Got a itch to move to Florida.

[chef1231]

Just got back from a week visit down in the Clearwater area and man was it sweet. People were nice and weather was great. There would be some adjusting no doubt but the family really seemed to enjoy it. I sell cars for a living so I imagine that I can find a place to work. I just wanted to know if anyone had any insight on where to look at buying a place? I like the general area around Clearwater, Tampa, open to suggestions. Schools are important as I have 2 little ones.

 

[Jeff]

Looking to move back myself after spending five years in Tampa.

Spent a lot of time in Clearwater, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and New Port Richey and south in St.Pete, Bradenton and Sarasota.

I am not familiar with the schools around there but I am partial to the New Port Richey area. I would not go back to Tampa.

 

[hoosierdoc]

We really wanted to move to pensacola area. In the end just had too much here we couldn't leave

a word of caution, vacation spots seem perfect because our worries don't travel with us. When you move, they follow

that being said, why wait to retire to a place you enjoy. Can enjoy it every day off if you live there

 

[terrehautian]

We really wanted to move to pensacola area. In the end just had too much here we couldn't leave

a word of caution, vacation spots seem perfect because our worries don't travel with us. When you move, they follow

Pensacola is my Florida spot. Of course I would want to live near the beach. By near I mean just walk out my back door. I don’t think even my wife who is a nurse would make enough down there to afford that. Then I would give up almost 20 years at my job and four weeks vacation to start fresh. No idea if there is any tv stations there either. Then of course those pesky occasional hurricanes.

 

[tsm]

Lived in Sarasota for 17 years before moving North about 20 years ago. Nice area, but traffic and housing have both increased a lot since we were there. Recommend spending a day or two with a realtor checking out locations in whatever areas you're interested in before making a final commitment.

Also, keep in mind that while Jan and Feb have great weather, July and August are closer to the opposite side of the scale.

 

[SMiller]

My wife and I had enough 3 years ago and made the move, I have never been happier.

We had a condo on the Honeymoon Island causeway for a year, that was fun but we found we didn't want to live on the beach after that as we are more used to a rural lifestyle. I have a set of grandparents in Dunedin (Clearwater) and another set in The Villages, ended up close to the middle of the state which is perfect.

To say it is hot in the summer is a understatement, unless you are a total BA it is rough, your family will hate the heat, although you are trading a hot summer for a perfect winter.

No more running noses, colds, flu's, lots of vitamin D and fun.

 

[Dr.Midnight]

I'm old enough to start thinking about retirement, but am far too young to actually be looking forward to it. Having said that, I still daydream about what I'm going to be doing in fifteen years. I have an uncle that has a house on twin lakes around Orlando, and he raves about the lifestyle. Florida is very high on my possible move list along with Texas, Arizona, and even New Mexico.

 

[patience0830]

Too many old people, too much traffic, too many people in general, and the squirrel season starts way late and is too short. And the deer are tiny.
Phooey on Florida.

 

[churchmouse]

Too many old people, too much traffic, too many people in general, and the squirrel season starts way late and is too short. And the deer are tiny.
Phooey on Florida.

Add to this it is "Stupid" hot in the summer.
"Stupid" hot.

 

[DeadeyeChrista'sdad]

I remember walking the perimeter of the Santa Ana preserve down on the river with Aunt Shirley. October 10th or so and it was 96 degrees out. I'm a glassmaker, and she's acclimated, so it didn't bother us, but it is something to think about.

 

[ljk]

Weather is over rated, just like Southern California where I spent 11 years down there.

I'm much happier here. Although my and my wife's families are still there, and we do go to San Diego for vacations, it's gonna take a LOT for us to move back.

If I were to move somewhere for the weather, Flagstaff AZ would be my choice.

 

[Hotrod29]

If you have work lined up I say do it. I used to live in fort Myers and I miss it but good work is hard to find down there

 

[rkwhyte2]

I went to high school in Melbourne and college in Tampa. I like both coasts but they all have too many people and as others have said it is hot and humid in the summer. Now I lived in Gainesville for awhile for a job and always said if I ever moved back to FL that is where I would go. Being a college town it has a particular political slant but the area itself is just about perfect.

 

[femurphy77]

If I could afford it I'd move back to Key West.


Come on lottery!

 

[churchmouse]

If I could afford it I'd move back to Key West.


Come one lottery!

Moms parents moved there in the late 50's for health reasons. I have spent some time on all the Keys. Fabulous to visit. No way I would live there.

Were you military...??

 

[hoosierdoc]

If I could afford it I'd move back to Key West.


Come one lottery!

Gotta get some more of that tin cup chalice?

were you down there when jimmy was just starting up?

 

[spec4]

My mother moved to Pinellas County in 1972. Brother and his family moved there shortly thereafter. My mother was a block from the beach (Redington Shores) and after several hurricanes she moved to Tarpon Springs about a mile from the Gulf. For years we went down to visit in the winter. To me it was like driving in Chicago traffic. Everything was an hours drive. The restaurants were mobbed in tourist season, the drivers were terrible (although anymore you see that everywhere). No basements. Homeowners insurance can be quite expensive. As congested as Chicago.

Personally, I think the Florida transplants pay a high price to avoid snow. I would take Texas in a heartbeat over Florida.

 

[KellyinAvon]

The Fort Walton Beach area (which now goes from Sandestin to nearly P-cola) was the one area we lived during my Air Force days I could see returning when "retired for good" happens. For those of us in the Blue-ID Mafia (retired military) there are bases all across the Central Time Zone part of Florida. Between Panama City Beach and Destin there are a lot of communities that didn't exist 25 years ago.

 

[Twangbanger]

Don't forget all the transplanted Northeasterners (New Yorkers) who hate guns. And they can't do anything about it, which makes them even more insufferable.

...not that as a hoosier, you'd care about that...lol.

 

[Leadeye]

I retired to southern Indiana, the south or west was just too hot. Too dry for the gardener out west and fire ants would make her miserable in the south.