Talk of The Villages Florida - Best Cities for Successful Aging?

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Cisco Kid (Post 1399612)

Apparently cold weather was not a factor.

Exactly! :oops:

I mean really, Fargo, ND and Fairbanks, AK...being toward the top? :ohdear:

Looking through the report and the criteria/weighting they applied, I can see how they reached their conclusions, but seriously question why they left out some pretty important things as we get older...such as weather/climate.

I also think they really missed the boat in the 'Transportation & Convenience' factors. While we don't have a public transportation system to speak of, by not taking into account our extensive and unique 'golf cart accessibility' system...we really were shortchanged in that category. :shrug:

But, as they say, 'the proof is in the pudding.'

Being the fastest growing 'metropolitan' (prior to 2013 we were considered a 'micropolitan' area) area for a number of years now, indicates that there are a heck of a lot of people that aren't using this study...to determine where they are choosing to age. :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColdNoMore (Post 1399625)

Amen to that! Certainly, as others posted, weather was definitely NOT a consideration (which is tremendously weird, to me, anyway). I think there's a separate factor of "livability/desirability" that should come into play. However, you have to admit, TV does an incredible job of marketing to the right audience. I have been surprised at the number of complaints about TV since I've been here - it's almost like they didn't look at anything else or anywhere else, and are now here to "point out the shortcomings". So it goes - you can't please all the people, etc. Thanks, great points!:agree:

Quote:

Originally Posted by pauld315 (Post 1399533)

These cities were rated very heavily on health care and education. So, if you have a university with a medical school in your region and access to a large community college you are at a distinct advantage. I also think the ratings rely heavily on financial indicators which are much more meaningful in a "normal" multi-generational environment. IMO, Once again, TV is being dinged because it is a 55+ community and is large enough by itself to be ranked against multi generational communities. TV's own success has placed it into a survey where apples are being compared against an orange.

The state of Florida only had one region (Gainesville) make any of the top 20 lists yet Florida attracts more retirees than any other state in the country. Also, when I take a look at the Top 20 small metros I notice that most of them are in areas that I don't know anybody who wants to move to to retire. This survey is skewed to multi generational communities where unemployment statistics, availability of work etc are meaningful for their populations.

I don't know about you but I really have no desire to retire to Iowa City, Iowa or Sioux Falls, SD anytime soon !

Gainesville actually does have a remarkable number of retirees (I believe it's mostly due to a) the healthcare system and b) cost and c) access to the University amenities) - but, agreed, I don't know of many people choosing to move to and retire in Fargo, etc. However, they did apparently "weight" some factors in considering the 55+ phenomenon - but, as I stated below in a response to someone else, they didn't either weight it enough or consider livability/desirability. It might be a better study to evaluate, for example, all the "55+ communities" in the U.S., or at least in Florida. I'll ask - why not?

It might be a better study to evaluate, for example, all the "55+ communities" in the U.S., or at least in Florida. I'll ask - why not?

:agree:

A friend of mine took a statistics course in which the instructor said, "a chair has four legs and a horse has four legs". Therefore, a chair is the same as a horse?

Comparisons should be made to other 55+ communities.

TV seems to be the model other 55+ communities strive for. I'm sure there are people who will have negatives about TV community but put me in the camp of liking it here!

I wouldn't give this much credence. Jackson, MS is in the top ten for comparable sized cities and yet...........Crime. Jackson, Mississippi, violent crime, on a scale from 1 (low crime) to 100, is 81. Violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The US average is 31.1.

IMHO where a person will successfully age depends on their wants and needs. One fellow I know at age 75 constantly takes college level courses as he has since he retired more than 10 years ago. He could care less about playing golf and weather is not that important to him but living near a great university is. An 84 year old man I know still exercises most every day at a gym (indoors), then plays tennis most afternoons (outdoors). He lives in Newport Beach so he can play tennis outside almost every day of the year. Others I know enjoy running, long walks, hiking or swimming and so want to live where they can enjoy these activities most of the time. To some people food is important and to others it is not. Some want to eat "healthy", others "gourmet" so they want to live where both restaurants and food stores offer the fare they seek. Some may have significant health issues so need live near a major hospital and various medical specialist practices. Others may remain healthy throughout their lives and only require occasional medical checkups and assistance.

All of these factors and many others bear on where any particular person can successfully age. One size does not fit all.