I’m staying and my husband would have stayed if he hadn’t passed away. Some go back to family only to find they are working and grandchildren are in school; so, you’re alone all day. Winters can be brutal north of Florida. Be with your friends here and visit family while kids are out of school and you can really enjoy them.

Hi,

The reason we moved to the villages was if something happened to one of us we would already have activities & a base of friends one of us passed away. Our family Is 2 days drive away.

My husband passed away of a fast illness. It is hard being alone. I can be as active as I want to be. I still have friends to do things with. It’s different though.

We started doing a few things separately so we had friends that weren’t just couples. He had car guy friends I had samba & Mah Jong friends. We shared pickle ball friends.

Pickle ball is a good mixer you don’t need to be a couple. You get in line & play the next 4 when a court opens.

Some friends that lost spouses did go back home but home wasn’t the same either. Everyone has busy lives, they found themselves waiting for someone To be free to do something with. They moved back to the villages. They were happier here there are more people like you here.

It’s not easy being a widow. I could sit & mope around But I choose not to. I am making new friendships & holding on To some of the old friends too.

Am I super happy all the time of course not. No one truly is. I’m doing the best I can especially during these covid times.

The important thing is I have my health, I am helping friends when I can. I am learning as I go. I am grateful for sharing the 10 years of retirement that I Did have with my husband.

Im still on the younger end of the villagers, am I searching for someone? No. It would be nice to meet someone special again. Right now I need to find out who the new me is. What do I really want?

My suggestion to other couples is to make sure your final arrangements are all made. Make sure either person would be financially ok. Make sure you expand your interests to create a few of your own friends. Stay as healthy as you can and enjoy each other while you can, let the small stuff go.

We are responsible for our own happiness and how we treat others. I try to add to other people’s lives not take away. A good example: the other day I was walking my dog & made some small talk with a neighbor I didn’t know. At the end I said “have a good day”. He Said “and you have even a better one”.

I’m stealing that. It made me smile all day. Take care.

Part of the reason we bought here and bought what we did was because my wife can continue on here without me.

Agree..they have their own lives

Even with a spouse this covid thing has made a lot of us lonely when we can't socialize like before. I miss all of my own activities...just hang in and things will get better.

If my wife passed away, I would probably stay in TV as long as I could golf and go to MVP. My other option would be to sell my CYV and pay off my reverse mortgage, take my balance and buy a Class A motor home like this 2015 Winnebago 36' from LaMesa RV in Sanford for $99,000 and head to Pinellas County.

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Once in Pinellas County I would head to the section known as Seminole. Park at one of the local RV camp grounds with a pool. It's a 1/2 mile from Madeira Beach, Bay Pines VA Hospital is right there, Walmart is right there and most any store you need is on Seminole Blvd. Here on this map.

Google Maps

This RV park fits the bill.

https://bickleypark.com/our-lots/

This is a standard lot, $495 a month on an annual lease.

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Snowbird Oddity
 

I’m an oddity.. married and husband visits once in awhile..hard to make friends with this status..just can’t take the cold..wish there were more single type activities.

Explore your inner self and explore. There are many lonely dudes that will
be happy to replace your husband and fulfill your needs. Good Luck

So, you’re saying there no gold digger’s around here:popcorn:

You might have to stay in your house if you have a reverse mortgage on it and little or no equity left in it if you need money from your home's equity to move. On top of that I believe the income from his SS might be gone.

Almost every activity for me started as a single type activity. When I started playing softball I went for evaluation at Buffalo Ridge and then was placed on a team. I played five years in a row, three seasons of 14 games a year until I stopped. When I took Pickleball 101 and then went to Colony Cottage and played during beginner's time until I got better and played more often. When I went to MVP at Brownwood, I tried all the classes the first two weeks and then just attended the ones I liked afterwards. When I played golf, I put my name in with twosomes and threesomes that I didn't know and met a lot of nice people. Then I began playing with a neighbor nine years ago, now we have a steady foursome, we added two players who put their name in with us. I just read on the bowling thread that Villagetinker is looking for bowlers and to send him a private message. The point is, you have to make it work yourself, no one is going to give you anything.

Why would you possible be taking such a life changing decision advice from the Internet?

YES I WOULD STAY.. Absolutely... it's safe.

NO!

Life after my spouse
 

This is a question I have asked myself and my wife many times. We have no children and other family members are all involved with their own circle and as we both have learned from getting married at 60 and her 50, that life without a "true & loving" partner can be no life at all.

To answer your question I have thought many times about it and have told my wife more than once should she leave before me that I would buy a nice dog for a companion and move to Maui where I have always liked the seclusion and solitude to live my last days.

One thing she has told me more than once..... I worry more about "her" if something should happen to either than I worry about living today in taking measures over and beyond in "preparations" for her should I leave first. THIS.... is peace of mind knowing she will be secure once I am gone

If and when we can ever get out again I will show her more than ever things that she has only dreamed of. Living alone without her is one choice I hope I never have to make and yes I will end up in Maui... with my faithful companion away from people should she leave me here alone.