[OhioBuckeye]

I liked living in Florida but when I die I want to be buried in my home state. We presently live in Texas but still want to be buried in my home state. It’s just that both me & my wife’s family are buried where we were both born at. I know when your dead you don’t know the difference. But most of our family & long time friends are there.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by paminix

I grew up 5 blocks from the George Floyd incident in a house my grandfather built. We then moved to the "new" suburb of Richfield. My parents bought a house for $13,500 that recently sold for $350,000. I visit my best friend from jr. high once a year. Her daughter teaches Spanish at Richfield High to students who struggle with English. She spends most of her time breaking up fights among the blacks, hispanics and hmong students. She has 4 caucasian students. No longer are there carefree days and firefly lit evenings for children to enjoy without fear. I go back once a year and love the lakes, fishing, and friends. But the world is different now, and as they say, "There is no there, there."

I lived near the U of Minnesota back from 1986-1991. Either in or near Dinkytown or in Middlebrook Hall. Did some of the Summer of 1987 in a cheap apartment in East Franklin across from a park where they often did drug deals and you would hear gunfire. I tried to get home by 7:00 pm and never went out at night. They seemed to have cleaned up that area but now there are many across the Twin Cities that have become like that area was back in 1987.

[coleprice]

NOTHING . . . We moved to Florida during June 2020 and found that everything is better here. Lower Taxes, Lower Costs at stores & restaurants, plus the state enforces the Law with friendly, professional police. We moved from Southern California where there is no rule-of-law, rather there is CHAOS - The DA's won't even prosecute shoplifters or the homeless that openly inject drugs, then pee and crap on the streets. The climate/weather here is central Florida is very similar to the area in SoCal that we moved from, where we lived less than 3 miles from the ocean.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by NotGolfer

We moved here 13 years ago. At first I missed "elements" of where we came from. People actually 'knowing' us and being able to get to dr's, shops etc. within 15 or less minutes. We lived in a small midwestern town close to a large city. Traffic wasn't bad neither and people less impatient as well. The seasons I missed---Spring and summer. Fall's could be very wet and chilly with impending winter, that seemed to come earlier and stayed longer. The ice, snow and cold---do NOT miss that at all. It's true you can't go back to what 'seemed' familiar. People we know continued along with LIFE (as they would here) and a true connection seemed missing. This was my interpretation anyway. I'm very content here. We live in the south now---got used to a new culture and cuisine (many can't seem to). We don't dwell on "what isn't" here as others seem to. Nostalgia is nice....memories (for the most part) are nice too. We have been back but the topography has changed as the places are growing there too. The towns (we've lived in a handful over 50-something years) have all changed. The changes don't mesh with the memories.

Well said.

[Vermilion Villager]

There have been several documentaries about the villages and even I have to admit most of them are way off base. However, I do remember what they said in one of those documentaries.
"The villages is a place you live… The villages is not your home. Look around… There are no cemeteries here. When you can no longer participate in the lifestyle… You will go someplace else."

[RiderOnTheStorm]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

What do you miss about your northern home state compared to living in Florida?
I think living in Florida is great at my age, but there are times I reminisce after 7 years down here.
We travel back, but it just isn't the same.

For me it has to be the 4 seasons, not the snow and cold, but the change in weather, the fall colors that never seem to last long enough.
The farm fields in summer watching the crops progress from month to month, or the smell of freshly cut hay and miles of corn fields.

As snowbirds we enjoy the best of both worlds. While in the north this includes the following:
1. Mild summers and the absence of Florida's "jungle heat"
2. Gorgeous change of seasons with spring and fall
3. Beautiful mountains and vistas
4. Better food (choice of restaurants and a very wide array of inexpensive locally grown produce)
5. Better healthcare (we schedule appts to coincide with trips north)
6. Off-leash hikes with my dogs (i.e. no alligators to kill them)
7. Swimming and boating in many fresh water lakes
8. Absence of annoying insects
9. A two-story home with a basement and large (4 acre) very private yard
10. Enjoying a wine region (NYs Finger Lakes) rated #1 in the country in 2019

[jump4]

reliable medical care

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by Vermilion Villager

There have been several documentaries about the villages and even I have to admit most of them are way off base. However, I do remember what they said in one of those documentaries.
"The villages is a place you live… The villages is not your home. Look around… There are no cemeteries here. When you can no longer participate in the lifestyle… You will go someplace else."

Yes, but that doesn’t really work. The last thing you want to do is when you are old and no longer very able is to move and on top of that, lose all your friends and support in your OLD age.

I think the model suggested is good for business but in some ways, quite inhuman to the residents. Perhaps it’s time to do something about it.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

What do you miss about your northern home state compared to living in Florida?
I think living in Florida is great at my age, but there are times I reminisce after 7 years down here.
We travel back, but it just isn't the same.

For me it has to be the 4 seasons, not the snow and cold, but the change in weather, the fall colors that never seem to last long enough.
The farm fields in summer watching the crops progress from month to month, or the smell of freshly cut hay and miles of corn fields.

Don't miss much or I would NOT have left. Just a few things - Carnegie Mellon University, cooler, less humid summers, fishing in Canada before you needed a Visa, and a few ladies!

[Barborv]

I bought in the Villages over 10 years ago and would come down from Long Island NY when I could (a week or so at a time) when I was off from school. I finally retired this past June. We decided to sell our house and move here permanently. My two daughters are still in Long Island, and it's very easy to hop on a quick flight to visit. My son is in ND so, I don't regularly get to see my grandkids anyway. They love coming here, going to the pool, doing camp villages, golf cart rides, etc. I wasn't a fan of going into the city anymore back home. Taxes were crazy, isn't pretty like it is here. I like having all these amenities here. I do have to say, I miss my friends at work, but talk to them often. When I go home to visit, I usually go to Procter the ACTs and SATs. Did that last week. was in school the whole week for a few hours! It was wonderful, and then I remember how I hated getting up and ready at 5:45 am! Yes, some of the food places are better than here and I still haven't changed over to doctors here, which I know I have too eventually.

[juddfl]

The food! With all the people moving here from the North. you would think they might open some very good restaurants. Some friends and I visited New York City a few years ago, before COVID, for a fun girls vacation. Everyone got to pick the one thing that they wanted to do or see. I picked Little Italy for great Italian food. Best meal I had since moving to The Villages in 2001. I think the reason might be that Villagers won't want to pay the price for an excellent restaurant. If only the price was less, we would have great restaurants.

[Tyson]

Cant stand the heat when May rolls around. Plus at 75, Im the old guy, but love hangin with all the 20, 30 and 40 year old members.

[Michael 61]

I’ve only been here since December (coming from Colorado) - so I’m loving life, and not missing the sub zero and snow Colorado has recently experienced. Im a foodie, and I knew coming to TV, that ethnic and high-end restaurants are minimal, and I came knowing I would have to give that up - but what I really miss right now, is my twice-weekly authentic green-chili breakfast burrito made on a homemade tortilla from the mom-and-pop taco stands in Colorado.

[Karmanng]

YOU would never know Scottsdale NOW! Over built and huge apartments all crammed in! Lots more traffic too........restaurants are not that great anymore either.......Its jammed in by The quarter and Kierland if you remember that area.....AND north of it too on Scottsdale Rd..........OLD town is a disaster

[Karmanng]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

We have been in Florida since 1996 and here in the Villages since June or so of 2005. So, Florida is home.

Rohnert Park, CA; Reno, NV; Scottsdale, AZ; Itasca, IL; Belmont, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Denver, CO; Menomonee Falls, WI; and Provo, UT would all seem quite different now.

And I have run into people here in the Villages from every one of those places. Or, at least, while in Palm Harbor, FL.

I responded to your post about Scottsdale but it ended up being seperate.......you would be disappointed if you were here in Scottsdale thou..........