Signs That You Chose the Wrong Place to Retire. This are things to be done before.
 

Younger retirees and older ones don’t usually give a thought to the availability of transportation. They’re accustomed to hopping into cars and going where they wish, whenever the spirit moves them.
But that independence and freedom rarely lasts forever. If you intend to stay in a new community as you age, you may eventually want one where you can use buses, trains, light rail, cabs and ride-sharing companies.
So, long before you need it, assure yourself that your new town has plenty of ways to get around.
It’s self-evident, but it’s worth saying: Older people consume more medical care. And they often require care from specialists and facilities specializing in orthopedics and geriatric care.
Find out whether your destination has what you need by talking with folks and calling providers.
Housing is the biggest factor in most Americans’ budgets. Eliminate a mortgage payment or rent, and you can keep housing costs from changing while your income is fixed.
Moving to an area where housing prices and rents are high can put a serious strain on your retirement budget. Think twice before doing so
.Many Americans cycle into and out of retirement. Some retirees grow bored and want the stimulation they used to get from work. Others learn that their retirement income doesn’t stretch as far as they’d hoped.
You, too, may want to work again after being retired for a while. In addition, a town with plenty of living-wage jobs is a healthy, livable town with a strong economy — the best kind of place to live.
Talk with people you meet to gather a sense of how friendly the community is. If you are looking for a faith community, investigate the congregations that might appeal to you and attend services at several to test the waters.
Ask yourself where and how you will make friends. Shop the grocery stores at a couple of different times of day and week to see if people are interacting or simply hurrying in and out. Try to pick up a sense of how warm and open to newcomers the town is.
Even those who are not social types may be unhappy in an atmosphere that is cold, exclusive or frenetic.
Where do people gather in the community you are considering? Try to look at the place with the eyes of someone who has just moved there: Visit the coffee shops, senior center, parks and movie theaters.
If you speak a language other than English, is there a cultural center where you’ll feel at home?
If you plan on staying in the community for the rest of your life, it’s smart to look at resources you may need down the road. Ask real estate agents and others you meet about the availability of home health care aides. How many agencies are in town? Are their services highly recommended?
Even if you don’t mind not seeing family members for extended periods of time, think about the fact that your children or loved ones may one day need to take an active role in your care — perhaps even becoming your caregivers.
Great distances make caregiving stressful and often agonizingly difficult for adult children who are also raising families and working.

I am 100% certain that retiring in TV was the correct choice for my husband and I. He has 13 Championship golf courses to play and terrific practice facilities. We have made many friends that we socialize with and go to restaurants. I am very active in a number of clubs and have made a lot of good friends. We do not have children so no worry about them helping us. We have experienced no issues with health care. We still drive so no transportation issues. When we stop driving, we will use Uber. If owning our hoe becomes difficult there are large amount of Independent and Assisted Living Facilities.Life is Great here!

This is an excellent post. We never think we are going to lose our independence.In my Village there are several very elderly people who use walkers to get around and need paid caregivers to get around. What a lonely way to end your life.

When the time comes you both cannot drive, this is not the right place or you. Until them lots to recommend here.

Just another negative post in a long string of them by someone who doesn’t even live here

My father in law is 90 and still drives.

I would be much more comfortable if he moved to the villages when he was 60, knew the golf cart paths, and mostly drove a 20MPH golf cart rather than a car.

Same for my dad, at 78.

There is no Utopia...... and aging is inevitable. The OP is correct that there are many things to consider when looking for a place to retire. One thing I noticed that was left out was the availability of good medical care. And, being an RN, I feel that is the most important consideration when thinking about retirement. I spent 20 years in St Pete, Fl before "retiring" to TV and 20 years in TV working in the field. Yes, I was one who found retirement boring. Working in the Home Health field was a real eye-opener into the needs of aging families. And also a great way of finding out pretty quickly, the quality of available medical care. Unfortunately we found ourselves in the position of having to relocate to be closer to family so as not to be a burden on our daughter, who was having to make more frequent trips to TV to help out. And that has been a real eye-opener. First off, to find everything that the OP mentioned, I believe one would have to retire to a large metropolitan area. We relocated to NC, another popular retirement area, and it has been most frustrating. Driving is a major issue as we are reliant on our daughter now for transportation. My spouse could no longer drive, I could, but chose not to after relocating at age 85. We are only 45 minutes from Charlotte, NC.
I stay in touch with TV through this forum and Neighborhood.com. As I listen to the complaints about everything around TV I cannot help but think how lucky we were and how much we have lost by relocating. Sometimes I even consider coming back.
Let me list my reason for this, according to my priorities:
#1: medical care: you have hundreds of doctors, all available specialists and about the best in Cardiac and Orthopedic physicians available anywhere; you have 3 hospitals in Ocala, TVRH, Leesburg Hospital and Waterman all within a short drive. You have UF Shands, top notch, within a short drive, the hospitals in Orlando, Lee Moffitt Cancer Research facility in Tampa, Mayo in Jacksonville. I have 2 hospitals, neither of which have a very good reputation. It takes at least 6 months to get an appointment with a physician. Another 6-10 weeks to get a CT Scan or MRI. And none with the available state of the art equipment that was available around TV. You have the Comprehensive Stroke Center at Ocala Regional, an exceptional facility, several free-standing Emergency rooms that are outstanding. We have none.
#2: Transitional care facilities: you have many Assisted Living and Memory Care facilities and they are quite good compared to the few here in NC.
#3: you have at least 5 of the top Medicare Home Health Agencies in the country available there. We have a couple and I can tell you the differences in services provided by the ones in Fl, compared to the ones here, is remarkable.
#4: you have many agencies that provide private pay services. There are a few here and that rates are about quadruple to what they charge in Florida.
#5: Activities: you know there is nothing you could want to do that you cannot find available in TV, usually within a golf cart ride away. And the movie theatres here are closing also. As are the restaurants and all for the same reasons as in Florida. No help available. And this is an area where there are many young, able bodied people who still apparently, don't want to work.
#6: Transportation: there is none here, other than taxi service either. At least, in TV you have a large community of neighbors, friends, etc who are willing to assist each other in times of need. And, of course, taxi service. I see the notices of many who are willing to provide assistance to those in need of this service and many other services that people post a need. And there is always an over-whelming positive response to those. Not much of that here.
So, my advice... those complainers need to try relocating, sit back and ponder what you left behind.....
IMHO....... UTOPIA.

It's not really a lonely life at all. My parents have 24/7 home aide service and live in their own house in a very small 55+ community down in the southeast part of Florida. My sister lives near them and goes over there every few days. They still have plenty of friends in the area who either visit, or they visit (with the help of the aide).

Mom uses her walker to get to the pool almost every day, where she spends around an hour or more with other people who go to the pool at the same time she's there. She socializes with them while she's there, in addition to actually swimming. Their aide takes them to doctors' appointments, which tends to fill up a LOT of their time. Then they go home and take a nap. Have supper, watch the boob tube til bedtime, then rinse and repeat the next day. They enjoy dining out from time to time, often with friends, sometimes with family. Sometimes it's just a breakfast with the neighbor.

It's less "outgoing" than they were before, but it's still better than being stuck in a nursing home for the next five years, waiting to die.

I don't see it as a negative post. I see it more as some things people should consider, as they get older. These are things my own parents had to plan for, and I'm so glad they did so prior to my mom having her stroke and dad losing his sense of balance. I would have felt horrible being the one responsible for making these decisions for them, if it had gotten to a point where they were no longer capable of making them, themselves, and hadn't planned in advance.

As I watched my parents in their retirement years, I realized, eventually, that to think of "retirement" as one single phase of life is a mistake.
I look back on the photographs I have of them from 1989 when they first retired, to 2012 when my dad passed away, and they remind me of the stages that they went through in that 23 year span.
As I approached retirement ( I retired at the age of 62, 7 years ago) I decided it would be most practical to break it down into 3 phases. Phase 1: still relatively youthful, able to travel, engage in physical activities like golf, pickleball, walking, biking, etc...
Phase 2: bit by bit, I'd be losing some physical activities, but replacing them with other less stressful things.
Phase 3: transitioning into varying degrees of assistance.

Yes, eventually, if I live long enough, I won't be able to drive. I won't be able to play pickleball, or golf, or ....whatever....but now, at the age of 69 I can do all of the things I want to do that make The Villages a perfect fit. If I live long enough I'll have to find another place to live.
I'm OK with that. I didn't move here with the idea that this place has to fit my needs forever, should I live longer than my body will allow me to take advantage of the activities.

Similarly, I spend my summers on a lake in New York. I know I can't stay here forever. This place is an accident waiting to happen for old, uncoordinated people. Uneven beach rocks, boats, docks....however, for now, it's good.

If TV doesn't work for you, don't come here. If it does, great, but it might not be a "forever" place. That's OK too.

Orange Blossom Baby and Laker. Excellent posts on aging, thank you.

You neglected to mention all the good stuff in The Villages that offset all your negatives. There’s no question that living here is a different lifestyle than we’ve been accustomed to. But the vast majority of people moving here enjoy the variety and depth of opportunities available to us here. The Developers sales program is even called a Lifestyle Preview. Most people try it… and like it.

You have never waste agony

Ba humbug! There is no perfect place. Once you can't drive there will be transportation issues anywhere - except maybe Europe. As far as family goes, I know people that moved closer to their family when they got older and they still didn't see their family more than a couple times a year. Unless you move in with family or on the same street, if they work, it may not matter much. At least here, there are tons of activities. There are transportation services with Sumner county if you schedule in advance, Uber, etc.

Try using your wisdom which is more precious than peals instead of attacking the obvious

Transporation
 

Para-Transit is available in the Lake County portion of the Villages, I believe Sumter now too. Food delivery from instacart, Walmart & Krogers.

This thread has nothing to do with LIKING TV, it has everything to do with how to live here when you can no longer drive or no longer want to take part in any of the vast numbers of clubs and interests available. Also lets not forget you have to get to the clubs. People need a viable alternative to the dreaded nursing home or assisted living. It is a mobility/transportation issue.

TV
 

We have Uber & Lyft...PLUS, the most helpful population of residents I have ever encountered!

Well, YMMV. My 92 (93 in Nov) mother lives alone, 600 miles from nearest family in a state that is strict with DL renewals. She just got hers renewed last month for another 4 years. So, Your Mileage May Vary. There are no absolutes. There does not have to be a time that comes when they both cannot drive.

As the old saying goes nothing is for sure but death and taxes.

For us we love the activities we are able to go to. When that stops happening for us think we would be better off in an apartment where there is better transportation options.

From what I have heard, and hopefully that is wrong, lyft and uber not that readily available here.

are you just reading fortune cookies to us today?

Great place to retire
 

We carefully considered our needs in relation to advancing age, and expected mobility and medical issues.
The villages was a good choice. We have a single story low maintenance home which is now just 4 years old.
We have 5 grocery stores in approximatey a 2 mile radius, all of which are golf cart accessible. And we expect to be able to use a golf cart for transportation even after we no longer feel safe driving a car.
Medical facilities are also close and golf cart accessible.
And The Villages has a lot of lifestyle offerings with plenty of sports activities. When we can no longer play sports we'll join some of the less active clubs.
So yes it is important to consider all of the issues related ro rerired living and we believe the Villages is a good choice.

I'm retiring in TV and I'm not a golfer.

I lived in Vegas and wasn't a gambler.

I lived in Colorado Springs and wasn't a skier.

I grew up in Hawaii and wasn't a surfer.

Wherever you move to.... there you are! :cool:

What aspects of TV did you find the most appealing?

Exactly!
The OP list a whole host of things to consider. Question for him is do you consider a nursing home a retirement community? The answer is of course not. The villages is a retirement community and nobody ever said or implied it is a place you are guaranteed live until the day you die.

Prior to needing to rely on other services when you cannot drive an automobile, there is getting around in a golf cart. I know people who are legally blind who still drive their golf cart around The Villages and so far, have been safe doing so.

Scary. They will be safe until they are not and hopefully others will not pay for them still driving.

Everybody in The Villages should read post #7. Thank you for your insight as to the medical facilities available to residents in the area. My wife and I were spoiled prior to TV because we lived in a Midwest city with a medical school and many available doctors and excellent hospitals. It’s not perfect here (no place is) but considering the number of retirees it’s ahead of any retirement community in the country IMHO.

Agree to a point. I truly believe they will stop driving their cart when they feel they are not safe to do so. It is not like driving a car so there is that.

price of new house & loc/lifestyle, + near family

I would sure hope so but has to be a very hard decision to make to get you to stop driving but if someone is legally blind has no business driving how can they be safe driver?

Sure not looking forward to having to make that decision myself

I know. It is so difficult to lose one's independence.

Joel, I suppose you may reach someone who hasn't already made a decision, but really, your audience here is nearly 100% made up of people who have already made theirs.
Will you share with us your agenda? You have been a member here since 2020, and nearly all of your posts are critical of TV, because there is no free public transportation.
What is your story? Do you think you'd be happy here if only there were free public transportation?

If I recall correctly he does not even live here

Thank you so much for this very informative, thoughtful post. I really appreciate your sharing your history and perspective.

WOW! Doesn't live here yet thinks he has all the wisdom of what it's like. I think most people weigh out the advantages---I know we did. In comparing here with there---I'll take here. There, change has happened as well. What once seemed great (small town with it's advantages) has grown and with it more traffic (people drive crazy there too). LIFE changes no matter where one is. Our kids have their own lives and their kids have grown and the same thing with them. I doubt we'd see anyone of them more often due to their circumstances etc. Where we came from there was no public transportation neither. Oh---and the weather----snow and ice for months on end which also requires shoveling etc. Restaurants there are experiencing the same as here. I belong to social media sites where one could insert TV with their names and it would be all the same. Maybe the OP has an idea where a true Utopia would be so we could re-locate there.

Very well said!

NotGolfer Lifted from your original plost:

Maybe the OP has an idea where a true Utopia would be so we could re-locate there.

Utopia lies within oneself. Your utopia will not be mine and vise versa . The Villages is utopia to many, but there are things missing which could make it even more enjoyable as one ages in place.

Gray hair is a glorious crown won and earned from life experience and a righteous life. That is why no matter where you settle down you must do you due diligence. Speech is silver, silence can be golden to some people.

More fortune cookie wisdom.
How about just answering a direct question with a direct answer?