New Members Introduce yourself Start A New Thread

Discussion in 'Sun City New Members' started by admin, Sep 21, 2012.

  1. Cynthia

    Cynthia Well-Known Member

    Welcome to the forum Steve. I will also be moving away from friends when I turn 65 next year and move to SC. I just visit now since I'm still working. I'm curious what type of pre-internet social media you used in 1989?*
     
    Last edited: Aug 8, 2017
  2. Well hi there everyone. I am a long term Sun City year round resident. As you will note over time I am one opinionated individual. I enjoy minutiae on issues and have an argumentative streak which have driven colleagues during my career and others crazy. I will try not to do it here.

    That said, let the games begin.
     
    Kim-Sandy Kline likes this.
  3. Actually my writing skills are terrible as I last had to write anything in German was 50 years ago. As for Dutch, I only know it by listening as I had to travel to The Netherlands for business back in the day. Thank goodness they speak English fluently. What Dave said was a common greeting at the beginning of business meetings.
     
  4. Karen H

    Karen H New Member

    Hi SC forum members. I hijacked a thread without introducing myself so thought I would do that here. My husband and I are interested in Sun City for retirement and are about ready to take the plunge. We're selling our home and traveling for a bit making our way around NV and AZ to find a good fit for us. We're from WA so warm winter weather is a priority. Last year we spent some time in SC original and loved our stay. Thanks to those who have answered my questions so far (CW super news on the RV). This is great reading for folks thinking of relocating...not a super busy board but those who post really seem to care about their community. I have been reading here daily, old and new posts have some great information for those contemplating living/retirement in SC. ~Karen
     
    Kim-Sandy Kline likes this.
  5. aggie

    aggie Well-Known Member

    A formal welcome to the site! It's always good to see new people asking questions and giving comments about Sun City. There's so many things to do here that you can be as busy or relaxed as you wish. We bought in the original Phase 1 in 1998 and were winter visitors for 7 years. Now the years have flown by and we've been full time since 2005. Friends are easily made, lots of volunteer opportunities and part time jobs if you want one. Have a great time exploring the area!
     
    Kim-Sandy Kline and Karen H like this.
  6. Kim-Sandy Kline

    Kim-Sandy Kline New Member

    Just purchased our home in Sun City. Hoping to be there most of the year until we get things squared away and sold in Alaska and then hope to be full time in Sun City. We loved the community, met great people right from day one and are looking forward to getting involved. Cannot wait to begin our new adventure.
     
    Karen H likes this.
  7. BPearson

    BPearson Well-Known Member

    Congrats Kim-Sandy. You will undoubtedly find, like most of us, this will be one of the most exciting times of your lives. It doesn't get much better than that first year you finally get here and immersed in your new way to live.

    Let me get you indoctrinated given the picture you posted. All of us who moved here and were younger suffered through it. I'm going to shout it, hopefully that will help toughen you up to the barrage of times you will hear it: "ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO LIVE HERE?" Unfortunately we have a handful of those who feel the need to ask. The vast majority of us will keep it simple and say; welcome.
     
    Kim-Sandy Kline likes this.
  8. Kim-Sandy Kline

    Kim-Sandy Kline New Member

    Thank you. I will not allow anyone to spoil my excitement about starting a wonderful part of my life. Plus, chronological age has very little to do with mindset... maybe slowing us down a bit but no reason to not just really enjoy all Sun City has to offer.
     
  9. BPearson

    BPearson Well-Known Member

    So help me out here K-S, which are you? And as long as we are getting to know you, how did you find Sun City? What was the attraction all the way from Alaska?
     
    Kim-Sandy Kline likes this.
  10. Karen H

    Karen H New Member

    Congrats on your purchase Kim-Sandy! Hoping we won't be far behind you and anxious to hear how it goes. I hope you'll post about settling in. I hear you on meeting great people on your visit. We rented a home for one week and the neighbors on both sides of us were very friendly and helpful. Excited for you!
     
    Kim-Sandy Kline likes this.
  11. Kim-Sandy Kline

    Kim-Sandy Kline New Member

    My name... two older brothers, almost Irish twins, mom who didn’t want either to feel slighted, so rather than a first and middle name mom decided to take two nicknames and hyphenate them so neither brother’s feelings would be hurt. I ended up with no middle name, a first name no one understands and most computer programs won’t allow and a “What should I call you?” or “what’s the story with your first name?” That all being said... just Kim is great

    I will try to shorten the story about my / our decision to move to Sun City. Winter, Alaska, dark and cold, time to vacation. My husband had a friend who had just returned from a motorcycle trip in Arizona. Raving about the wonderful riding weather. My husband could not ride as he was in a serious accident last year but he plans on riding again.... once he can walk again.
    I was not to excited about the desert ( I grew up in South Florida and love the ocean), but thought okay, give it a try. Direct flight and cheaper than Hawaii. We have both been getting sick of Alaska after too many years of no sun. We had discussed traveling with the travel trailer to the lower 48 at sometime in the future for an extended stay, but this was just going to be a ten day vacation. And, so started my need to research. Yes, I am a bit nerdy and research anything I am curious about.

    As I was looking at different places the “55 plus” site showed up. Now my idea of a retirement community was pretty anxiety provoking (especially since I was in my early twenties when I left Florida). Growing up in Florida I had been exposed to what I call “fishbowl living.” The “senior condo” communities where everyone discussed who died, who was dying and which person had what ailment or recently broke their hip and excitement was bingo night. But, as I was looking at these site retirement communities the homes were lovely and the pictures were of people doing thing, laughing and enjoying life. The advertisements worked, my research took on a new direction.

    Various communities showed up. I looked at websites, forums, newsletters. I did cost of living analysis and ran our numbers. At this point I was totally engrossed and curious about this “active adult” concept. During my internet obsession Sun City showed up with all its amenities and clubs. I told Wes this would be like year round summer camp My new mission was solidified to look and find our new home. I decided Sun City was to be our next and last place to live. The place and price were right. I contacted a real estate agent, Greg Alger, who was / is awesome. I printed off a bunch of homes we wanted to look at, made up my home comparison form (again the nerd in me), and was on my next mission. We arrived, picked up our rental car, and drove the roads for the next few days. We met Greg, our agent and we dedicated the next days to house hunting. I was hell bent on finding us a home in Sun City before our vacation ended. We did not bother with any of the other Sun Cities nor did we enter through their gates. It was the original Sun City or nothing.

    We went to Bell Recreation Center, checked out the various shops, talked to folks, met people who were new friends from the get go, visited the museum and drove up and down every street, some several times as it can be rather circular. We found our home, had some of our new found friends give us the low down, info on tons of stuff and our agent who held our hand through the entire process.

    We left Sun City to return to Alaska on April 6th or 7th. We closed on our home long distance on April 15th. We plan on heading back to get some things in place in a week or so. I hope to be down there pretty much full time within a year. Posse is on board, utilities are in place, gardener in place and our agent is holding our keys.

    That is pretty much it. We did get to visit Prescott, Lake Havasu, Quartsite, Wickenberg and King during our ten day stay. Beautiful state, lots of places to explore and of course a home to set up. I did spend many hours behind the wheel as Wes cannot drive as yet. But, it all paid off and we are both very excited. Sorry this was such a long explanation. I tried to keep it short but failed miserably.
     
  12. LilC

    LilC New Member

    Closing on new home on April 30! Finally! Flying in this weekend (live in S. Florida). Can't wait!
     
    Kim-Sandy Kline likes this.
  13. Kim-Sandy Kline

    Kim-Sandy Kline New Member

    Next time you end up in Sun City my hope is I will be settled in and will bring you welcoming cookies or a pie! Thank you for the well wishes and will keep you posted.
     
  14. Kim-Sandy Kline

    Kim-Sandy Kline New Member

    Congratulations! So excited for you. Have a safe trip!
     
  15. BPearson

    BPearson Well-Known Member

    Congrats LilC, really exciting time for sure. Unless you are using an old high school photo, expect some of those hoarding the pool areas to question if you are old enough to be here. My wife always laughs and asks if i can remember back that far when they asked her if she was old enough to be here?
     
  16. LilC

    LilC New Member

    LOL... I’m 56 1/2, HOWEVER, I think my knees are way older!
     
    David Martin likes this.
  17. BPearson

    BPearson Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the "splain" Kim. Most people hate writing that much. Were you a teacher by chance? The other thing that jumped out at me was your "research." About 4 years ago we had an onslaught of potential buyers join the site. At that time i was doing lots of home model threads and we had a pretty interesting time with those excited by the potential of buying here. Seems to me about six of those on the site bought homes. Once they buy, they tend to get involved with the community and TOSC becomes a distant memory. Living it is way better than talking about it. Plus, most of those did much of the same online searching you did.

    I've been playing on 55Places for years. They were way ahead of their time, I met the two owners when they came to town 5 or 6 years ago to tour communities in the West Valley. They do a great job, other than their "blog" sucks and they quit posting the yearly fees for the various communities. I asked why and they said it just took too much time to update that information in that it was changing constantly. Seems to me Greg Alger is the realtor on 55Places attached to the Valley. Good to hear he did well by you, sometimes realtors try and talk people out of Sun City to higher priced communities.

    Alaska will be a culture shock for sure. I have some lawn bowling friends from there and it's crazy to see them go "home" during the holidays. Little chilly here at that time of year, but nothing like back there. I think part of it is they have to be there so often to qualify for the payment the state gives them for living there. We came from Minnesota where it was gray six months out of the year. We bought in 99 when we were 51 and moved here permanently in 2003, the first thing thing that struck me was the sunshine was a constant. Loved seeing the sun every day.

    Finally, one the things i most enjoy about this type of communication is you never stop learning. I would never, ever have guessed the origins of your name. Too fun and never too old to learn.
     
  18. BPearson

    BPearson Well-Known Member

    Funny, well kind of. Three knee replacements and one hip in my 18 years in Sun City. Thank God we have access to great medical care within the walls. I should have learned about that whole moderation thing when i was younger, but alas listening to those older and wiser was never my thing.
     
    Kim-Sandy Kline likes this.
  19. Karen H

    Karen H New Member

    Aw, that's sweet. Looking forward to reading your posts! We are also interested in being involved in the community. One of the first things that attracted us to SC is the fact that it's known as a city of volunteers and many work together to maintain the quality of living. I love that...it's missing in so many places now. Hope to "see" ya someday soon.
     
    Kim-Sandy Kline likes this.
  20. aggie

    aggie Well-Known Member

    Welcome to Sun City LilC and Kim-Sandy. I was under 50 when we bought in 1998 and started snow-birding. Comments about being too young to be here were good-hearted and my stock answer was that I was smart enough to marry an age qualifed person! The only thing that I was excluded from was earning Senior Awards for bowling because you had to be 50 to get them.

    My grandparents and parents were also Sun City homeowners beginning in 1965 so I knew the ropes and had a large circle of family friends already in place. We've now been living full time in Phase I since 2005 and love it.
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2019

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