[carlent]

My wife is several years younger and is working full time and still love's to work. We visited for the 1st time last sept and really had a terrific time. We both took golf lessons, used the pools, played shuffleboard anad tried several of the restaurants and loved it all. So now we are thinking about buying a place or maybe even renting for a year. I would ocme down and my wife would come down several times as she is able to get away. Then I would go back up north for the summer and fall. I would like to hear from others who share her views and have come to TV and how they have adjusted to it. Her views about TV are this:
1. a burb feeling....just rows and rows of houses with little personality
2. lack of the arts and the culture that a city offers
3. lack of good quality jobs
4. lack of diversity
5. the feeling that she has of being ina huge retirement community, not in a "real" city, but a manufacturred one.

Now, i share none of these feelings and that is why I could move there today. But I would like to hear from other's who maybe shared these thoughts and come from larger cities and how they have fared in TV.
This would be a great help to us. Thankyou to all for sharing.

[nitehawk]

I would stay where i am now, your wife seems to have everything figured out

[Barefoot]

My husband is still working and I'm retired. I live in TV for six months in the winter, from October to April. My husband "commutes" from Canada. I know several other couples who do the same thing. My husband and I live in Canada from April to October.

It works for us, and let's us both have what we want. Your wife sounds as if it is too early for her to completely retire to a community like TV. The lifestyle isn't for everyone. I wouldn't have been ready for TV five years ago. I love it now. I bet your wife will feel differently in a few years.

Your wife is a smart cookie! I think it is a good place to get away from our bad winters here in Fredonia, NY(south of Buffalo). However, it is so good to be home(I am happier) with my hugh lawn I can put anything in. I watch the beautiful sunsets over Lake Erie, the rabbits ,squirrels, turkeys in my yard,go to kid's ball games and programs at the school and college. I loved the Villages at first but I got bored with it. Then I got to know some long time Villagers who were moving...I started to see both sides. Everyone seems to love where they pick to live. There are other great places in Florida to live. Take your time. Rent first. Everyone is different and I think your wife has hit the nail on the head.

[chelsea24]

We're from Chicago and now we're full-timers, but we were ready. We don't miss the winters at all! I too think you should rent for a while. We absolutely love it here and I wake up every morning wondering how I got so lucky. Honestly, we are a little over an hour from Orlando and a little over an hour from Tampa, so as far as the cultural aspect, I don't think she would find that a problem. I'm never bored here with the vast amount of activities, but I do have the best of both worlds as I can still work from my home. If she loves her job she should stay put. My husband always said "when the fun goes out of it, I'll retire." And that's what he did. I agree with all that say, "rent or if you can commute and try it for a year. It truly is a wonderful place with tons of activities, great location, and wonderful people.

[nONIE]

Carlent,

I feel as you do. I dont know what it is(some say its the water in TV) but your either a Villages person or your not. You get this feeling when your there that this is home, your finally home again and everything about TV feel so right. Obviously your wife hasant felt this yet and to force her to move would certainly cause some resentment.

Living in TV is like being on a permanent vacation and I sure like that idea.
It seems like you have a workable solution for the time being. Next time your both there, Keep serving her water with a twist. LOL

[nanci2539]

We just moved from IL and renting until our TV home is built. I stayed awake nights wondering if we were making a mistake; leaving everything familiar; the family, the grandkids, just what we knew. It's all about comfort level.

We arrived last Thursday; selected a lot and home within two days. Home should be ready sometime in Sept and we'll have that date next week.

I understand your wife's apprehension and TV is not for everyone. But after being here two days, the stress and all the doubts I had simply vanished. We're renting a small villa and even with the lack of space and amenities I'm use to; this is pure heaven to me.

My husband is still working and can do this from home. We have friends who have lived here since last October. She's only 51; he's 62. She still works but both of them feel blessed that they are living in TV. The only downside for them is she has to travel on her job. She's looking at either leaving her present job and not working to maybe working part time here in TV.

I would rent for awhile As others say, your wife may be a bit too young but I'll tell you, the lifestyle here is far from sedate!

I agree with everyone's post. You got to do what you want and like I said everyone is different. I just thought of another reason we like it here up North. It is cheaper for us big time in healthcare. I paid 4 thousand dollars for dental work in the Villages. Came up here and my insurance pays in full. Guess it is what the market will bear and the area here is cheap. Exercise classes are 50 cents-taught by excellent real trained people. I go at 9:45 and no lines, no crowding everyday. I paid 100 dollars for a full membership in an gym for 3 months with every kind of equipment,free newspaper,indoor pool, hot tub and full locker room with sauna. I only shower,wash hair there and get free coffee!!! I go everyday and no crowd,no wait,!!
Excellent healthcare...fast emergency room. If I keep talking I will tell you all to come to Fredonia! Beautiful here on Lake Erie.
However, the winters are tough...Being a snowbird would be perfect for me.

[Russ_Boston]

MC - You seem to have everything you want in Fredonia so maybe TV isn't for you. But you'd really have to explain the dental thing to me in more detail. Ignoring insurance for a minute I can't believe that a dentist in Fredonia would be much less than TV (maybe 20% or so at most). Assuming that you could use the same insurance in both places I can't see why it was 4K more in TV unless your TV dentist wasn't part of the dental plan you were using. If that is the case then it was you that made the mistake and not the dentist costs in TV. And most insurance plans have deals with the dentist that specify a specific amount to be paid based on problem rather than actual cost.

I think statements such as you made about the 4K difference cast a real shadow of doubt on other statements that make.

Just my read or your comments.

Now back to the question by Carl - I guess a commute could work but in the long run your wife has to get on board. Maybe TV isn't in your future and the last thing you want to do is drag her kicking and screaming. You didn't mention what line of work she was in. My personal situation is similar in that I don't want to not work so what I've done is gone back to school to become an RN and I plan on working at TVRH (or another close hospital) so that I can enjoy the TV lifestyle - still work a 'decent' paying job until i retire for good in 15 years or so. (I'll be 51 in July). Just thought I'd give you another perspective.

Russ,
Call me....or PM me and I WILL PROVIDE all the proof you want!!!!!

Happy Snowbird!

[Russ_Boston]

I just sent a PM.

[Russ_Boston]

MC - I do apologize if it appeared that I called you a liar, that was not my intent and I'm deeply sorry if you took it that way.

Let me rephrase the situation regarding the thread:

I was reacting to the fact that the questioner was asking about TV and it seemed that you were trying to indicate that ALL dentists in TV are completely overpriced. My suggestion (after reading the entire dentist thread that you pointed out) would be this - You (we) should always know exactly what something is going to cost before we commit to the purchase. If you knew that the dental procedure being recommend was 4K more than NY then you could have done a couple of things:

Refuse the service and compare prices at other dentists
Try to negotiate the price showing them other prices that you received (in NY for instance)
Go without the service until you return home. Especially if it was more cosmetic in nature.
Fly back to NY, get the job done and pocket the 3K after subtracting the round trip airfare etc.

I find it hard to believe that all central FLA dentists would act or be as pricey as Villages Dental and wherever you went. Surely we should be able to find a dentist that is reasonably priced and won't recommend unneeded procedures. I know that parts of NY are very inexpensive to live but I thought the extra 4K for a dentist was over the top and isn't a necessary part of living in TV and cast a shadow over TV life as far as the original questioner goes.

Again, I apologize.

[redwitch]

Carl, here's my take on your wife's objections:

I came from the SF Bay Area. I had season tickets to the symphony and the ballet. I went to many rock concerts and, of course, several sporting events.

I agree with her on the burb feeling -- especially south of 466. This is one of the reasons I could never live there. I love the historic section -- it has true personality (albeit not always my taste, but at least it is different).

I miss the symphony and the ballet even more so. There are some cultural events at Savannah Center. If I get really desparate, Gainesville has a decent ballet company. Orlando has a very symphony. Haven't checked out Tampa yet. These are all within an easy drive.

You'll get no argument from me about the quality jobs. Unless you're willing to commute to Okala, the decent jobs here are few and far between. That's why I decided to try to start my own business.

She's wrong about the diversity. It is here. There are many ethnicities living in TV. There are several ethnic restaurants. It does not have ethnicity of a large city. Nor does it have ethnic groups divided into their own sections (there's no "Little Italy," "Japantown", Harlem, etc.). There are clubs for almost any ethnicity and race here.

Can't argue that this is a "manufactured" city but the reality is that that's true of any city. Most cities begin as focal points for transportation and grow from there. That doesn't make them any less of a city. TV is a small city in the middle of nowhere. It is a strange feeling at first but one I've come to enjoy.

As some have said, she may discover that TV is not the right fit for her. However, if she comes with an open mind and gives it an honest chance, she may be pleasantly surprised and learn to love it as much as most of us do.

[samhass]

Carl, I felt the same way your wife feels...for two years! We were visiting friends at the end of year two when we bought a house on a whim. We figured we'd come down a couple months a year and just hold it as an investment. Lo and behold I ended up loving it here and purchased our second home nine month later. TV has lovely amenities, etc, but ultimately it was about the people and sunshine for me. TV has such a diverse group of residents. I am amazed by all the talent of TV residents. I met a man that flew the Goodyear blimp as his job. How cool is that?? From the arts to sciences, Villagers are an amazing group in terms of
brainpower. I have also met some of the kindest, funniest, loving, and gracious people.
TV is a goldmine of wonderful residents. Yes, there are some stinkers, but overall..it's wonderful.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by redwitch

I agree with her on the burb feeling -- especially south of 466. This is one of the reasons I could never live there. I love the historic section -- it has true personality (albeit not always my taste, but at least it is different).

Carl - This is why TV is unique. I (my wife even more than me) actually prefer the look of 466 south. Nothing wrong with the northern side but the burb look of 466S is preferable for us. Heck by the time we get there we'll probably be 466A south in Brownwood. Granted some of the villa developments can give you that sameness feel but over time with individual lanscaping etc. that would change as well. Red, Rhonda and others love the Historic side, Dick loves Duval, etc. etc. Something for everyone.