[ElDiabloJoe]

Originally Posted by CarlR33

For what it’s worth take the advice someone gave me. It’s easier to do activities between 60-70 than it is between 70-80 and 80-90 and so on. Your window is limited so stop dragging your feet and retire already. It sounds like the husband will be at the desk when the reaper comes. Sorry, blunt but true.

^ Totally concur. I watched my Dad work until he was 66. He spent a very fast decade buying a boat and trying to use it solo until he fell in the water one too many times. His ability to travel lasted about 5 years. Essentially by 75 he was at home on the couch all day everyday with occasional trips out for breakfast or dinner. By 89 he was dead. That was a very short 9 years he got to enjoy his life's labors.

That is exactly why I fully retired three days after I turned 50. Z E R O regrets.

[Ellwoodrick]

I am semi retired. I will turn 69 the end of this month. It's hard to quit what you worked all your life to build. I do realize my time left is limited so we have started to travel. We bought in the Villages two years ago. Prior to that we rented for a season. I'm in the Real Estate Business, primarily as an Residential Appraiser. In addition we are Seasonal (Snow Birds). I am lucky I can slow down or just go off rotation with my clients. Thankfully I do not need to push as hard as I did years ago at this point in our lives. I resisted my wife at first to come to the Villages. After I got to the Villages and experienced all that the Villages has to offer I changed my opinion. My Wife is the social butterfly and enjoys meeting people in our neighborhood. I play golf and have joined some neighborhood groups. One group is a weekly breakfast group. I have met a lot of good people who I enjoy. I am still very active and have helped some neighbors with some small handyman projects (no charge). You can be as busy as you want to be here. Or you can enjoy the quiet of your neighborhood. We are in the Northern part of the Villages. The more developed neighborhoods with trees appealed to us. I guess my long winded reply is to try it. It can be anything you want it to be.

P.S. My CPA is 80 + and still working. So I may be looking for a CPA in the Villages down the road.

[Cliff Fr]

Originally Posted by BMill

We are about 70, healthy, active and live in South Florida in a nice area. We will keep that home.

My husband is self employed as a CPA and I am a mortgage broker. We have employees but need to continue the self employment for our income. Plus, the employees aren't ready knowledge wise or financially wise to take it over.

I am trying to get my husband to understand he could work remotely. We would be entertaining TV for the social activities including golf. It is hard to pull him away from work and there is always one more phone call to make or one more thing to get done.

However, I know we are getting older and I have 3 questions -

(1) We do not look as old as we are. Most of our friends think we are under 62 are their comments are "Well, you don't even qualify for SS yet....etc" We are not vain. Are we too old to fit in at TV? We are not the sit around and watch TV type.

(2) If we go out to eat, we like a bit more upscale. Not chain unless it's Cheesecake Factory or Capital Grille. Any good places around? (We'd rather eat at home and go out for special times).

(3) Is it possible to get business for our self employment businesses or are people turned off talking about work?

We are planning to come up this summer and rent for a month with our most adorable Sheltie (soon to be joined by a Collie puppy).

Also, when he is actually pulled away from his work, he's fine.

Thanks for any help.

Sounds like you will fit right in in the Villages.

[spinner1001]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

Not too old.

There are a couple bit upscale.

Possible, not highly probable.

Agreed.

@BMill I am sending you a PM.

[GRACEALLEMAN]

Originally Posted by BMill

We are about 70, healthy, active and live in South Florida in a nice area. We will keep that home.

My husband is self employed as a CPA and I am a mortgage broker. We have employees but need to continue the self employment for our income. Plus, the employees aren't ready knowledge wise or financially wise to take it over.

I am trying to get my husband to understand he could work remotely. We would be entertaining TV for the social activities including golf. It is hard to pull him away from work and there is always one more phone call to make or one more thing to get done.

However, I know we are getting older and I have 3 questions -

(1) We do not look as old as we are. Most of our friends think we are under 62 are their comments are "Well, you don't even qualify for SS yet....etc" We are not vain. Are we too old to fit in at TV? We are not the sit around and watch TV type.

(2) If we go out to eat, we like a bit more upscale. Not chain unless it's Cheesecake Factory or Capital Grille. Any good places around? (We'd rather eat at home and go out for special times).

(3) Is it possible to get business for our self employment businesses or are people turned off talking about work?

We are planning to come up this summer and rent for a month with our most adorable Sheltie (soon to be joined by a Collie puppy).

Also, when he is actually pulled away from his work, he's fine.

Thanks for any help.

Im a native Floridian..born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale.
I'm sad you can't decide to retire and enjoy the epic retirement you deserve. Take a look at joining the Facebook book group
EPIC RETIREMENT " It's a real life changing retirement group from everywhere in the world with thoughts..experiences and encouragement about retirement. I hope and wish you well.
Respectfully
Grace

[ridge]

Originally Posted by BMill

We are about 70, healthy, active and live in South Florida in a nice area. We will keep that home.

My husband is self employed as a CPA and I am a mortgage broker. We have employees but need to continue the self employment for our income. Plus, the employees aren't ready knowledge wise or financially wise to take it over.

I am trying to get my husband to understand he could work remotely. We would be entertaining TV for the social activities including golf. It is hard to pull him away from work and there is always one more phone call to make or one more thing to get done.

However, I know we are getting older and I have 3 questions -

(1) We do not look as old as we are. Most of our friends think we are under 62 are their comments are "Well, you don't even qualify for SS yet....etc" We are not vain. Are we too old to fit in at TV? We are not the sit around and watch TV type.

(2) If we go out to eat, we like a bit more upscale. Not chain unless it's Cheesecake Factory or Capital Grille. Any good places around? (We'd rather eat at home and go out for special times).

(3) Is it possible to get business for our self employment businesses or are people turned off talking about work?

We are planning to come up this summer and rent for a month with our most adorable Sheltie (soon to be joined by a Collie puppy).

Also, when he is actually pulled away from his work, he's fine.

Thanks for any help.

If I had a regret, it would be that we would have retired earlier and moved here. We are very healthy and early 70's. But we've noticed a bit of a slow down after 70 than before, even though we are very active. Live is short, especially good healthy / quality life, so give up working and retire. I doubt if anyone dieing wished they would have worked longer.

[DeborahK]

Originally Posted by GRACEALLEMAN

Take a look at joining the Facebook book group
EPIC RETIREMENT " It's a real life changing retirement group from everywhere in the world with thoughts..experiences and encouragement about retirement. I hope and wish you well.
Respectfully
Grace

Hi, Grace. I'm interested in checking out your mentioned FB group but there are many with 'epic retirement' in the name. Can you be more specific? Thanks, Debbie

[Professor]

Originally Posted by BMill

We are about 70, healthy, active and live in South Florida in a nice area. We will keep that home.

My husband is self employed as a CPA and I am a mortgage broker. We have employees but need to continue the self employment for our income. Plus, the employees aren't ready knowledge wise or financially wise to take it over.

I am trying to get my husband to understand he could work remotely. We would be entertaining TV for the social activities including golf. It is hard to pull him away from work and there is always one more phone call to make or one more thing to get done.

However, I know we are getting older and I have 3 questions -

(1) We do not look as old as we are. Most of our friends think we are under 62 are their comments are "Well, you don't even qualify for SS yet....etc" We are not vain. Are we too old to fit in at TV? We are not the sit around and watch TV type.

(2) If we go out to eat, we like a bit more upscale. Not chain unless it's Cheesecake Factory or Capital Grille. Any good places around? (We'd rather eat at home and go out for special times).

(3) Is it possible to get business for our self employment businesses or are people turned off talking about work?

We are planning to come up this summer and rent for a month with our most adorable Sheltie (soon to be joined by a Collie puppy).

Also, when he is actually pulled away from his work, he's fine.

Thanks for any help.

My wife and I moved to The Villages when I was 58 and she was 57. I worked as a college professor teaching accounting and finance classes and it was done entirely remotely. She was also an accountant and wound down her business before we moves, except for a few who would just not take no for an answer, She worked remotely with those few for several years, using email, fax, and snail mail or Fedex and it worked wonderfully well. We loved being able to be together 24/7, though we each had an office setup in separate bedrooms (we hired a contractor to build in a desk setup with cupboards in each of two bedrooms in our home. Close the closet doors and you couldn't tell).

Personally we both feel the restaurants around The Villages are mostly just adequate. Palmer and Lopez are nicer and the food is better than most of the other country clubs, in our opinion. I'm 71 and my wife passed away nearly 2 years ago now, but I feel like I fit in still. As for generating new business, by and large the majority of the population here are retired folks. They still have a need for tax prep and investment advice, but beyond that most do not want to talk about business from my experience. Others may have a different opinion, but that was our experience. Good luck to both of you.

[Nell57]

Retirement has 3 stages,
Go-Go
Slow-Go
No-Go
It sounds like you intrinsically know this . Keep nudging hubby, it sounds like once he makes a change he likes it. But be mindful that your rental options are limited by your dog….two dogs will REALLY limit you.

[Ptmcbriz]

Prime3, Harvest, Blue Fin, Chop House are all upscale dining. We moved for the 700+ holes of golf. No place like it. You can build a Premier home if you need a larger home.The Villages has plans to choose from to up to 6000sf, so housing type is varied. You are in a prime window for physical activity. Try to remind your husband not to waste it. Once here, it’s hard to find time to work because of all the things to do.

[kdolence]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

There's lots of golf in Boca and surrounding towns. There are tons of activities in and around Boca.

You are in a "Senior Mecca" in Florida already. In addition, you're already in an affluent area of the state. That means a smorgasboard of potential customers right at your doorstep.

Maybe stay put, and consider a month vacation rental at the Villages after tax season ends.

We used to live in Boca Raton. There is no social life for people over 60 except joining a Country club where you play golf then lunch or dinner. It has become a college town. Yes, there is plenty of golf but very expensive. In The Villages the golf is reasonably priced with 14 Champion courses all but 4 have 3 nines. In addition to golf there are many other activities that you can do. We have been here 15 years now and it is the best place we have every lived.

[BMill]

Great replies and so appreciated!

I will respond later and keep them coming!!

What neighborhoods would be more centrally located? (For the rental)?

I love trees also; good to know about the northern part also.

Also, we have 1 Sheltie now and have visited another Sheltie to adopt so 2 dogs, however, we may end up with 3 as someone called me about a smaller Collie puppy (so 3 dogs) - if we bought or rented, is 3 dogs an issue? All well behaved, walked on leash, etc.

It's not like we didn't work hard but I had to help my own parents financially (wonderful people) and then we had an awful thing happen in our lives which cost us almost everything.

There is 1 thing I am petrified of and that is snakes of any kind. I grew up on the East part of Broward County (Fort Lauderdale, Lighthouse Point) so I never saw them. So, if there are areas more wooded and have lakes with gators, let me know that too.

Thanks again!

[metoo21]

It used to be a max of 2 dogs per household but one can move here with 3 and can't replace it when it passes.

Call Community Standards (352-751-3912) to be sure.

[asianthree]

Reading OP post…it’s about not wanting to retire for her husband. I get it one of us had no choice but retire. Healthcare Providers stress is in their DNA.

I retired and one week later asked to return because of pandemic. I continued to work 3 more years. Once I could retire again, it didn’t feel right. I didn’t want to leave trauma drama, with 10 days on 7 off of call. As non stop adrenaline junkie one just doesn’t stop to do nothing.

OP strongly suggest you rent for couple of months so your spouse can see if remote working is feasible. We all know remote could work….but if your spouse just can’t then moving here may not be a benefit

[BMill]

Originally Posted by spinner1001

Agreed.

@BMill I am sending you a PM.

How do I find your PM to me? Does it goes to my e-mail? I don't see one in there if so.