[taylor111947]

I plan to visit The Villages (for the first time) in May to explore the area. I only have three days - can anyone suggest how I can best use my time? I'd also like to see some other communities in the area, but I realize that might not be feasible on this trip. Also, is there any way of finding residents who are from my home town? In addition, I'm interested in demographic information such as number of single households (vs couples), average age, income and home price. Is there anywhere I can obtain that information? I appreciate any help you can provide. Thanks - Liz

[DougR]

Liz,
We did our first Lifestyle Preview visit last year and had some similar questions. The Villages representative who helped us was very knowlegable and was able to answer many of the questions we had.
I purchased the $5 Villages map from the Mercentile Store prior to our trip and had it mailed to our house. This allowed me time to study the area and become familiar with the entire area before visiting.
Once there, I found the Trolly Tour very informative and the narrator kept us quite informed. We went to many restaurants within TV and walked into many stores and shops. Everywhere, people were so friendly and you could strike up conversation with anyone at these locations.
TV is so large with so many rec centers, stores, and the two squares, you wont have time to see other communities. Besides, from what I read here on TOTV, this is the best anyway! I hope you are doing the Lifestyle Preview visit. It was Great! We are returning in July for more fun-in-the-sun!
Good Luck
-Doug

[JohnN]

3 days is hard pressed to do anything more than get an overview, but first impressions mean a lot. If you contact a TV sales rep (threads on good ones are in the search feature here), they'll often ~pop~ and give you a free map, but $5 isn't bad. This is a community of 70,000 plus, it's big, and different areas have different personalities.
Historic side - older, lot of charm
North of 466 - more established,
South of 466 - newer.

Take the trolley ride.
Ask a lot of questions.
Go to the square at evening for some music, and talk to people, everyone loves to talk here! LOL

You can visit some other 55+ in the area (we visited about a dozen in central florida before buying in TV), but again, 3 days isn't much.

TOTV (this site) is a fabulous resource, we learned a lot of things that really aren't surfaced elsewhere.

[JohnN]

when you get more time, if favorably impressed this visit,
do the lifestyle visit, highly recommended,

or rent a private place for a month if you can

[taylor111947]

Thanks so much for your response. Could you explain what the Lifestyle Visit is?
I'm staying at a friend's house, but they won't be there (and don't live there permanently) so I'm on my own. From reading the posts I'm thinking TV might be all I can handle this trip and that's fine - I'm not in a rush, but I want to be ready to move shortly after I retire.
TV sounds great, but, as a recent widow, the decision is a little overwhelming and certainly more difficult than if my husband was with me. One of the things I need is the opportunity to meet people easily. I golf, but it's not the main focus of my life - then again maybe if I got better it could be , so a wide range of activities is important.
I'm just starting my search so I'm open to suggestions - especially on other places to look at.

[jojo]

I know several women who are recent widows who moved here and found instant friends. This is an ideal place for people who live alone. I am married but my husband is not down here full time yet and I could go out every night with friends. Agree with the suggestion to contact a Villages sales rep. Be sure to take the trolley tour. Starts at the sales office at Lake Sumter Landing.

[otherbruddaDarrell]

I would suggest getting a copy of the newspaper everyday you are here. It has a good listing of what is happening and will help you a lot.

[graciegirl]

All of these suggestions are excellent. I have several widowed friends who are very happy and comfortable here. Please PM me when you are coming so that I can invite you over for coffee...if you have the time.

A lifestyle visit is one where The Villages rents you a Villages home, and you are given some free meals and some free golf and some other nice things.. BUT do not be afraid of that, no one will pressure you at all. We had to CALL and make an appointment with a sales person and then they asked what we were interested in and showed us the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy and the art studios and we had to ask to see homes, because we hadn't mentioned that as one of our interests. We weren't ready to buy at that time............but we fell in love and bought...so unlike us. Haven't regretted it yet. We are snowbirds but thinking seriously about becoming frogs.

Please don't think that if you are a single you will be lonely. Most people do not think of singles and doubles...just friends. Kathie 1 is kind of the unofficial head of the singles bunch and she is so friendly and welcoming. But you can hang out with us doubles too!

[ssmith]

Don't forget to get a guest pass and check out all the activities at a rec center which has everything from the outdoor activites..tennis, pickleball etc to indoor activities like card and board games and all kinds of dance and exercise lessons.

[ssmith]

Don't forget to get a guest pass and check out all the activities at a rec center by getting the recreation news available at any rec ctr. which has everything from the outdoor activites..tennis, pickleball etc to indoor activities like card and board games and all kinds of dance and exercise lessons.

[taylor111947]

Wow! All your suggestions are great! I'm really getting excited. I'm tempted to blow off the conference I'm attending in Orlando earlier in the week and start my visit sooner. But, probably that's not a good idea - If I want to be able to afford to retire I guess I need to keep my job a little while longer I'm beginning to realize what you mean when you say 3 days may not be enough, but I think it will be a good introduction. Graciegirl - I'll keep your offer in mind. I'd love to talk to a real Villages resident. Thanks to all of you.

[JohnN]

a lifestlye tour is through TV, staying in one of their rental homes (so doesn't sound you need that). you get a golf cart, and lots of freebies for meals, golf, movies etc. very reasonably priced given all you get

[N'awlins Lady]

Originally Posted by ssmith

Don't forget to get a guest pass and check out all the activities at a rec center which has everything from the outdoor activites..tennis, pickleball etc to indoor activities like card and board games and all kinds of dance and exercise lessons.

Do the Rec Centers offer Pilates and Zumba classes? Do they offer dance lessons too...all for no additional charge?

[oatmealgirls]

Originally Posted by N'awlins Lady

Do the Rec Centers offer Pilates and Zumba classes? Do they offer dance lessons too...all for no additional charge?

Best source for what's going on in The Villages is The Villages Daily Sun newspaper. Here's a link that will take you to the section of the online version of the newspaper, to get a PDF for the current week's Recreation News and Activities Schedule (it comes out every Thursday).

Yup, I see "clubs" (not necessarily classes) for Pilates and Zumba offered.

[N'awlins Lady]

Originally Posted by oatmealgirls

Best source for what's going on in The Villages is The Villages Daily Sun newspaper. Here's a link that will take you to the section of the online version of the newspaper, to get a PDF for the current week's Recreation News and Activities Schedule (it comes out every Thursday).

Yup, I see "clubs" (not necessarily classes) for Pilates and Zumba offered.

Thanks! I'm so amazed at all the activities you can do at TV!!!