[striveforhealth]

Greetings!
Here's our situation - Bobbi will be 55 in March 2013, I'm 49 and will be 50 in May. We live in NH and the cold/dark is becoming a life-enjoyment factor so we're starting to look at options. We are coming for a Lifestyle visit on 12/12! If we decide that TV is a place for us, at least one of us will continue working full time after moving. Yes, we have talked about renting for a year to be "sure", etc. So...some questions. Have any of you moved to TV pre-retirement and can you share experience with moving, finding a job, hard to go to work with so many retired, etc? Anyone have a sense of the % of those in their mid-50's? Did you bot arrive at the same time, or did one move down first to get a job, etc? We had friends where 1 moved to AZ first to get a job, search for homes and his wife stayed back to sell the NH home, etc. I welcome any thoughts/experiences! Thanks - Becky

[Mack184]

Sent you a PM.

[graciegirl]

Florida does not have wonderful employment opportunities. The pay scale is quite a bit lower than in your section of the country. Sumter county has been transformed from one of the poorest counties in Florida by the growth of The Villages.

So do your due diligence..It may be wise to keep the jobs you have even if the climate is not perfect. The financial climate is not looking up nationally so perhaps you should wait a while. Florida leads the nation in foreclosures this month.

There are a number of folks in their fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties and nineties and even over 100 here. This is a retirement community. Here in the villages the jobs that there are a lot of are in landscaping, food service and the health industry.

[lanabanana73]

Welcome to TOTV!! I also sent you a PM. My hubby would love for us to move there too, and for me to work in healthcare (I'm a nurse) to provide us with insurance, while he plays basketball and golf!

[justjim]

Becky: We retired in 1998 when we were in our 50's---took reduced retirement income and moved to the Sunshine State from Illinois. Although we had employment opportunities, we decided to travel while we could and invested some of our savings in Florida real estate. 7 years ago we moved into TV. In TV we have met several couples who moved here as pre-Retirees and work everyday. There are employment opportunities in central Florida. For example, the health fields are looking for employees. We know some couples who are doing computer work in their homes, a couple in real estate, one is a hair stylist and others who are working retail in TV and have a small business.

Of course, only you know your financial situation, skills, education and overall risk tolerance. Bottom line, make a careful decision and be sure both of you are in a 100% agreement. good Luck.

[buggyone]

Do not expect to move to The Villages and continue working right away. The job market in this area is very slim. There are opportunities for healthcare professions but not much else. Real estate is pretty well saturated and most everything else is around minimum wage area.

I would suggest waiting until you are able to retire and then buy here.

[graciegirl]

I hope my posts to people who would like to move here and would need to work to do so don't sound too personally unwelcoming. This place would make almost anyone fall in love with it. It will remain what it is if people move here who can afford to and not rely on a number of things falling in place to make them financially safe. If too many people move here who cannot stay afloat financially than this place too will have a lot of foreclosures.

I know that sounds selfish, and it is selfish, but so many have sacrificed and saved and planned and downsized to make this beautiful dream a reality.

It is certainly not a right to live here, but a privilege.

[Debfrommaine]

Originally Posted by striveforhealth

Greetings!
Here's our situation - Bobbi will be 55 in March 2013, I'm 49 and will be 50 in May. We live in NH and the cold/dark is becoming a life-enjoyment factor so we're starting to look at options. We are coming for a Lifestyle visit on 12/12! If we decide that TV is a place for us, at least one of us will continue working full time after moving. Yes, we have talked about renting for a year to be "sure", etc. So...some questions. Have any of you moved to TV pre-retirement and can you share experience with moving, finding a job, hard to go to work with so many retired, etc? Anyone have a sense of the % of those in their mid-50's? Did you bot arrive at the same time, or did one move down first to get a job, etc? We had friends where 1 moved to AZ first to get a job, search for homes and his wife stayed back to sell the NH home, etc. I welcome any thoughts/experiences! Thanks - Becky

Welcome to TOTV! This is a wonderful site to gather info and I'm sure your responses will be helpful. Hubby and I moved here about just over 2 yrs ago; I work FT and he is retired. Finding a job wasn't that difficult though the pay was far less so you'll need to adjust. We also have friends who still work and of course, many who don't. There are times when I think I'm the only one still working though and ya, it bothers me sometimes. But, I also don't want to wish my years away so that's the reality. We're from Maine and can understand how the weather would make you consider a move to TV - can't beat it. We have no regrets and don't foresee moving anywhere else but my motto is "never say never" - The Villages is a fabulous place and we're lucky to be here. We started our search here some 10 years ago now and finally made it, suspect you will be glad if you decide to move here. Anything is a risk in life so go for it, hope you decide to be a Villager!

[2BNTV]

The job market will depend on what one does for a living. Don't expect to find an overabundance of great paying jobs. Maybe if you are in the health field
but the pay scale will be much less.

We all know that you will fall in love with TV when visiting. In general,
the newer neighborhoods have younger retirees.

I think you will need to decide if financially, a move makes sense to you at this point of your lives. You will need to do your homework before making a major decision.

Here is a link with expenses for a patio villa:

Moving to the Villages - Part 1

[Cantwaittoarrive]

I'm 53 my wife is 51 we live in TV but we are retired. I think job prospects depend on what you do for a living. Before I retired I sold software and worked out of my home. If I still worked I could still work making the same nice income I made before I retired while living in TV

[asianthree]

If you do indeed need one to work full time I would find the job first then move. We have a friend who drives to Orlando every day at first it was great, now not so much

[striveforhealth]

Thanks for the great responses!! Bobbi is a medical social worker and has done that work for 20+ years, and I've done social work/support with seniors for 11+ years. One thing we'll seriously look at is job possibilities along with all the other opportunities. We would only made the move if it was an all-around good decision for us - not taking it lightly! And we can be patient if needed...but it was 30 degrees before the wind started blowing today - ha! Looking forward to starting our exploring in 3 weeks!

[obxgal]

Here is a list of job openings at the Leesburgh Regional Medical center and The Villages Reginal Hospital that might be of interest to you. Enjoy your lifestyle visit.
https://www.leesburgregional.net/emp...mp_openall.php

[Beach Boy]

We moved in 7 years ago @54. It will surprise you how many people 50ish and those older seem younger. Don't wait, you will stay younger with all the activities and meet very interesting, friendly people. Jobs can be found they are not generally high paying but you will be paid generously with sunshine. Hope to see you soon.
Beach Boy

[alemorkam]

you dont wanna wait and then say "I wish we had moved here years ago" like many other who have waited. My wife and I moved here at 53 and 48 and continued working. That was 9 years ago and we have enjoyed every minute. We moved from Massachusetts cause it was "TOO COLD".