It is what’s OUTSIDE that makes Solavita ao awful.

While in Chicago last month I decided to visit the Loyola University Water Tower campus and where the student union used to be stood The Clare. I cannot begin to imagine what it costs to live there. But having spent many winters going to school there with the wind ripping through the highrises off Lake Michigan all I can say is: The Villages is the place to be. Easy livin' is the life for me.

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I have lived in the Chicago area for 38 years; I have never heard of anyone retiring to Chicago from somewhere else unless it was to be closer to their children or another relative. And this is one pre-retiree who wants warmer weather and lower taxes. That's not happening in Chicago. I have considered the Phoenix area, but I don't know if I could deal with Arizona summers. Some of these "best retirement locations lists" are less than believable.

New here. The wife and I are just starting our search for where to go once we are empty nesters.

Of all the places we've researched (and I can't say that is very many or very extensive yet) TV has the best online presence. The main TV site is full of information about the LIFESTYLE & COMMUNITY, and they have the Daily Sun. Then there is this forum, and the guys doing YouTube videos. I haven't found anywhere else even close.

Solivita is another place that's caught my eye, but their website is terrible, and their HOA site is all locked up behind logins. It's very hard to inform prospective buyers about your activities & lifestyle when all the info is locked away. And Solivita's main site makes it clear it is one of many developments by the builder. That doesn't speak of a big commitment to Solivita to me.

The wife & I are not looking for a nice house - there are millions of those available (we live in one). We're looking for an active social community & amenities that many other places seem to offer lip-service to, but TV seems to really focus on and have.

Sounds like the place to be for those that have the listed items high on their list.

It was pretty strange to see that some of the nicest, most upscale housing in The Villages was in the Village of Bridgeport. Can't get over the negative imagery. If you ever lived in Connecticut, you would know what I mean.

These types of articles should be viewed with a bit of suspicion. First of all, they are "clickbait". Secondly, the authors are uninformed. I have two relatives who are paid travel bloggers and rarely leave home. They get all their content to include photos and restaurant/hotel/cruise line recommendations off the internet. One of them wrote a piece of clickbait about the best sandwich in each state but has never traveled West of the Mississippi.

The slide show didn't seem to be in any ranking order. Each place got four slides. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they were paid for.

P.S. Based on the slide show I went and checked out Sun City HHI's web site. Not terrible. Their calendar was mostly vendors coming to sell stuff - medicare info, financial advisors, etc. There was a room reservation schedule that looked pretty full of clubs & activities, though.

The name of our community is The VILLAGES. Please note the S at the end of villages. The concept is to have many villages grouped together in order to keep a village feel. Personally I think this concept works.

I think it is time for you and the wife to come and visit. It is very hard to understand how smoothly this place happens and how nice it is by reading a Forum on line.

When you visit you should attend the class about the CDD and how this place works.

You also need to realize that rec centers and recreation facilities and golf courses are added as The Village grows. And potential volunteers move in with each new batch of newbies. Perhaps you have a skill to share?