[kazbahamf]

Hello,

I have recently been offered a job in Boca Grande. The job looks great, however being single and 29, I am concerned about the age of the community.

I have done some research on the area and I can't locate an area where younger people may live or socialize.

I am interested in any feedback on the area from a young adults perspective.

Thank you.

[jhlcomp]

I guess I am more curious about the job since there is so little there. It's more a resort kind of area, but there is very little for young people. Fort Myers will be a close bet and, if course it depends on what kind of social life you are looking for - then north to Sarasota and Tampa.

[121804]

My husband and I are in our early 30s & have a young child, so finding things to do is always something we are trying to do. We live in Punta Gorda which is between Port Charlotte & Fort Myers.

Truthfully, I feel quite out of place here & that if I was older & retireed that there would be a lot to do [tennis, golf, boating, RV trips, etc].

Other than that, we do not feel like this is a young area nor does it do much to encourage a younger crowd. There is a younger crowd in spots due to the cheap rent of condos all throughout PC, Punta Gorda & Fort Myers.

I mean there are things to do & Sanibel is a nice weekend day trip that is fun & affordable. I was told something really true prior to moving here: "You need to find your fun here". And that has been the truest statement I've heard the whole time here.

But, this part of Florida is geared for retirees & snowbirds & they want to keep it that way for some reason.

[2peaches2oranges]

Hi, lucky you. I love Boca Grande. My sis and her hub live there and own a business there. If you like living in a fish bowl, than island living is for you. I guess lots of small towns are like BG, but man your business is the town's business. They will know who you are dating, when, why, how, etc!

Check out the Boca Beacon for some rentals. This is a good time to look because in season, the prices are sky high!

If your employer will pay for a bridge pass, check out the condos being built on Placida Road. That is the road heading out to Boca Grande.

I live off island and love it. I know several single guys who work on Boca, mainly in real estate and they love it too. I also knew a couple of teachers who taught out at the Island school who left because they could not find a guy.

Boca is a family island vacation destination, lots of families vacation there, and the ages vary from the very old to babies.

I think you will be fine. Life is what you make of it!

[edugator]

Lucky you! Boca Grande! You may need to live of the island in Englewood. Check out Sarasota for entertainment or Harpoon Harry's in PGI

[ambi007]

Boca Grande is beautiful, but definately not the place you want to be. I'm in my early 30's and have lived in Port Charlotte off and on. Port Charlotte, punta Gorda, and North Port (esp) are getting really bad. Note: Port Charlotte was just named the number one town for drugs in the state of Florida recently. A few years ago it was number four. Not much to do there for people our age, except for Harpoons, where I worked for a few years. It gets pretty sad, because that is all there is to do and now the cops hang out waiting to catch the drunk drivers. It can be a beautiful place, but since the home prices have lowered dramatically and it's on the coast, the area has attracted many scumbags. Just cal the local police dept. i love Boca to visit, but there will be nothing to do for you there. As my cousin says, SW Florida is land of the newly wed or the nearly dead.

[Travel'r]

Hope I'm not too late in replying, just came across this thread.
One thing about BG is it is a true "New England" fishing village; mainly people from Connecticut, NY and Maine. We spent a couple of months on the Island (work) and found it to be extremely aloof and reserved, though.
Not really a social place, unless you have been going there for years and have a circle of friends from one of the above states.

It's 7 miles long, and there is a bike path which you can take from one end to the other, bike and golf cart rentals are abundant; the most awesome Banyon trees; it's about 2-3 blocks wide; the only golf course (if you golf) is private for the Inn's guests and resident members; the Iguanas and Great Blue Herons, among other beautiful birds, are everywhere. The beach is lovely, but watch which street you go down to access it. It seemed the "neighbors" there were always feuding about something. And you will pay 3 times normal price for the most common everyday necessities in the shops near the Inn. (And not exactly Sax Fifth Avenue, either.)
We're pretty friendly, social people (in our '30s) and were always going off-island to eat out and shop.
Also will be out of place if you are not one certain race/religion (although it didn't apply to us, it was most ovbious). The people are clones and very cliquish. This is the only Florida town I can honestly say we wouldn't want to even go on vacation.

Edit: PS The George Bush families vacation there, so you may see them around for a week in the winter.