From another state
 

If you moved from another state to live in the Villages, what was your feeling. I seem to be overwhelmed with worry. Leaving a job, selling a house. I did not think this would happen to me. I know some of you are snowbirds, but would like to hear from the permanent residents. 😳

I think it takes a lot of courage to move from a place you have lived all of your life to a new one. It is very difficult to get rid of possessions you have loved and enjoyed or just got used to. It is hard work also and stressful to sell a house and leave familiar surroundings and favorite places. It is a lot like being a pioneer. AND it is listed as a stressor in some lists psychiatrists have made.

Most of us land beautifully and find many similar traits in those around us and quickly assimilate into NOT going to work and learning new skills and enjoying not having to meet deadlines...here in this beautiful place, planned for grown up people. Good luck and

Welcome HOME.

Hmmm, Worry... Naw, our move to TV, was the Best move from Tennessee we ever made... Frog's...

You are not a Canadian? Isn't your avatar a Mountie?

Well I'll be.

Thank you so much. My blood pressure has been a little high with what we want to do. I usually have normal blood pressure. I just took an early buyout with my job, I am 59. I was going to wait until at least 62. My husband is retired already. I see you a lot posting on this site and you always have such smart
replied.

Thank you so much. My blood pressure has been a little high with what we want to do. I usually have normal blood pressure. I just took an early buyout with my job, I am 59. I was going to wait until at least 62. My husband is retired already. I see you a lot posting on this site and you always have such smart
replies.

So happy for you.

You are close to your original retirement target date. You took an early out. You have probably done the math and financially you are set. Now is the time to sit back and decide what you want in your next phase.

Determine if you are coming to TV fulltime, or as a snow. Determine if you want to rent for a year or two or just jump in with both feet. Determine what you want in retirement......how active, how passive, how much travel......map it out. Once you have a map/plan, you might be able to enjoy this transition.

Good Luck.
You WILL love it.

Thanks

......

We visited many times since 07. Didn't buy our first house in until 2010.

Full retirement didn't come until 2015 for one of us and the other is still working full-time . Since only one of us lives here full-time it doesn't seem that stressful More like a very long vacation. We spent lots of time with our financial advisor before we made any decisions.

We have slowly moved stuff down taking our time since we still have our other home. Must have stuff first, and when there is no more room will sell everything else.

TV is not for everyone and we made sure by renting it was the place for us. Of course we have also moved the normal 2.5 times in TV to different areas.

I came here after working for my company for 41 years .I retired at 58 when I come here people said your only 58 why did you retired . I worked outside for all those years didn't work in a office had a very physical job that's why. couldn't afford to retire a live in Connecticut on my pension or be a snowbird owning 2 places. it's simple math if you can afford 2 places do it . everyone here has a different life style an it's all base on what you have at the end of the month in the checking account.mind is simple an I like it that way. family some people can't be away from family an it's usually one of the spouses that can't be away from the kids.you have all the answers figure it out together.

We moved from Northern CA to Florida in 1996. Hard thing to do to pull up roots and the like and come to an unfamiliar place. We were following my parents' grand kids which made it better but then a divorce loomed and these grand kids moved back to Northern CA and we came to the Villages in 2005. There were many nice people to greet us as soon as we moved in to our new neighborhood. I hope you find the new home town like we did in 2005. It does depend a lot on lucking out and having good neighbors.

Don't Worry
 

We moved from California in 2015. Retirement and moving are stressful and overwhelming. Once you have a plan you might be more at ease. What is your biggest worry? You are in for a treat. TV is a wonderful place to be!

Long time to work physically. Have fun in your retirement.

This is our plan. To be living in the villagers by next year. My biggest worry is are we going to be happy with what we will be doing. The unknown can be stressful. When we came several times it did seem so nice. Clean, safe, quiet and just love the activities and squares and can drive golf carts around.

Will miss my son. He will be married next year. He will be in VA but his in laws live close to me in LI. I didn't expect him to marry a woman from where he grew up. That came on unexpectingly and we could celebrate the holidays together. Cannot do that in Florida.

Came down here, bought a house, sold our house in New Hampshire and never looked back. The only snow and ice I ever want to see again is in pictures and as for "the fall foliage" looks nice for 2 weeks and then all falls down and starts to rot. It was a pretty easy adjustment for me.

Hello Tomcat, From one wannabee to another, I hope your move to The Villages is as smooth and stress-free as possible and that you find a home that you and your husband are happy in. Happy house hunting! :wave:

[QUOTE=Schaumburger;1451977]Hello Tomcat, From one wannabee to another, I hope your move to The Villages is as smooth and stress-free as possible and that you find a home that you and your husband are happy in. Happy house hunting! :wave:[/QUOTE

Well hello Schaumburget. Yes trying to make that move. Just retired. My coworkers were upset with it because I left very fast with an early buyout. You do not get a lot of time. My job was somewhat stressful and busy. Felt very bad. Taking it step by step. Sometimes I think I should go back and work a few more years just for them. 😔

We visited here for a couple years before making the decision, and once made, never looked back We alsways took the position that the worse thing that could happen is we would sell here and move back....the best thing was we would move here and they would ship us back :). Possessions, to us, were a representation of what was, not what will be. Kids got first choice, then neighbors, then an auctioneer, then the usual charities then the trash. It actually was liberating. New house, different stuff. Making new friends here is both easy and educational. Our current friends are from all over the place so we experience different food, attitudes, cultures and experiences. An added benefit is that if we plan on traveling someplace it's a safe bet someone here is from there and can provide all sort of insights. Our old friends from PA stay in touch, will come to visit and keep us informed of changes that happen back there. The kids and grand kids did have an issue when we told them we were going but that went away after their first visit. They understood it was time for us. It does seem they show up more frequently lately :). What finally convinced us when we found our amenity fee included snow removal. Home is here.

See all the good info you got. I miss Christmas Eve with our Grandchildren but there are only so many days we have to live and I'm not living mine for that. The kids are so busy with school, sports, friends, Thankfully they have a good little life going for themselves. Skype is a wonderful thing.

In my opinion if any move is for a Geographical Cure it won't work. Relax and enjoy the experience. All the hardships you face getting here are soon forgotten. You have made some great contacts on your thread. Good Job Already!

[QUOTE=TOMCAT;1451992]Tomcat, I have heard it said that most people on their deathbed don't say "I wish I had spent more time at the office." I still work full-time, and although I like my job (most days) and most of my coworkers, I certainly won't miss it when I decide to take the leap and leave...it won't be this year or probably next year, but after that who knows? My only tie to the Midwest is the need to be within a reasonable distance of where my dad lives in case of an emergency.

So breathe in and breathe out. Think of the snow you won't missing shoveling, and the fact that you won't need to wear a heavy coat, gloves and boots in January once you move to TV.

Thanks.

I always ask myself in any new situation, "What's the worst thing that can happen?". In this case, the answer would be that you don't like it, you sell your Villages house and you move back to where you came from, or to somewhere new. Another choice would be to start working again, but from your Villages location. Life is full of choices. I hope I am never too afraid to "go for it"!

:evil6:

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...ejG3eahrD3kd4V

Message me if you want my feelings on my first summer. What is the worst that could happen? Irma? I stuck it out for the summer. It isn't easy to sell a house and buy another one at the same time (if it was, I may think of another place). There is a lot of good here. Summer isn't one. Newer homes are nice (don't get a small garage). Service people are hit/miss but there is a lot of miss so be careful. If you could move The Villages somewhere without lightning and without hurricanes it would be okay. You get used to the heat. However if you do not wear sunscreen (me) you will get a farmer's tan.

You know, make sure to give it a while to settle in. You will have to make new friends, learn to live in a different climate, pick up some new interests. This all takes time. You may not be able to just jump in running and never look back. Our lives here are so different now than they were when we first got here. We are "sort of" introverts in that we don't jump into all the neighborhood stuff imediately but prefer to make friends accidentally.

We've been here five years now. The first year there were constant changes vis-a-vis people, places, hobbies. It took us a bit to settle in, but that first winter when it was 80 degrees most days sealed it.;)

I'm just saying it might take a bit of time, so don't panic if everything is not peaches and cream right from the get-go.

Here's a Full view of "Dudley-Do-Right" ...........

http://i65.tinypic.com/jhzl1l.jpg

You were one of my happy accidents.;)

You are in the best hand right now TOMCAT. They will give you opinions from the point of view that you need. They are the greatest. Take Care.

TOMCAT I can relate. MY spouse had been retired for many years, but I was still working. I took early retirement at age 56. It was scarry to leave a job, leave our home of 25 years, our friends, and move to an entirely new place. The good thing here is everyone wants to make new friends, so you can easily get involved. Money is the main thing I worried about, retiring so early. You can get something part time or even full time if you like. Just settle in beforehand making any big decisions. If you need friends, I am always looking for new contacts.

Sox mans wife.

Biggest thing to remember is to slow down, physically and mentally. The rest follows naturally.

Your story sounds similar to mine. Thanks so much. How long in the Villages now. I guess you feel much better now.

Thanks

I thought I had this all planned out. I wanted to leave and live in the Villages 3 years ago. I was all calm. Now I am getting to be a bundle of nerves.

My husband has been retired for a good many years now also. I am a Yankees mans wife. Is that Red Sox or White Sox.

Thank you everyone for helping me feel better.

I want you to know that what you are feeling is very typical and very difficult and most of us felt the very same.

There are many wonderful folks here waiting to be your friends.

Sleep well.

I'm relieved! I thought making friends accidentally was similar to "easy come, easy go."

Most of us felt the same stresses and insecurities that you're feeling.
And we barrelled ahead and bought a house in TV anyway.
And now we take credit for making the best decision of our life, it's that great! :clap2::MOJE_whot: