[Pugchief]

Originally Posted by LeRoySmith

I'm surprised so many cultured people move to a place without culture.

That's because all that culture brings with it high cost of living and lots of crime. I guess you have to decide what's more important to you.

[Rodneysblue]

Originally Posted by justjim

Recently I have read several articles about Retirees moving from Florida to other States. Some even going to States like Delaware, New York, Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky and even midwestern states like Iowa, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. Some of this information on Facebook and other social media sites. Realtor.com just posted an interesting article on this topic “America’s Most Popular State For Retirement is Losing Its Edge”. Retirement states most popular to move to are the Carolina’s and Georgia.

Primary reasons for leaving the sunshine state: Too hot and humid, hurricanes, too crowded, cost of living, especially housing, insurance skyrocketing, etc. The fact there is no state Income tax didn’t seem a good reason to stay because many pensions not taxed anyway.

We recently had good friends (compared housing cost) and they chose North Carolina over Florida. They had visited The Villages a couple of times. Is Florida losing its edge? You can’t back a“yes”using statistics.

Nope, no plans to move. Been out of NY for 30 years and have no desire to move back there.

[Taltarzac725]

I saw what looked like a headless statue on a front yard here in the Villages. When I got closer I saw that it was a human body with a frog's head setting on a lawn chair. Here either he or she until she or he croaks. Or they.

[vintageogauge]

Originally Posted by Pat2015

I have found excellent medical care here in TV and at Moffitt. Yes it does get hot here but it’s also very hot up in MD where I came from. In terms of traffic, I’ll take this over the MD/DC traffic any day off the week. Good luck to you with your move as that seems to be a good plan for you.

We started spending winters here in 2001 and it was very enjoyable. The traffic now during winter months is out of control with very few new roads to handle the huge increase in residents. I came from a country atmosphere with very little traffic and that is what I'm going back to. Unlike where you came from we might have 8 to 10 days each year in the 90's but without this high humidity, and 5 to 8 weeks of cold winter weather otherwise beautiful spring, summer, fall, and early winter weather. We are within a 30 minute drive to the Cleveland Clinic main campus and only 5 minutes to one of their many suburban hospitals and the same with University hospitals as well as the Summa health system all of which have great doctors both primaries and specialists. Most important to us though is being near to our family in our late years of life. Nothing wrong with The Villages but in our case it's time to go home.

[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

We started spending winters here in 2001 and it was very enjoyable. The traffic now during winter months is out of control with very few new roads to handle the huge increase in residents. I came from a country atmosphere with very little traffic and that is what I'm going back to. Unlike where you came from we might have 8 to 10 days each year in the 90's but without this high humidity, and 5 to 8 weeks of cold winter weather otherwise beautiful spring, summer, fall, and early winter weather. We are within a 30 minute drive to the Cleveland Clinic main campus and only 5 minutes to one of their many suburban hospitals and the same with University hospitals as well as the Summa health system all of which have great doctors both primaries and specialists. Most important to us though is being near to our family in our late years of life. Nothing wrong with The Villages but in our case it's time to go home.

This is an interesting thread. If you ask a random villager if they are a frog, most give an exuberant YES! This thread is the opposite. Many are contemplating leaving, have several friends who have left, and some have mixed feelings. Are people simply pretending to love the Villages when asked in a social gathering? As for me, I loved the Villages when it was small with very little traffic. Twenty + years later, we are contemplating leaving. Too crowded!

We are still young compared to many here and have no major medical issues. We understand Florida is not a state that caters to senior citizens who are severely ill or disabled. Several politicians have said this type of care would bankrupt Florida. For obvious reasons, too many old folks. Lately, .Hubby and I have been wondering. How wise is it to live in an area with nearly a quarter million senior citizens? (including all retirement communties in surrounding area) It frightens us knowing there will not be help if needed. And, how long will we have to wait to have our medical issues attended? We have several neighbors who have to wait weeks for medical appointments. It has been on our minds to move and visit the Villages a few months a year.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by rsmurano

I think the media who wrote those posts are trying to make it sound like people are moving back to NY and California, which much is certainly not true. NY cheaper than Florida? This is a joke. Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas are experiencing huge growth. Have you seen how many people try to buy a new home here? My buddies were competing with a couple hundr d people to buy a new home or lot in Eastport.
I was paying $12k in property taxes and $20k a year while I lived in Portland, and this was in 2000. Property taxes back then are double what I pay here, and $20k in income tax will buy me years and years of insurance. I can tell you that if you lived in Portland now, you’d be paying 2x compared to my fees in 2000.
But if people want to leave, don’t let the door hit you while you are leaving

Don't let the door hit you... now there's a tired old expression but given the age of the population it's not a surprise.

Personally, I find using Portland a very poor measuring stick for quality living.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Just got back from the golf course.

Nothing beats TV for golf in the summer.

You need to get out more.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I don't mind congested areas if there are things to do that would attract such congestion, and -practical- economical alternatives to driving.

Boston and Manhattan are such areas. You can live just outside these cities, and take a subway in, and get a monthly pass for unlimited use of the entire system (other than express buses which I believe cost extra). Crazy congested but it's walkable, there are TONS of things to do, with some of the best health care in the world, foodie heaven, music, drama, culture galore, libraries that'd knock your socks off, more museums than Vegas has casinos.

But yes both places are insanely congested. The congestion is part of the culture of living there. Compare to Florida, where congestion is not part of the culture, because there really isn't much culture at all.

Once, twice maybe three times but then it's like been there, done that and the traffic sucks.

[justjim]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

This is an interesting thread. If you ask a random villager if they are a frog, most give an exuberant YES! This thread is the opposite. Many are contemplating leaving, have several friends who have left, and some have mixed feelings. Are people simply pretending to love the Villages when asked in a social gathering? As for me, I loved the Villages when it was small with very little traffic. Twenty + years later, we are contemplating leaving. Too crowded!

We are still young compared to many here and have no major medical issues. We understand Florida is not a state that caters to senior citizens who are severely ill or disabled. Several politicians have said this type of care would bankrupt Florida. For obvious reasons, too many old folks. Lately, .Hubby and I have been wondering. How wise is it to live in an area with nearly a quarter million senior citizens? (including all retirement communties in surrounding area) It frightens us knowing there will not be help if needed. And, how long will we have to wait to have our medical issues attended? We have several neighbors who have to wait weeks for medical appointments. It has been on our minds to move and visit the Villages a few months a year.

I can attest that residents move from The Villages on a pretty regular basis. That is why in a retirement community it’s about right to have 4% resales at any one time. A house is sold and another retiree moves in. Of course, that fluctuates from time to time. As we age health care can quickly become the most important concern in our life.

[patfla06]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

We started spending winters here in 2001 and it was very enjoyable. The traffic now during winter months is out of control with very few new roads to handle the huge increase in residents. I came from a country atmosphere with very little traffic and that is what I'm going back to. Unlike where you came from we might have 8 to 10 days each year in the 90's but without this high humidity, and 5 to 8 weeks of cold winter weather otherwise beautiful spring, summer, fall, and early winter weather. We are within a 30 minute drive to the Cleveland Clinic main campus and only 5 minutes to one of their many suburban hospitals and the same with University hospitals as well as the Summa health system all of which have great doctors both primaries and specialists. Most important to us though is being near to our family in our late years of life. Nothing wrong with The Villages but in our case it's time to go home.

Your reasons are completely understandable.
Luckily for us our Son finally got out of N.Y. and now lives in south Florida.
We would never move back to N.Y. for any reason.

[LeRoySmith]

Originally Posted by Pugchief

That's because all that culture brings with it high cost of living and lots of crime. I guess you have to decide what's more important to you.

I was making fun of obb for complaining about no culture. This is the perfect about of culture for me - swimming pools, golf carts, live music and cheap beer. I'm like a pig in you know what.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by LeRoySmith

I was making fun of obb for completing about no culture. This is the perfect about of culture for me - swimming pools, golf carts, live music and cheap beer. I'm like a pig in you know what.

High culture events usually come with high prices, crowds, and traffic to-and-from those venues.

We will see how long I can stay here in the Villages but even then I will probably be close by to here. I plan to be anyway. I have been here in the Villages since June 2005 . We moved from Palm Harbor, Florida which had even then very dangerous roads with a lot of the traffic going 60 mph or more. It was like a strip mall with a highway going through it. A fatal to near fatal accident on US 19 almost every week. US 19 in Pinellas and Pasco Counties still is one of the deadliest highways in the US.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

We started spending winters here in 2001 and it was very enjoyable. The traffic now during winter months is out of control with very few new roads to handle the huge increase in residents. I came from a country atmosphere with very little traffic and that is what I'm going back to. Unlike where you came from we might have 8 to 10 days each year in the 90's but without this high humidity, and 5 to 8 weeks of cold winter weather otherwise beautiful spring, summer, fall, and early winter weather. We are within a 30 minute drive to the Cleveland Clinic main campus and only 5 minutes to one of their many suburban hospitals and the same with University hospitals as well as the Summa health system all of which have great doctors both primaries and specialists. Most important to us though is being near to our family in our late years of life. Nothing wrong with The Villages but in our case it's time to go home.

Driving during high 'bird season can be annoying, sometimes even infuriating, around here. During those times I remind myself that I am RETIRED and really don't need to get many places very fast. If so, I just leave a little earlier. It has done wonders for my composure. My wife says I don't swear nearly as much as I used to when driving.

It is to be expected though. Infrastructure always lags behind a growing city, state, whatever. I doubt the residents of a state would be tolerant of spending their taxpayer's money on the possibility of growth. Let the growth happen and then let the tax contributions of the influx help to expand the infrastructure.

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Driving during high 'bird season can be annoying, sometimes even infuriating, around here. During those times I remind myself that I am RETIRED and really don't need to get many places very fast. If so, I just leave a little earlier. It has done wonders for my composure. My wife says I don't swear nearly as much as I used to when driving.

It is to be expected though. Infrastructure always lags behind a growing city, state, whatever. I doubt the residents of a state would be tolerant of spending their taxpayer's money on the possibility of growth. Let the growth happen and then let the tax contributions of the influx help to expand the infrastructure.

Exactly right, it happens all over. Nashville TN is a perfect example of that. The city is booming but the infrastructure can't keep up. Traffic is a nightmare most of the time.

As I said in an earlier post, TV is not perfect. But I have yet to see or hear about any plus 55 community that comes close to what we have, especially if your very active like we are. As far as traffic in the winter goes, we didn't think it was all that bad. Yes it's busier for sure, but we never had a problem getting to our destination in a reasonable amount of time. And you always have your golf cart as another option.

Our friends spend winter in Bonita Springs and they say the traffic there and around Ft Myers is pretty much bumper to bumper all day long. They live 7 miles from the beach and say some days it takes them 30 minutes to get there. And when they do get there, many times there's no place to park.

Spending last winter there, then moving back to Indiana for a few months in early May really showed us how boring retirement is here. We were bored in 3 weeks. Thats why our home here is for sale. We don't want to waste the days we have left sitting around.
We may move back to Indiana some day if our health gets to the point where we need help. But until then, we'll continue to stay in TV full time and have a blast.

[AMB444]

Originally Posted by justjim

Middleton, a village community built for young families is another example of how well The Villages is planned. Hopefully, Middleton will attract young doctors and nurses, teachers and other young skilled workers to meet some of the needs of the thousands of residents already living here.

Would you please tell me more about Middleton or other communities near TV like it? I've found their website but would like more "word of mouth" type info. Middleton | A great place to call home - Middleton

I have two adult children that would like to live near. One is a child/teen psychologist and the other is a speech pathologist and would like to work in the schools.