Originally Posted by John_W (Post 402944)

I grew up in St. Petersburg, not far from Treasure Island, graduate of St. Petersburg High 1968. If you're looking to save money go to Spring Hill, about 50 miles north on Hwy 19, home to Weeki Wachee Springs to a development called Timber Pines.

My parents retired in Timber Pines in 1984 about a year after it opened. It was built out about ten years ago, developed by US Homes, which was one of the largest builders in America back then. It is a small version of TV. It has 3 golf courses, 1200 acres and about 2000 homes, and you can drive your golf cart anywhere inside. Unfortunately there is nowhere to drive it other than the club house or the golf course. All shopping and restaurants are outside in the town of Spring Hill.

Going online I found masonary single homes 2 BR 2 BA 2 car garages with beautiful yards in the $130K to $180 range built in the 90's and many with pools. However, you see where I decided to move. I actually stayed in Timber Pines in 1989 for about six months and played the courses many times.

It's like another poster said, in the TV you are paying for the lifestyle. I could of gotten a used masonary home with a pool and a bigger garage then the price I paid for my new masonary courtyard villa, but I wanted the lifestyle.

Originally Posted by Posh 08 (Post 402961)

Funny we were just passing that place on the way to crystal river, at no price would I choose that. Not my cup of tea out here.

Originally Posted by Posh 08 (Post 402764)

Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it. 3 more days and we'll get a small taste of TV. It may WOW us, maybe not. We'll have to see. Thanks again. :)

Originally Posted by debzaranti (Post 402958)

Initially my husband and I wanted to live close to the water....then those 4 hurricanes hit a few years ago. Best reason I can give for NOT living on the beach! LOL!

We've been Villages residents for 3.5 years and we still can't believe we're fortunate enough to live here. We are definitely "frogs" (here till we croak). We're in our late 50s. We LOVE it here! It's maybe not for everybody, but those people are few.

If possible, try to spend more than a single day here. You really can't take it all in during a single day. A week would be better. Enjoy your visit....I'll wager there is a 95%+ chance you will LOVE it TOO! :welcome:

Originally Posted by John_W (Post 402980)

Your probably referring to the appearance of Spring Hill. Once you come to TV you'll find many of our neighboring communities are very much the same. Wildwood, Fruitland Park and Oxford are much like Spring Hill. The difference is TV is 30 square miles, so your surrounded by beautiful grounds most of the time. Whereas, in Timber Pines you need to venture out into Spring Hill to do any sort of shopping. The one difference is Timber Pines is surrounded by a high concrete wall and is truly a gated community. They have two entrances which are manned 24/7 and you don't get in unless a resident has left word at the gate that you'll be visiting.

So when you do come to TV and you'll probably exit I-75 in Wildwood don't be surprised that's it 'not your cup of tea'. Then again that's what makes TV seem like you've entered Disney World after traveling through some of the less desirable areas that surround us. I guess since I first came to Florida in 1959 I have become accustomed to places like Spring Hill and Wildwood and I've gotten use to it.

Originally Posted by Posh 08 (Post 403044)

We went to school at harris and then woodlawn before we moved back to virginia. So we did spend some time in st petersburg.

Originally Posted by John_W (Post 403112)

I'm not familiar with those schools. I went to Roser Park Elementary, Southside Jr. High and then St. Petersburg High.

Lakewood High opened when I was a junior and half of St. Pete High was transferred over to there, we went from 2400 students to 1200. I also remember Dixie Hollins High, Northeast High, Pasadena High and Seminole High. Don't know Woodlawn or Harris.

I haven't been back to St. Petersburg since 1977, so I'm curious to see how it has changed. I-275 wasn't even built yet and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were just awarded the franchise.

Originally Posted by debzaranti (Post 402958)

Initially my husband and I wanted to live close to the water....then those 4 hurricanes hit a few years ago. Best reason I can give for NOT living on the beach! LOL!

We've been Villages residents for 3.5 years and we still can't believe we're fortunate enough to live here. We are definitely "frogs" (here till we croak). We're in our late 50s. We LOVE it here! It's maybe not for everybody, but those people are few.

If possible, try to spend more than a single day here. You really can't take it all in during a single day. A week would be better. Enjoy your visit....I'll wager there is a 95%+ chance you will LOVE it TOO! :welcome:

Originally Posted by Posh 08 (Post 403177)

Our plan is to do the one day/night to see if we get that warm and fuzzy everybody talks about. If so we will be back to do a lifestyle for a week.