Life in Greater Brownwood vicinity?
 

I love the Spanish Springs area, and I love the Sumter Landing area. Why? Because there's tons to DO, both in and out of the vicinity. Wherever we live, we'll be there for the rest of our lives, presumably. I drove outside the Villages near Fenney and there was absolutely NOTHING there. If you want something to do, you either accept the limited same 50 stores and restaurants in Brownwood, or you drive 20 minutes north to the rest of The Villages, or even longer to get out of the Villages completely.

Where are all the things to do? I mean other than Brownwood, which was nice, but just like I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life going to the same mall every few days, I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life going to Brownwood every few days. I like a little variety.

Are there any of the kajillion clubs you can join, active in the Fenney area? Or do you have to go up to Sumter? What about places to go outside the Villages? Any museums, auto repair shops, movie theatres (I know, there are some in TV. Variety, people. Variety.)? Bodegas? Book stores? An Antiques Row with luncheonettes and boutiques tucked away somewhere within a 10 minute drive?

Hope you find that place so you can be happy......I'm sure there are homes for sale in Spanish Springs or Sumter. It will be years till you find what you want south of 466A.

Glenbrook, Polo ridge, Saddlebrook, Glenview C.C.....Best of all worlds, across B.V., Polo fields,.Go east Savana, Spanish Springs.. Go south(tunnel of trees) Lake Sumter Landing....Going west, the fabulous Southern Trace strip mall..Distance by cart, not too long, not too short.. For a fast car getaway 466...All IMHO...

They paint and draw and clay and ballet dance and line dance and play their violins and tubas and trace heritage and play Mah-jong and Mexican Train at all of the rec centers south of 466 and will continue to do so. They have Publix and Walmart and Aldi's and Lowes in those parts too. Build it and they will come. The developer is poised to build and rent retail to those businesses who decide to move here and reap some profits. Don't really think there is much to do at squares other than eat and drink and buy overpriced stuff. After a while....for us less than a year, the squares weren't much draw. We have golf buddies and art buddies, and card buddies and often socialize with them.

I wonder about your observation skills Mrs. Jazzeeuula.

No matter where you live it will the same surroundings day after day....and the same things to do...

Do you understand and appreciate the freedom you will have in retirement?

You can live one place and then, if you are not happy, you can move somewhere else. You cannot be afraid to think for yourself.

If you don't like the Fenney area don't move there. Not everyone wants the same things as you. I am tired of people thinking that just because they believe something everyone else should too.

You do know the same amenities, clubs, movies, shopping, is available to those who live anywhere in TV.

We all have to leave the bubble for points N or S of TV!!!!

Some of us moved in when there was no shopping on Rolling Acres, no Lake Sumter Landing.....nothing S of 466 (not 466 A).....and now we are surrounded by it all.

There is a place in TV that will suit your needs. Brownwood and S, in the not too distant future will be surrounded by TV amazing evolution and it's draw on retail, shopping, etc, etc.

The perceived problem is so easy to solve.....just do it!

You don't have "The Vision" South of 44 isn't for everyone but those of us down here wouldn't change. If you compare this area to a year ago, you can only imagine what it will be like a year from now. I had to drive up Morse yesterday to Lake Sumter and could not wait to get out of that traffic and back down here where it's less stressful. I only go to Spanish Springs if there is a special event or to enjoy KB's a couple times a year. There are some nice restaurants in Leesburg, Mt. Dora is not far from here, Inverness, etc. Places that you, being up North, probably don't frequent. Don't have to worry about us, we're all one big happy family and getting bigger by the day.

Really?

You will find a lot of people moved here when LSL was newly built. Could care less about the squares. Since you seem to be happier with ready up and running area, it might be the best fit.
Then again average move here is 2.5 times. We are at move number 3. So you have choices

I'm not going to bite.

:blahblahblah:

Better off Swimming over to The BlueFinster! :1rotfl:

But do they take reservations???

We live 3-1/2 miles from LSL and 4 miles from Brownwood. I like both of those squares, since they changed Katie Bells we don't find ourselves going to SS very much. We still go to the area, we shop at Kohls, Belks, etc and eat at all the places on 441/27. It's only about 9 miles if you go up Morse, so all three squares are in play.

If it were me, I would live in my area, namely the area around Seabreeze Rec Center. St. James, Duval, Gilchrist or Pinellas. We go to Brownwood 3 days a week for the MVP health club. Also you have McAlister's Deli, Toojays, Flippers and a new BBQ is opening are nearby. Plus those two squares have nicer seating for the live music and those two movie theaters are nicer and get some of the bigger movies. Overall, LSL and Brownwood are both very nice. Close to our villages is the new Trailwinds project which has Lowes, Aldis, ABC Liquor, Jersey Mike's is opening in January, and a Taco Bell and Wendys are getting ready to break ground.

Three miles down 466A is the Colony Shopping Center and the new Walmart Grocery store. The area around Buena Visa and 466A in my opinion, is the happening area. If you're a golfer you have Bonifay, Cane Garden, Havana, Belle Glade and Evans Prairie all within a 20 minute cart ride.

I am moving into the Fenney area and looking forward to watching the growth around me. Cost a lot less to buy home.

Interesting, if not puzzling, that you found that implication in the original post.

I do not live in Fenney but I am tired of people slamming it just because it does not suit their needs. Many people are very happy with Fenney for all of the reasons that the OP finds undesirable.

The houses are fine in the Fenny area, maybe cheaper. But where are the pickleball, tennis courts, pool tables and card-playing neighborhood rec centers? I could not find any. Perhaps all the above will be built someday, but right now you need to stick to archery and walk your dog. No championship golf yet, and the "putt and play" and "pitch and putt" golf that the developers are substituting for "real golf" is a joke. More houses, less land for golf. The 4 executive courses are nice, but they will get boring for the frequent golfer. If you are willing to wait 5 -10 years, the new areas may be the place for you.

You are the smart one.

I believe there are currently 4 Executive Courses there....the putt and play and pitch and putt are not substitutes but added variety. In fact, there are professional tournaments for what we call putt and play across the country. ESPN televised one this past summer. I understand you are a newbie, but I think you will be surprised by how quickly those amenities appear. Also, there are pickleball courts bocce, shuffleboard, corn toss, air gun range throughout. Fenney and Spanish Moss host club events and card games etc. There is a Championship Course coming Your estimate of 5 - 10 years is silly but if it works for you that's a good thing.

JoMar is right. We've been here long enough to believe in amazing things unfolding.

There are Pickle Ball courts, card playing at the Rec. Center right at the entrance, there is Croquette, Lawn bowling, bag toss, shuffleboard, Bocce, outdoor exercise machines, sports pool, zero entry family pool, a bar and grille, indoor exercise room, meeting rooms, it's almost like a "real village" down here. The regional recreation center is under construction, as are the softball fields, RC boat racing pond, RC car racing track, soccer fields, another sports pool, ground has been broken for the country club golf course, there are more executive courses being built, the Pitch and Put will be open soon and it is not a substitute for "real golf", it is in addition to "real golf", and a great addition for those who are not capable of playing "real golf" and a great way to practice chipping which you can't do much of at a "real golf course". If you think anyone down here is being deprived, think again.

Bashing Fenny isn't funny anymore...…………...

Very true Bogie! I love my neighborhood (Sanibel) and wouldn't want to be anywhere else, but the southern villages will soon have plenty to offer. As far as shopping and restaurants, you would have to be delusional to believe that corporations and entrepreneurs don't see the opportunity down there. There will be 50 thousand + people there soon and they will have money to spend and appetites to fill.

When we move, it'll be to our final owned property. After that, it'll be assisted living, a "home," or the grave. I realize moving is a hobby for some of you, but for others, we move when we have to, not when we want to. I don't want to move at all and now that we have to, MY first choice would be the desert, not Florida. But it's not my decision to make so no, I don't have choices. I can either move where my spouse chooses to move, or he says he'll miss me.

I certainly have input into this, but the decision is ultimately his. And so, I'm looking at all possible options so that I am able to be at peace with this process.

To those who criticize me so blatantly here, you can thank yourselves for my attitude.

I respect your deferring to your spouse, but he sounds a bit inflexible at best. As far as the people who criticize you, don't be too concerned, most of them don't mean to be harsh but nuance is hard on the interweb. You will find that the people you meet in TV will be almost universally positive, and if you give it a chance I think you will be glad this is where you landed. Best wishes!

.....because we have seen/watched the amazing things unfold (over the past 15 years)!!!!:)

Some people here in The Villages have moved five times here in The Villages. It is cheap and easy to move here, far less expensive than moving across the country. Homes sell quickly.

Some people here have had five spouses. I understand that is an expensive situation.

Some people here haven't lived in many places. Some people here have lived all over the world. I noticed a trend in the last seven or eight years of people moving here from other areas in Florida considered quite posh and expensive. I am not surprised. To me this place is just heavenly. We are in our second house in The Villages. It may not be the last. BUT.... I am hoping to keep my first husband, he is quite nice. In fact he is just wonderful.

What a nice thing to say.

Our moves were not a hobby, house One was a vaca home, and a place for one set of parental units. House Two was a place for other set of parental units. House Three is where we live.

I am so sorry that in soon to be 2019 you are not able to have a say in the place that you would be happy to call home.

We live right near Brownwood and love it. Rarely ever need to go to SS area and find ourselves going to LSL area less and less now. In just the past few months we have seen 4 new shopping Plazas go up that are within a 5 minute golf cart or Auto ride with more to come soon. Plus, all sorts of new Amenities just south of 44 being built now that will be golf cart accessible within a year or so on top of the great amenities we already have here by Brownwood. Life is GREAT here and only getting better ! (and exciting to watch the daily progress)

Antique row
 

I was surprised to learn there is an Antique Row/resales behind Main Street along the train tracks. There is a parking lot near Bargains and Blessings.

I think this post explains a lot about the demeanor of your posts in general and am sad that this is not a happy and exciting process for you as it is for so many of us.

As far as your last statement, I think the criticism you are seeing is probably a result of the presentation and tone of your posts, especially not knowing your circumstances until now. My experience in TV is this - if you come down and walk the streets with a smile on your face you will most likely get that and more in return. We have found we could have easily made fast friends with people we encountered just walking down the street, or bumped into in a rec center, or even while standing in line somewhere as we could have in our own neighborhood. In other words, don't base your attitude about TV on your interactions on this forum. All you need to do in TV is to reach out and ask a simple question or extend a smile to another person and you will experience the abundance of warmth and acceptance in the vast majority of people who live and/or work there.

Wishing you all the best as you wade through the process of this important decision. I hope you find happiness and contentment wherever you land.

Every person has a choice, spouse or not. It sounds like you will be able to find like-minded people wherever you end up. The Villages is filled with really nice people and some nasty ones, too. Just like there are up north. I hope you are able to view this time in your life as a positive one and make positive changes so you can be happy. People of my generation are more likely to follow unconvention to find their happiness.. I am 50...

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It seems to me that many people move to TV, thinking a couple of things. First, that what they see now will always be. It's almost like they ignore the fact that things change. Second, that whatever choice they make for where they live will be permanent. And if that choice is wrong, or changes, that they somehow did something wrong.
We will be moving to TV in just over three months. We think our eyes are wide open to all the possibilities. One of those possibilities is that at some point, we may decide that TV is just not for us. I highly doubt it, but it is possible. We're trying to enter retirement looking at it as an adventure, knowing we will make some good choices and some bad ones. It's all part of the process.
I'm pretty sure that the southern area, Fenney, DeSoto, McLure, et al, will be much different in five years than what they are now. Ten years, they may be unrecognizable. When they started Fenney, I read the posts saying, "Yeah, but where are the golf courses?". Well, so far there are four. And it's less than two years into it. I think the folks who chose to live down there right now will be rewarded with a fantastic experience, it will just take some time and patience.

From our research, and visits to TV, we know that there are good points as well as bad. Just like anywhere else. We choose to keep a positive outlook.


Hope I haven't offended anyone, and if I did, I apologize.