I live in a 55+ community in Leesburg, FL. Have been here 3 years. We are about 1 1/2 - 2 hrs from either the Gulf or the ocean. It is halfway between Orlando and Ocala, and 20 miles south of The Villages. It is a beautiful area, close enough to shopping, but still with a country feel. I can go out the back gate and see the cows that I love. One thing I love about this community is that almost everyone is from somewhere else. It is very easy to make friends and create a new "family". My kids say that they can tell that this has been the best move for us. The bad weather seems to go all around us. Our insurance rates are lower than if we lived closer to the coast. Try googling 55+ communities in central Florida to get an idea of the many communities that are available.