[DebbieMc]

We want to move NOW but still need to work for about 5 years. Do many of the residents of the Villages still work? How is the job situation? My SIL and I are both in healthcare and DH is in A/C (but wants to get out of it) Is there is a lot of competition for jobs?

And would moving now and working defeat the purpose of moving to the Villages? I am wondering if we would be resentful or frustrated with all the activities that we could not take part in because we are still working. Any thoughts?

[skip0358]

I don't work, hope not to have to work, don't know when I would find time for work. Yes there are people who work, most I know are part time. Since your both in medical field the biggest thing besides activities is medical so you should be able to find work. Don't know about salaries though. As far as getting out of A/C they may be looking down here for help. I'd check on line thru the Villages Paper also other online areas. I wouldn't hesitate moving. I'll say one thing when I worked up North I didn't come home to anything like this. You have to see it & live it to fall in love with it.

[otherbruddaDarrell]

There are jobs in healthcare here that are always open. The big problem is pay...................much lower then you would expect.

I would estimate at least a 25% reduction in pay.

[Russ_Boston]

I'm moving down (maybe later this year) and hopefully working at the local hospital (RN). The pay is at least 30% less, maybe more, than up here in Beantown.

But I'll only be working 3 shifts so that leaves 4 days of play in the best place that I know of to play!!

[ceejay]

Originally Posted by skip0358

I'll say one thing when I worked up North I didn't come home to anything like this. You have to see it & live it to fall in love with it.

I work...wish I didn't have to...but I do.

The above statement is very true...I didn't come home to this when I lived up North. When I drive through that gate, the first thing I do is is exhale with a big "ahhhhhhh".

I admit that, at times, I get very jealous...especially when I see people on the golf courses...at the pool...tooling around in their golf carts...on the pickleball court...

But then I think to myself...wow, they earned this...they really earned it!

I still have about 10-15 years to go...God willing...and then I will have earned this too.

I fit in what I can...golf later in the afternoon, if possible...the pool on Sundays...the Square if I'm not too tired...

I am so blessed that I was given this opportunity...and I wouldn't change a thing!

[redwitch]

Finding a job if skilled is really not a problem. Finding a full-time job with benefits is iffy. Finding a job that pays a living wage is almost a joke. Being in the medical profession is a HUGE advantage here. Sadly for your hubby, so is working in A/C -- always a need for skilled A/C people.

I moved here from San Francisco with 30 years experience as a legal secretary. I certainly didn't expect SF wages here, but I did expect more than I was offered -- $12.50/hr with no O/T or benefits (and that was in Ocala). I gave up on looking for a job and started my own business. It took a while to get it going but I am now making a living wage, albeit not quite where I want to be on a comfort scale (but I'm getting there). On the plus side, I make my own hours and manage to get in the activities I want in TV.

Good luck! If you're determined, you will find something and you might even get lucky and find something you truly love that will pay you enough to be comfortable.

[BogeyBoy]

Unfortunately I have found that pay here is much less than other areas I have lived. Here is an example of a job offering currently posted - look at the job description then look at the pay. (There is also a recreation assistant job posted, part time at $7.95/hr. Senior golf cart mechanic - $9.00/hr. And others, some "pay based on experience", some $8.00-9.50/hr)

X Recreation Supervisor - Full Time - Recreation
Job Title: Recreation Supervisor - Full Time
Job Description: Manage, operate & maintain Recreation Center; Promote a healthly & active lifestyle to residents by offering as many recreation opportunities as possible; Ability to interact with a large diverse population & work effectively with staff, volunteers & general public; plan, organize & coordinate indoor & outdoor activites, leagues, events and games for residents and guests; manage facility resources, inventory, routine maintenance & safety inspections of recreational facility; work with the Director of Recreation and other staff in recreational settings; Requires a Bachelor's Degree (BA) or three or more years related experience and/or training in recreation & parks;Proficient personal computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office Package including, Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint. Vaild Florida Driver's License required for this position.
Rate of Pay: $28, 284.74 yearly
Application Deadline: 2/5/2010
Application Information:
Only one application per applicant is accepted. Completed applications should be returned to Human Resources, 3231 Wedgewood Ln, The Villages, FL 32162 or Faxed to (352) 751-3909.

[memason]

Talk about trying to get something for nothing! After reading the job description, I think they left out one digit:

Rate of Pay: $128, 284.74 yearly

Is the job market so depressed, in Florida, that folks work for this sort of wage? $28K has to be close, if not below, the poverty threshold...

[bluedog103]

I wonder how folks live in the TV area if they're depending on just their salary. Prices seem to be the same, or often more than up north and the pay is a fraction of what we're accustomed to earning. I wonder too, if this is a local thing or if it's typical of Florida in general.

[BogeyBoy]

Originally Posted by bluedog103

I wonder how folks live in the TV area if they're depending on just their salary. Prices seem to be the same, or often more than up north and the pay is a fraction of what we're accustomed to earning. I wonder too, if this is a local thing or if it's typical of Florida in general.

Housing in the area is reasonably priced, you pay more for a home in TV or other gated/adult communities. If you live on Main Street Belleview, Wildwood, or Ocala, you will pay considerably less for the same house.

I think some jobs in the local area pay better, pay may be lower in TV because the rate of pay is somewhat driven by the workforce - retired people looking for something to do to earn a little extra spending money. They may have a fixed income but just need an extra $500 to be comfortable. So they accept a job that fits their schedule: 15-20 hours a week at a low wage.

[bluedog103]

Your're right, housing on the outside are reasonable, however store, restaurant, car, gasoline and just about everything else as seem to be priced the same as up north or sometimes higher.

[rshoffer]

When we decided to relocate here it was quickly apparent the income/pay/compensation was substantially below Pa. When I asked about this I received this answer: Didn't they tell you.... they pay you in sunshine?"

[mulligan]

A few years back, when I was working in Naples, FL, I spoke with a man who was allegedly the #1 crane operator in town. He was making $12.50/hr. He was among the highest paid construction people in town. Most of the people in the construction business are working on piecework, and are (mis)classified as subcontractors(no benefits and no tax witholdings). Add to that the number of illegal and transient workers, and the lack of union bargaining power, and you have the recipe for oppressive wage rates. IMHO

[moongirl]

When we moved to TV I came straight from working 10-hr days @ $35/hr. to having too much spare time. Decided to try working part-time. Nothing suitable, so got FL realtors license and a job at the sales office. Snared one of the "good jobs" but had to work fulltime. No choice in hours or days, no holiday pay, only 2 holidays off per year; all for whopping $8/hr. FL is a right-to-work state so no security in employment marketplace. Their attitude was "if you don't want the job, someone else will." After working a few months, I quit.

[fk9873]

DebbieMC:

While all the above messages about wages are indeed correct, allow me to comment on working in what is an acknowledged active adult (i.e. retirement) community. My original plan was to retire here in about 5 or 6 years. However, I got tired of the Wisconsin weather and taxes and decided to move anyhow. Yes, I still work full-time (although my wife doesn't), and while I haven't met many others yet I understand there are a fair amount who still do work. It can indeed be very frustrating trudging off to work every day while you see and hear other residents merrily going off to golf, softball, the swimming pool, various classes, etc. However, I think that being able to participate in whichever activities you can in the evenings and weekends will make up for the weekdays. Even on that type of basis there is just so many things to do you'll enjoy it. Also, just think of how much better retirement will be when you do reach that last day! You'll know exactly what you want to do and how, when, where to do it. My advice would be go ahead and move - you never know what the future will bring and the joy you can get, even on a working basis, will be worth it.