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Loved your last sentence in particular. Thanks for your thoughts. Actually, thanks to EVERYONE whose opinions I also value. All of the posts above were very helpful. Ditto for those who shared ideas in the past.......all of which I took to heart. Everyone's posts were helpful..........all along. I learned a lot. I think we are going to retain our northern home while wintering in Florida........becoming the dreaded "snowbird"...... By keeping our northern home, we at least have something to go back to........if destiny throws us a curveball in Florida......which it has been known to do. The simplest solution was there all along. We don't have to "buy in Florida in order winter in Florida". So many of you are indeed enjoying two locations successfully. Again, I appreciate everyone's views.........thank you. Below are some quotes I've been collecting....... Below quotes from others who have thought of changing direction midstream... "Some lessons take years to learn, with repeated exposure to the same path sometimes shadowed by the inner conscience of own souls. But eventually we learn, and our journey continues in another direction." Matthew Underwood "Sometimes we look for those thunderous things to happen in our life for our lives to change or go in the other direction. We seek the miracle. We seek the parting of the seas, the moving of the mountains. But no, it's a quiet thing. At least for me it was." Ben Vereen "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go." Dr. Seuss "IF you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading." Lao Tzu "Going by my past journey, I am not certain where life will take me, what turns and twists will happen; nobody knows where they will end up. As life changes direction, I'll flow with it." Katrina Kaif "I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination." Jimmy Dean "Happiness is a direction, not a place." Sydney J. Harris "It's better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you'll drift in that direction." Warren Buffett "I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." Henry David Thoreau "Painful as it may be, a significant emotional event can be the catalyst for choosing a direction that serves us - and those around us - more effectively. Look for the learning." Louisa May Alcott "Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." E.F. Schumacher "When you get just a complete sense of blackness or void ahead of you, that somehow the future looks an impossible place to be, and the direction you are going seems to have no purpose, there is this word despair which is a very awful thing to feel." Stephen Fry "If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction." Dietrich Bonhoeffer "Excess generally causes reaction, and produces a change in the opposite direction, whether it be in the seasons, or in individuals, or in governments." Plato "So the universe is constantly moving in the direction of higher evolutionary impulses, creativity, abstraction, and meaning." Deepak Chopra "It's a very slow process - two steps forward, one step back - but I'm inching in the right direction." Rob Reiner "Your Heavenly Father will help you find the right path as you seek His guidance. Remember though, after you pray you must get off your knees and start doing something positive; head in the right direction! He will send people along the way who will assist you, but you must be doing your part as well. " Margaret D. Nadauld ******************************** "Each of you is a unique child of God. God knows you individually. He sends messages of encouragement, correction, and direction fitted to you and to your needs." Henry B. Eyring |
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We too grappled with this issue for many years. Since 2001 have been coming to TV as renters, at first 1 month and then increasing longer, we knew it was what we wanted permanently so we bought 3 years ago. We are now selling our house up north in Wis, also not a good market. We have been back for 3 days now and it just reinforces our decision. We live on a lake, always much, much to be done in the spring. It has been hot and the mosquitos are awful. My husband says lets go back to TV. Our children are scattered and have busy lives, our grandchildren are all grown and in various life stages of working and college. We have seen them less and less in the past years but they know that we live in the "Sunshine State".
One other point that I did not see mentioned it that vacation rentals are available anywhere in the US. In those hot summer months of Fl, is the time to go and see other areas of the US or in your own"old backyard". That's what we plan on doing. We love to travel and are planning some European trips and cruises. There still is alot of World to see. If our house here is Wi does not sell quickly enough we may be in the rental business ourselves. I'll let you all know. It is a beautiful place to spend a week away from the crowds and heat! |
I think Joe, 2BNTV, said it best. He said....Don't allow yourself to stay in the "paralysis of analysis".
It is clear to many of the people who have read your posts for many years that you will probably be more satisfied with being snowbirds. I feel that your readers wish you well and hope you find the right answer for you and your husband and your family. The Villages isn't for everybody, but it sure is for US. We are accused of working for the developer. I think he works for US. If we were all the same in what we liked and didn't like, they would only sell vanilla ice cream. Whatever you decide, we'll leave the light on fer ya. ;) |
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You are correct........totally. Heartfelt thanks to you.......as well as all the other posters. Snowbirds enjoy the best of both worlds by trading cold winters at home for sunny vacations in various retirement areas. That's for sure. I really can't figure out all the complaints against them from "villagers" in t.v. It took me awhile to get the "lingo" such as Frogs, Snowbirds, etc. but I finally got it. Crowded conditions I "get", but they are just following their own dreams of what is right for them. Perhaps easing into full time residents.......somewhere down the road in their future. The Canadian snowbirds are just following the laws of their country as far as U.S. residency/Canadian residency/their medical system/pension plans, etc. I have many Canadian cousins who also winter in Florida. On Sunday, we were revisiting some vacation spots in the Florida Keys, Sanibel Island,Fl., Vero Beach, Fl., etc.........Many gorgeous beachfront condos to rent by the month. Most of them accommodate guests, should our adult children/grandchildren wish to visit. Unfortunately, I did get the impression over the years that some folks do not like visiting children in T.V. Not all, but some. Although we've always enjoyed entertaining our family and friends/neighbors plus lately our adult kids' married childhood friends along with their children.....we are not and probably will never be "party animals"......nevertheless everyone likes to congregate at our house when our "kids" fly home for a visit.......or drive down. The other "younger families" come from all over......from Maine to Boston.....plus Vermont. It's a compliment to us........and it's nice to see the "little friends of our children" now in their 40's with spouses and "little ones" of their own. THE CYCLE OF LIFE. These "kids" all highly educated are spread coast to coast but come back to Vermont annually**.........true deep bonded friendships, created in small town America..........we might say, "where have the years gone?" We ourselves have never been SINGLE...having been together, happily, since age 17. A rare thing nowadays. The home we are in now is perfect for such **visits.....large, with all the comforts and space to accomodate everyone.........with room to spread out. The T.V. "Lifestyle Visit" homes are 'to die for' beautiful.....we had a full sized designer home in T.V. It does tend to grab you. However, in reality, all the extras add up. I don't want to give up the luxuries I have here for a stripped down model.....on a tiny lot when we are all used to acreage up here and mountain views.....with our "town" just down the hill a short ways. .........and our mailbox on the road down at the edge of our driveway......with plenty of invites to our neighbors pools for our visiting grandchildren. (our other home had an Olympic sized inground pool but this one does not). This is not suburbia either, as all the doctors, dentists, merchants, teachers, engineers, lawyers, carpenters, builders, plumbers, electricians, live together with the rest of the townspeople....our kids all grew up together. Everyone knows everyone. Everyone goes to everyone's funeral. I don't think people even have funerals in T.V. I had a hard time locating a funeral parlor (it is off campus). Can't beat a population of 16,000 souls , from cradle to grave. 100,000 population we haven't lived in since we were twenty years old, when we got married and left it. I guess we have "become" country mice rather than city mice. The latest logic is that by retaining our northern home/wintering in Florida for a short spell, perhaps one month or so, not the entire winter........just an "escape".......we can still visit our much loved Maine seacoast during the summer months........for three or four weeks. We love Maine and the Canadian Maritimes......as much as Vermont.........as well as the state of New Hampshire too. Plus upper New York State has so much beauty. That same logic tells us we are used to and do enjoy the "four seasons" which are beautiful in Vermont........but everyone needs to get away now and then. We also have family "out west" as another option, in Colorado and Arizona..... It's like a huge weight has been lifted from our shoulders now that we are NOT going to list our home for sale. It just brought back memories to me of the last 1994 move to Venice Florida on December 16........bought and remodeled a beachfront condo while shepherding my mom with early Alzheimers, who had just become recently widowed, necessitating us bringing her along with us.......after closing down two homes, hers and ours........at age 49. Both kids out of college, married, out of state. We do remember what it was like to be 49 but we weren't interested in living in a retirement community at that time. So, a lot younger than NOW twenty years later. The old folks were such old grumps, if truth be told.........so as much as everyone here despises "Leisureville" there is something to be said for living amongst all ages..........this winter our 30 something neighbor came over to snowplow us out each and every snowstorm. He wouldn't take money, but we forced it on him. Our snowblower sat idle during a very harsh winter. All of the "little kids" now have families of their own and would help us in a heartbeat.........if we needed assistance. Plus , Venice had other issues.....but was a lovely "planned" community back in the day, a "Florida Main Street Town". Really laid out nicely with a beautiful "avenue" and "esplanade" and beach, jetties, etc...........with some secrets as well. We returned to Vermont, with all our new Florida furniture in April 1995. Our realtor neighbor up here on the "hill" negotiated us buying another home (our third) in the same old neighborhood which we had just left.......it was all done via fax machine, etc. and one flight home to see the house. We were only "gone" for 4 months..........and so happy to be home, buying our third home in our old neighborhood. The first time we left was 1974, stayed one year; returned. Just missed the four seasons..........plus Discoid Lupus flared up from sun. Again they must have magnets in the bedrock here........but we know what we have; we know our neighbors and townspeople.......we all have a history together and yes, Vermont is a beautiful state with four seasons. Yesterday was gorgeous and today will be a repeat........summerlike weather, in the 80's ........lovely. WE just need to take a break in the winter........which is very doable. Simple fix; simple solution. I do not believe we have over analyzed anything.............we are not golfers, not dancers (unless we had to), not party animals.......more family oriented and hubby not fond of excess heat..........he thought 80 was too hot. T.O.T.V has been most helpful in realizing all of this..........and slowly letting it all sink in. We enjoy traveling, sightseeing, "serenity", being creative artistically........and now I can add to that, keeping our "roots" and "familiar habitat". It's such a relief to realize that our realtor in Venice was right when she said , "Remember, you don't have to buy in Florida to winter in Florida". Moving long distance is an expensive proposition, only to decide to return again............when we were younger , all of our friends and family flocked to Vermont to stay with us......... Vermont always had that special "mystique" about it.........nothing too much has changed since 1970 when we first arrived from New Jersey where we spent our first 25 years of life. Funny, but we never once thought of returning to N.J. Whenever we drive north in VT to see the grandkids graduate etc, or just have a family reunion with the Colorado "kids".........we marvel that some parts of it look untouched by human hand; we are often the only car on the road..........but as my dear old mom would often say, "This is God's Country". After our kids "outgrew" Disney World/Epcot after flying down from when it first opened, yearly thereafter....until they were in high school.......we then switched to Sanibel Island Florida for our April trips. Click hyperlink below for our old condo unit........now beautifully redone. http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p3243478 One of the many condos that can be rented monthly on Sanibel Island, Florida....an old fave of ours. This unit which we used to always rent in April, has been totally remodeled. Gorgeous job of renovating it. It was lovely back then........but really upscale now. Off season, the owners would give us the place for $700 a week......back in the day. She was from Cincinnati , Ohio. Again......peaceful, serene.....our kind of getaway. We always felt comfortable in this unit for two weeks. Easy walk across the dunes to the EMPTY beach. No drop offs or steep steps like some east coast beaches.......although they now have easier access ramps for those with limited mobility....the storms have done a number on some beaches. Sanibel Island brings back fond memories for us.........who do not crave excitement.... Great for relaxing, reading, collecting seashells, enjoying meals out or in........rejuventating & sightseeing in Naples, etc. Welcoming guests to join us. Empty tranquil beaches..........Sanibel connects to Captiva Island.....looks like "old" Florida. Before the causeway to Ft. Myers went in......Sanibel was more isolated. Still a special place. It might be this coming winter's getaway spot. Still looking as there are many rentals. One year we will opt for Arizona, for sure. I'm just glad at the moment that I do not have to get onto the "real estate merry go round".......been there, done that........and we always sold our homes quickly........but times have changed. We don't want to "give away" this house.....that's for sure. Our great United States has many beautiful places to see and visit. We've been to many. Friends of mine stay for the entire Vermont winter but happily "escape for just ten days to Hawaii" each February.........then they are good to go after that brief respite. It's when we come "home" that we all realize what we really have .......in memories, in comfort, in whatever it is that makes us all happy, as unique as we all are. After all of this, I can truly say that the one major thing I value the most about living in New England since we were 25 years old is the right to freedom of speech. You can see I did not drink the Kool Aid, if truth be told. Not one sip. Namaste/Peace and thanks to all who shared their personal journey. It was truly appreciated. |
Some responses. Of course we have funerals. St. Tim's had 209 last year. AND we have funeral homes.
Children aren't allowed to LIVE here but that doesn't mean most of us don't like...LOVE children. Most of us are NOT party animals and enjoy our homes. And enjoying entertaining people in our homes, particularly family. Doctors and dentists live among us too. Except they are now retired. I think six years of thinking about a move is a long time. I think you have finally come to a conclusion that will put your heart and mind at rest. BUT....I have the opinion that you have missed a wonderful opportunity for a lot of joy.....and a decent investment too... AND I am not selling anything. All of those homes that will be built in the new area of Fruitland Park will have people LINED up to buy them. Our home purchased in September of 2011 is now valued on Zillow and Trulia at about 30% above what we paid for it. Folks who have sold in our new village have sold for much more than they paid. BUT THAT is not the point at all. The real reason I have answered is that I am glad I am here enjoying my life and you will be there enjoying your life. Most of us have read your posts over the last six years with interest, enjoyed your recipes and patiently or impatiently answered your questions. The Villages isn't for everyone, but it is making a lot of people very happy. It is our home, our town and our place of happiness. Wishing you happiness Senior. I think you would have liked us if you met us who post a lot on this forum. The printed word is not how humans were made to communicate. Sometimes just looking into someone's eyes makes their words more sincere, more palatable, and more understandable. And a genuine, heartfelt hug can cure many a misunderstanding. |
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Traveling in the summer is the answer to the heat, and we have many plans. Last night I spent two hours on the phone with our son, watching a Pirates game, talking hockey and old Mustangs, sending each other web site links. He rarely could give me two hours when we were in Michigan. Now I get to interact with him more than ever. And when they visit us or we them, we get them 24/7. Warmth, travel, TV's offerings...This is the best ever for us. |
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Six years? Did not retire until 3 years ago
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Six years? Did not retire and close our business until three years ago. It was yet a while after that when we visited The Villages. WE had learned of it from some people who came into our store raving about it. In the long run, none of them ever moved there. However, they did enjoy their visits......just as we did. Just as others do. Sometimes the ties that bind are stronger than strangers. WE have vacationed in Florida every one of our almost fifty years of marriage. It was research that came of familiarity with the state. I assure you we will enjoy our lives, having the best of both worlds, while retaining our Vermont home. We are looking forward to wintering in Florida and also enjoying summer getaways to coastal Maine.......but keeping our house. Right now we are thoroughly enjoying our three season screened sun porch and expansive deck. Perfect weather. I just told my husband he should have a big hot tub installed off the Trex deck. Our son is flying east to visit us next week.........the following week our daughter is visiting us once school is out. Looking forward to seeing the grand children. Our lives are all full. We have wonderful neighbors and have seen each other through births, deaths, graduations, weddings, baptisms, etc. That is life. In the long run, winter is short. The older one gets, the faster it passes. The kids have assured us that no matter where we are, they will come and visit. Still having great memories of our two weeks at the Maine seacoast during our big family reunion last August. I doubt if we will have regrets. Moving is expensive. Easier to just take vacations to different areas of our beautiful country than to sell everything and start over again. Again, our roots run deep here. Plus I know for a fact he will complain about the summer heat. That is a major consideration. Not to mention the skin problem; an auto immune disease. Today it is 80 degrees but we haven't turned on our air conditioning yet as the humidity is low.....but if you sit in the sunshine it is hot. We have lots of huge shade trees plus the three season porch with an octagon roof over it and paddle fans on ceiling.....which makes it ten degrees or even 15 degrees cooler in the shade (so hubby thinks).......plus mornings are cool, evenings are cool....it doesn't stay oppressively hot day and night. After much serious consideration, we have made the right decision........and will just enjoy our winter getaways to Florida beaches..........not hurricane season then. |
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