The 2022 Florida Retirement Handbook includes information on 100+ of the best places and communities for retirement, the effects the coronavirus pandemic has had on the Florida retirement landscape, the safest places to retire in Florida, cost of living information, navigate the Florida homeowner's insurance minefield, and more.

-- Choosing where to spend the rest of your life is an important decision, but the great variety of retirement communities available can make the process time-consuming, confusing, and often frustrating. This informative, easy-to-read resource offers some timely help -- Practical consumer information about the types of retirement communities that offer meals, housekeeping, transportation, entertainment, and even health care services as part of the rental or residency package -- A comprehensive directory of over 250 listings organized by type within four major regions of the state is included

The Villages® retirement community in Central Florida is home to 700+ holes of golf, 200+ pickleball courts, 100 recreation centers, 100+ swimming pools, 3,000+ resident clubs and organizations, 100+ restaurants, a wide range of shops, grocery stores, and medical offices, free live entertainment nightly, and to top it off, nearly everything is golf cart accessible. With all of that in mind, it's no wonder why 130,000 retirees call it home.Yes, it's an incredible place, but it's not for everyone. Thousands of people buy and move here every year, but thousands more take a close look and decide it's not for them. This book was written to help you decide if it's the right place for you.

This revealing profile “disappears down the rabbit hole [into] the largest gated retirement community in the world” and what it discovers is “fascinating” (The New York Times). When his next-door neighbors pick up and move from New England to an age-restricted “active adult” development in Florida called The Villages, Andrew D. Blechman is astonished by their stories—and determined to investigate. Sprawling across two zip codes, with a golf course for every day of the month, two downtowns, its own newspaper, radio, and TV station, The Villages is a prefab paradise for retired Baby Boomers, where “not having children around seems to free [them] to act like adolescents” (The New York Times). In the critically acclaimed Leisureville, Blechman delves into this senior utopia, offering a hilarious firsthand report on everything from ersatz nostalgia to the residents’ surprisingly active sex life. Blechman also traces the history of this phenomenon, travelling to Arizona to find out what pioneering developments like Sun City and Youngtown have become after decades of segregation. Blending incisive social commentary and colorful reportage, “Blechman describes this brave new world with determined good humor and considerable bemusement” (Katherine A. Powers, The Boston Globe).

In the heart of Central Florida about 70 miles northwest from Orlando exists what is probably the biggest retirement community in the world, called The Villages. If you are looking for a place to live your retirement dreams, in this book you will find all the information you need to know about this wonderful opportunity. If you are currently a resident of The Villages this is the perfect information guide for you. Written by a 10 year resident, you'll find it very enjoyable, upbeat, informative, and fun to read.Here you will find a detailed description of the day in the life of a Villager along with the history of The Villages, its layout, amenities, governing bodies media, town squares, recreation centers , parks, weather, employment opportunities, volunteer opportunities, and more.There are also chapters devoted to golf and other sports available and a look at the 2000 plus active clubs in this community. In addition you will find a plethora of information on entertainment and eating, health resources, lifelong learning opportunities, animal and plant life, and interesting day trips in Central Florida.This is truly a complete guide to one of the most interesting retirement communities in the world!

Join thousands of current and future "Villagers" who have learned from The Villages Florida Book.If you have big dreams of one day retiring to The Villages, but you just don't know where to start gathering the best information - you are not alone. The Villages Florida Book is designed to help you separate the fact from fiction about America's most popular retirement community, and begin your new life in The Villages with confidence.The Villages is one of the most popular Central Florida retirement communities. Ask anyone who lives there and they'll probably tell you there were things they wish they'd known more about before buying in The Villages. The Villages is a great place to live. But there are several important things that you need to know.The book's author, Ryan Erisman, runs the popular website TheVillagesFloridaBook.com and is the editor of The Villages Monthly, the only unbiased monthly newsletter published today about The Villages. The founder of For Boomers Media, he is also a contributing writer to several publications focused on retirement community living including 2nd Home Journal, Boomers On The Move, and others. Ryan's books have been featured in publications such as Where to Retire Magazine, Florida Home Builder, Florida Realtor Magazine, Top Retirements, and more.The Villages Florida Book was written to help people like you because there was no other complete resource on this popular retirement community. This is the most comprehensive book of its kind about The Villages available anywhere.

Blechman delves into life in a gated retirement community and offers a hilarious, first-hand report on all its peculiarities. He also takes a serious look at the consequences of such instant cities and examines the implications of millions of Americans dropping out of society.

Richard L. Morgan has carved a niche as a bestselling author and an authority on older adult ministries and concerns. Now, he chronicles his own transition to a retirement community. Morgan speaks frankly about the losses and realities as he approached his own not-yet-frail "fourth quarter" (after age 75). Drawing from his journals of those sometimes-agonizing months, he takes us through his decision to move to a long-term facility and the first year of settling in. "The retirement community became my home, and I must confront the inevitable illnesses of old age ... every day," Morgan writes. "While I could not minimize the difficulties and issues I faced in this new lifestyle, it gave me a view of this life as an insider. I became a participant, not an observer [as before in my ministry]." Morgan addresses the fears of life after 75: loss of health, cognitive ability, short-term memory, independence and status. Fifty-two scripture passages, meditations and prayers offer hope for those along this intense pilgrimage. As one reviewer says, "Settling In speaks loudly of the continuing call of a God with hands outstretched, who is always challenging us to further horizons, larger concerns and constantly surprising us with news to love and be loved." Morgan's soul-baring reflections are invaluable for those considering a move to a retirement community, current residents, their family and friends, and staff of facilities.

Florida attracts more retirees than any other state--450,000-plus during the latest census. Many times that number are currently considering such a move. This new edition will top their reading lists. Fact-filled profiles of the state's top 99 towns for retirement are enlivened by witty and candid evaluation from the authors.