[justjim]

I have mentioned this on other posts and threads. Residents who own property in TV and go north to property they own or rent for two or three months during the summer are called Sunbirds. We are not Snowbirds, Snowflakes or go by any other name. We are Florida residents and vote here in Florida. But to each their own.

[curtmcgee]

Also from New Hampshire but the farthest north I'm going is Ocala.

[juddfl]

I moved here in 2001 and this is the hottest summer since I've been here. That's not bad for 22 years living in The Villages.

[RCMill531@comcast.net]

We’ve been her for almost 2 years. No regrets. We love it!

[Amohernyikes]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

People in TV move to Florida full time from the north for many reasons, family here, mild winters, cheaper taxation, entertainment, etc.

Now reading all the gloom and doom about Florida's summers will only getting hotter, insurance companies leaving the state with raising home and auto rates,

I need to ask:
If given another chance, would you move out of Florida maybe back up north?

Cheers!

I would most definitely do things differently! I miss my "Up North" for a lot of reasons but also enjoy the Villages for a lot of other reasons. Without going into too much detail, I would most probably be a snowbird. I am a full-timer and think that being back home for a few months, would do my heart some good. But I am still working and not remotely, so that is not possible. I miss my family and friends back home, I came down to FL with no family and friends in tow, but have made some wonderful memories, with more to be made.

[Regorp]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

People in TV move to Florida full time from the north for many reasons, family here, mild winters, cheaper taxation, entertainment, etc.

Now reading all the gloom and doom about Florida's summers will only getting hotter, insurance companies leaving the state with raising home and auto rates,

I need to ask:
If given another chance, would you move out of Florida maybe back up north?

Cheers!

I didn't leave high taxes, snow bound, icy cold Connecticut for lower taxes, hot weather, and super TV living. This is easy living compared to the hell of CT. Stay here, I will!!

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by LuvNH

We have been here since 2008 and for the most part have had a wonderful time, but age and ill health has become a problem. The Village hospital almost managed to kill my husband, but not quite, they left him handicapped so if we stayed here we we would probably have to move to assisted living and that is not going to happen.

I am very sorry to hear about your husband’s experience at the Villages hospital. Unfortunately, I can totally relate. They made a strong effort to kill me as well. Fortunately my wife came to my rescue and got me to a real hospital in Gainesville where they saved my life and I managed to come back from the horrific experience. Best of luck in beautiful New Hampshire.

[Packer Fan]

Originally Posted by Bitsee

Great Post !

We are Snowbirds from Wisconsin going on 15 years now.
Wisconsin to us...is absolutely perfect.
We sit in 70+ warm sunny temperatures, beautiful lakes all around , hiking and biking trails, beautiful flowers and lush green grass, homegrown produce, fresh fish and beef , Mom and Pop diners everywhere, family owned Supper Clubs, Friday night Wisconsin fish frys at the local bars, Packerland tailgaters, and all the fresh cheese curds and real churned ice cream you could eat !
True Wisconsinite's in every way.

The Villages is also wonderful for us in the winter months, no doubt.
However, we are also going to move back to Wisconsin full-time as well eventually if we can afford a home on a big lake up here.

Florida has become more expensive to own a home there, the massive building, way too crowded, the interstates are packed continuously, the food and services there are mediocre to say the least, the crime and daily scams are over the top, and quite frankly the continuously dangerous rising heat index there is
quite alarming ~ IMO.

We are retired so Wisconsin snow shoveling is no longer a winter drama for us. I never did get used to 80* Christmas Holiday's in Florida, and falling snow outside beats 105* blasting hot sun any day in my book.

Just a personal preference for us.

Wow, as a Wisconsin native about 1 1/2 years from Retirement with a retired wife, who spent 6 weeks in May and June in TV and has spent about a month every summer in TV since we bought the house there, I have to disagree.
We will be moving to TV full time. Wisconsin weather is HORRID all year. Winter runs almost to the end of June, you have to wear a jacket to the 4th of July fireworks. Then you get some nice weather in July, where if you go outside you get eaten alive by Mosquitos. Then in August you get about 2 weeks of 100% humidity with high 90s or low 100s temps (ok, this year has been the exception for once). Then winter comes back about the second week of October. I can't stand it any more. I prefer summers in Florida - Nice until about 9:30 AM when you go inside or to the pool. Rains for 20-30 minutes between 1 and 2, when the temps drop to the 80s, which I love. Then the evenings are normally very nice.
On top of that you pay 6.75 percent of your money in Income tax, the real estate taxes are EASILY double the ones in TV, and my homeowners insurance in Wisconsin is about the same as my 10 year old house in TV even after the increases of the past 2 years.
The roads in Wisconsin are aweful, the traffic has gotten a lot worse, and god forbid you want to travel north on a friday or south on a Sunday in the summer. To drive anywhere but the UP or Minnesota, you have to make the aweful drive through Chicago too.
As far as Mom and POP diners and Supper clubs - they are almost all gone, and the lakes are too cold to swim in. I won't go into politics, but Florida wins there too.
OK, as a road biker, Wisconsin has better paths for the 4 months you can ride them - but I actually like the Multimodal trails south of 44 just as well.
I can watch the packers on TV, and get Johnsonville brats and the same cheese at Publix.
I get it is all personal preference, and I sure never got the fascination with "up north", hunting, fishing or any of that. I do downhill ski, but I normally fly to Utah or Colorado for a week to do that, Wisconsin has shrimpy hills too. My personal preference is to live in Florida, and visit my brother in Waukesha, my Sister in Menominee falls, and my Sister in law in LeClaire Iowa for a few weeks in the summer, maybe. Good ridance to cheeseland..... I am so done.


BTW- I hope you take this in the Jovial way it was meant, It really is a personal preference for sure. Maybe we can watch the (thank God) Aaron Rodgersless packers and have a beer sometime!

[donfey]

NO, period. It's even hard to get my wife to leave The Villages!

[Marmaduke]

Originally Posted by sharonl7340

Not being catty or snarky: but why describe your son as "adopted" in the second paragraph? Isn't he just your son? It sounds like it in the next sentences you write, so why did you qualify it to begin with that he is adopted? Does it matter, why should strangers know or care? Just asking...I am truly curious.

In his overall post, he talks about his state, and his current situation, right?

I interpreted the description of his loving son as being one of the best choice he and his wife ever made.

Let's face it, this #1 son sounds a lot less stingy and a whole lot more loving than many sons and daughters who are not there for their parents in later life.
I thought he was just saying how blessed he and his wife are for adopting and raising a gracious son. Kudos to then!

[BAT777]

I kind of miss the wood burning stove
and taking the grand kids sledding

[mags900]

Please go home

[scooterstang]

I had no choice but to move from Anoka MN to Panama City FL! My wife bought a house while I was at work. She said I would never have moved from MN otherwise and her arthritis feels much better in FL. I had to scramble to sell 10 Motorcycles and my 65 Mustang Fastback. Our house sold in 45 minutes for 20K over the asking price. Sold most everything on facebook market place. I think now that I have been living here for 3 years,I like it better than my wife does. I miss the hell out of my family but we have a 65 inch TV with the portal system which is almost like being there. I don't miss the snow one bit or the bitter cold. love riding my Yamaha Scooter year round and cruising my 70 Chev shortbox around town daily.

[Whitley]

Full time in Florida for us. Not practical to pay 47K a year in property tax for a home to live in 6 months. That and the 550 gallons of fuel every four weeks to heat it. It is beautiful, at Christmas it is like living in a rockwell painting, BUT I believe I will live longer down here.

[Pugchief]

Originally Posted by scooterstang

we have a 65 inch TV with the portal system

Never heard of this and Google was of no help. Can you please elaborate?