Just moved into SOLIVITA in POINCIAN, POLK COUNTY, Florida... Any Clans or Societies

[KD Burke]

A little northeast of you The St. Andrew’s Society in Jacksonville is quite active. Also keep the last Saturday in February free for the Northeast Florida Scottish Games & Festival in Green Cove Springs.

[CollinMacD]

Thank you, Jacksonville is about 2 hour drive from Poinciana, but worth knowing about....

[Coinneach]

Hi Colin,

We've just started thinking about relocating to Florida and Solivita was one of the places we were thinking of looking. Do you like it there?

[kingandrew]

Unfortunately, Florida doesn't have as many events as Virginia, and there is nothing else quite like Alexandria's Scottish Walk. However, here are some leads:

As I recall, there is a fairly active group called New World Celts that held events in Orlando pretty much every month.
http://www.newworldceltsinc.org/orlando--fl.html

Orlando (Jan 18-19) and Dunedin (April?) both host Highland Games. You should be able to find Clan tents at these events.
http://www.flascot.com/
https://dunedinhighlandgames.com/

There is a number of Irish pubs offering traditional music in the area as well, offering another chance to wear your kilt and meet like-minded folks.

I remember a big outdoor Irish music festival one year, but I can't find any info on it now, so it may not be held any more.

i'm sure the New World Celts members can give you more ideas.

And welcome to Florida! It's a beautiful, warm, sunny place. I am from Clermont, just north of you in Lake County, although I spend most of my time in China these days.

Andrew

[MikeC]

The Dunedin Highland games are in April, and there is a Celtic music festival in November

http://www.dunedincelticmusicfestival.com/

Dunedin is on the other side if the state.

[CollinMacD]

Hi Colin,

We've just started thinking about relocating to Florida and Solivita was one of the places we were thinking of looking. Do you like it there?

For the past several years before we bought here in Solivita we travelled all over the 55+ GATED communities in Florida and couple in South Carolina. HANDS DOWN Solivita was the best. We hated the Villages, just was not us. We like it much more quiet, open green space, and Solivita fit our bill. TOO many people, congestion, and noise in the Villages. Besides the houses were cookie cutter, and expensive. Here in Solivita they have just as many activities if you chose lower monthly HOA fee than the Villages. The downside of Solivita is the location in the country, it's about 40 minutes for the big stores in Kissimmee called the LOOP, or few minutes longer for the Millennium Mall and Costco in Orland, but we lived in the Blueridge Mountains in Western Loudon County in Virginia, and traveling distances for shopping we are use too. We do have a "Village downtown", but it has a Grill (Bar/restaurant}, Mosiac (small restaurant) and a small Bistro (sandwiches and pizza), and a small drug store. Poinciana has many fast food, supermarkets, a large Walmart, drug stores, Lowes, etc, and its about 5 minutes outside the gate, but you do get traffic. For me, they have a Dunken Donuts, so I am happy, oh and a WAWA....nice one. After all this is a retirement community, so taking time to drive to Kissimmee or Orlando during day is a nice day out. The development has a lot of traffic circles 13 pools, indoor pool, and full HUGE gym, of course 2 Gold Courses. YOU GET ALOT FOR YOUR FEES. including they cut your grass, spray and trim bushes, and every house has irrigation system for watering that is included in your HOA fees. You do have rules for the Architectural review board, but no worse than what I had in other places. Place is keep impeccable and very CLEAN. A lot of water, palm trees, and tropical flowers.

OK, so WE BOTH LOVE IT...we feel we made the right decision for us, and enjoy everyday of our new life..... You can arrange a weekend. and if you would please tell them that I referred you, helps us along too..... PLEASE come down and enjoy a exploring weekend, and ask for COLLIN and MEG MacDonald to be you sponsors, we would love to help you out, and HONESTLY answer all your question or address your concerns. I only tell the truth and really have no dog in the fight....KEEP IN TOUCH.

[Coinneach]

For the past several years before we bought here in Solivita we travelled all over the 55+ GATED communities in Florida and couple in South Carolina. HANDS DOWN Solivita was the best.... OK, so WE BOTH LOVE IT...we feel we made the right decision for us, and enjoy everyday of our new life..... You can arrange a weekend. and if you would please tell them that I referred you, helps us along too..... PLEASE come down and enjoy a exploring weekend, and ask for COLLIN and MEG MacDonald to be you sponsors, we would love to help you out, and HONESTLY answer all your question or address your concerns. I only tell the truth and really have no dog in the fight....KEEP IN TOUCH.

Hi Collin (sorry about the earlier misspelling),

My husband and I have already made an appt for staying a few days and seeing Solivita before we start our vacation in the area in early December. It would be great to meet you two. It really is important to get the perspective of residents. We are also looking at the Four Seasons, but Solivita is in the right price range. We're not too worried about the distances to and from places. We've lived in Southern CA where there is congestion. Right now we live remotely in GA so going anyplace is also a trip. It takes as long as it takes. We love the idea of the pools and fitness centers, the hiking and bike paths and the person who comes over nightly to make marinis...what? That last one isn't an amenity? We'll keep in touch.

[CollinMacD]

Certainly will keep in touch. FYI we have a British Isle Club, and many Scots belong to that club, of course if we have enough interest we could start a Solivita Scottish Society. We have MILES of bike and walking trails, so you have no issue there. The GRILL, our local restaurant and bar, have specials every day for happy hour, good prices. Been to Four Seasons, sorry did not like it, thought is was very expensive, the other one is "Top of the World" did not like that one neither, its a mini Villages. One thing to remember, you DO NOT have to buy new homes. We were looking to do that at first, and decided since most of the homes here were built after 2004 (building codes made is mandatory for hurricane compliance for all homes in the codes), we felt we would get a better deal, and we did. We purchased a 2,780 Sqft home, with a nice screened Liana, and a 690 Sqft, 3 car garage, with over 1/4 acre land, backing nature reserve (did not want water), in EXCELLENT CONDITION, with many options for an excellent price. We got a lot for our money that we would not of gotten if we paid for a new home. Just something to consider, and our CD is already paid. We can give you more of the specifics when we meet. But just thought you would like to know that, keep an open mind, and I have an EXCELLENT Real Estate Agent, she really is good. So if you decide to go that route, I think you will save money and get more for you money, as they have increase the prices of the new homes, they are getting ready to close out soon. The new owners are really good, and upgrading many of the clubs and facilities. We will talk.


PM me and I will provide you my personal contact information, so you can contact me directly. We will be here in December, we are not snowbirds, so we live here year round. See you later for now...CHEERS.

[Coinneach]

We are definitely keeping our options open. We will look at both new and "used" homes. We know we're looking for about 2000 sqft or so. Price will be a factor. At this time of our lives we're flexible when it comes to features. Some can be added later. We currently are surrounded by woods, so I wouldn't mind a water view. On the other hand, we have a small dog (gator bait!), so woods are fine. Solivita sent us a copy of the latest Reflections today, so I see all the groups. Definitely excited about a few of them.

I'll DM you my contact info.

[Riverkilt]

Hey cousin, small world. I'm still in Arizona but have long time friends who live in Solivita too.