[homeforus]

I have been reading through these messages and am getting discouraged...
Had been planning on moving to FL but have read nothing but negatives about jobs, real estate and horrible weather.
Is it really all bad? Please someone tell me something encouraging on life in FL. We were planning on driving there in the next week or two to check out some areas but am rethinking why.

[summerville]

Sorry, I don't know much about Florida, and have only visited there. Hopefully someone will post some good information for you. BTW, Welcome!

[homeforus]

Thanks for the welcome Baybreeze...

[doglover]

homeforus...I have heard from alot of people here on the eastcoast that moved to Florida to get away from the cold winters, etc. that once they lived there, all they wanted to do was move back. Can't add any personal experience as I haven't been there but I have no desire to either. I have had my fill of constant sun thank you and do not want to experience hurricanes and terrible humidity. Follow your heart but be well informed too before you uproot your family.

[T.S.]

doglover said:

homeforus...I have heard from alot of people here on the eastcoast that moved to Florida to get away from the cold winters, etc. that once they lived there, all they wanted to do was move back.

That happened to me. I moved to both North Carolina and then Florida to get away from the cold Minnesota winters that I had lived with my entire life. I always thought that I would love living in Florida. After spending a couple years in the south I couldn't wait to return to those same cold winters. I didn't realize how nice my home state really was until I left it. I decided that I would rather deal with cold winters than the low paying jobs, high crime, and other issues in much of the south. I have now embraced winter and learned to enjoy it again.

If you do decide to move after your drive down there to visit, I would highly advise renting a place for the first year rather than buying a house. That will give you time for the "honeymoon" period to end and reality to set in. If you still want to stay after that, then start looking at homes.

[doglover]

T.S. said:

That happened to me. I moved to both North Carolina and then Florida to get away from the cold Minnesota winters that I had lived with my entire life. I always thought that I would love living in Florida. After spending a couple years in the south I couldn't wait to return to those same cold winters. I didn't realize how nice my home state really was until I left it. I decided that I would rather deal with cold winters than the low paying jobs, high crime, and other issues in much of the south. I have now embraced winter and learned to enjoy it again.

If you do decide to move after your drive down there to visit, I would highly advise renting a place for the first year rather than buying a house. That will give you time for the "honeymoon" period to end and reality to set in. If you still want to stay after that, then start looking at homes.

Great advice T.S. about renting for a year, maybe month to month!

[Wyoming53]

I lived in Tampa for a little over a year and really liked it. Yes, there are afternoon thunderboomers but nothing bad. Was pretty humid but I didn't find it unbareable. Really liked the atmosphere and the people. Traffic was easy on the drive to work and back.

Jobs: I was sent there by my company so didn't have to find work. Also, the company was sending me all over the country so I drag a 37ft 5th wheel and live in it. So no property or rent or morgage or insurance or.......

But I liked it in Tampa and wouldn't mind living there again.

[summerville]

I heard (and there's certainly room for error here) that Florida is jam packed with 55+ communities. Is that true? That's something I could never adapt to, because I'm not 55+ I'm older than "Plus" and too individualistic. I need young people, and a variety of people, around to teach me about all the new music, all the newest technological advances, the newest cosmetics, what's hip, and what's not! To me, variety is the spice of life! I'm sure their clubhouses are loaded with amenities, and the planned activities are very nice....... No, it's not for me.

But, that information I heard about Florida could be "dead" wrong. ???

[Wyoming53]

Sure there are 55+ communities. Just don't move into one. I lived in Thanonasassa. (Couldn't spell it when I lived there.) It's a suburb of Tampa. I lived in a RV park and it was comprised of about 50% people over 55. But there were young couples with kids, couples in thier 30's, 40's, etc.

There was a required 55+ RV park about 3 miles down the road. But that was the only park I knew of that had that requirement.

I lived up by Old Town for a bit and it was very diverse in ages. Wasn't any 55+ communities anywhere around there.

Maybe I was just lucky where I lived.

[summerville]

Wyoming53 said:

Sure there are 55+ communities. Just don't move into one. I lived in Thanonasassa. (Couldn't spell it when I lived there.) It's a suburb of Tampa. I lived in a RV park and it was comprised of about 50% people over 55. But there were young couples with kids, couples in thier 30's, 40's, etc.

There was a required 55+ RV park about 3 miles down the road. But that was the only park I knew of that had that requirement.

I lived up by Old Town for a bit and it was very diverse in ages. Wasn't any 55+ communities anywhere around there.

Maybe I was just lucky where I lived.

I guess those things are pretty popular. There are a number of them in our state, too. They seem to attract transplants, because I don't know any locals, or natives who've ever moved into them.

[White Knight]

I've found some good beaches down here. Don't have to scrape ice off the car or shovel snow.

[Wyoming53]

White Knight said:

I've found some good beaches down here. Don't have to scrape ice off the car or shovel snow.

I know what you mean. This morning, it's 9 below, where I live in the Big Horn Mountains. But I've found that I really like the seasons, be it hot, or cold. Scraping the windshield is a minor chore for all the things you can enjoy in the Winter.

Won't see any deer, antelope, Elk, Moose, Mountain Lions, and bears in Tampa.

[Robert1922]

Places to eat. Great boating and water sports. Cheap flights to the Caribbean. Reasonable cost of living.

[White Knight]

BayBreeze said:

I heard (and there's certainly room for error here) that Florida is jam packed with 55+ communities. Is that true? That's something I could never adapt to, because I'm not 55+ I'm older than "Plus" and too individualistic. I need young people, and a variety of people, around to teach me about all the new music, all the newest technological advances, the newest cosmetics, what's hip, and what's not! To me, variety is the spice of life! I'm sure their clubhouses are loaded with amenities, and the planned activities are very nice....... No, it's not for me.

But, that information I heard about Florida could be "dead" wrong. ???

Born and raised in FL. We have it all. The good, the bad, and the down right out ugly. But then again doesn't a lot of other places have the same. My best advice is to rent for a year and travel around and decide for yourself. One other little tidbit that is worth a lot. Don't pay any attention to City-Data posts about FL. Mostly malcontents sounding off. Be wary of home owners associations and cookie cutter projects. From Lake Wales north to Lake City for me is my pick of the prime places in FL. Close enough for a day trip to the beach, near top notch medical centers, elbow room.