Future part time home for us in TV - we are self employed and may need to continue
 

We are about 70, healthy, active and live in South Florida in a nice area. We will keep that home.

My husband is self employed as a CPA and I am a mortgage broker. We have employees but need to continue the self employment for our income. Plus, the employees aren't ready knowledge wise or financially wise to take it over.

I am trying to get my husband to understand he could work remotely. We would be entertaining TV for the social activities including golf. It is hard to pull him away from work and there is always one more phone call to make or one more thing to get done.

However, I know we are getting older and I have 3 questions -

(1) We do not look as old as we are. Most of our friends think we are under 62 are their comments are "Well, you don't even qualify for SS yet....etc" We are not vain. Are we too old to fit in at TV? We are not the sit around and watch TV type.

(2) If we go out to eat, we like a bit more upscale. Not chain unless it's Cheesecake Factory or Capital Grille. Any good places around? (We'd rather eat at home and go out for special times).

(3) Is it possible to get business for our self employment businesses or are people turned off talking about work?

We are planning to come up this summer and rent for a month with our most adorable Sheltie (soon to be joined by a Collie puppy).

Also, when he is actually pulled away from his work, he's fine.

Thanks for any help.

Have you been reading TOTV since 2008 when you joined?

////

Not too old.

There are a couple bit upscale.

Possible, not highly probable.

Finding a CPA in or near TV that is taking on new clients isn’t easy. We waited 2 years to find a CPA taking new clients, we were comfortable with.
Chain Tax business and online is very popular for many who have simple tax returns.

Paid advertising could draw a fair amount of new clients. Especially because one of the popular CPA’s is retiring after 2026 tax season.

If it's hard to pull him away from work, he's not going to change.

There's lots of golf in Boca and surrounding towns. There are tons of activities in and around Boca.

You are in a "Senior Mecca" in Florida already. In addition, you're already in an affluent area of the state. That means a smorgasboard of potential customers right at your doorstep.

Maybe stay put, and consider a month vacation rental at the Villages after tax season ends.

For what it’s worth take the advice someone gave me. It’s easier to do activities between 60-70 than it is between 70-80 and 80-90 and so on. Your window is limited so stop dragging your feet and retire already. It sounds like the husband will be at the desk when the reaper comes. Sorry, blunt but true.

For restaurants, search this site for several that are outside of The Villages. In Leesburg, there is Prime 3 and McCrackens Irish Pub. Depending on where you live and what you want, Ocala to the north and other places to the south have good, independent restaurants.

Good advise, you never know what tomorrow will bring. Enjoy life now.

I'll add traffic is less insane and it is far safer here relative to south FL.

Hard to beat the range of restaurants in South FL. For some food diversity outside the bubble, Orlando, Tampa/Wesley Chapel and even Ocala and Leesburg have finer scratch prepared food restaurants within 30-45 min.

Exactly my thoughts. Life's too short.
Retire healthy and active like we did and enjoy all The Villages has to offer.
There's so much fun to be had here. Who has time for work? lol

Besides, there's no point in being the richest person in the cemetery.

Rental for 1 month
 

Initially, that is what I'm trying to do. Just get some variety and fun to our life.

We are not Jewish so some of the areas around us we would not fit into as a 55 plus even though others say it is not like that, I know it is cliquey (not sure if that is spelled right).

Unfortunately, we have no grandchildren. One daughter is married but no plans for children and now 40. Son has a girlfriend and a future with her but she's only 32 so she has time.

I'm just trying to show my husband some different ideas.

We've never been able to vacation much but if we get away, it's for a weekend only.

Here's an example:
We went to Captiva a few times. So, whenever, I would mention getting away, it was always "Let's go back to Captiva!"

So, one time I said, Let's try another place and picked Clearwater. He loved where we stayed and enjoyed it. So, the next time, it was "Let's go back to Clearwater!"

Creature of habit. Only child. Grew up with Hialeah, FL - born in Miami. Very quiet life with his parents. They were very frugal. He was not allowed to do much. No many social opportunities but he loves being with people. He is just shy. (I am from a larger family).

He knows I'm doing all this by the way.

Just figured out how to reply
 

Initially, back in 2008, I looked at TV for my FIL. He was widowed, loved people and I felt if we got him out of his comfort zone, he would blossom. He was mid 80's but active. Rode a bike 10-20 miles a day still.

Well, we had a place set up, ready to go 2009. Easter Sunday he was on his bike near downtown Hollywood, FL, hit a pothole and over he went. Thank God no traffic and a truck driver stopped and helped him. He had broken his hip. There went the trip.

But always kept TV in my mind. I've had a realtor send me listings. Not sure where to go but I'd like to be more in the middle of things.

What area should we look into to rent a place for a month? Also, we would have a small pet?

Good to know.
 

Thank you for that info. Do you have the CPA's info? Maybe my husband could have a chat with him.

Forget TV for the moment, time for some intl travel or week long vacations.

Try a week cruise, not to Bahamas, maybe Alaska, maybe Northeastern Canada
Tour Iceland,
Go back to HI and revisit other islands.

Not going on more than weekend vacations is your own choice in the past.
You want to change, start with a week vacation, but start now. .

There are people who do love their jobs, gives them purpose and stability and comfort. It has some to do with characteristics you mentioned, but most likely just inherited personality characteristics. I know another couple like you. . struggle to go on many vacations. . .

Tough position by being nice, I would personally use the nuclear option, starting with the tactical nuke: going by yourself with girlfriends or relatives. . . Seriously you don't know how much time you have left. I have known and talked with presidents of large companies who got let go, and who still wanted to work, and two years later were dead.

My dad loved his work, forced to retire at 78, went legally blind several years later, and couldn't do what he loved to do for fun without someone else getting him there. .

I have a college roommate, who owns his own company. . can't sell it, been in the family for two generations, gets work vacations traveling around the world, but still works 6+ days a week, can't let go. .

Have another friend who retired early, but doesn't have desire to do many activities, other than work, as well. . somewhat bored, lives in Boca Raton as well, as well as I have worked there on and off for three decades. . . but he can do what he wants to do anytime.

sorry to hear about your work only life. . sounds very stable and after 50 years, pretty much the same day after day. .
you are rolling dice on having many vacations left before you can't. .
good luck to that!

^ Totally concur. I watched my Dad work until he was 66. He spent a very fast decade buying a boat and trying to use it solo until he fell in the water one too many times. His ability to travel lasted about 5 years. Essentially by 75 he was at home on the couch all day everyday with occasional trips out for breakfast or dinner. By 89 he was dead. That was a very short 9 years he got to enjoy his life's labors.

That is exactly why I fully retired three days after I turned 50. Z E R O regrets.

I am semi retired. I will turn 69 the end of this month. It's hard to quit what you worked all your life to build. I do realize my time left is limited so we have started to travel. We bought in the Villages two years ago. Prior to that we rented for a season. I'm in the Real Estate Business, primarily as an Residential Appraiser. In addition we are Seasonal (Snow Birds). I am lucky I can slow down or just go off rotation with my clients. Thankfully I do not need to push as hard as I did years ago at this point in our lives. I resisted my wife at first to come to the Villages. After I got to the Villages and experienced all that the Villages has to offer I changed my opinion. My Wife is the social butterfly and enjoys meeting people in our neighborhood. I play golf and have joined some neighborhood groups. One group is a weekly breakfast group. I have met a lot of good people who I enjoy. I am still very active and have helped some neighbors with some small handyman projects (no charge). You can be as busy as you want to be here. Or you can enjoy the quiet of your neighborhood. We are in the Northern part of the Villages. The more developed neighborhoods with trees appealed to us. I guess my long winded reply is to try it. It can be anything you want it to be.

P.S. My CPA is 80 + and still working. So I may be looking for a CPA in the Villages down the road.

Sounds like you will fit right in in the Villages.

Agreed.

@BMill I am sending you a PM.

Rental
 

Im a native Floridian..born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale.
I'm sad you can't decide to retire and enjoy the epic retirement you deserve. Take a look at joining the Facebook book group
EPIC RETIREMENT " It's a real life changing retirement group from everywhere in the world with thoughts..experiences and encouragement about retirement. I hope and wish you well.
Respectfully
Grace

If I had a regret, it would be that we would have retired earlier and moved here. We are very healthy and early 70's. But we've noticed a bit of a slow down after 70 than before, even though we are very active. Live is short, especially good healthy / quality life, so give up working and retire. I doubt if anyone dieing wished they would have worked longer.

Which FB Group?
 

Hi, Grace. I'm interested in checking out your mentioned FB group but there are many with 'epic retirement' in the name. Can you be more specific? Thanks, Debbie

My wife and I moved to The Villages when I was 58 and she was 57. I worked as a college professor teaching accounting and finance classes and it was done entirely remotely. She was also an accountant and wound down her business before we moves, except for a few who would just not take no for an answer, She worked remotely with those few for several years, using email, fax, and snail mail or Fedex and it worked wonderfully well. We loved being able to be together 24/7, though we each had an office setup in separate bedrooms (we hired a contractor to build in a desk setup with cupboards in each of two bedrooms in our home. Close the closet doors and you couldn't tell).

Personally we both feel the restaurants around The Villages are mostly just adequate. Palmer and Lopez are nicer and the food is better than most of the other country clubs, in our opinion. I'm 71 and my wife passed away nearly 2 years ago now, but I feel like I fit in still. As for generating new business, by and large the majority of the population here are retired folks. They still have a need for tax prep and investment advice, but beyond that most do not want to talk about business from my experience. Others may have a different opinion, but that was our experience. Good luck to both of you.

Retirement has 3 stages,
Go-Go
Slow-Go
No-Go
It sounds like you intrinsically know this . Keep nudging hubby, it sounds like once he makes a change he likes it. But be mindful that your rental options are limited by your dog….two dogs will REALLY limit you.

Prime3, Harvest, Blue Fin, Chop House are all upscale dining. We moved for the 700+ holes of golf. No place like it. You can build a Premier home if you need a larger home.The Villages has plans to choose from to up to 6000sf, so housing type is varied. You are in a prime window for physical activity. Try to remind your husband not to waste it. Once here, it’s hard to find time to work because of all the things to do.

We used to live in Boca Raton. There is no social life for people over 60 except joining a Country club where you play golf then lunch or dinner. It has become a college town. Yes, there is plenty of golf but very expensive. In The Villages the golf is reasonably priced with 14 Champion courses all but 4 have 3 nines. In addition to golf there are many other activities that you can do. We have been here 15 years now and it is the best place we have every lived.

Thanks Everyone!
 

Great replies and so appreciated!

I will respond later and keep them coming!!

What neighborhoods would be more centrally located? (For the rental)?

I love trees also; good to know about the northern part also.

Also, we have 1 Sheltie now and have visited another Sheltie to adopt so 2 dogs, however, we may end up with 3 as someone called me about a smaller Collie puppy (so 3 dogs) - if we bought or rented, is 3 dogs an issue? All well behaved, walked on leash, etc.

It's not like we didn't work hard but I had to help my own parents financially (wonderful people) and then we had an awful thing happen in our lives which cost us almost everything.

There is 1 thing I am petrified of and that is snakes of any kind. I grew up on the East part of Broward County (Fort Lauderdale, Lighthouse Point) so I never saw them. So, if there are areas more wooded and have lakes with gators, let me know that too.

Thanks again!

It used to be a max of 2 dogs per household but one can move here with 3 and can't replace it when it passes.

Call Community Standards (352-751-3912) to be sure.

Reading OP post…it’s about not wanting to retire for her husband. I get it one of us had no choice but retire. Healthcare Providers stress is in their DNA.

I retired and one week later asked to return because of pandemic. I continued to work 3 more years. Once I could retire again, it didn’t feel right. I didn’t want to leave trauma drama, with 10 days on 7 off of call. As non stop adrenaline junkie one just doesn’t stop to do nothing.

OP strongly suggest you rent for couple of months so your spouse can see if remote working is feasible. We all know remote could work….but if your spouse just can’t then moving here may not be a benefit

How do I find your PM?
 

How do I find your PM to me? Does it goes to my e-mail? I don't see one in there if so.

Depends on what the activities are. We are 72 and can do lots of activities still, but prefer not to do highly strenuous ones like pickleball. Our neighbor in his late 60s had a massive heart attack a couple weeks ago after a strenuous game of singles tennis. Thankfully he’s okay now.

If you want to be in the middle of things, I'd say "between the sixes" (between 466A and 466). The Odell Circle area would probably be an awesome option for you. It's settled and landscaped, with well-kept homes, several pools, golf courses, and rec centers, close proximity to both the Havana and Mallory Country Clubs, close to Sumter Landing Town Square and not far from Brownwood or Sawgrass. It's also close enough to a broad variety of shopping options. It's a HUGE circle, and I'd actually suggest being between Morse Blvd. and Buena Vista (it crosses to the east side of Morse too, it really is huge). That would give you the most convenience, no matter what mode of transportation you're choosing when you leave the house.

If by "small pet" you mean a small cat or a dog, you'll probably find a place without much trouble at all. If you mean an iguana, macaw, or potbellied pig, maybe not so much :)

In your previous post from yesterday you said you had "a small pet." Three shelties is not "a small pet." It sounds like you're confusing yourself, and aren't really understanding your own priorities.

Most rentals that allow pets, allow ONE pet. Not three. Especially since homeowners aren't supposed to have three pets, so why would they rent their home to someone who has three?

And a sheltie isn't all that small. They're also incredibly lively working dogs, and sidewalks are rare in The Villages. You'd have to walk all three on the street, and none of the homes have acreage large enough that you could let them out to run off all their natural energy. There are dog parks, if you don't mind your dogs rolling around in other dogs' pee and poop remnants and mud, and tracking it through your landlord's carpeting when you get back from their exercise.

I would either re-think adopting two more dogs just as you're preparing to convince your husband to take a month-long rental in someone else's home, OR - reconsider renting someone else's home.

Zero Restaurants
 

None of the restaurants in the Villages is at Cheesecake Factory level. End of story.

Hat's off to you for continuing to work - it's one of the best things to keep your mind sharp.

Seriously? I disagree with your opinion. Cheesecake Factory is just a glorified Chili's. Harvest, Blue Fin, and especially Prima are all better than any overpriced Cheesecake Factory. Next you're gonna tell me how awesome P.F. Chang's is.

Cheesecake Factory is essentially an over-priced Farrell's for adults.

Give me an example of where most go out to eat
 

Where do most go to eat? How about the restaurants at the country clubs?

The Dog Situation
 

We now only have 1 Sheltie, age 3. She is very quiet. We had a Collie (he was big) but he passed away in January 2025 at age 11 of lung cancer. A true gentle giant. Our Sheltie misses him.

We had recently visited Ocala for 2 reasons - 1 to see a Sheltie (14 months) and to see some land that my husband's family had owned since 1978. We have an offer on it. My husband wanted to see it first since he had never seen it. Our son had seen it, driven it and given us a video.

We combined both things into the 24 hours we were there and stayed at the WEC. Excellent by the way. We chose a good weekend because it was ultra quiet that weekend. We had our Sheltie with us so we could visit with the other Sheltie. (to see if it was a good fit).

If we sell the land, my husband is going to put those funds towards the remaining renovation on our current home. Our home is from 1982 and 2 bathrooms done so far but the rest needs to be done and the funds from the land will move things in a positive direction.

I told the Sheltie people that we would need to finish the renovation first so the dog is on hold. If someone else shows interest, they will let me know. I'm thinking 3-6 months from now.

In the meantime, our name was on a list for a Collie from 2022. That lady is 85 years old and called me to see if we were interested in a very small Collie puppy. We do not even know if the pregnancy took yet. It would be probably be around November 2025 if we did that.

My husband walks the dogs on leash 4 times a day. Fairly long walks. I do see The Villages do not have sidewalks. That is surprising to me.

So, when we visit for the rental, we will only have 1 dog which is our very well behaved sweet Sheltie. She is a doll. (It is our 6th Sheltie since 1987 - but I grew up with Collies).

If we come to rent in TV, it will be before August 14th. I'm thinking July 6th to August 14th time frame.

Odell Circle Area
 

This is great info for the rental! What neighborhoods would make up this area?
I've looked at a few rentals and there seem to be a LOT.

Thank you so much!