[MTHeineken]

Hi all,

Just me and the wife and I am going to be the spokesperson. We have lived in the Atlanta area most of our lives even though we are not born there. I am fully retired for 2 years and not worried about staying busy as I can always find ways to entertain myself. She likes her job and wants to continue for a few more years so we are not quite ready for a move of any kind.

Have a very nice community north of here called Soleil but it was stopped cold by the housing bust and has several poured basements with no house on them. They look like they were bombed out bunkers, eek. Been to a few places around TV but not impressed. Would love to retire in CA as SoCal has, in my opinion, the absolute best weather in the country, however, the price of real estate is down right scary for anything near the beach. (I feel if you are going to live in SoCal you have to live near the ocean to justify the expense) However, do not want to live in paradise and be "house poor". So good weather has its price and in the end I have often heard life is all about friendships. With that in mind we are contemplating leaving our "dream home" for a bigger and hopefully healthier social life.

We have been down for a couple of visits with friends that live in TV. During that time we saw some homes and got to look around the town, however, we didn't get to just take their Golf Car and explore on our own. Consequently, we booked the preview and aren't telling them we are coming down. (Hence the anonymity in this msg in case they see it) Looking forward to getting the full experience on our own and meeting new people unencumbered by our friends' influence or preferences.

Thanks for reading and if you see a couple with a cat on a leash in TV Dec 20-23 it will be us and please say hello.

Look forward to having a great time.

[Tom Hannon]

A great intoduction. I know you will enjoy the lifestyle visit. You will love The Villages. good luck..and welcome

[Francie]

Have a wonderful time. When you check into the sales center, ask for the golf cart trail map (8.5"x11" version-it's free), buy a $5.00 street map and just explore away. I just recently did this and drove the cart from the most southern to the most northern part of TV. This will give you a great appreciation of all there is to offer.

[eweissenbach]

Well, if your friends are on this site and click on your post I think they will put 2 and 2 together, but I appreciate your intent. By the way, anyone that can train a cat to a leash is someone that I want as a neighbor. You wil have a great time and I am willing to bet you come to the conclusion that dollar for dollar there is no place that can compare to The Villages and all the activities available. Good luck and let us know your conclusions. PS. we won't tell your friends.

[graciegirl]

Welcome to you. What a nice introduction. I hope that your explorations make you fall in love with this lovely town.

I told our cat Mikey about your cat on the leash and he is rolling around on the floor laughing.

Anyone who has a cat has to have a kind heart. Hope you find this place that we love, to your liking too.

[Sunshine Mary]

Welcome to The Village.
I know you are going to love your Lifestyle visit.We was booked for 4 nights and called to see if we could add 2 more days you don't want to leave here ..There no place like The Villages .Let us know how you enjoy your Lifestyle visit.

[2BNTV]

to TOTV.

I was very attracted to the friendliness of people. It's good to explore on your own in a golf cart.

Have fun and enjoy.

[old moe]

[QUOTE=MTHeineken;426221]Hi all,

Jorried about staying busy as I can always find ways to entertain myself. She likes her job and wants to continue for a few more years so we are not quite ready for a move of any kind.

Have a very nice community north of here called Soleil but it was stopped cold by the housing bust and has several poured basements with no house on them. .

don,t know how long ago you were at Soleil,but new builders have taken over afew years ago after Levett went belly-up. seems to be going strong.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Happinow

Sorry everyone. I know this question doesn't belong here but I'm not so good at new threads.. For those of you who have recently built your home could you tell me about picking out the interior? Some of you said you were changing paint. Do the builders put in flat paint? If we don't want flat paint do they give us an allowance to upgrade to semi gloss?? Do we have the option of recessed lighting throughout with dimmer switches? Will they put in a fireplace or is that an after build? How about upgrading cabinets or fan lights instead of just fans? We have many ideas for the inside and wonder just how far the builder will go without us having after builder work done. We are trying to as informed as possible so that when we come down we know what to expect and the process will go faster. How about extra patio for the gas grill? Builder or after build. Thanks a bunch...

These are all very good questions and would fit perfectly into a decorator thread...administrators..Hint. Hint.

And Happinow..I don't know the answers to most of them. I do feel flat paint is "in" right now.

[MTHeineken]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

Well, if your friends are on this site and click on your post I think they will put 2 and 2 together, but I appreciate your intent. By the way, anyone that can train a cat to a leash is someone that I want as a neighbor. You wil have a great time and I am willing to bet you come to the conclusion that dollar for dollar there is no place that can compare to The Villages and all the activities available. Good luck and let us know your conclusions. PS. we won't tell your friends.

I hope to post a detailed account of our adventures in TV. The cat (Tiki) rides in the SUV and has an onboard potty box. He loves sitting on the dashboard watching the cars and has driven with us on a 4 hour trip so 6 hours may be interesting. We are doing a YouTube video "Tiki goes to Florida - The Villages". Can't wait to see if he will ride in a gas Golf Car.

[MTHeineken]

[quote=old moe;426325]

Originally Posted by MTHeineken

Hi all,

Jorried about staying busy as I can always find ways to entertain myself. She likes her job and wants to continue for a few more years so we are not quite ready for a move of any kind.

Have a very nice community north of here called Soleil but it was stopped cold by the housing bust and has several poured basements with no house on them. .

don,t know how long ago you were at Soleil,but new builders have taken over afew years ago after Levett went belly-up. seems to be going strong.

Sorry, but not as strong as we would like. Only 22 homes sold last year was what I found out. Far cry from the 300+ in its heyday. Don't get me wrong it is still a nice place in the built out section in phase 1. Phase 2 is a real work in progress. Nothing like TV.

[MTHeineken]

Originally Posted by Francie

Have a wonderful time. When you check into the sales center, ask for the golf cart trail map (8.5"x11" version-it's free), buy a $5.00 street map and just explore away. I just recently did this and drove the cart from the most southern to the most northern part of TV. This will give you a great appreciation of all there is to offer.

Great idea, thanks

[MTHeineken]

Thanks everyone for such a warm welcome. TV is surely the most friendly town in America. Hope we run into some of you.

One question ... how important is it when picking a neighborhood? In other words does it make a difference what neighborhood you live in? Is that why some people move after living there awhile? Or is it just wanting a different type home (villa or house)?

[Yankee Quilter]

Originally Posted by MTHeineken

Thanks everyone for such a warm welcome. TV is surely the most friendly town in America. Hope we run into some of you.

One question ... how important is it when picking a neighborhood? In other words does it make a difference what neighborhood you live in? Is that why some people move after living there awhile? Or is it just wanting a different type home (villa or house)?

MT - we are in an over 55 in Kennesaw and actually put it on the market this week hoping to move to TV! We looked, years ago in Canton but it scared me then! We have friends that went belly up there when the builder went under. Like your wife, I had intended to work for another couple of years, but lost the job in June. My husband is on a contract in DC for another 9 months. We decided to see how long it takes to sell, and I think we are ok as it is a great community and great location for Kennesaw!! When it sells to TV we go (even if I proceed him)
We are between Villa and cottage, new and resale. The best advise I get is when you see the right one you will know!! We will be down ther the 28th - 2 sorry we are going to miss you!!!

Betty
Connecticut, California, Georgia

[Happinow]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

These are all very good questions and would fit perfectly into a decorator thread...administrators..Hint. Hint.

And Happinow..I don't know the answers to most of them. I do feel flat paint is "in" right now.

Oh gosh Gracie! I really don't like flat paint...can't wash it and it marks up just looking at it. May have to hire someone to put semi-gloss on.