[Marmaduke]

Originally Posted by It's Hot There

We have been stuck in a house for three days because of snow & ice and it was not 1950.

Speaking of being "stuck" in the house, do you (gasp) remember the days of Covid? We had just arrived about 2 years before as early retirees.

Everyone in the free state of Florida was outside, enjoying life to the fullest, within 3 months of that lockdown, albeit at 50% capacity for most pools and inside activities. Living the good life. We never felt the summers to be unbearable here.

"It" (the pandemic) broke in January and we never felt the heat as we enjoyed the outdoors. .. all Spring and all Summer long in 2020, while our families stayed indoors... locked down in many states up north.

My point is that there was no place we would've rather been, than Florida, before, during or after the CDC lockup.

It's georgeous here. It's bright, sunny and hot on most summer days, and a newcomers body usually adapts pretty quickly in most cases. A little has to do with learned outlooks and behavior regarding adapting to newer environments.
Granted, some folks never adapt, but no one in our circle of friends stops doing things, they just "adjust" what/ when/ where to ENJOY life during the dog days of summer. Personally, I can't wait!

[RedChariot]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

I assume the comparison is cold/snow vs. heat, not tornados vs. hurricanes.


I've lived in the North, during the winter, when I was unable to leave the house for a day or two or three (many times).

I've never been trapped in the house, during the summer, for a day or two or three in Florida.

So agree! Think about that snow and ice and having to drive in it! The cols where you cant get warm. We have our own pool, but there are community pools everywhere. We love the heat of Florida summer for swimming. Yes the car gets really hot when parked somewhere. But everywhere is air conditioned.

[Justputt]

To the OP: Are you tired of winter doldrums, snow, cold, bundling up just to get the mail, ice, ice storms and power outages, wondering if your car will start in the morning without an engine block heater? Does it seem like winter lasts 6 months? Our answer was yes, so we bought in TV. For the 2-3 months where summer (typed simmer at first by mistake, but maybe not such a mistake), you can always visit old friends and family, and it seems cheaper to rent a nice place up north in the summer than a nice place in the south during winter. Our A/C seems cheaper to run than the heater, a nice beach is just a daytrip away, and we don't have to shovel snow or pay someone to. We can drive up to Maine, rent cabin on the lake, enjoy the summer, pack up and come home without worrying about winter upkeep. If we want to go out west to see one of our kids, there's no second home dragging us down. In short, with TV as our base, we can spend summer wherever we want without feeling guilty about keeping a second home that won't be fully used.

[SusanStCatherine]

Cold kills many more people than heat.
This past winter here in The Villages was rather cloudy and rainy. And the summer of 2023 was exceptionally hot confirmed by lifelong Floridians. I will be disappointed if this trend continues. But we are in El Niño and should soon be getting La Niña.
We are full time here and love the summers and as others have said it is not crowded at all.
There are individual tolerances to heat and cold so only you can decide for you.
I often see very old people golfing at 1pm mid-summer. My husband is from Minnesota and loves the heat here even in the summer.

[Normal]

It gets to be almost 100 here in the summer. It gets to the negative 20s in the winter up north. You should probably be looking at Hawaii, not Florida. The temps there are pretty consistent year round.

[Eagles8]

The summers are not nearly as bad as some make them out to be.
Is it hot, yes, that's why you move to Florida. I lived in the Northeast,
same heat and humidity, just instead of 20 or so day's it's 60 or so.
Which is nice...if you like the heat. If you don't do the snowbird thing.
No thank you from me, I prefer being warm.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Marmaduke

Speaking of being "stuck" in the house, do you (gasp) remember the days of Covid? We had just arrived about 2 years before as early retirees.

Everyone in the free state of Florida was outside, enjoying life to the fullest, within 3 months of that lockdown, albeit at 50% capacity for most pools and inside activities. Living the good life. We never felt the summers to be unbearable here.

"It" (the pandemic) broke in January and we never felt the heat as we enjoyed the outdoors. .. all Spring and all Summer long in 2020, while our families stayed indoors... locked down in many states up north.

My point is that there was no place we would've rather been, than Florida, before, during or after the CDC lockup.

It's georgeous here. It's bright, sunny and hot on most summer days, and a newcomers body usually adapts pretty quickly in most cases. A little has to do with learned outlooks and behavior regarding adapting to newer environments.
Granted, some folks never adapt, but no one in our circle of friends stops doing things, they just "adjust" what/ when/ where to ENJOY life during the dog days of summer. Personally, I can't wait!

Be careful what you wish for. The Gulf water temperatures are at record levels and could spawn hurricanes.

[sounding]

Originally Posted by Coop63

For any of you who have lived through a few Florida summers, and northern winters (e.g. Michigan), how does it compare? Is it as grueling, do you get use to it, or make every attempt to escape north during the summer month?

This is my biggest concern moving to the TV. I have owned 2 properties in the past and not something I really want to do at this point in my life. I don't mind the snow, just the gray and lack of sun.

Moved here 8 years ago, and wished I moved earlier. I moved from PA to escape the snow and ice and cold/dark winters. Bring your snow shovel, though, because it snowed in Miami in 1977, and will do so again. On January 9, 2010 there was some light snow & sleet in The Villages.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by sounding

Moved here 8 years ago, and wished I moved earlier. I moved from PA to escape the snow and ice and cold/dark winters. Bring your snow shovel, though, because it snowed in Miami in 1977, and will do so again. On January 9, 2010 there was some light snow & sleet in The Villages.

Did TV activate the snow team?!
There's an old Dunkin Donuts commercial where a lone plow driver is waiting on a snowfall. One snowflake falls from the sky and he's chasing it around trying to plow it. Much ado about nothing. Although I'm sure youve seen southern 'snow' events in the past. Lack of proper equipment, panic etc and always paralyzes the region. I think we're all good for now!

[frayedends]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

"The grey and lack of sun", actually can be a positive because you don't get skin cancer.

Perhaps but winter depression is real. Speaking of which we are getting 7” of snow tomorrow. March is going out like a lion.

[frayedends]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Hate to mention it, but by July , August, and Sept, the pool water is as HOT as bathwater. Unless you can bring a truckload of ice with you to the pool, there will be LITTLE relief. And if you have any color of car other than white, or silver, you will literally burn your hand, as in ooowwweeee big time. PS get a white cover for your steering wheel.

Oh I’m not unfamiliar. But evaporative cooling does wonders getting out of a pool. Regardless I plan on having a chiller on the pool we will be building.

[LeRoySmith]

Originally Posted by frayedends

I plan on having a chiller on the pool we will be building.

I hope the chillers work. We are about 3/4 of the way through our pool construction and I'm looking forward to cooler water when the temp hits MELT this summer.

[Heytubes]

I’ve never heard anyone say,”hey, after I retire I’m moving up north.” Having lived in cold country in both summer and winter, I find north summer worse as at least in this area we have ocean breezes at times.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by Heytubes

I’ve never heard anyone say,”hey, after I retire I’m moving up north.” Having lived in cold country in both summer and winter, I find north summer worse as at least in this area we have ocean breezes at times.

You’re right....they don’t retire and move up north, they stay in those very homes, go to mountain retreats and lake houses and in the case of New England (which is up north btw), can go to hundreds of miles of beaches...all of which provide North Atlantic ocean breezes. And some very lucky ones, some who play on this forum, own in TV as well!

[Freeda]

We've been here 17 years. Love it year round for fdicferent reasons different parts of the year. Could never stand gray skies, ice, snow, cold weather, or heavy winter clothes again. We love being in one home year round. We aren't into stress or hardship. In summertime here we love: less traffic; easier access to restaurants; fresh local in-season produce; relaxing at less crowded pools; lots of indoor rec center activities; frequent trips to the Lake Square Mall for AMC theater viewings in comfy recliners with cutting edge technology - followed by mall walks when it's too hot to walk outside and other recreation activities available there; long golf cart rides especially down to the newer areas; less crowding at the squares; and lots of socializing with old and new friends in what seems like a more relaxed atmosphere.