[jimmy D]

do not move you have too much fear of the unknown. sorry

[SukiChu]

Will you be disappointed if you make the decision to stay where you are now? We have all gone through the same feelings about moving. I can't find any other place where "friends" come with the house! I am leaving my daughter and grandkids too. We are leaving friends, family, a house I love, jobs, clubs and activities because there is MORE of all of these in the Villages. I can't stand the thought of being in the house in Illinois for 6 or 7 months out of the year. I love the sun and the warmth. It's an adventure and thank goodness we still have our health to enjoy all the activities. I feel so blessed to be able to enjoy a new home and a new "season" in my life. Many, many people don't get this opportunity. Eighty-eight thousand people can't be wrong. Moving is a big job - but I think it will be well worth it. I am just going to go ahead and step out of the boat! Good luck and send me a private message if you want. Jan

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by JSX2=US

Thanks everyone for your insights. Yes, planes do fly both ways. Friends can come visit.
Just getting very pensive in my old age!
Glad to hear all the various opinions.

I think that your best option is to snowbird. A lot of folks sell their primary home and move to smaller quarters and buy OR RENT an affordable part time home here.

If you have small grandchildren, think about this option.

We waited until both of ours had gone off to college and then moved here full time.

I understand your hesitancy.

We found rewarding friendships right away with like minded folks in the same situation in life. There are fewer years ahead than there are behind and now is the time to be a little selfish.

[2 Oldcrabs]

Whay not rent here for 3-6 months? It will give you an Idea of what is like to be away from "Home". Rents are reasonable from May to Nov.

[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by JSX2=US

We are doing our research about moving to TV. My question is one that you probably all asked yourselves at one point........
How do you leave a home you love, friends, doctors, a church, family, civic and social organizations you have been a part of for years and love?
How difficult is it to "start over"? Do you lose the person you were in a former life when you move to a location where noboby knows you and you know no one?
Is it a tough adjustment? Looking for some wisdom.
All responses appreciated. Thanks

You have listed your concerns about moving and it made me wonder why you are thinking of moving here. I would think you would need to weigh the reasons of why the move would be a good idea against the things you feel you would give up. I once read , "advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer.". I don't know who said it but it makes sense to me. :-). Anyway, good luck with your decision. I think those suggesting you rent for awhile have given excellent advise.

[JSX2=US]

Stay where you are, you have too much fear and not enough faith Sorry

OUCH, you judge me based on one post?

......Thanks everyone else for the very thoughtful replies.
I think renting is a great option and probably the way we will go.
There is much wisdom on this board , that's just what I was seeking.
Thanks again

[2BNTV]

I think it's normal for some people to have some fear or anxiety about a big move when they have many friends, family and are contemplating moving away from known routines. However, I think renting for a while is your best option.

My wanting to move is to be closer to my family so it's a no brainer for me. I will be looking forward to family and friends visiting and see what TV is all about. I'm sure they will love it.

Best wishes for whatever you decide.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I think that your best option is to snowbird. A lot of folks sell their primary home and move to smaller quarters and buy OR RENT an affordable part time home here.

I agree with GG. A lot of people have two homes. It's a great option for those who want to still be part of their home community, and also enjoy the wonderful weather and lifestyle of TV in the winter months.

And you don't have too much fear! You're just asking some logical questions, and I don't blame you. It's a big decision. That's why I think you should just try on the lifestyle and see if it fits.

[jgbama]

Originally Posted by JSX2=US

Stay where you are, you have too much fear and not enough faith Sorry

OUCH, you judge me based on one post?

......Thanks everyone else for the very thoughtful replies.
I think renting is a great option and probably the way we will go.
There is much wisdom on this board , that's just what I was seeking.
Thanks again

Some tend to do that here! You will make friends right here on TOTV (I did). Come for a Lifestyle Visit for a week. Plan it around the 3rd Friday of the month. That is when people here on this forum meet at Crispers at 3pm. You will meet folks from this forum in person, and feel like you've been friends already. Meeting people is the easiest thing to do in TV. Attend any activity, visit a recreation center and just tell whoever you bump into, "hi, we are here for the first time. Do you live here?" People love sharing the joys about their new "hometown". Making friends was not a worry we had. Plus, there are probably people in TV from your hometown you can connect with immediately.

Yes, moving is a challenge, but after you visit and decide to move. . .everything that qualifies as "work" or "a pain" will be worth every moment, because you will be moving to "lower paradise" and can truly enjoy each precious day the Lord gives us! Leaving friends and family can get emotional. We are preparing to leave our 27-year old son, my brother, our lifelong friends, and a wonderful church and a loving, caring Sunday School class. But, they are all happy for us. Anyone who doesn't support you is doing you a disservice, or are envious. Either way, decide what's best for you and don't let anything or anyone stand in your way.

We are moving within a month or so, and it has been a 7-year journey. Are we excited? YOU BETCHA!!

Come join us and -

[jimmy D]

I feel your fear of new adventures. Love to have you here, but you should stay put.

Moving on is always an adventure.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by JSX2=US

We are doing our research about moving to TV. My question is one that you probably all asked yourselves at one point........
How do you leave a home you love, friends, doctors, a church, family, civic and social organizations you have been a part of for years and love?
How difficult is it to "start over"? Do you lose the person you were in a former life when you move to a location where noboby knows you and you know no one?
Is it a tough adjustment? Looking for some wisdom.
All responses appreciated. Thanks

Hi JSX2,
You asked a great question and have come to the right place to ask. You didn't mention whether you have young grandchildren living near you now. That always makes it harder to leave.

As for whether you lose the person you were, I think moving to TV-- like most new experiences from going off to college to changing jobs to raising a family-- expands and who you are and does not diminish who you were.

Yes, rent for a while and see what you think. And remember to keep us posted.

[ssmith]

I think you are being wise to ask and think. No one will know the right decision for anyone else. It does help to get others ideas though.

Don't sweat the negative posts. It takes all kinds to make this old world go around. Just have thicker skin and don't let a few bad apples spoil the whole bushel!

[2BNTV]

I look at advice as someone needing more information to make a decision.
As with any tough decision, one wants to have as much information available as possible I'm sure it will become clear to you as time goes on.

Renting for a year will help greatly.

[hotrodgirl]

JSX2, only you definitively can decide what is right for you and your situation, but as smith said, don't let a negative post or two deter you from making an informed decision. When I was very new to posting, one of my first posts was on a dog poop thread-very infamous on TV. One of the posts bothered me so much that I thought I would perhaps reconsider my plans to move there. After a nights sleep, I reconsidered, thought about my own preferences, decided everyone has a right to their own opinions and moved on. Since that time I have found that persons posts to be fair, somewhat edgy, but non-confrontational. No harm, no foul... These is an awesome amount of good advice on the forum, people are glad to help you, but the final decision is what makes you the most comfortable. It is hard to leave things and people behind, but fun to move ahead to a new future as well!

[CalcTeacher]

My parents...who are both 73...just packed up the house they had lived in for 43 years and moved to TV a month ago. Their emotions, my emotions, and my siblings' emotions are still very fresh. It was VERY hard for my mom to fathom leaving family and all that is familiar to her. Change is hard no matter what your age. But they weren't having much of a retirement and we didn't like them just sitting around waiting for someone to come visit them. So we encouraged them to come for a LSV. And while they fell in love with TV, "leaving the family and grandkids in Virginia" was a recurring theme of many conversations. (Some grandkids are in their late teens and early 20s but some are preschool age.) Here we are 5 weeks later and they are still adjusting but I think overall they are happy with their decision. I think overall if they were really TRULY happy with the life they had, they never would have considered the LSV. So the fact that the OP is exploring options tells me a lot...