[Sugah Ray]

Originally Posted by ComSense

no idea why anyone would choose the Villages over so many other better places to retire in the Southeast.

Hmm, when I'm 65, do I wanna retire in the Villages or Asheville NC? Do I wanna be surrounded by beautiful mtn views? Nah, I'll take being around a bunch of old cranky retirees who play golf in 95 degree weather

Maybe you won't be able to deal with the cold when you turn 65. You won't be as healthy.

Having said that if I wanted to retire in FL, I would at least choose somewhere close to the beach. I heard this on NPR the other day, look at the villages:

Census Data Prove It: We Prefer Sunshine And Golf Carts : The Two-Way : NPR

[Honeycrisp]

Wow, that chart is amazing! There definitely are a lot of pluses to living near the beach and in a warmer climate (that said, there's a few disadvantages too, like anything else).

[SDeP]

Originally Posted by Sugah Ray

Maybe you won't be able to deal with the cold when you turn 65. You won't be as healthy.

Having said that if I wanted to retire in FL, I would at least choose somewhere close to the beach. I heard this on NPR the other day, look at the villages:

Census Data Prove It: We Prefer Sunshine And Golf Carts : The Two-Way : NPR

Hi Sugah Ray,

Thank you so much for this link as it truly Blew my mind as I presently reside in The Villages, FL in a rental and maybe it is just me yet I just do not see how or why it got the unbelievable rating it did, yet if it was based on living in a community where you can go and do almost everything you want on a Golf cart and especially play Golf until your hearts content, then I guess I can see why!

Kind Regards,
SD

[StreetSmarts]

The Villages pop growth being number 1 is due to the retirees, thats all. Like I said, would I want to retire in the Villages or the mtns of NC? No-brainer for me, aweome ppl and scenery or old crncky ppl getting mad in grocery stores bumping ppl with their shopping carts and backing into eachother in parking lots.

[justNancy]

A person's lifestyle determines whether or not he/she will be happy retiring in an area like The Villages. I've lived in over 55 communities in Florida and never spent much time socializing with my neighbors around the pool or playing Pinochle in the clubhouse. But it really didn't matter to me.

There's nothing wrong with living in The Villages. With over 100,000 residents, you can choose what you want to do with whom or just sit in your home and read or watch TV. Personally, if I chose Florida to be warm, I'd live a lot further south.

Regarding hot weather and health, since I have chronic pain, I've done a lot of research on the effect weather has on joint & muscle pain. Sunshine is very soothing, but the main problem is barometric pressure. So if you live in Florida where it is very humid with high dew points and heavy rain in the summer, it's possible to feel just as lousy as in an area with cooler temperatures that's a lot drier.

In other words, there's no perfect place on Earth.

[justNancy]

Originally Posted by ComSense

The Villages pop growth being number 1 is due to the retirees, thats all. Like I said, would I want to retire in the Villages or the mtns of NC? No-brainer for me, aweome ppl and scenery or old crncky ppl getting mad in grocery stores bumping ppl with their shopping carts and backing into eachother in parking lots.

I was in Lake Lure in Feb and am now in Franklin. I agree that it is much prettier here. People are very friendly and the scenery is breathtaking. However, the best arrangement would be to live in WNC for 7 or 8 months and stay in Florida for 4 or 5 if people can't handle the cold weather. Personally, that's not in my budget and I don't really want to spend an extra $7 or $8,000 to maintain a second home that's vacant most of the year. I also liked Alabama a lot, but the WNC mountains are spectacular.

I don't like to pass judgment, but I did notice that people in Southwest Florida (where I lived) weren't as polite and were usually b**ching about something.

[Heather72754]

Originally Posted by ComSense

no idea why anyone would choose the Villages over so many other better places to retire in the Southeast.

Don't worry - once they put the chip in your neck you'll understand why.

I jest, but I know two married couples who both moved to The Villages about 9 years ago at the same time, and lived on the same street there. One couple lasted less than a year and moved back to Mass. and one is still there. They were best friends and thought they had similar interests and viewpoints on life and yet, their reactions to this lifestyle were completely different.

[Sugah Ray]

Originally Posted by ComSense

No-brainer for me, aweome ppl and scenery or old crncky ppl getting mad in grocery stores bumping ppl with their shopping carts and backing into eachother in parking lots.

In a few years I will read your relocation story from the Carolinas to the Villages.. And ChrisA70 from MA to the Villages also.

[justNancy]

Originally Posted by Heather72754

Don't worry - once they put the chip in your neck you'll understand why.

I jest, but I know two married couples who both moved to The Villages about 9 years ago at the same time, and lived on the same street there. One couple lasted less than a year and moved back to Mass. and one is still there. They were best friends and thought they had similar interests and viewpoints on life and yet, their reactions to this lifestyle were completely different.

Exactly what I was saying. My father lived in a community of about 15,000 people in Delray Beach called King's Point and loved it. It reminded me of a the projects in Boston only with lawn care and retired people playing Bingo. It's sort of like calling a 2-family flat a "twin villa" instead of a duplex. A home is what you want it to be.

I know you're joking about the microchip, but I just sent a friend a link to his voting record. I removed his name but this is it. Anyone who knows my first and last name can check my voter status, my date of birth, my party affiliation and the elections in which I voted, even when I voted early or at the polls.

[url]http://fl-voters.findthedata.com/[/url]

There isn't any privacy these days and Florida has the Sunshine Laws. With cameras everywhere, you can't even scratch your nose without it being on video.

Edit: I realize the site I mentioned is not an official FL website. There's also a list of Soc Sec numbers with very personal info that the ancestry type sites use. I never realized when my Dad passed that his Soc Sec number, date of birth, wife's maiden name and military record, etc., etc., suddenly became public information.

[StreetSmarts]

Originally Posted by Sugah Ray

In a few years I will read your relocation story from the Carolinas to the Villages.. And ChrisA70 from MA to the Villages also.

HA! not happenin.