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Do I regret moving?
I miss Santa Barbara. That said, living here instead of there allows me the financial stability to be able to visit Santa Barbara at any time. I couldn't afford to stay there and retire early, without making some heavy sacrifices. I think the kids do better without me interfering in their lives, also. They don't say that, but many psychologists do! It gives them the space to make their own decisions.
All of the activities I currently do would cost a fortune in California. I suspect the same would be true for many of you. The politics here run a bit conservative for me, but as more people come from other areas, that will become more "middle of the road." I love the lack of graffiti! |
Get involved
"Do you regret moving to TV?"
Not a single minute of a single day. My old home had the worst winter in 20 years. Why would I want that? Get involved in sports, clubs, neighborhood activities, etc. We are so busy, we don't have time for regret. |
For our first year, I would tell all my friends up north, how much I missed them. I stopped lying, and now I just tell them come visit! We moved here along with my 88 yr old Dad in tow. I said we should have moved earlier, and he said, "but than you wouldn't have the house you have." He was so right. We are 1/2 mile from Sumter Landing. No regrets!
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Been here 3 years and haven't looked back. SUre, would be nice to be closer to the grandkids but flights are cheap. We have been back and they have come here. Also some family have moved here. Have friends who recently moved to North Carolina to be closer to grandkids. THey are called Half Backs. (moved hal way back).
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Deep Regrets
In a few days we will have been here one year. We deeply regret not coming here sooner. Honestly, what's not to like? We love it here. Feel like we are on a permanent vacation.
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Well said!!
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Hubby would have moved here 11 years ago. He’s doing the happy dance; for me it’s a leap of faith. We’ve been in TV since sept 2018; we bought a house in feb 2019. Now we have to make a life for ourselves. I still have my ups and downs. Miss my family, friends, normal schedule. Neighborhood is wonderful but still feel on the outside looking in. I’m sure it’ll take time to meld in. Fingers crossed.
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As for me, my husband and I are not down there yet. My son and his wife, who moved not too far from us are expecting a girl in October. Otherwise, we would have been there already. The Villages looks like a great place to live. Others tell me why don’t you try other retirement communities and I just say no, only the Villages. That is just my opinion. Right now, I am living is LI only for my granddaughter and that is about it. |
I travel between TV and Upstate NY. I have now started to love The Villages after 2 years of ownership but I don’t want to get past the family closeness in NY. I will never give up my home up there. Yes, they are outgrowing the need for me but I will never outgrow my need for the closeness of them!
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Everyone is old here!!!!! It’s DEPRESSING ALL THE TIME
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Just moved here from Las Vegas 2 months ago and I like everyone else I'm sorry I didn't do it sooner. If you can't find happiness here you'll never be happy
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I regret moving to The Villages. I need to live where a community is "real" and by that I mean: kids, young people, but most of all where life has its ups and downs and is not aiming toward "perfect". I would rather live in a community where folks have an opportunity to participate in governing and in giving opinions. It is a fine thing to reap the rewards of working for a lifetime, but the world goes on and needs us old people, and not for us to withdraw into The Bubble and live for ourselves and just aim to have a good time everyday. I am speaking for myself ONLY and do understand that there are people here who are still involved in trying to "save" the world. For example, all new homes here should be required to have solar panels, veggie gardens allowed, and each Village should govern itself. OK--jump on me!
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Bought in 2012 while we were both still working. Two houses later, hubby thought it was too hot so we bought house with pool - house #3, finally got it right.
He’s happy and you can see by my name, I am too. We did retire in 2017. |
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To each their own...
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I still work, but CJ is now engaged and has many wonderful friends, and keep herself busy and healthy. My day will come when I get to retire in a couple of years, and until then, I will enjoy my downtime when I can, and otherwise, enjoy this little slice of heaven. PS - I completely understand your need and appreciation for "family interaction". Seeing kids and young families enjoying themselves. We see this in TV during the winter and spring months. I love going to the town squares and seeing TV residents hosting their families and children. I wish you well my dear. |
We love TV but are snowbirds only because of the hospital situation here.
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If you haven't seen it, it's the big brown brick building across the parking lot from Two Jays. https://intranet.edwardsconstruction...XD12A4OO26.jpg Have you played softball in TV? We have the largest softball league in America with over 200 teams and 2500 players. We have 11 ball diamonds and leagues are broken down into 5 levels, so you compete against players at your own level. My first five years here I played 3 seasons a year of 14 games a season. After 15 seasons I had to take a break, but there's a lot of people running around those bases in their 60's and 70's. http://www.thevillagesflhomesales.co...s/softball.jpg |
I regret that this is so far away from my family and friends. For me this is a big regret. After nine years I still haven't gotten over my homesickness. But, that si just me.
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I can live anywhere and have lived just about anywhere for most of my life. I moved here for my wife. She deserves it. She is very social and is happy being around others and socializing. Am I happy? I am happy if my spouse is happy. Do I miss home? Since I have moved most of my life, I do not miss any particular spot. I did have a time where I lived in the woods and loved it. My wife did not. Do I like it here? Yes, of course. What is there NOT to like? My advice for what it is worth, is to never look to the past to see how you might feel today. I look forward, never back. I learn from my past and look forward to the future, the new experiences. This is a great place. But, anyone can find fault with just about any place they live. I look at the positive, not the negative. If the negative ever tipped the scale, I would pack up and move. I do not regret moving here and my decision is rewarded by the smile on my wife's face every day.
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I think one’s perspective can change with age. At one time I though too; “Too many old people, I could never live there”. Then one day it became: “Thank God for the old people, I can’t wait to live there”. It’s sort of like Kindergarten in reverse, great if you are 5 years old, not so good if you are a teen.
TV went from my parents’ generation to my generation. |
Thank You!
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I have lived here for 14 years, and though I love the beauty of The Villages and the friends I've made here, I hate the brutal summer heat. If I had it to do over, I would have been a snowbird, as I still miss the changing seasons in Ohio, which I still consider my real home. I would suggest that anyone considering moving to The Villages full time spend at least one summer here before taking the plunge. Wish I had done that.
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We've been here a little over 5 years. Like a lot of others, just wished we had moved here sooner. We live in a CYV and all the neighbors in here feel like relatives.
Moved here from Hampton Roads area of Virginia and it was getting to be a real mess there. We lived in a cul de sac and knew all of our neighbors very well but we NEVER socialized wit any of them. Totally different here with our fantastic neighbors. PLUS I play golf almost every day with neighbors and other friends we have met here. |
We'd been snow-birding on the gulf coast in St. Pete since 2010, but got a bad case of “hurricane fatigue” after Irma so we decided to explore inland options. I have a cousin in the Villages, and we did the lifestyle preview in 2017. We were dead-set on moving there after that, but just for the proverbial s.h.its & giggles, decided to investigate what was outside the bubble. That fluky decision was the best thing we did, and we closed on a beautiful new home in a beautiful community in January of 2018. Everyone was new at around the same time, which I think helps when trying to build new friendships. A whole lot of our neighbors are former Villagers, and we are not an age-restricted community. Even though we are now the old people, I like seeing families and kids.
We are absolutely thrilled with our community, home, neighbors, activities, and amenities. While we are technically not the Villages, we share a border with them on 2 sides and can take advantage of the squares whenever we want and don’t have a bond or cdd. Granted, the Villages lifestyle is what drew us to this area to begin with, but we don’t golf and the clubs and activities in our community are fine for us. (who really needs 2000 clubs, anyway?!) We’re not the least bit jealous of anyone who lives in the Villages and we have zero regrets that we did not move inside. For those who do live there and love it, more power to you. We are fortunate enough to keep a home in Chicago for the summer, and I don’t see stopping that anytime soon. As nice as the Villages area is, the Florida summer heat is oppressive, and we need to escape that and the suburban sameness of the whole area for some city grit, good restaurants, and urban culture. It’s pretty sweet to be able to have both. Different strokes. |
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No Regrets:
I feel like I have arrived in Heaven without having died first.
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Life is a journey, so I don't have regrets. When I made the switch, as a single person, I figured 'as long as no one died', it was all going to be okay, even if I didn't like it here and wanted to move back.
You may not have moved here yet, but like anything new, it is up to you to make the best of it, and The Villages helps by having lots to offer in a clean and lively environment. Stay positive! Nothing is perfect! Fill your days with purpose; today I will find a club to join, today I will find a church I like, today I will explore nature, etc. Go wherever in the Villages and chat people up. I do still 'miss' not being super close (regionally) to my family, but they are living their own lives and I am happy for that. Social media has really helped keep me in touch. I have made it a habit to go 'back' to visit a few times a year. And, even though that is lovely, I miss my home in the Villages when I am there! I do invite friends from the north and have them see my new environment. Life is good. |
Major factor is that it's unbelievably hot and humid from May to November. The winter months are overcrowded with Snowbirds, Rentals, and Visitors. The "I should of moved here 10 years ago" is a standard line, but it's definitely not for everybody.
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Re: Sun City, SC...I just googled that retirement community, and if you are thinking of relocating there, just read about their class action lawsuit about faulty stucco and mold, and you'll change your mind!
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Looked at Sun City Hilton Head 20 years ago after a seminar on one of the Island's plantations. Realized then that not being on Hilton Head Island you lose the feel if its lifestyle. Same goes for The Villages. Nice communities like Spruce Creek and Harbor Hills close by, but The Villages lifestyle makes the difference.
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Point being, i think they all have issues. There were lawsuits here also. |
I think regrets and being homesick are two different things. Yearning for one place while physically being in another can be very disruptive to moving forward in ones new place. You'll tend to hold back with new experience and acquaintances. If you find it's to be too overwhelming or overpowering you might consider returning. Life is too short.
Central Florida offers a unique life style whether you are still working, almost retired or fully retired. There is much to like about living here, lots of activities, warmer weather (100 degree summer temps!!!), the roundabouts, the flock of winter snowbirds or the peacefulness when they fly north. It's really all up to you. The opinions of those posting here is of little matter. What's important is what you really want. RICK |
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I am a golfer and love warm climates, don't think I could move back "north", HOWEVER, the things you mentioned are indeed tugs at the heart; children, grand children, groups of life long friends that are now at the stage of life that allows them to get together often, maybe even travel together. That being said, IF daily golf in any season, the proximity of beaches, the relative warmth year round (yes we can have an occasional few HOURS of 32 degrees in the "depth" of "winter"), waking up every morning and realizing you actually are living in a resort, a perpetual vacation, and yet those things do NOT trump those very important things & people you left behind, I would not hesitate one DAY before I would call the moving truck. Life and retirement years are far too few to squander ! ! I agree with another reply, if finances allow, try the 50/50 like so many others. If your heart is still not right, follow your heart back to what is important to YOU !
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Unbearably hot and humid from May to November. Congested and overcrowded from January to May. Answer your question?
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There are two things wrong with The Villages. Number 1: there are no sidewalks . Number 2: the developer will not own up to his responsibilities concerning the homes lost due to sinkholes.
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Solar panels could be optional, but requiring everyone to have solar? no thank you mam
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We are still snowbirds due to a family situation, when it changes with that elderly parent there’s a 99.99% chance we’ll pull up roots and settle here. I do have some reservations about moving here completely. My wife does not because she doesn’t have any family and very few friends in the north. I have an extensive network of friends and family in the small state we are from. I like being a big fish in a small sea rather than a small fish in a big sea. In other words the state I come from is smaller than Marion County. It’s not unusual for us to be in a restaurant, shopping mall or any other location and to see someone I know. For instance last evening we were out for dinner in one of the many fine restaurants here. While dining I met 2 friends who I haven’t see in a few years. I like that extended network moving here completely I’ll lose that. One real positive though I belong to organization that is worldwide and members of that organization meet daily at different locations in TV and everywhere else in Florida and the USA. Since we all have a common interest it’s easy to meet quality people thru that organization. In an ideal world I would like to spend 8 or 9 months in TV and 3 to 4 in my home state. Only time will tell. |
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