Posted on 11/13/2004 4:52:14 AM PST by mass55th
Within the next six or seven months, I'm hoping to move to Florida and set up residence. My youngest son, age 34 will be moving down there to set up residence as well. I'm asking for Freeper input and advice on where to move in Florida.
Thanks...I'll check it out.
TN sounds great. I've lived in the Central FL area all my life and can't wait until I get a chance to move. This is the only time of the year when the weather is tolerable. Otherwise, the heat and humidity is disgusting. Then again, a lot of people like that kind of weather. Overall, though, I guess there could be a lot worse places to live. At least the taxes are not that bad and the area is fairly conservative. And, we are about an hour from the east coast beaches if you like that sort of thing.
Appreciate the tip and have made note of it.
I've got the Gulf side on my list, but since I'm a 57 year old woman, fishing and golf aren't my cup of tea. I'd go for the scenery and decent weather.
5.56mm
If you have a long vacation coming up before your move, travel through Florida's State Park system. It is very affordable and will give you an idea of the variety of lifestyle and beauty here in the state.
Seafood is king with BBQ a close second. Sadly, there are no Publix grocery stores in Pensacola. (Publix is the epitome of southern courtesy and hospitality, and a real meeting place in most neighborhoods. )
If you like small town life, then "hidden" treasures like Port St. Joe and Jennie Springs are not to be missed. There are still dry counties in Florida, and lots of blue laws. North Florida is firmly cinched into the Bible belt.
South Florida is mostly flat, but there are rolling hills in the north west. When I was a kid, the smell of the orange blossoms from the groves was like heaven, but most of the one's I enjoyed have been sold to developers. St. Joe paper company has been selling thier land for development through Arvida. The Davis Company, which owns Winn-Dixie stores has also been selling some of their holdings.
Pensacola, Tampa and Jacksonville have a large military presence...and along with the military come families...yes, real live children. Some places that cater to retirees are practically childless. It's depressing. Good public school systems are rare.
We live in JAX, which has some "cultural" activities that some cities lack. Many Floridians don't really care about plays, or live music or museums. A big part of any Floridians social life is FOOTBALL! I don't know how this thread on Florida could go so long without a mention...and if you thinks politics is divisive, just wait til you drive through Gainesville with a Seminole sticker on your car.
I've lived in Florida for thirty years, including; Fort Lauderdale, Tallahassee, Tampa and Jacksonville. I have relatives in Palm Beach County, St. Pete, Springhill, Miami, Pensacola and Altha (a dust speck near Marianna).
Tell me your idea of a hometown and I'll try to point you in the right direction.
Just don't drop the soap!!!
I suggest you look into the lower southwestern coast (say, from Tampa southward). The Sarasota area is quite nice. Manatee County to the north of Sarasota is similar, but less expensive cost of living. Charlotte County, where Hurricane Charley hit so hard, has even a lower cost of living, but I truly feel it does not have all the social/community amenities you might like.
In general, southwest Florida is Republican/conservative country. The retirees tend more from the midwest than the northeast. Nothing personal to you, but I prefer mingling with midwesterners.
TN can be humid and hot but for the most part it's very nice. We have a lot of nice breezes in the hills. Our worst months are July and August and they haven't been that bad the past few years. We get a lot of rain most years. We had 14" in two days summer before last but that's why we stay so green. There is nothing in the world like a Tennessee mountain rain. A friend of mine from Toronto came to visit and it rained while she was here. She sat on the patio swing the whole time and fell in love with TN. :-) She had never experienced anything like it. It has it's own scent and it's quite a site to see the smoky mist hanging over the hills when it rains. You have to see it to understand.
Florida is not as humid close to the beach but inland gets bad in summer. I think if I had to live there again it would be close to the beach.
Texas!
Taking sweet liberty's idea to ping some to this thread for more input on the in's and out's of Florida. I am a native but it's been close to twenty years since I've lived there. I know every time I go back I see more growth and change. These responses you're getting are very good, though!
Why not Texas? Texas will not tax your pension, or any of your income. There is lots of room and lots of nice places to live. We have about any climate you want to live in from high plains to desert to East Texas forests, to Sea Coast to tropical.....There is no voter fraud or voter confusion in Texas..
Hey! No offense, but does he really want to move a litle closer to someone with your screen name?
Hey, B.O.! Quit poaching on our tax revenue! :-)
BBQ is my favorite. I don't eat seafood, but my son will be in his glory. He eats everything.
Growing up in Rochester, New York about the only thing we smelled as kids was the Wonder Bakery, Schuler's Potato Chip factory and Tobin's/Russers slaughter house. No orange blossoms unfortunately. We did have some lilac bushes and roses in the back of the house, but of course, they didn't last long. Rome has no smell. Griffiss Air Force Base was closed during the Clinton Administration, and Revere Ware is a thing of the past.
My home is where I hang my hat. I've lived in Auburn, New York for 3 years and the Utica-Rome area for the last 20+ years. I'm a quiet person with two neutered cats who likes her privacy and enjoys peace and tranquility. I enjoy cooking on the grill. Want to live somewhere that I can have my own area to cook out and perhaps smoke meats myself. That is, unless you can recommend some great BBQ places.
My last trip to Tennessee included a trip out to Fort Pillow, on the western border of the state. I was a bit disappointed though because I wasn't able to partake in any hiking of the site. They were getting ready to hold a reenactment (it was a Friday afternoon), and because it was in April, they wouldn't take anyone out into the woods because of the snakes in the area.
Having said that, here's my 2 cents.
Avoid south Florida like the plauge, unless you enjoy living around rich leftists and third-world immigrants.
Parts of central Florida are nice. Although I would avoid Orlando. Just too many people, and too many non-English speakers. I like where I live, Lake county, which is about 25 miles west of Orlando. It's growing very fast, which is good for real estate values, but in a decade, it will be just like Orlando, unfortunately.
With the growth, there should be good job opportunities for your son in Lake county, and if he can't find something here, Orlando isn't too far to drive.
As far as the coasts, the west coast is nicer, but expect to pay $$$$ for anything close to the beach on either side.
The Ocala and Gainesville area is very beautiful, with lots of hills. It's horse country. It's not as densely populated, so fewer job opportunities exist.
Jacksonville is another option. It's a good sized city that is close to the coast. As for the panhandle, it's often referred to as south Georgia, which is a good thing in my book.
There is no state income tax here. Sales taxes are around 8%. Real estate taxes are around 2%.
The climate is brutal from May through October. Oppressive humidity, and temps in the low 90s (feels much hotter with the humidity). The rest of the year is very nice.
Thanks for the info. I'm not much of a mingler. I like to be alone and do my own thing. It's not that I'm aloof, I just like the company of my cats better than some folks and relatives. I'm basically a loner, but enjoy traveling and seeing the sites.
Take a look at the Jacksonville area.
Good economy--many Fortune 500 companies have offices here. Bank of America very big in this area. Young, new Republican mayor succeeded 2 term Republican John Delany(sp? or was it Delancy? how quickly we forget...)
We have some winter--2 1/2 mos. of moderately cold nights (3-4 nights as low as 28-30 degrees) with pleasantly cold days (40-55.)
We are a coastline city with a nice stretch of beach communities (but rarely get a direct hit from hurricanes.
I am told this has to do with the way the coastline curves inward here.)
We have a real football team: the Jaguars. AND, Jacksonville will be hosting the Super Bowl for the first time this year.
Several military installations if you are a vet--and a good-sized VA clinic.
A modern, well-served airport--you don't have to make 2 to 3 stops to get where you want to go.
The city has 3+ major institutes of higher learning: several community college campuses[FCCJ]; University of North Florida; Jacksonville University--they have a relatively new, growing business school with a very good reputation (if your son is planning on an MBA and doesn't yet have one.)
Primarily a conservative, nice group of people--so you'll be in good company.
Come on down and take a look!
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