[laryb]

My wife and I came down for our closing on our new home in Buttonwood on June 21. After the closing we spent the next eleven days arranging furniture, hanging pictures, putting handles on cabinets, buying plants and all the things that make it a home. In the midst of all that, I met with lawncare, air conditioning, pest control and delivery people. And with all that going on, we got down to the pool everyday on met some of the most friendly and wonderful people you could imagine. in the evenings we would get in the golf cart and go to LSL or SS for dinner and music and met more great people! We also met our next door neighbors and became instant friends. At the pool, My wife was talking to a couple and the husband looked familiar, so I asked if his name was Pete, and sure enough it was. Pete also lives in Buttonwood and sent me a PM and offered to take pictures of our construction. Well Pete and his wife Judy are as nice in person as they were online! On Friday, reality set in when we had to go back home. Being a former part time travel agent, we've been on many, many great trips, but this had to be our hardest trip home ever! Hopefully, next year, when our other home gets sold and my wife retires, we be back for good. Until then we'll have to settle for a couple of weeks here and there and in between wonder how are house is doing and wishing we were there. For those of you who had to leave like us, I would be willing to bet that your experiences and emotions were pretty much like ours.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by laryb

My wife and I came down for our closing on our new home in Buttonwood on June 21. After the closing we spent the next eleven days arranging furniture, hanging pictures, putting handles on cabinets, buying plants and all the things that make it a home. In the midst of all that, I met with lawncare, air conditioning, pest control and delivery people. And with all that going on, we got down to the pool everyday on met some of the most friendly and wonderful people you could imagine. in the evenings we would get in the golf cart and go to LSL or SS for dinner and music and met more great people! We also met our next door neighbors and became instant friends. At the pool, My wife was talking to a couple and the husband looked familiar, so I asked if his name was Pete, and sure enough it was. Pete also lives in Buttonwood and sent me a PM and offered to take pictures of our construction. Well Pete and his wife Judy are as nice in person as they were online! On Friday, reality set in when we had to go back home. Being a former part time travel agent, we've been on many, many great trips, but this had to be our hardest trip home ever! Hopefully, next year, when our other home gets sold and my wife retires, we be back for good. Until then we'll have to settle for a couple of weeks here and there and in between wonder how are house is doing and wishing we were there. For those of you who had to leave like us, I would be willing to bet that your experiences and emotions were pretty much like ours.

Yes they are. Every time we go!

[new peeps]

I agree leaving the bubble is always hard. I can say it does not seem to get easier. One day all of us part timers will finally get to be full timers. One thing that it does do, It will make it easier to pack up and leave the old homestead for the last time when that day comes.

[brostholder]

Our experience is similar to yours. I was planning to fully retire in June but some stuff came up so we put it off for a few more months. Now we sneak down to TV whenever we can. I told my wife that the two hardest airplanes I ever had to get on was the one that took me to Viet Nam in 1968 and the one last week when I had to leave TV.

[Linwood]

Yep, it is hard to pack up and head back to the work world, I have the car loaded, 10 hours and back in Chapel Hill,
Been here goofing off since the 19th and I can't seem to get the mind set needed to get the car started,
but I must,,,,,
18 months to go, then I can enjoy the house and all the activities all the time,
I did see my first gator on the pond behind the house, it is the pond off the first hole of Kilimanjaro hole 1,
Oh well, at least I know what I am working towards,
cheers,

[Barefoot]

As a seasonal resident and a Canadian, we are allowed to stay only 182 days a year in our Villages home. So every year in April we must pack up and head for Canada.

My husband says I leave claw marks on the driveway.

[carm310]

It gets harder everytime we come down and then head "home" to Chicago. In reality my home may still be in Illinois, but in my heart HOME IS THE VILLAGES. In 1076 days it will be reality...for now we settle for coming HOME in 19 days for two glorious weeks.

By the way...laryb...I also work in travel. : )

I am still part time and each time I am here at the house it is harder to leave to return North. Less than a year to go now and I am full time.

[MelZ]

I know the feeling well, we have extended ever longer every stay in TV. Seeing TV in the rear view mirror has been increasing difficult. Tommorrow morning we leave NY for the move to TV, I have kissed TV and turned into a FROG.

[pooh]

Originally Posted by laryb

My wife and I came down for our closing on our new home in Buttonwood on June 21. After the closing we spent the next eleven days arranging furniture, hanging pictures, putting handles on cabinets, buying plants and all the things that make it a home. In the midst of all that, I met with lawncare, air conditioning, pest control and delivery people. And with all that going on, we got down to the pool everyday on met some of the most friendly and wonderful people you could imagine. in the evenings we would get in the golf cart and go to LSL or SS for dinner and music and met more great people! We also met our next door neighbors and became instant friends. At the pool, My wife was talking to a couple and the husband looked familiar, so I asked if his name was Pete, and sure enough it was. Pete also lives in Buttonwood and sent me a PM and offered to take pictures of our construction. Well Pete and his wife Judy are as nice in person as they were online! On Friday, reality set in when we had to go back home. Being a former part time travel agent, we've been on many, many great trips, but this had to be our hardest trip home ever! Hopefully, next year, when our other home gets sold and my wife retires, we be back for good. Until then we'll have to settle for a couple of weeks here and there and in between wonder how are house is doing and wishing we were there. For those of you who had to leave like us, I would be willing to bet that your experiences and emotions were pretty much like ours.

Sorry we missed you this trip, but it sounds like you were very busy....getting the keys to your house, making it a home and having FUN! Wonderful! We'll leave a light on, here in TV...

[Dan =^..^=]

Originally Posted by laryb

... In the midst of all that, I met with lawncare, air conditioning, pest control and delivery people. ...

laryb,

We'll be closing on our house in Buttonwood in August. I was wondering if you or anyone else had any recommendations for lawncare and pest control services?

[laryb]

Originally Posted by Dan =^..^=

laryb,

We'll be closing on our house in Buttonwood in August. I was wondering if you or anyone else had any recommendations for lawncare and pest control services?

Dan, anything I suggest is because it was recommended to me by the builder and the good people of TOTV.Since I returned 2 weeks after closing, I really don't have a big sample size. First, the builder recommended Tri County landscaping because they installed the irrigation system and the lawn. He said they we're big and in his opinion were reliable. They cut, trim, blow and weed and had a crew at the house the second week there and did a good job. The rest of the services I chose by reading TOTV and taking their recommendations. Dean's Pest services because they did the initial service during construction and were preferred by many here. For fertilizing and lawn pests we went with Zoysia Green because all the lawns in Buttonwood are Zoysia and that's what they specialize in, and according to some, have greener lawns. All of these prices were reasonable to me. Like I said, I'm new too, so only time will tell, but I'm sure some of the veteran members can confirm my choices or offer better ones. Hope to meet at the pool one day, I'll be down the end of Oct. for a couple of weeks.

[jaspal]

Dan,

My husband & I have a lot on Beechers Path off St Charles Pl. & Arrbes in Buttonwood. We will start to build next month.
Where are you located? Maybe I'm writing to a neighbor.

Pat

[LittleDog]

Originally Posted by Dan =^..^=

laryb,

We'll be closing on our house in Buttonwood in August. I was wondering if you or anyone else had any recommendations for lawncare and pest control services?

Can't recommend a lawn care service but we have used Superior Services of Florida (1-800-737-8266) for the past 5 years and are very satisfied with their service. They do lawn care but not mowing. We also have termite protection with them. I have called them on a few occasions for ticks in the house, fire ants, cinch bugs etc. and they have always come out promptly and took care of the problems. Can't say they're any cheaper or more expensive than other services but just wanted to throw in my 2 cents.

John

[Dan =^..^=]

Originally Posted by laryb

Dan, anything I suggest is because it was recommended to me by the builder and the good people of TOTV.Since I returned 2 weeks after closing, I really don't have a big sample size. First, the builder recommended Tri County landscaping because they installed the irrigation system and the lawn. He said they we're big and in his opinion were reliable. They cut, trim, blow and weed and had a crew at the house the second week there and did a good job. The rest of the services I chose by reading TOTV and taking their recommendations. Dean's Pest services because they did the initial service during construction and were preferred by many here. For fertilizing and lawn pests we went with Zoysia Green because all the lawns in Buttonwood are Zoysia and that's what they specialize in, and according to some, have greener lawns. All of these prices were reasonable to me. Like I said, I'm new too, so only time will tell, but I'm sure some of the veteran members can confirm my choices or offer better ones. Hope to meet at the pool one day, I'll be down the end of Oct. for a couple of weeks.

laryb,

Thanks for the information. I didn't think about asking the builder but that sounds like a great tip.

I'm looking forward to meeting you. Us "green" frogs gotta stick together!

Dan