Originally Posted by Michael G. (Post 2193134)

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.

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive (Post 2193324)

My wife has a t-shirt with the logo "Its weird being the same age as old people".

To us, that says it all. Back home in Minnesota, living less than an hour from George Floyd "Ground Zero", the living situation was far less than ideal. Feeling that you had to carry a pistol every time you went anywhere near the MSP metro was a real pain in the bleep, but that is where the best restaurants and shopping (outer ring suburbs, anyway) were. The problem was that the ground zero mentality and environment spreads; even our sleepy little town was not immune.

Other than that the physical challenges were enormous and were getting more so as the months and years went by. Living in a four-bedroom rambler with a huge yard and deck meant maintenance and upkeep that I was progressively less able to do, not to mention having to shovel snow for six months out of the year and driving in conditions that most southerners cannot even imagine let alone cope with. High taxes on income, property and just about every other thing you can imagine. Law enforcement that was becoming pretty sketchy, even in our sleepy little town. All in all, being a senior citizen in that environment was becoming a challenge that was getting progressively harder to meet. It is HARD being old in Minnesota.

But here? I love those "severe weather warnings" when the mercury is supposed to plunge to (gasp!) THIRTY DEGREES ABOVE ZERO. Golf and tennis year round. Anything you could possibly need or want within a 15-minute golf cart ride. Environments tailored to the needs of Seniors. Flowers blooming year round. Excellent law enforcement for the most part. A tan that I don't have to buy. Folks who offer you a ride when you're walking in the summer. NOT having to constantly look back over your shoulder. Clubs for any interest you can possibly imagine. Not having to wake up at 2:00 AM to a strange sound coming from the vicinity of the garage. Lots of people of our age group. Arthritis pain nearly nonexistent for the most part. And so on.

Sure, family is back there, but it is a short airplane ride in either direction and we see a lot of them. Other than that? After three years here I cannot envision myself back in that situation. It's not whether or not you can go back. For us, we don't want to.

Originally Posted by paminix (Post 2193419)

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."

Originally Posted by NotGolfer (Post 2193327)

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.

Originally Posted by Michael G. (Post 2193134)

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.

Originally Posted by Vermilion Villager (Post 2193443)

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."

Originally Posted by Michael G. (Post 2193134)

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.

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725 (Post 2193228)

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.

Originally Posted by Karmanng (Post 2193507)

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

Originally Posted by Karmanng (Post 2193506)

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

Originally Posted by Pairadocs (Post 2193265)

What "northern state", LOL ! Left Florida once for college, twice more to grad school, was really tough me. I definitely understand your fleeting yearning from time to time. When I did leave Florida for school, I really REALLY missed Florida, the smell of fresh cut hay at our cousin's farm in Weirsdale, the sweet smell of the orange blossoms, the beautiful trees turning in fall in the national forest, just the sound of the waves lapping the shore and smell of the fresh ocean air. I'm sure we all pine for the sights, sounds, and even smells of our "home states". Oh, maybe most of all I missed HONEYBELLS, they seldom are available outside Florida unless you order from a specialty grove, never saw a single one in a regular super market in Champaign, IL (University of Illinois) or anywhere outside Florida ! I've visited Alaska a few times, I can even understand how you could miss it that far north if that was where you a person grew up. I'm sure mountain state people would miss that if they moved to Florida... Arizona might be a better choice for their retirement; mountains AND warmth, LOL !

Originally Posted by Velvet (Post 2193509)

And as always, expensive. But the art galleries, the beautiful red hills, the Fairmont Princess spa, they are the same. I love Scottsdale, but not as much as our Villages.

Originally Posted by Blackbird45 (Post 2193281)

I've lived here in the TV for 10 years and it does have its advantages. Safety, people of the same age, convinces to doctors and overall cleanliness. I'm a native of N.Y.C. where there were a lot of disadvantages especially for people my age. Now that I said that I do miss the diversity and the quality of food, the theatre, the museums, the ability to disappear into the crowed without following some preplanned activity. When they say N.Y.C. is a city that never sleeps, it's actually true.

Originally Posted by Karmanng (Post 2193510)

ARIZONA is NOT a better choice at all.....over building crowded too extreme heat and this winter we got snow! LOTS of it incluiding Scottsdale !!!! Forget it here rents are way too high and homes are way overpriced.........I am planning to come to TV and take advantage of high home prices......I bought in linden

Originally Posted by RiderOnTheStorm (Post 2193449)

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

Originally Posted by toeser (Post 2193540)

"8. Absence of annoying insects"

That's interesting. We have lived in The Villages for eight years and I have yet to have a mosquito bite, although we are not here summers. The mosquito is the state bird in my northern home.

Originally Posted by tophcfa (Post 2193542)

Couldn’t agree more, no deer ticks

Originally Posted by Michael G. (Post 2193134)

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.

Originally Posted by Escape Artist (Post 2193559)

Yeah, I was going to mention that to those who enthuse about nature hikes and walks in the woods. Watch out for the ticks! They’re everywhere now, not just confined to a few states on the eastern seaboard. I know so many people who have had their lives ruined by Lyme Disease.

Originally Posted by toeser (Post 2193540)

"8. Absence of annoying insects"

That's interesting. We have lived in The Villages for eight years and I have yet to have a mosquito bite, although we are not here summers. The mosquito is the state bird in my northern home.

Originally Posted by Marmaduke (Post 2193394)

I sometimes miss the "era" of things we loved back then, but they are only heartfelt memories now.
Gone, but not forgotten. Sadly, no generation will experience anything as wonderful as we had.

Many of the Depression and Post-War Institutions that made the City of Pittsburgh great are no longer.

Of the bygone days, those of us who enjoyed them KNEW they we're really special. We didn't take them for granted.
It was a big city, small town atmosphere where everyone was friendly, quite like TV.
(Of course, there's always Some!)

Tailgaiting before the Steeler games at Three Rivers Stadium, the Boys of Summer Pirate Games on a warm Spring nights and the Penguins at The Civic Arena.

The Pgh. MARATHON and the Great Race.
The 3 Rivers at Point State Park, visited as often, as North and South Parks.

HOT Mancini's Bread, Sunseri and Primanti Brothers in the Strip, Donahues on 5th Avenue. The Original Oyster House in Market Square (est. 1933) FOR THE BEST Chowder and Fish Sandwiches.

Shopping in Downtown Pittsburgh during Christmas Season and marveling at their mechanical window displays.

Carnegie Libraries, Museums and the Duquesne Incline all visited at least once a year, as a tradition.

The Original HotDog Shoppe near Pitt.
The Pittsburgh Press. (My Dad set Page One as a Printer and brought home a Free Paper every single day for 30 years.)

My Testimony-
It was the Best Of Times....
And
You Can't go home again, but if you were from there, may your Pittsburgese stays with yens forever!

Go Bucs.
Go Steelers.
MARIO, Franco, and Willie.

Originally Posted by Marmaduke (Post 2193394)

I sometimes miss the "era" of things we loved back then, but they are only heartfelt memories now.
Gone, but not forgotten. Sadly, no generation will experience anything as wonderful as we had.

Many of the Depression and Post-War Institutions that made the City of Pittsburgh great are no longer.

Of the bygone days, those of us who enjoyed them KNEW they we're really special. We didn't take them for granted.
It was a big city, small town atmosphere where everyone was friendly, quite like TV.
(Of course, there's always Some!)

Tailgaiting before the Steeler games at Three Rivers Stadium, the Boys of Summer Pirate Games on a warm Spring nights and the Penguins at The Civic Arena.

The Pgh. MARATHON and the Great Race.
The 3 Rivers at Point State Park, visited as often, as North and South Parks.

HOT Mancini's Bread, Sunseri and Primanti Brothers in the Strip, Donahues on 5th Avenue. The Original Oyster House in Market Square (est. 1933) FOR THE BEST Chowder and Fish Sandwiches.

Shopping in Downtown Pittsburgh during Christmas Season and marveling at their mechanical window displays.

Carnegie Libraries, Museums and the Duquesne Incline all visited at least once a year, as a tradition.

The Original HotDog Shoppe near Pitt.
The Pittsburgh Press. (My Dad set Page One as a Printer and brought home a Free Paper every single day for 30 years.)

My Testimony-
It was the Best Of Times....
And
You Can't go home again, but if you were from there, may your Pittsburgese stays with yens forever!

Go Bucs.
Go Steelers.
MARIO, Franco, and Willie.

Originally Posted by Velvet (Post 2193474)

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.