Regrets, Villages vs. OTOW, and Poop on Mailbag Monday 

We are not golfers, and don't want to be near water, don't want to deal with alligators. We love OTOW and do think that you get a good deal on homes. Yes it's much smaller than the villages, more in a country setting because only 2 grocery stores, and sort of secluded.

Thanks for Mailbag Monday. I sure enjoy it and find it very informative. You two are great.

Not moving to Florida, but really enjoy your videos.

HELLO FROM IRELAND. WE LOVE YOU HERE TOO. REALLY SORRY ABOUT YOUR TOOTH. 1225 IS A BIG BILL. WE HAVE HAD OUR FIRST PFIZER VACCINE. OUR RELATIVES IN VILLAGE OF WINIFRED HAVE NOT HAD ANY YET. SO TAKE CARE. SORRY ABOUT CAPITALS, AM VISUALLY IMPAIRED.

Good morning! I really enjoyed this episode. The questions were great as well as the answers. Such a beautiful background with the palms swaying in the breeze. I always learn from watching your vlogs. Thank you so much for all you do! Have a wonderful day!

You three are so enjoyable to listen and watch....love your intro song and you make Mondays a lot more fun! Thanks for sharing...God bless.

Good info & beautiful palm trees in background. Thanks for showing Gizmo before signing off. Have a great week!

Good intro music and nice to see you and Gizmo outside enjoying the sunshine!!!!

Great video, good points about the lakes. Canadian here, with Fla. residence (insert sad face, can't get there ) and we are in Sunrise Lakes Community. As in the name, many lakes. I can't imagine living in Fla without lakes and the wildlife around. Makes it very tropical.

Enjoy watching you. I have a house rented for January - March 2022 in the Villages. Can’t wait!

Thanks for sharing & have a great week 😘.

Great Video.Love you guys and Gizmo. We just purchased a lot in St. Catherine with Steve and Barbara’s help. Can’t wait to get there! Keep up the great videos , we look forward to watching them. Freezing in St. Louis.🥶

Thanks for your Mailbag Monday series, it is educational info. since I don't know much about FL state in general, except Sanford Airport for flight connection in early 21st Century. Thanks for your info. on seasonal renting from homeowner(s). Regardless on what info. from your YT topics, I'm learning a lot from them, thank you much. 🌞🌻🙂👍✌️

Jerry & Linda, you mentioned wearing Bermuda shorts and cowboy boots and now I can’t get that image out of my head. Lol, always enjoyable to watch your videos.

Just subscribed because you two are real and share good info. Great humor and show your love for senior living.

I’m a lefty too!!!😊😊😊. Thanks for another mail bag Monday!!

We live on Hawaii island and wouldn't leave it for anything but we still avidly watch your show and enjoy the both you! A Wonderful channel and we never miss a show!

You guys are fantastic 👏

Hi Jerry & Linda, I love watching your video's !! They are informative and so much fun ! Gizmo is adorable ! Keep up the great work !!

Thanks guys for all the info..

It’s 13 here in Pittsburgh on Monday morning, was nice seeing you guys outside with the palms in the background. Have a great week.

I so enjoy watching your videos...I’m down by Kennedy Space Center, and settled in, but you always make The Villages look like a wonderful place to be...wail watch for the next video🌹

Love that you did your show outside! Seeing the trees swaying gently in the breeze, the green grass, and the sunshine made me feel ten times warmer, even though I'm freezing in the ice, snow, of Minnesota!

Thanks for another great Q&A. We're still checking our options. I saw a video of On Top of the World and while it looks great, I think they offer less variety of activities. Neither of us are golfers but I may follow Linda's lead and give it a try. Ya never know...

Good morning, I love you both and Gizmo. I look forward to seeing you both

Thanks for sharing lots of good info 👍🏼

Love the beautiful palm trees in your backyard! Nice 👍

BEWARE THE MENTOS! I had the exact same sad experience as you did, Jerry! I bit into an innocent Mento a few years ago and out came my crown. If I remember correctly, my whole thing had to be replaced too. Sheesh. I’m so sorry that happened to you 🙁

This is one of your funniest videos you guys have made. As usual the information is very helpful! I love mailbag Mondays.

Thank you Jerry and Linda. Great video today with good questions. Sorry about your tooth.(4 hours) Thank your sons for their service.🇺🇸

I've watched a lot of your videos and I must say you are very honest and sincere.

Good morning Linda and Jerry.

We are packing up like crazy people. The moving truck arrives on 3/8 and hoping to be there by 3/16. The question about what you regret not bringing we were laughing. He thinks everything in the garage is important and I think every piece of my movie memorabilia is important! 😂

Just wanted to say that I love your show!! Great information.

Jerry and Linda, I really enjoy y'all filming in your backyard and letting us see the palms! Looks warm! Where I am, I am not!

Just discovered your videos, love them.

Very interesting videos....Enjoy them very much...We are snowbirds and live in Inverness FL and PA....We have 3 dogs and they aren't little dogs, so the villages aren't for us...But know people who live there and love it.

Good morning ☀️. I’m going through a lot of dental work. Root canals, crowns etc. I was scheduled for an appointment today and canceled. I just needed a break. Mary Jane candy are excellent tooth pullers. lol 😆. I feel your pain. Both physically and monetarily.

Thank you so much for answering my question. I am glad that there is a big variety of places to go to learn and do arts and crafts. Can't wait! Sorry about your crown Jerry. 😬

I didn’t see this video back in Feb., it was great

Speaking of clubs in the villages, I called villages office. The very nice lady told me to type in Villages Daily Sun.....click on recreation then clubs, and 126 pages of club names & contact info will pop up..........loved it

Oh...I had exactly the same thing happen when I ate a Hot Tamale at work just a day before I was leaving on vacation. I haven't had one since! Love your videos.

Loving your channel. My wife and I just bought a Caring Transitions franchise in the villages and your channel gives good info. Now on a serious note we need to get you A Florida Gator set of golf balls!! Thank you both.

I love the beautiful setting you’ve chosen these days. The colors, the movement of the foliage in the background, just gorgeous!

Love your show, now knowing you're a Fighting Irish fan makes it all the more enjoyable, GO IRISH ☘️🏈☘️🏈

Ha.... we are snowbirds this winter and we also just checked out On Top Of The World. We had the same feeling about it as you, we noticed it was very dry looking and had no water around it. We didn’t see many people around and it just felt tired to us, although it did have nice home models we decided it wasn’t for us. I’m sure the people that live there love it and enjoy the quiet, different strokes for different folks. Thank you both, for answering all these questions, you have been such a big help to us!

I’m retired in Hawaii, so why I am I watching you two friendly folks!? It’s because it is fascinating to see how other retirees have crafted their retirement with their priorities and interests. What do their locales offer? And you provide all these facts about your area. The Villages seems like a golfers paradise.

YOU 2 people are nice and very informative

Hello Jerry and Linda. Spivey’s here. I was so excited to see you ‘shouting out’ our Christmas card to you. I sent that card and many others on 12/14 and had to pay extra postage for the thickness on many. Glad you FINALLY received! I had heard from many that they had not received. I went to the post office and asked why so late. The clerk stated that a distribution center in MD shut down for 3 weeks in Dec due to COVID. We plan to be in The Villages the wknd of the 3/19 I hope we get to see you all and say hi. Blessings.

Next time you come to OTOW, let us know. Wife and I would love to show you around.

We also purchased our home sight unseen. Our Remax realtor made the process seamless.

Thank goodness I listened. I was contemplating the Villages. No way. I just wouldn’t fit in.

you kids are a hoot to watch....love the show...it was -1 this morning.....stay safe

Nice review like to hear about Clubs. The discussion on OTOW was helpful. Maybe you could suggest some type of shade screening above the pools? I just saw a bunny with a toothache from tossed candy. Yea! Bucs! Jeanne

Great discussions.

I enjoy your informative videos. I lived in Lake Worth FL from 1965 til 1976 and wished I never left. Still have a longing to move back to Florida.

Good Morning Jerry & Linda. The correct pronunciation is BO -Gee. Your weather looks perfect. We're in a frigid winter wonder land.

Oh my goodness, this is your calling! Love waking up Monday to a new video. Thank you for always answering our questions. Chris and Susie

Ive got 3 generations of cookbooks from me and my wife's parents and we guard them with our life..! If the kids want a recipe we will copy it and give it to them..! Nothing leaves our sight...!

Such a lovely day while your doing Mailbag Monday....thanks for the info.....take care and be safe.

Thank you!

I could never imagine moving to Florida, hundreds of miles away from my children, my grandchildren, everything that is familiar and comforting, my home filled with a lifetime of love and memories. If a person dislikes cold weather, just take a 4 week vacation every January, a different tropical destination every year, you'd never get bored, and you miss the worst of the winter weather. Another great solution for winter blahs in cold climates is to build a LARGE sunroom, and fill it with beautiful plants, like a mini greenhouse attached to your house.

Yes, you should keep your pet or leash even if your dog listens because there can always be a distraction or something that's bigger then your dog that will attack/grab your dog in Florida! Although my dogs always listen well there is that chance that a squirrel runs nearby. ❤️ From a former WV animal shelter director👵

We are still getting Christmas gifts that were ordered way before Christmas!!!! Very cold here in NY and we are under limited dining orders. Florida is doing a better job.

Ok, February 6 was Saturday.....not Thursday. This statement made me put you on pause and double check because it you had been right, I was in big big trouble...🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂love your guys.

Excellent points

Really enjoy your videos , X

OTOW has r rec centers - one is for candler residents, and there are 2 others plus another being built tolling 4. They will continue to build as population grows. OTOW has around 6,000 homes snd plans to double. More amenities will come, compared to 70,000 homes in villages plus still building.

Hi Jerry and Linda, love this mailbag segment. Can you tell us the reasons your friend chose to move from TV to OTOW?

Love the palm trees, beautiful..

Linda and jerry, good videos and like the conversation, my question is: is the villages a good place for people with special needs and parents who have children with special needs. To add: are some villages residences looking for extra work in the physical or occupational therapy field.

The Dog Poop discussion was the highlight -- from Jerry's "naked" comment to Gizy's "commentary" -- !! I needed the laugh after that disastrous Super Bowl. :-( I think Gizy needs a sign-off line, too!

I had the same thing happen to me.... won’t eat them ever again!

We tried to have a drive thru at OTOW absolutely No. Had to meet with sales then go with them. We opted No as visiting from out of state. Even offered our passport but they wouldn’t budge. Turn off for us. Jerry sorry bout the tooth. I too have given up caramels and hard almonds.

Lets face it Jerry and Linda you live in the true paradise called TV. Linda and Jerry I too got rid of some things that were in my family for years. I so regret it now, but I had sold my home in Columbus, OH and needed to leave quickly.

I took a tour last year with a realtor who showed me around the Villages and OTOW in January before the pandemic hit last year and one thing that stood out to me was there were not many people in the various recreation clubs. I guess nothing compares to the Villages when it comes to that.

Love the intro song!! ❤️🎤❤️ Perfect addition to your channel and brings a smile every Monday! 😃 Always enjoy when you film outside. The view is simply beautiful. 🌴☀️ Ouch on the Hot Tamales 🔥debacle. I wonder if the dental association is backing all those candy companies?!? 🤣🤣🦷Have a great week! Best! ☀️

Seriously you guys are adorable. We live in California and trying to decide where to retire. Your videos are extremely helpful.

Talking about mail....I waited until AFTER Christmas to send my gifts from Switzerland to my family in OK, first class.....the first package took 2 weeks, which was not bad! The next 2 I sent in FEB and they took 4 and 5 weeks and a letter sent at the same time, 3 weeks! What is going on there? My sister has decided to send her package now to me by UPS - 5 days supposedly. We don`t see alot of UPS driving around here but I did confirm that they are here.

I’m watching this from KY with freezing rain falling for 4 hours now. Praying electricity stays on. 😢🙏🏻 your videos are so informative. I really enjoy them.

Thank you for these mailbag Monday’s we are still deciding between the Villages and OTOW I lean one way the hubby another.. hopefully next year we will be able to come down

Thank you for your tips about moving. We are back in California right now, getting ready for our move to the Villages, so they are very timely. As far as clubs go, I like to go to Districtgov.org and go through the Parks and Recreation news every week on Thursday (some clubs meet once a month) to see what clubs and activities are going on.

My favorite place to eat is that seafood place with a lookout tower I think. It’s on the water and has lovley outside seating. It’s so yummy. Sorry I can’t think of the restaurant name. Duh! 💖

I was so happy to watch this on Monday. I am so sorry about your tooth Jerry. I guess it's back to Resse's (Reese-Is) pb cups for you. Just hide them from Gizmo this time., Have a great day the three of you and thanks for all you do!

First off, congratulations to the three of you for reaching 26K + subscribers! WTG!! Jerry, I hope your tooth repair went well, and you are back to eating everything you want. Best regards to all three of you, Jerry, Linda and Gizmo. Ron

I loved seeing the serious Linda for a few seconds there when she "corrected" Jerry's humor. Afraid I have somewhat of a school-boy crush on her.

Linda & Jerry, thank you for another helpful video. I really appreciate your personal opinion and information regarding OTOW and downsizing. The 2 of you would be who I could trust to do a walk-through on a sight unseen purchase. I'm a younger widow and we had planned to make a move to Florida together so now it is much different. I appreciate your honesty and taking notes. Could you tell us why your neighbors are moving from TV to OTOW? Also, did you use a professional moving company? Thank you for all the effort you both put into helping others. Really sorry to hear any your tooth! Take care

A wide angle lens will make things look larger but in tight spaces that's what you have to use.

We have been here almost a year now and because of Covid have briefly met only a couple of neighbors from a distance a few times, one of whom verbally attacked me the first time I left my house. Apparently, she had mistaken me for the previous owner with whom she’d had some sort of problem. Because of Covid all of the activities we had looked forward to before moving here still haven’t reopened, so we’ve had nothing to do but work on our house all year. We’ve been extremely lonely. Please note that there are very long waiting lists for woodworking and many art groups, especially for clay work. Fees for these groups can be very high and do not include materials you use. I don’t expect my husband and I will live long enough to be allowed into any of those facilities. Not all dog owners are considerate - like anywhere, I suppose. But I was especially appalled to see that one dog owner has trained his large pooch to leap from his golf cart when he stops by the side yard of our disabled neighbor’s house in order to do its business on our neighbor’s lawn and then leap back onto the cart. Then off this wretch of an owner quickly drives away without picking up a thing. Despicable behavior does happen in “Florida’s Friendliest Hometown.” Political stress has been high in our village, too. There are still large political signs hanging in the windows of several neighbors’ homes and on their golf carts. We’ve also had access to our postal station blocked by groups of anti-maskers who then ridiculed us for wearing masks. Such thugs have no idea what this disease can do to a person. I barely survived the disease before coming here and would never risk getting or giving it to anyone. So shame on them! Do we regret moving here? Sometimes. But we have hopes of meeting nice folks and enjoying activities once they eventually open again. Please wish us luck in fulfilling our dream of being happy here.

Interested in the question from Christie in Scotland. My wife and I moved directly from Scotland. We bought the lot in November 2008 and instructed the build. We went home to Scotland and started all the move preparation. We moved here in April 2009. The house was complete. Most furniture had been moved in (The Villages furniture store had mapped the home on a magnetic board and we had positioned furniture). It is possible. We also chose a corner lot and three years after moving we had a lanai extension built. A couple of notices that you have not announced. You can get a "Lot Map" for unbuilt areas. This shows a great deal of detail. Whither the drive is left or right sided. What your easement is. Will you be "Back to back" on future neighbors. And so on. We did good. We will never move. "Hemmingway Frogs" here till we croak. BTW loved this episode.

Great video as always 😊.

Oh, Jerry, I feel your pain. My dentist doesn't allow me caramels, Hot Tamales, and other such candies. Take care!

PRIORITY mail over the holidays for me. One took thirty days . Something systemic for sure .

Just received here in TV today Feb 8 a Christmas card that was mailed on Dec 10th in Maryland.

Amen to your dentist experience! They are necessary parts of life, but man do I hate them! By the way, you have mentioned it in the past...have you had any trouble with sinkholes? I saw them once around Orlando 30 years ago and they swallowed up a whole house, several cars. It was a sight.

Im learning so much from you guys. I can't believe I'm not having to pay you both. Such great advice. And you both look so youthful. The villages are doing you well. Thank you :)

If you use the Villages sales department for preowned homes you will not be shown homes listed by an outside sales agent such as ERA, Coldwell, etc so you might miss out on your perfect home. Likewise if you use an outside agent you won't be shown homes listed by the Villages. I don't know why some people use Villages vs outside real estate sales agent.

you two are so cute. I love your videos They are so informative. Thank you !

I purchased early (in Charlotte) and rent my home out until I am ready (hopefully this or next year) - it is easy to do. I rent my place for at least 6 months at a time otherwise I am liable for Florida hotel tax (9%) so be careful.

Same experience with a tooth eating Peanut Brittle that was a gift from my mom - thanks Mom!