[ceejay]

Originally Posted by LI SNOWBIRD

Where the heart goes the feet follow. Being from a cold weather state I thought you should consider:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MckM5GRQFfA

What a great video...brought back lots of memories of Buffalo weather!

I spent a long weekend in NYC about 10 years ago. I came back to the Buffalo International airport to find that 2 feet of snow had fallen on ALL the cars in short term parking (yes, long term parking, also...) My car was a clunker and wasn't equipped with an alarm. I spent what felt like hours roaming that parking lot with suitcase in tow. I, finally, just dropped my suitcase and burst into tears only to look up and see my car almost in front of my eyes. SOMEONE was watching my back that night!

[csc1509]

We have been invited by friends to come visit in April and haven't been to TV before. Having grown up out west and currently living in eastern Tennessee, I am curious about any kind of vista. Do any people miss hills or mountains out there on the flats?

[2BNTV]

Great video of 3 reasons not to live in Michigan especially the guy who cleaned off the wrong car.

Then I immediately thought of how I would feel if it were me.

Since being snowbound in CT, the video was quite appropriate.

[Freeda]

Originally Posted by csc1509

Having grown up out west and currently living in eastern Tennessee, I am curious about any kind of vista. Do any people miss hills or mountains out there on the flats?

You will be surprised, as I was, to see that some areas of TV have a fair amount of softly rolling hills; so it is not completely flat. Also, in the Ocala National Forest northwest of Ocala, there are some very steep hills in places; one verrrry long steep grade we found on a state road returning from St. Augustine one night was amazing to find in Florida; plus there is beautiful tall forestry in the Ocala National Forest, when you need a change of scenery. It will not be like the tall mountains of Tennessee or Kentucky that you and I are used to, but it's still beautiful.

Plus, I have gotten so attached to the beaches, the palm trees, the town squares, and the beautiful TV lakes, architecture, and golf courses, and other scenery here, that cannot be found at all elsewhere, that when I go away I miss that alot more.

I think that at least for me, and perhaps others, it's the idea of change that is somewhat stressful; even good change can feel stressful. I have just tried to recognize that and expect to feel some stress in most important decisions, and don't let it dictate my choices; because if I hadn't made the change to come to TV, that, too, would have caused me stress (particularly reading all of the posts on here about how great TV is!)

[Jhooman]

Thank you for your honesty. I'm leaving an only child, now adult 35 and a grandchild. Many people ask me how I could leave my child and granchild and move to Florida. I'm stunned by their judgment. My husband and I want a life where we can be responsible kids again. Swim, bike, dance, play cards, sleep, golf and be with other baby boomers giggling hopefully for another couple of decades.

Even my adult child is miffed by my decision to move. But that's okay, I'm doing what I need to do, she and her husband will be fine, they are educated employed adults. Change is difficult, but being stagnant can be a burden too. I would be very sad if I had to stay in southern California just for my kid. I have never liked the dence population of my area, too much traffic, too expensive for retirement.

The bottom line: I love The Villages and I can hardly wait to get there. Plus it's none of my business what anyone thinks of my decisions. So there!

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Originally Posted by Jhooman

Thank you for your honesty. I'm leaving an only child, now adult 35 and a grandchild. Many people ask me how I could leave my child and granchild and move to Florida. I'm stunned by their judgment. My husband and I want a life where we can be responsible kids again. Swim, bike, dance, play cards, sleep, golf and be with other baby boomers giggling hopefully for another couple of decades.

Even my adult child is miffed by my decision to move. But that's okay, I'm doing what I need to do, she and her husband will be fine, they are educated employed adults. Change is difficult, but being stagnant can be a burden too. I would be very sad if I had to stay in southern California just for my kid. I have never liked the dence population of my area, too much traffic, too expensive for retirement.

The bottom line: I love The Villages and I can hardly wait to get there. Plus it's none of my business what anyone thinks of my decisions. So there!

J - You'll probably find your daughter and family will enjoy coming to FL to visit you...........especially in the winter!!!

Bill

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by Bill-n-Brillo

J - You'll probably find your daughter and family will enjoy coming to FL to visit you...........especially in the winter!!!

Bill

Change is difficult for those who wish to move on with their life's and those who want them to stay so their leaving won't be a change.

Everyone has to do what is right for themselves. A visit from your family will help them to understand why you wanted to move to TV and they will look forward to future vsits.

[keithwand]

Originally Posted by Jhooman

Thank you for your honesty. I'm leaving an only child, now adult 35 and a grandchild. Many people ask me how I could leave my child and granchild and move to Florida. I'm stunned by their judgment. My husband and I want a life where we can be responsible kids again. Swim, bike, dance, play cards, sleep, golf and be with other baby boomers giggling hopefully for another couple of decades.

Even my adult child is miffed by my decision to move. But that's okay, I'm doing what I need to do, she and her husband will be fine, they are educated employed adults. Change is difficult, but being stagnant can be a burden too. I would be very sad if I had to stay in southern California just for my kid. I have never liked the dence population of my area, too much traffic, too expensive for retirement.

The bottom line: I love The Villages and I can hardly wait to get there. Plus it's none of my business what anyone thinks of my decisions. So there!

My 2 Cents:

We always say you can't follow your kids.

2 of ours first moved to Dallas then 1 went to Houston and each has moved twice within those cities. The 3rd one still lives in MI and is 4 hours from where we summer. Had we gone to TX to be near them once they moved we wouldn't have been close anymore anyway.

We moved to Orlando because we wanted to and visit fairly often; usually us to them since they work.

While we have 5 (#6 in May 2011) we do miss them but they have their own lives and we do to.

We still toss around the idea of TX then squash it just as quickly.

[graciegirl]

Leaving grandchildren is the HARDEST part of all.

[LI SNOWBIRD]

Originally Posted by csc1509

We have been invited by friends to come visit in April and haven't been to TV before. Having grown up out west and currently living in eastern Tennessee, I am curious about any kind of vista. Do any people miss hills or mountains out there on the flats?

NO-- flat = good

[Ohiogirl]

I do miss hill/mountain vistas (not that we really had many in Columbus, OH - ok, some pretty ravines), but I've moved a lot and travelled a lot. For the near future, we'll see mountains when we drive back to Ohio in May and back here in October. Also, now that we're retired, we can take our time driving back and forth and stop whenever we want, and also avoid bad travel weather with a check on the forecast.

Except for financial limitations, there's nothing keeping you in TV ALL the time - you can actually leave for a long weekend or 2 week vacation whenever you want . There are no locks on the gates. I am still amazed at the number of people who never venture outside TV - but I was also amazed at those who never left town in some of the places I lived as a transferee.