My best friend lives in Navarre, we were in the Army together and then later worked for the government together in Pensacola. Housing is very cheap in that area. Navarre Beach I did post about in another thread when I posted about the making Jaws 2 the movie and I visited the set a few times in 1977. Unfortunately the Holiday Inn at Navarre Beach where the movie was set was destroyed in 2004 by a hurricane.

I lived in Pensacola from 1977 to 1982. In fact, if not for TV, I would maybe have retired either there or Spring Hill. The problem with Pensacola and Gulf Breeze (Santa Rosa Island) is hurricanes. In fact right now the 3 mile bridge was knocked last September by Hurricane Sally and at best, not expected to reopen until March. So you can't get to Pensacola from Gulf Breeze without going about 30 miles around and crossing two other bridges and Pensacola residents can't go to Gulf Breeze or Pensacola Beach without a going over the I-10 Bridge to Garcon Point and then taking Garcon Point Toll Bridge.

https://www.google.com/maps/vt/data=...=1&h=200&w=618

The 3 Mile Bridge was not actually damaged by Hurricane Sally but by 3 barges that broke free during the storm.

https://weartv.com/resources/media/b...?1601584550885

Cheaper yet is the Holiday Resorts in nearby Okahumpya.

I would recommend On Top Of The World, in Ocala FL. They are a much smaller and REALLY GATED community with used homes and new homes, in many styles and prices. Some have a higher HOA fee and includes your lawn maintenance and other things and then there are other sections with a smaller HOA fee but you get less.

They have added lots of new amenities and new recreation buildings and pools in the last few years too.

Even though you don't own the land your home is built on, you get a 99 year lease so what difference does that make!!!

The fact that it really is GATED unlike the Villages who lie about this being a gated community is a real plus. They have also added a new frontage road so you now have access to a bank, a new Publix and a few restaurants accessible by golf cart.

Pelican Preserve in Ft Myers.

Very well stated bitsee and as a resident of OTOW I second everything you wrote!

I would prefer a deed over a lease any time. I don't believe I was ever told TV was a gated community by any one associated with TV. A gated community doesn't keep criminals out, I have lived in true gated communities and just about anyone who would like to commit a crime can easily get through in a number of different ways, I don't see it as being a plus. Most of the crime in TV is not within the gates but in public areas within and around TV. I haven't heard or read of a residential burglary in the nearly 4 years I have been full time so there must not be many if any of them. 130,000 people in a gated community would be a nightmare, there would be a line of non-residents a mile long at every entry point waiting to gain permission to get in for whatever reason. And more long lines with residents waiting their turn to get through the gates.

Just a thought and I do not know of any other 55 and over communities enjoying boards like TOTV, but the OP could find one or more, maybe a Sun City somewhere (FL, AZ...) site, and post the same inquiry.

Very good advice, so much available, inland, coast. For us is not golfers.... probably build or buy at Margaritaville near Daytona since cruising and beach days would be our next choice. Figure hobbies and interests should be on the high priority list for retirement living, while that would not be a high priority item in the career years when other things move to the top of the priorities.

I would probably give a hard look at Margaritaville in Daytona. Is the beach and bus up and running there?
Funny that people in OTOW are lurking here.

Possibly ? But, also could be much smaller and that is sufficient ? Not incredibly unhappy here at all, but really not like a smaller community. We're so tired of spending so much time in "line" out on 466 just to get to turn into the villages and get in 'line" again to go to our home when the lines are actually caused by the wish to give the illusion of a private gated community so folks back home are impressed... just our opinion, not worth it just to be able to impress friends who come to visit. When they see we are able to afford live "guards" in little "guard houses" they assume we must have inherited some real wealth...LOL... they are really impressed, LOL ! Traffic was not a major thing when we first built on a lot we bought in the "new" lake sumter area, kind of rethinking at this point. Love the idea of communities where there are some restrictions on rentals, that too seems to be very different and pretty much unregulated, a night, a week, whatever. If doing it again probably would consider a bit less "in and out" community, but probably not at all of concern to others, such a mixed bag. "Free music" was quite nice, still enjoy, but again, would move down the list now. The number of door bell ringing "sales" people is getting to us a bit. Unbelievable how this has become ! Have never lived anywhere in any state with what it is here now...was not that bad in the beginning ! That is getting tiresome, but of course to others, it's of no concern, don't go to the door is an easy solution. Family members just moved out of V's after some years, to Spring Hill area. They didn't know either if it was the right decision, knew they may miss it here an move back. So far, you could not bribe them enough to come back here, so that's why we've at least opened our mind to other possibilities !

We are definitely in the "thinking stage" about OTOTW & a few others. Now have friends and relatives relate exactly what you have found. Our one unknown is how paying annual membership dues to play golf compares to a high amenity fee in the villages; to non golfers of course it is of no concern, but as the years march on, nice to be able to just play a 9 hole exec, not have to get in the car to drive to a golf course, and not always wanting to pay game by game at a place like OTOTW.... but.... looking into it.

Such a good, valuable, honest reply ! It is true you can have a lively party/nightlife in the villages, pretty unusual in that most retirement communities you would have to get in an auto and drive a small distance while here you need no car and can go to a variety of bars for dancing, drinking, etc.
A small community may have A country club with a dinning room and a bar, but the model here is quite different, 3 "towns" with many bars and other businesses of course, and many dues "free" country clubs which actually are public restaurants, very public restaurants any one can go to, but it provides a "vibe" you are not going to find in (most) other retirement communities for sure. The one country club in a smaller community would be more like the country club you knew if you belonged to one before retirement. It is perfectly possible to live a very relaxed life here too, with a few activities and a few "clubs", but the choice here from scuba clubs to beach clubs to baseball fan, railroad, cycling, figurine collecting... name it they have a club. So you can have active night life (singles also) here probably not available at smaller communities.

Good luck with your search, here's hoping you'll find something you'll like.

Save yourself a lot of time, trouble and expense. It doesn't get any better than The Villages. It just doesn't.