[JimmyO3]

In our 8 months of residency in TV we have found the beautiful landscaping, both within the individual villages and on the main roads, very aesthetically enjoyable and calming. A small thing maybe but it is a constant. overlying all of the other attributes TV has to offer.
Hope you love living here as much as we do.

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by JimmyO3

In our 8 months of residency in TV we have found the beautiful landscaping, both within the individual villages and on the main roads, very aesthetically enjoyable and calming. A small thing maybe but it is a constant. overlying all of the other attributes TV has to offer.
Hope you love living here as much as we do.

Yes, indeed, I feel as if I live in one large garden.

[bp243]

Originally Posted by VickiF

I joined here a few weeks ago as we began the preparation for our move. We are hoping to buy a spec home in October/early November. I’ve seen lots of good information, advice, and even negative thoughts but since we’ll be full time residents I’m wondering what do you love about the Villages? What are your favorite things? I’ll start by saying what I anticipate I will love. I love sunshine and hot temps so I believe I’ll love the weather. I love to be outside, to see nature, watch birds and take bike rides so I believe I’ll love the trails and preserves. My husband and I love to play games, cards, board games etc. so I believe I’ll love the clubs. We’re not “night life” people so the bands, drinking and dancing aren’t our thing but I believe I’ll love quiet evenings on our lanai with cool drinks and conversations about our day. We’re not looking for much. Just to be closer to one of our children and enjoy our golden years in such a lovely setting. How about you?

Looks like you’re bringing a positive attitude and frankly that’s the key to happiness anywhere. A leisurely style of living will fit your lifestyle preferences perfectly.

[Dzurinko]

I am a nature lover too. If you’re a REAL outdoors person who loves quiet tranquil walks in nature, you really won’t find that here. The nature areas they have here you cannot access. You can look from a distance with a hundred other people. Their “walking trails” are typically paved and shared with 1000 other people every morning. When I want to do some quiet nature walks and take a camera for the chance of getting in some good wildlife photography, I have to drive 30-90 minutes away from The Villages. The developer has NOT set up any large enough nature areas where you have an opportunity to see real Florida wildlife without gangs of people cackling around around you. As for sitting in a quiet lanai and not going out for music, dancing and drinking, unless you spend $1M and have your lanai facing a fenced off nature area, you won’t be alone. You can literally sit there and listen to your neighbors conversation from THEIR lanai as if they were sitting with you in your lanai. I came from a quiet nature setting surrounded by woods, deer, Turkey and thousands of birds and I can tell you without a doubt, The Villages is not it. I am here for my wife who loves the social life. For me to enjoy quiet outdoors and be alone with wildlife and no crowds of people, it’s a 75 minute drive to the Ocala National Forest! It’s certainly doable with the drive, but don’t be fooled by the advertisements of nature preserves here in TV. There simply aren’t any that you can access.

[Suefromtn]

Originally Posted by VickiF

I joined here a few weeks ago as we began the preparation for our move. We are hoping to buy a spec home in October/early November. I’ve seen lots of good information, advice, and even negative thoughts but since we’ll be full time residents I’m wondering what do you love about the Villages? What are your favorite things? I’ll start by saying what I anticipate I will love. I love sunshine and hot temps so I believe I’ll love the weather. I love to be outside, to see nature, watch birds and take bike rides so I believe I’ll love the trails and preserves. My husband and I love to play games, cards, board games etc. so I believe I’ll love the clubs. We’re not “night life” people so the bands, drinking and dancing aren’t our thing but I believe I’ll love quiet evenings on our lanai with cool drinks and conversations about our day. We’re not looking for much. Just to be closer to one of our children and enjoy our golden years in such a lovely setting. How about you?

We are the same! We are planning our lifestyle visit now! We’re not big golfers or dancers but love birds, nature, card games and cool evenings. I also love the water. I am Sue. We are from TN.. and will be down soon to see if it is a good fit.

[billthecpa]

With your thought of simply enjoying the good things in life.....you don't need any recommendations. The good things will find you.

[Charbo8@att.net]

I love those things as well. Hopefully moving by year end. Being a recent widower, I hope I won’t feel out of place

[daveac83]

Originally Posted by VickiF

I joined here a few weeks ago as we began the preparation for our move. We are hoping to buy a spec home in October/early November. I’ve seen lots of good information, advice, and even negative thoughts but since we’ll be full time residents I’m wondering what do you love about the Villages? What are your favorite things? I’ll start by saying what I anticipate I will love. I love sunshine and hot temps so I believe I’ll love the weather. I love to be outside, to see nature, watch birds and take bike rides so I believe I’ll love the trails and preserves. My husband and I love to play games, cards, board games etc. so I believe I’ll love the clubs. We’re not “night life” people so the bands, drinking and dancing aren’t our thing but I believe I’ll love quiet evenings on our lanai with cool drinks and conversations about our day. We’re not looking for much. Just to be closer to one of our children and enjoy our golden years in such a lovely setting. How about you?

Prices going up quickly. Spec homes in short supply. Used homes sell quickly and there are ones in the very newest villages. Check web site: thevillages.com and search homes for availability and cost.

[Villagesgal]

Originally Posted by Charbo8@att.net

I love those things as well. Hopefully moving by year end. Being a recent widower, I hope I won’t feel out of place

You won't feel out of place here as a widower, there will be plenty of single women wanting your company. Be careful, choose a woman, don't let them bulldoze you into exclusivity right away. I am a widow and see this happening every day to single men here, especially the recently widowed. Enjoy your life, if you meet someone whose company you enjoy, don't rush into any long term commitment. I hear woman at the rec centers go on and on about how they dislike their guy, but love his pension and social security check. Don't become one of those "guys". That said, just enjoy the area and what it has to offer, the clubs, the pools, the sports, the squares. It is wonderful here. Hope you come and enjoy this next stage of your life. I know I am loving it here.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Charbo8@att.net

I love those things as well. Hopefully moving by year end. Being a recent widower, I hope I won’t feel out of place

Play your cards right and they will be all over you.

Lots of singles groups and remember lots more single females than males at this stage.

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by Charbo8@att.net

I love those things as well. Hopefully moving by year end. Being a recent widower, I hope I won’t feel out of place

Maybe you can become the latest Mr. Midnight. Books: Leisureville: Adventures in America’s Retirement Utopias – Mother Jones

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by Villagesgal

You won't feel out of place here as a widower, there will be plenty of single women wanting your company. Be careful, choose a woman, don't let them bulldoze you into exclusivity right away. I am a widow and see this happening every day to single men here, especially the recently widowed. Enjoy your life, if you meet someone whose company you enjoy, don't rush into any long term commitment. I hear woman at the rec centers go on and on about how they dislike their guy, but love his pension and social security check. Don't become one of those "guys". That said, just enjoy the area and what it has to offer, the clubs, the pools, the sports, the squares. It is wonderful here. Hope you come and enjoy this next stage of your life. I know I am loving it here.

I agree, some even try to go at my husband. Even though he is wearing his ring.

Lots of females here, a good sign of a nice female is she hasn’t got her mouth open all the time.

[debntom90]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

I love those &(>/&^$$%^&* Bonds we have to pay

The further North you go, the lower the bond with bonds being paid off on many home

[JerryLBell]

Not sure where you're moving from or if you've birded Florida before but it can be awesome here, particularly over the winter months when all the migrants are passing through or spending the winter. The two main birdwatching clubs are The Villages Birders (Village Birders | The Village Birders) and The Brownwood Birders (search for "Brownwood Birders" on FaceBook). The former has monthly meetings with great speakers and does a lot of walks outside The Villages and a few inside. The downside is that they don't meet during the summer months. The latter has no meetings but does walks, mostly inside The Villages. They have weekly walks during the main season and monthly walks during the slower summer season. Both groups are full of helpful, friendly birdwatchers. There are also hiking clubs if you like to walk further and faster than us slowpoke birders.

There are multiple bicycling clubs that do what I think of as "longer" rides (20+ miles) outside The Villages. Of course, you can also bike on any of the bike & walking paths, the multi-modal paths and the roads in The Villages (though NOT on the nicely paved paths in the Championship courses, to the dismay of some bikers).

There are clubs for just about any games you can imagine but if you like a game that doesn't have a club for it, find 10 or 15 people who like it and the rec center folks will help you create a new club for it. After all, it's 3,000+ social clubs and counting.

My wife and I aren't really nightlife people either but many of the bands (which play from 5-9 nightly in the squares) are surprisingly good and worth giving a listen to. Having a seat on a balmy night watching folks dance (particularly the line dancers) to a good band is more fun than you might think.

There are any number of social clubs dedicated to singles. You can make friends here if you try though of course you can be lonely here if you don't get out there. Social clubs are a great way to meet people, as are sports. I suppose you can meet folks hanging out at the bars and there are plenty of folks here who do that.

There is a ton here to do and it can be overwhelming. Just remember - you don't have to do it all! Just because your neighbor has become addicted to something (pickle ball and water volleyball come to mind) doesn't mean you have to as well. Try some new things but remember that you're here to relax, have fun and enjoy this stage of your lives.

Good luck finding the right home for you. Despite it's huge size and vast amount of construction, there has been quite a shortage of houses for sale of late. People are buying like crazy and driving the prices up. Of course, that's been happening pretty much everywhere and you might benefit from it when you sell your house.

[cj1040]

Originally Posted by VickiF

I joined here a few weeks ago as we began the preparation for our move. We are hoping to buy a spec home in October/early November. I’ve seen lots of good information, advice, and even negative thoughts but since we’ll be full time residents I’m wondering what do you love about the Villages? What are your favorite things? I’ll start by saying what I anticipate I will love. I love sunshine and hot temps so I believe I’ll love the weather. I love to be outside, to see nature, watch birds and take bike rides so I believe I’ll love the trails and preserves. My husband and I love to play games, cards, board games etc. so I believe I’ll love the clubs. We’re not “night life” people so the bands, drinking and dancing aren’t our thing but I believe I’ll love quiet evenings on our lanai with cool drinks and conversations about our day. We’re not looking for much. Just to be closer to one of our children and enjoy our golden years in such a lovely setting. How about you?

Dont get a Western lanai exposure or it will be very hot and sunny all afternoon - be careful ! We came north for the summer and I really miss my new home in TV and all of my activities - mah jongg, line dancing class, cardio drumming class, zumba, water exercise and even tap dancing ! Wonderful bike trails - we took many after dinner rides and also went with the bike club a few times. Just getting into a ladies golf group and pickleball. And quilt groups ! So much to do and I cannot wait to get back .