Various Questions about Sarasota county living—
1.What is the real lowdown on snakes? Bugs I can handle, but last night I started looking up snakes in the area and was overwhelmed by what I found. How often, in reality, do you run across snakes and how large are they? I don't plan on gardening myself and have 2 large dogs so the yard will be kept really low, etc...of course the usual deflections but please, PLEASE give me the real low down on the snake issue. Would my cat be safe? We don't have large snakes here so I am still learning how to deal with them, etc.
My response-- There are snakes in FL. It's a tropical environment. The more brushes/rock/etc there are for them to hide under the more snakes you're going to have. They do make repellent that you can spread around to keep them away from the house. Here's a link to a few different kinds of snake repellent: Snake-Away, Snake Control, Snake-A-Way Snake Repellent There are 6 types of poisonous snakes in FL with only four found in SW FL. If you saw any poisonous snakes, most likely it would be the pygmy rattler.
2. How cold and bad does the weather get in the winter? I come from a place where it sucks almost 7 months of the year and can't handle it anymore. I assume it's not too unpleasant
Sarasota is just below the frost line so anything in Tampa and north will not have as much lush tropical greenery as below Tampa. Coconut Palms and the more tropical plants do not grow well in Tampa and farther north. Sarasota has very few days at 32 or below. The average low in Sarasota is 50 and average high is 70
3. We will have some money already coming in each month and I might have a job that is transferrable for myself but what type of jobs are people seeing out there?
Truthfully, the job market is not good. No use fluffing it up. It's pretty rough out there right now. I think the unemployment rate is something like 10% in Sarasota. Guess it's kinda tough everywhere though. I hired both of my assistants from Craigslist.
4. How is the actual cost of living? Such as power/heat/air conditioning/water/sewer, etc? Averages? Do you use the heat much in the winter? I would guess A/C would be a must in the summer
Generally the newer the home, the better the insulation, windows, etc will be. So buying a newer home can cut down on electric costs. My home was built in 2003 and is 2127 under air, no pool. We keep the thermostat at 80 degrees and our July bill was $200, June was $154, May $120, Apr $109. I'd say it probably averages out at around $150. We hardly ever use the A/C/heat in the winter. We just open the house up and turn it off most of the time.
Car insurance with two cars and a teenage driver was $963 every six months with Allstate and we switched to Geico now it's $610 every six months. $68 per month for DirecTV. I have a well so it's $100 every six months for them to come out and scrub down the tank and change the filters. $85 every 3 months for pest control.
My cell phone is out of control because I use it for business and have the maximum package with Verizon. I think it runs like $250 or something.
5. Are there dog parks/beaches in the area that allow off-leash options? Sorry, I just recently discovered dog parks since I have never lived with a dog and not a large amount of property--so that may sound like a silly question.
Beach Park
Bird Key Park - on John Ringling Causeway (on the way to St. Armand's Circle, just east of the bridge) is Sarasota's only beach allowing dogs and cats.
Brohard Park & Dog Beach - Venice
Parks
Ken Thompson Park - 1700 Ken Thompson Parkway, on City Island by Mote Marine Laboratory
Bay Front Park - at U. S. 41 & Ringling in the Marina Jack area
Gillespie Park - 710 N. Osprey, Downtown at Gillespie and N. Osprey
Arlington Park - 2650 Waldemere Street (trail area only)
Paw Parks
17th Street Park - 4570 17th Street, on 17th Street east of Beneva Road, west of Honore Avenue
Woodmere Park - On Jacaranda Boulevard 2 blocks north of U. S. 41
Lakeview Park – Sarasota
6. What do people do for fun in the area other than hitting the beach? Are there good martini bars or night clubs for early 30-something aged individuals? Examples: where I live now we camp in the mountains, river/lake/ocean fishing, movies in the park, hiking, biking, etc...
There are all kinds of things to do in Sarasota county!! My husband and I actually went out a few weeks ago for the first time in years (without the kids) and we went to the Beach Club on Siesta Key. On Fri & Sat nights it gets pretty rockin' with live music, etc. We're in our mid 30's and there were people of all ages there, many our age. Some other people on the board have mentioned Meetup.com or The Sarasota Professionals Club, Sarasota Florida - Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce - Young Professionals Group Young Professionals Group: They just organized & brought in world renown DJ's & put them spinning out on Lido at the Lido Beach resort as well as all over downtown.
The YMCA has all kinds of stuff going on for adults-Soccer, tennis, kickball, football, basketball, volleyball, racquetball, Sarasota Family YMCA - Adult Fitness classes and Social Opportunities For things to do other than beaches, there are museums, Selby Gardens, Jungle Gardens, great YMCA's, downtown which is FULL of great little restaurants, clubs, coffee houses, bakeries, movies, etc., we have art galleries galore, art film house, and all kinds of festivals which take place just about all year long.
Fun over on Hillview includes The Five O'clock Club & Big Sugar...favorite SRQ bands, "A Local Celebrity Band" and "Sheri & the Vision."...and Democracy... We also have music every third thursday over on the bay at the Ringling Mansion...First Friday art walks downtown on Palm Ave....
Sarasota News & Books has authors in all the time to discuss their books.
The Ringling Museum has art events all the time; The theatre scene rocks as well with plays year round.
Burns Court (art house/indi films) & Lakewood Ranch as well as the Hollywood 20 for films & parkway for those who can wait ($2 movies).
Sarasota Film Festival in the spring as well as my interest, The Sarasota Fringe Film fest (check it out on Facebook) & this year, The Ringling School of Art & Design is putting on a fabulous art event in the fall.
My response-- There are snakes in FL. It's a tropical environment. The more brushes/rock/etc there are for them to hide under the more snakes you're going to have. They do make repellent that you can spread around to keep them away from the house. Here's a link to a few different kinds of snake repellent: Snake-Away, Snake Control, Snake-A-Way Snake Repellent There are 6 types of poisonous snakes in FL with only four found in SW FL. If you saw any poisonous snakes, most likely it would be the pygmy rattler.
2. How cold and bad does the weather get in the winter? I come from a place where it sucks almost 7 months of the year and can't handle it anymore. I assume it's not too unpleasant
Sarasota is just below the frost line so anything in Tampa and north will not have as much lush tropical greenery as below Tampa. Coconut Palms and the more tropical plants do not grow well in Tampa and farther north. Sarasota has very few days at 32 or below. The average low in Sarasota is 50 and average high is 70
3. We will have some money already coming in each month and I might have a job that is transferrable for myself but what type of jobs are people seeing out there?
Truthfully, the job market is not good. No use fluffing it up. It's pretty rough out there right now. I think the unemployment rate is something like 10% in Sarasota. Guess it's kinda tough everywhere though. I hired both of my assistants from Craigslist.
4. How is the actual cost of living? Such as power/heat/air conditioning/water/sewer, etc? Averages? Do you use the heat much in the winter? I would guess A/C would be a must in the summer
Generally the newer the home, the better the insulation, windows, etc will be. So buying a newer home can cut down on electric costs. My home was built in 2003 and is 2127 under air, no pool. We keep the thermostat at 80 degrees and our July bill was $200, June was $154, May $120, Apr $109. I'd say it probably averages out at around $150. We hardly ever use the A/C/heat in the winter. We just open the house up and turn it off most of the time.
Car insurance with two cars and a teenage driver was $963 every six months with Allstate and we switched to Geico now it's $610 every six months. $68 per month for DirecTV. I have a well so it's $100 every six months for them to come out and scrub down the tank and change the filters. $85 every 3 months for pest control.
My cell phone is out of control because I use it for business and have the maximum package with Verizon. I think it runs like $250 or something.
5. Are there dog parks/beaches in the area that allow off-leash options? Sorry, I just recently discovered dog parks since I have never lived with a dog and not a large amount of property--so that may sound like a silly question.
Beach Park
Bird Key Park - on John Ringling Causeway (on the way to St. Armand's Circle, just east of the bridge) is Sarasota's only beach allowing dogs and cats.
Brohard Park & Dog Beach - Venice
Parks
Ken Thompson Park - 1700 Ken Thompson Parkway, on City Island by Mote Marine Laboratory
Bay Front Park - at U. S. 41 & Ringling in the Marina Jack area
Gillespie Park - 710 N. Osprey, Downtown at Gillespie and N. Osprey
Arlington Park - 2650 Waldemere Street (trail area only)
Paw Parks
17th Street Park - 4570 17th Street, on 17th Street east of Beneva Road, west of Honore Avenue
Woodmere Park - On Jacaranda Boulevard 2 blocks north of U. S. 41
Lakeview Park – Sarasota
6. What do people do for fun in the area other than hitting the beach? Are there good martini bars or night clubs for early 30-something aged individuals? Examples: where I live now we camp in the mountains, river/lake/ocean fishing, movies in the park, hiking, biking, etc...
There are all kinds of things to do in Sarasota county!! My husband and I actually went out a few weeks ago for the first time in years (without the kids) and we went to the Beach Club on Siesta Key. On Fri & Sat nights it gets pretty rockin' with live music, etc. We're in our mid 30's and there were people of all ages there, many our age. Some other people on the board have mentioned Meetup.com or The Sarasota Professionals Club, Sarasota Florida - Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce - Young Professionals Group Young Professionals Group: They just organized & brought in world renown DJ's & put them spinning out on Lido at the Lido Beach resort as well as all over downtown.
The YMCA has all kinds of stuff going on for adults-Soccer, tennis, kickball, football, basketball, volleyball, racquetball, Sarasota Family YMCA - Adult Fitness classes and Social Opportunities For things to do other than beaches, there are museums, Selby Gardens, Jungle Gardens, great YMCA's, downtown which is FULL of great little restaurants, clubs, coffee houses, bakeries, movies, etc., we have art galleries galore, art film house, and all kinds of festivals which take place just about all year long.
Fun over on Hillview includes The Five O'clock Club & Big Sugar...favorite SRQ bands, "A Local Celebrity Band" and "Sheri & the Vision."...and Democracy... We also have music every third thursday over on the bay at the Ringling Mansion...First Friday art walks downtown on Palm Ave....
Sarasota News & Books has authors in all the time to discuss their books.
The Ringling Museum has art events all the time; The theatre scene rocks as well with plays year round.
Burns Court (art house/indi films) & Lakewood Ranch as well as the Hollywood 20 for films & parkway for those who can wait ($2 movies).
Sarasota Film Festival in the spring as well as my interest, The Sarasota Fringe Film fest (check it out on Facebook) & this year, The Ringling School of Art & Design is putting on a fabulous art event in the fall.
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