Posted on 07/10/2016 2:46:43 AM PDT by freepertoo
Mods, this is such a vanity! Please move or remove as you see fit, if necessary. Could use some moving to Florida advice. Retiring in a few years from the DC, Maryland area. Have looked at Ocala because of the cool 55+ communities there, but the crime rate is scary. Also looking at Lake Mary and surrounding area. Costs are a lot less than in Maryland, and I admit to being a pathetic Disney junky. Advice, Floridians?
Visit Punta Gorda and Venice on the southwest coast. Both are charming, quite safe and there’s plenty to do. Stay at the Wyvern in Punta Gorda. You can walk to the restaurants and pubs.
Wow, sounds great!
Anyone from the Lake Mary area that could offer insights, too?
Thank you, everyone, I so appreciate this. Would love to hear what you love and hate about the areas you are recommending.
I spent almost my entire life in the D.C. area. I can honestly say that the mosquitoes were worse in Alexandria, VA than here in Ormond Beach. No mosquitoes on the beach either. The heat & humidity last longer here than in D.C. area, but the weather is heavenly from mid-October through mid-May when summer usually starts. Hurricane landfalls along this part of the coast are almost non-existent. They usually scoot up the coast and hammer the Carolinas before drenching D.C.
You’re close enough to many different things.
1. You’re south of Jax, so you’re away from the ferals.
2. Close to St. Augustine
3. Close to different Springs if you enjoy that.
4. Close to NAS Jax, so lots of military people.
5. Close to Sawgrass, if you enjoy golf.
6. Tons of tennis.
7. Bike trails, pools, and gyms all over.
8. More temperate than south and central Florida.
YIKES!
Check out Hi by lands Ridge in Avon Park, it is a golf community with two great courses. Sebring (home of the 12 hours of Sebring road race) is 3 miles away.
http://www.usa.com/florida-state.htm
Brevard County (melbourne area,military retirees) or Volusia county (Port Orange,Ormond).
Lots to do, decent medical.
Worked both areas and down to Broward for ATT.
Both on my short list for a spring 2017 move
Why not just move someplace in Orlando?
Wow, wow, sounds great!
A lot of people think they want to move to Florida and locate in the interior and are antsy after they get there because they discover Disney has worn off and the coast is the really where to be. Check out the nature coast, an up and coming community. It’s on the gulf coast not as expensive or busy as Sarasota/Venice area. There are some 55+ communities around there but the names escape me. The hospitals and such are ok and you’re not too far from Tampa or even Gainsville (Shands hospital).
Orlando very high crime rate and too urban...from what I hear.
Thank you!
The Villages are nice not that far from Disney and they don’t have the 192 gangs you have in orlando. Cost of living is ok but housing prices there are going up every year.
HOt in the summer but it does cool off at night.
Here in the keys expensive all the time hot all the time,millions of tourists every year,gridlock on the roads.
too close to dade and broward the armpits of Fla.
East Central Fla.Vero etc. nice places,affordable low crime.
geesh, then why are you wasting our time?
So much great advice, thank you all. If I don’t respond directly to each post, please still know I am reading and considering all.
Beg your pardon? I am fielding your answers with research I have done. There may be truth or fiction in what I have read, so I am hoping for discourse. If it’s a waste of time for you, please just don’t respond.
Fantastic!
Deciduous trees of the NE put out moisture in summer aka humidity.
Fla is not home to nearly as many and also has sea breezes
My summer AC bills were not as high as my heating bills
Block home decent shutters and a decent (properly attached) roof and hunker down..Its quite an experience.
Take a drive down the beach on google maps. I think they imaged the entire Florida coast by now. Don’t forget your paddle board and sunscreen. ; )
Wow, you guys make me want to move right now!
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