[rjm1cc]

Other than financial consideration, what factors do you consider important and what factors do you think are unimportant when evaluating a community for retirement?

[l2ridehd]

When I first started my search for a place to retire, I built a spreadsheet for that evaluation. I had weather, crime, cost of living,(which had about 10 evaluation factors) airport access, golf, other things to do, near by attractions, health care, and two more columns for pro's and con,s. Probably a few others I have forgot about. I used the data plus lots of reading to evaluate between 85 and 100 different retirement communities and locations. From that I narrowed it down to about 10, actually visited 6 and made a decision for TV. One of the major factors for me was the golf cart access to everything. A couple other really close seconds were places where you could walk to everything. I have seen to many seniors who at some point can't drive a car and have to have others take them every where. I believe a golf cart may add a year or two to the independence factor.

[swrinfla]

I certainly wasn't as organized as l2ridehd - although were I to plot such a move today, I might do it the same way! In fact, I really had no strong criteria other than one prime goal: never have to shovel snow again!

Before I bought in TV, I visited a number of communities in Central Florida. Every one was beautifully landscaped and obviously loving maintained. All the folks I met (admittedly, most likely sales or marketing persons) were super friendly and very capable of selling their community. The homes offered were similar, if not the same, as those here in TV.

The bottom line very quickly became that in TV I could access almost any place that I might want to go in my not-yet-purchased golf cart, and that I would have dozens of "country clubs," restaurants and "club houses" from which to chose. That is, as opposed to those other gorgeously landscaped places, where there might be only one "club house," where you'd run the risk of having the same bartender, the same wait person, the same foursome in the corner playing bridge every night!

What could be a better environment?

SWR

[golfnut]

Factors are different for everyone, I recommend you try several different communities and your place will become evident based on your preferences....gn

[graciegirl]

Look for lots of activity and lots of laughter.

[The Great Fumar]

If you love to get up in the morning to sunshine and have a hardtime making up your mind of the hundreds of things to do today , AND do them with people you like............

then this is the place for you .....

Fun Fumar .................

[Mikeod]

Most of the places we looked at in CA were developed around a (meaning 1) golf course. Other activities were minimal, usually involving cards. My wife is not an avid golfer, to say the least, so a retirement home with golf only would not serve her well. So our search was for a community with golf and lots of other activities readily available so we both had ample opportunity to remain active. TV fit our needs well. Plus, on our lifestyle visit, on our first day, a resident of the village we were in came over and asked if I wanted to join their golf group. The friendliness of the residents we met was the final clue we had found the right place.

[salpal]

We were determined to find a place in the Carolinas...more temperate weather, golf, etc. We knew we wanted a golf course community. We spent a couple of years taking our vacations to various locations, Asheville, Myrtle Beach area, Wilmington, etc.

We discovered that homes in golf course communities generally have one golf course, one swimming pool, one club house and maybe a tennis court and maybe a fitness center. One bragged about a walking trail, it turned out to be 1/4 mile long. The communities also had high ammenties fees. Additionally, we learned that sometimes, once developer leaves, everything goes downhill quickly. Some communities have had to turn the golf courses into building lots or just grass because even the high ammenty fees could not maintain the ONE golf course.

Those factors made us reconsider the Carolinas and then someone told us about The Villages. We purchased two days after our lifestyle preview, no more investigation needed.

[uujudy]

Our experience was the same as Mikeod's. Mr. Judy is the golfer, not me. I'm am continually amazed at the wealth of other activities for the non-golfers here in TV. I am learning watercolor painting, and I could go to a class every day of the week! There are more exercise classes, both in the pool and out, than you could possibly do. There are dancing lessons (I signed up for tap dancing lessons!), cooking classes, decorating classes (I need those). . . Just look at the Thursday Recreation supplement and today's Lifelong Learning page in the newspaper. My problem is trying to fit in everything I want to do! And I can get to all these classes on a golf cart. And I don't have to shovel the driveway first.

[Walt.]

My criteria would be:
Weather
Crime
Shopping (didn't want Walmart only. Wanted Target, Best Buy, etc etc)
Activities other than golf, cards, shuffleboard
Decent Library available.
Easy airport access.

Library is just o.k... but with new one being built nearby all should be fine.
Airport didn't work out too well... but I don't want leave anyway.

My main wants covered nicely. Bonus is good neighbors. When we left our condo in Miami after 19 years... didn't know names of ANY person in the building (with 420 units!!).

[F16 1UB]

I can't remember.