I'm surprised you find NH expensive since they don't have any State income tax or sales tax. My mom lives in Mass, but we do all of our shopping just over the border in NH. Don't feel like we're cheating though, because my son and 2 sisters all live in NH.

LOVED your roses, Girl. Hey, here in FL now, I have an even BETTER garden - and it's HUGE now so I have less grass to mow. Now it's too hot for some plants, but the roses still look great! Oh, and you know Fl has plenty of bears too (but not in TV) :)

I think the cost of living probably depends on how many you have in the family and how they eat. We are just two retired people. I can shop and stock up at the sales at Publix, I shop Aldi's and get certain items at Sam's. My daughter-in-laws who live in NH shop Market Basket for most of their groceries and don't have the luxury of the time needed to shop around at various stores. They are also feeding families which is far different from feeding two retired people.

I will give one small example - we eat Fage Yoghurt. This past week it has been on sale at Publix for 5 for $6.00. I purchased it in Merrimack last week for $1.99 per piece. Huge difference in price. On the other hand, they buy the store brand which is much cheaper than buying Fage. So it probably works out the same in the long run.

When I get back I'm going to try to do another rose garden and see if I can manage to have both. Maybe you can give me some tips.

I would like to think that when I'm back in the Villages, making sure that a bear - or any other critter for that matter - does not choose to enjoy his evening meal via my trash, won't be on my to do list. Cleaning up after that moocher was absolutely gross.

On the plus side, I really enjoy seeing the loons out on the lake and hearing their call to each other. It's very cool.

It seems that my thread has taken a bit of a side road, with all this chat about the cost of living in NH as compared to Fl. So, I feel like I should say something about it.

Since I now live in both places, I think I can weigh in with some first hand knowledge on the subject. If you live and work in NH, the savings is significant, because there is no state income tax. But, not only is the average home price higher here the property taxes are enough to choke a horse - my dad's expression - as is the cost of hotels and restaurant food - both highly taxed - The cost of food is slightly higher, as is the cost of heating, electric and other utilities. On the other hand, anything you buy on line - whether there is a store in the state or not and any non food item purchased in the state - which doesn't seem to cost any more than in Fl, has no sales tax, so you save in NH.

All in all, for me, the only down side to living here - because, it truly is a beautiful state (beside missing my friends, of course)- is the long, cold, snow laden winters, which can start as early Halloween and drag on until Mother's day (if you're lucky). 7 months of misery, and when outdoor sports are something you begin to avoid after you've had your 3rd 49th birthday. All I hear from everyone here is how I dodged a bullet by moving to FL last fall.

Katie

Change Location Submit
Today's Weather for: Powered By WeatherBug
Lady Lake, FL 32158 6/19/2014

Switch to Celsius
Heat Index: 74�°F

Humidity: 91%

Dew Point: 72�°F

So Far Today
High: 76�°F
Low: 72�°F
Rain: N/A"
Rain Rate: N/A"/h
Gusts: 8mph WNW

Your Local Forecast
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday

High: 90 °F
Low: 72 °F
More High: 92 °F
Low: 73 °F
More High: 92 °F
Low: 75 °F
More High: 92 °F
Low: 75 °F
More High: 91 °F
Low: 75 °F
More
Come on down weather is great !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Katie,

A beautiful setting, a lovely rose garden accompanied by the sounds of loons on the lake sounds like the beginning of a good novel. Enjoy your summer!

Except for the difference in quality! Nothing compares to Fage, and it's one of the few Greek yoghurts that is still made the traditional way, taking the time to drain it.

However, at the rate our two sons went through yoghurt growing up, I'd go with the store brand too! Feeding teenage boys is not cheap. They have empty legs.

we have the sound of loons on the lake here, too! just listen outside city fire or rjgators at lake sumter some evening....alcohol has something to do with it :)

We have been back from our Merrimack/Concord, NH trip for just 5 days and I have to say I love this peculiar State we have adopted as our home. I was at one of the Rec Centers early this morning, met numerous people who "know" me and enjoyed stopping and chatting for a minute, met my early morning walking buddies even though they are going one way and I am going the other and saw my neighbors for a quick "good morning". There is something unique about living in The Villages and I love it. As we all know it is hotter than ****, we have had two really bad storms and enough rain to start building an Ark, but I love it here. I had coffee in Panera's with a recently widowed friend who is doing great. Tonight I'll be at Sumter Landing for a fish dinner - life is good.

So Katie, enjoy your wonderful summer and your family and then enjoy coming back to this great place TV! You can enjoy the best of both worlds.

Hey ron, I was on Beaver Patrol in upper MN and would tear dams up to get water flowing for the purpose of better paddling. Guess I was lucky not to get bushwacked, but then I was canoeing. Higher sides, ya know..

LOL, cha. that's funny. :highfive:

This is true ---- outside bar should be removed

Hi Katy.. We are back in NH as well - selling our lake home in Atkinson, NH. I've been here since the end of March and have been miserable on every level. Way too cold for me now. Lots of showings, but no offers yet. Hoping to have it sold and closed by end of July. Then we will be moving to our new apartment in Center Harbor (Near you, I think) in August. That will be our summer retreat for 3 months - July, August, Sept - then we will race back to TV for the good life.

lighten up
 

i was just joking...live and let live.... life is short!

Yes, Center Harbor is the next town north of me. It's truly lovely there. And now that the weather is the way it's supposed to be, the rest of the summer should be great.