upkeep, worry, etc., esp. your home in Meredith (I know they have lawnkeepers and home sitter in TV). You must have family to check on your home in N.H. all winter, I imagine.

It's nice to see that you miss your friends in TV. I can see how you would. It's funny to me that more Villagers don't visit one another up north in the summers; not you, just in general, seems that the northern-summering Villagers don't gather when up north. But, I could be wrong on that.

I have no idea what I mean by all this. I only wish to commiserate with you, a fellow northerner who loves the Granite State...loves, loves, LOVES it. :-) --Steve

Steve, thank you for the nice note. I sent you a PM about maintaining two houses. I haven't looked at this thread for some time, so I missed some of the posts. It's nice to see how many Villages like NH as much as I do. Hopefully next summer some of my Village friends would be willing to take the trip north.

Katie

Keene native
 

Steve, I'm a Keene native and love the area as well, but wouldn't trade the lifestyle here for anything. All of my siblings and most of their children still live there and it's great to visit them, but I have trouble figuring out what I would do all day if I still lived there!

B.

Thanks for the PM, Katie. I will reply to it. Your advice is very good. Thank you.

B., from Keene! Howdy! You ask what would you do in Keene? You mean before or after reading the Daily Sentinel over a Dunkin Donut and coffee, climbing Mount Monadnock (adore the Spellman Trail--the steepest!), having dinner at Lindy's Diner, then watching the college kids put on a musical at Keene State? lol Okay, most of that can be done in the wintertime, too. All of it if one is Larry Davis.

This is off topic, but Katie probably wouldn't mind. Have you heard of local icon, Larry David, from Jaffrey, B? Check out this video, you will enjoy it, guaranteed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MonxZ0Ng2S4

And you can't miss the Pumpkin Fest!!! (My company has offices in Keene)