[TOMCAT]

Originally Posted by Schaumburger

Hello Tomcat, Since you like both dogs and cats, when/if you move to The Villages, it sounds like the animal rescue groups and animal shelters always need volunteers.

Can you visualize youself lying next to a Village pool or playing pickleball in January? What are you doing up north in January -- shoveling snow, scraping ice off of your windshield?

Keeping good thoughts for you

Only thing about volunteering at animal shelters, I might want to bring them home and then my husband will divorce me. lol!! Yes I do visualize what the winters would be like. How great it is!

[JoeandSue]

We're in the same boat. Coming tomorrow to design a home in Desoto. We sure hope we're doing the right thing, but hey, we didn't know anyone in the town we're in now 30 years ago, and got to know just about everyone. Good luck on your decision

[Abby10]

Originally Posted by JoeandSue

We're in the same boat. Coming tomorrow to design a home in Desoto. We sure hope we're doing the right thing, but hey, we didn't know anyone in the town we're in now 30 years ago, and got to know just about everyone. Good luck on your decision

Getting to know people in TV is the easiest thing you will ever do, so no fears there. Best wishes to you on your new home. The area you selected is just beautiful. In my short time visiting around there last month I can tell you there are already a lot of welcoming and friendly people living there. I think you will love it!

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by JoeandSue

We're in the same boat. Coming tomorrow to design a home in Desoto. We sure hope we're doing the right thing, but hey, we didn't know anyone in the town we're in now 30 years ago, and got to know just about everyone. Good luck on your decision

Our door is always open. P.M. me anytime. NO. I don't sell homes or get a dollar for every new Villager like friends in Ohio think.

[ehendersonjr]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

The Cold in New York

Most people have misgivings about making a major move across the country. It really is pioneering in a REAL sense. Do you have trouble with major change or find yourself worrying about things? Do you find that the glass is half full or half empty? Most people do worry about moving so far from the familiar.

I thought that the commonality of our age would be more important than other differences but that did not turn out to be true. I have learned a lot about cultural geographic characteristics and customs. We haven't had the same backgrounds and there is an immense difference in how we deal with each other. I found that took some getting used to.

It is a friendly place, but the truth is it takes years to make the kind of friends we left behind. We have a lot of pleasant people to do things with but only a few we feel would be there in a dire situation.

I would do it again, and I think this is a wonderful place to live, but sometimes I long for the old, long time friends left in Ohio who didn't honk at stop lights.

Whether the glass is half full or half empty is irrelevant. What is important is understanding the glass is refillable. 😎

[thevillagernie]

I think it's great here but It's a ACTIVE lifestyle, if you want to sit in a rocking chair this is not the place to be

[amysailor]

What about being single?

[OhioBuckeye]

I like TV, but why would anybody say they don't like it here or they wouldn't be living here. I would think if you could find anybody that moved from here ask them why they moved, then you could hear both sides. I could say both pro's & con's what I like & don't like about TV but that's not what you're asking. If you like it here move here!

[Rmiller622]

I am a recent widow. I literally came here with my car, clothes and shoes.
I rent in The Village of Duval. I absolutely love it here. Yes, I miss my family but it was a great decision.

You need to get involved in a few clubs (if you chose) or do nothing. It’s much easier to come here as a couple but all of my friends (and I truly mean friends) have embraced me. They call and say, we are going to a Square, out to dinner, a movie or to Mystic Ice Cream (you must go here).

Trust me, you will not regret it.

[Bart1000]

Marathon Man's advice is spot on. We bought a house there recently and spend part-time there. We have been visiting The Villages for some years however. If we decide it does not work out for us, we will sell and move on. We do love it there tho.

[mellincf]

Good advice above. We moved here in January and wish we had done this years ago. You must be open to new friends, new adventures, new interests. If you're moving from "up north" the heat may bother you...or not. It is a factor, just like the cold is a factor living in other states. One thing I must mention: you won't find friendlier or more welcoming people, because everyone here was new when they came, so they know how it feels. Good luck!

[TOMCAT]

Oh my. My only child was recently married. He told me he might move back to Long Island from Maryland. But I want to move to the Villages. This is bothering me. I told him he can come and visit. Go to Disney and everything. It has been 10 years since he lived in Long Island and I have been dreaming of living in the Villages almost that long.

[graciegirl]

///

[Loudoll]

I can promise you that TV is everything as advertised and more, a beautiful place with people of like mind in that they want to be here in the sunshine enjoying retirement in style. Unfortunately for us my husband was dying so we could not participate as fully as we would have otherwise. It's hard to adjust to the medical community here after becoming accustomed to personal, high end care at "home". Our medical journey was distressing and horribly disappointing. I'm a hillbilly and I missed the four seasons so thank God, my dear dear husband somehow got us moved and back "home" where I feel safe and sound again.
I wish you the best in your decision whether to go or stay where you are. I think there are always regrets, for sure, but....if clear, blue skies, activities, music and lots of opportunities for swimming and play, shopping and fun places to dine...? The Villages is it and it's a good deal, a lot of great living for your money!

[Abby10]

Originally Posted by TOMCAT

Oh my. My only child was recently married. He told me he might move back to Long Island from Maryland. But I want to move to the Villages. This is bothering me. I told him he can come and visit. Go to Disney and everything. It has been 10 years since he lived in Long Island and I have been dreaming of living in the Villages almost that long.

The key word here is might.....

Follow your dream if that is what you really want. I have an only too. When he moved out to Indiana for a job some years back all on his own and knowing no one out there, he would have loved for us to move out there too. He knew it wouldn't probably happen but tried to convince us anyway. Long story short, we didn't go and 6 years later he's back here due to a job transfer.

A lot of people want to live near their families and that is totally understandable. But if you have a strong desire to do something different in your retirement years, I don't think you could pick a better community than TV for several reasons -

• So many friendly people who understand what you're going through because they've done it too.
  
• So much to do - you will be so busy you probably won't have time to miss "home". The days will fly by and you will wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
  
• It's not that far from an airport that goes almost anywhere and transport to and from is easy.
  
• When the "kids" come to visit, they'll probably love it too. It won't be like going to a typical 55+ community that isn't very lively, especially from a young person's perspective.

From what I see with young people today who aren't afraid to move around for better employment, they are often here one day, gone the next. That just seems to be the nature of the job market anymore. This scenario is happening to almost all of my friends and their children.

The bottom line is, it's your decision to make. The worst that could happen is if you move to TV and don't like it you can move back, especially if you were planning to downsize anyway. Chances are you won't have a problem selling your property in TV. Wishing you all the best in this process.