Depends on your wishes and activity level. T.P. sounds nice (having not visited there) but larger lots..something to have to take care of if you don't hire it done. I have a friend who once lived in Spruce Creek and moved due to the upkeep etc.

We live in T.V.---love it too btw!!! As for services---all are within our community as far as we're concerned. Medical---we're a part of the new USF care and once the specialists clinic is in place probably won't "have" to leave for those neither. I do have a specialist in Ocala I go to since there isn't one here but that's not far. My thoughts are as we age (and we all are doing that)...distance "will be" a factor. I wouldn't care for the "isolation" but then that's just me! My S.O. loves T.V. for the many golfing opportunities!!

We went to the website and REALLY like what we see. larger lots, not so many snowbirds and privacy. You get a lot more house for the money, too. We are heading there this week to check it out. Thanks to OP for steering us there!

We looked there too and other places all over Florida. Nothing compared to what we found here in TV and we made many visits here before we bought to make sure this is what we wanted. No other place can compare with the life style here. Bigger lots and more house for you $$ is true at other places but usually all you get is one golf course and a Country Club. Good luck with what ever decision you make.

I live in the Plantation...I actually love it...I WORK in TV.. and HATE driving in your traffic...what a mess...it is sooo congested...spanish springs is horrible. sorry... I enjoy being here, we don't have the ammenities that you have, but we don't have the major traffice jams that you have either.. like you say you get what you pay for! we have 3 pools, and a beautiful golf couse, which you can ALWAYS get on...pickelball courts, tennis courts, softball, and plenty more... we have plenty of people here FULL time...don't always judge a book by its cover!! :) just saying!

Hate, Horrible. But, like to work in TV...............................

We are coming down in April staying at the Villages,but going to look at Spruce Run. Friends of ours bought there and want us to see the community?

Thanks to all from The Plantation that weighed in. I think that retirement requires at least some compromise on one's part. Some retirees compromise on home lot size and go with The Villages and the greater availability of activities; some compromise on golf cart accessible and go with the Plantation and the beautiful home lots and less congestion. There is something for everyone out there. Of course, this being a Villages blog, the sentiment here will be pro-Villages. The ideal thing if one was interested in The Plantation, would be to rent there for a period of time, then rent in The Villages, and see which one you preferred.

:agree: Only you and hubby can decide what is right for you.

A compromised might be to buy a home in TV that allows your hubby the privacy he needs, and fills your desire to be out and about, in a golf cart. Some people are homebodies and therefore can live anywhere.

Reasonal posts by Plantation owners, to the preference for a larger home with less activities, and relatively little congestion in the complex. TV is 42 miles square and that, is big. I don't find the traffic that bad, and we are in the middle of snowbird sason. It's a matter of perception and patience. Does anybody really need to be somewhere, that you must get there in ten minutes? Just plan accordingly.

BTW - The Leesburg Hosital is excellent. At least, that's what I read about it as I have not had any occasion to visit it.

When I saw TV back seven years ago, I knew this was the place for me and never looked at another retirement community. I didn't think another place could possibly been any better, but that's me, as I love to be in the middle of the action, just like any former New Yorker.

Somehow, I would always have a nagging feeling, if I settled on a home, instead of getting what I really wanted, but that's just me. I have worked many years and bought my condo in CT, and felt like I settled for that place, due to price. It the end, it wasn't right for me. I spend many years with recriminations, because I hate to move.

Wish you and hubby the best in making a decision. :smiley:

Moved to FL from MA in 2005 - newly "single" and was to sell the MA house - she gets 50% me same. 3 adult kids living across the country - My liking was to move to either San Diego, Vegas, AZ, or Central FL. After lots of research decided on what I knew and been to a lot - Cent FL. Wanted a 55+ comm not too close to Orl but not too far away from it or the Airport. Retired months before and I was on my own.

Knew there was a large strip of 55+ comms from Ocala to Disney - and checked them all out online and phone. Decided to fly down for 10 days - and selected the top 8 communities to visit. Of Course TV was on the list.

After the 10 days - TV came out 3, Spruce Creek (DW) 2, and Legacy of Leesburg 1. Lots of reasons - but I felt TV was pricey for the quality of the home in my pricerange. the CDD was a negative, potential traffic - and I wasn't sure if the Lifestyle would be my cup o' tea = must say... the TV videos of "old folks" line dancing in the Squares was not appealing.

I moved in 2005 and lived in Legacy (1,000 homes) for 8 years - nice Comm, but rural and not much to do without a drive to Clermont, Leesburg 441/27 - or TV. BTW - Plantation is a mile from Legacy on Rt 27.

After dating for a few years, met a nice lady from Lake Mary 5 years ago. Fast forward to now - every weekend when she came to Leesburg - we went to TV for fun and food. TV called to us... We decided to buy a lot in Nov '13 - we were the last ones to be able to design our house and not need to go Spec. I sold my house in Dec (BTW - a 30% loss from the 2005 buy...) Phyllis is to retire next week, and selling her home soon. Our TV home in Gilchrist Closed in Feb - and I moved my stuff in. Hopefully in a couple months we will both be here (TV) and completely settled.

Bottom line for me = 8 years later and ...HOME. LOVE TV and we will be Frogs - our last home. BTW the quality of our TV newly built home - A+.
and... you may even see us dancing in the Squares... Another BTW - ToTV was a wonderful resource for a few years before we bought our TV home.

Congratulations Dean! I wish you the best in your new home.

The lessons learned here in your post is that life has a way of changing. This thread always troubled me a bit....kind of like going on a Corvette forum and asking folks "How do you like a Viper?" Or going on an Apple forum and asking, "How do you like Windows 8?".....I'm sure the intent was above board, but of course the chance is there to get biased responses.

I am a person who researches everything. It drives my wife nuts sometimes. Buying in The Plantation was the only spontaneous thing I think I have ever done. I'm happy here. I know I would also be happy in The Villages.

With my business I am now in The Villages every day. I love what I do, and have met some of the nicest and most interesting folks in The Villages. I think the point to remember is that we are not any different. I have always invested well, and could now live most anywhere, including The Villages. Who knows....as Dean's story shows, life changes....I might find myself owning there someday. As of now, I enjoy owning a business and getting to meet many of you good folks. When that no longer is fun, or when I tire of climbing all over roofs and attics, I will stop and perhaps start to master golf and pickleball.

We are all just folks who have lived a interesting life, planned well, and have decided to stop shoveling snow and move to a great place. Many of us love golf, love the Florida lifestyle, etc. We are all very blessed.

Frank