[MKBax]

We are retiring this year and considering a move from the Chicago area to northern Florida (less chance of snow)! We want to be near Jacksonville as it seems to have everything we want; golf, ocean, spectator sports, and volunteer options. We don't want to be in the city but close enough to drive. I am retired computer person and my husband is retired military and psycologist. We both also work for volunteeer rescue here.
Also, we considered the storms so we're thinking more inland would be a good idea. It should also be pretty convenient to drive to the ocean cities and/or airport, and Mayo in Jacksonville itself.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. We are flying down again this spring and hope to hookup with a realestate agent in the city we choose.
Thanks ahead for any information.
Mk

[Spring Hillian]

Look at LAKE CITY

[wacahootaman]

Try Keystone Heights. Although if you need to go to Jax a lot, the drive might be too far.

Keystone is a small town with low crime half way between Jax and Gainesville in Clay county. It is very conservative. Lots of churches. The beach at St Augustine is an hours drive away.


Land is cheap there. A lot of the countryside has been cut into large subdivisions. Some of them have rough dirt roads and lots of vacant lots with singlewide trailers and lots start at less than 5 K. Others have paved roads and are more upscale with deed restrictions that keep out old singlewides.

Shopping is somewhat limited but adequate unless you want upscale luxury items or the like.

Some of the area is hilly with lots of lakes although most have receding water levels.

I would not worry about hurricanes in Jax as they rarely hit there. And unless if you are on the water that can be flooded by hurricane tides, a sturdy home will be safe during the storm. Although no electric for two weeks can be rough.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by MKBax

We are retiring this year and considering a move from the Chicago area to northern Florida (less chance of snow)! We want to be near Jacksonville as it seems to have everything we want; golf, ocean, spectator sports, and volunteer options. We don't want to be in the city but close enough to drive. I am retired computer person and my husband is retired military and psycologist. We both also work for volunteeer rescue here.
Also, we considered the storms so we're thinking more inland would be a good idea. It should also be pretty convenient to drive to the ocean cities and/or airport, and Mayo in Jacksonville itself.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. We are flying down again this spring and hope to hookup with a realestate agent in the city we choose.
Thanks ahead for any information.
Mk

Driving 50 miles will get tiresome really fast and having to drive that distance at an advanced age to reach many of the services you'll need (especially hospitals/medical services) probably isn't the best idea. Additionally basing much of the decision on hurricane strikes isn't completely valid. Jacksonville and St. Augustine have the lowest hurricane strike probability of any cities on the coast, which includes Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina as well. The reason being the Gulfstream (the North Atlantic current that steers storms up the coast) swerves away from the coast north of Daytona Beach and on up toward Georgia and the Carolinas.

You might check out the World Golf Village area in northern St Johns County. It's quite rural in/around the community and offers easy access to I-95 into Jacksonville for medical facilities and Jaguars games, the beaches and of course golf.

[Artist at Play]

also look at del webb ponte vedra, south of city.

[Gatornation]

Lake City and Keystone Heights are not retirement places. You can be 30 min outside Jax and still be away from conjestion.

Around St. Augustine is something to look into.

[Rabflmom]

Originally Posted by MKBax

We are retiring this year and considering a move from the Chicago area to northern Florida (less chance of snow)! We want to be near Jacksonville as it seems to have everything we want; golf, ocean, spectator sports, and volunteer options. We don't want to be in the city but close enough to drive. I am retired computer person and my husband is retired military and psycologist. We both also work for volunteeer rescue here.
Also, we considered the storms so we're thinking more inland would be a good idea. It should also be pretty convenient to drive to the ocean cities and/or airport, and Mayo in Jacksonville itself.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. We are flying down again this spring and hope to hookup with a realestate agent in the city we choose.
Thanks ahead for any information.
Mk

Check out St. Augustine. Still gets cold and frost in winter, but it is a great area. Close to Jacksonville. It is a friendly area and the whole town is not a tourist destination mainly just the old city. Lots of fun things to do there and still close to Orflando for the parks etc.