[HockeyMom72]

Originally Posted by LewLew

A way to think about is...if someone was to say "I want a piece of oceanfront property" would they only be referring to the places directly on the Atlantic or Pacific? No, they would be referring to the Gulf, the Sound etc. Waterfront property can refer to lakes, ponds, rivers etc. While it may "technically" not be the textbook ocean (as it's own body of water) it can not be clarified as NOT the ocean, or such.

People looking for an oceanfront home on LI would be highly insulted at a real estate agent who took them to a home on the Sound. Now, if they just said generally waterfront that would be different.

As I said, I lived there for 20 years. Those of us from the North Shore NEVER said we lived near the Ocean. Yeah, let's ride all those ocean waves on the LI Sound. Geesh. About the only waves you would get is from the Port Jeff Ferry going by.

My husband has lived here now for 3 years. When he came up to NY last summer, he wanted to go to the beach so he could swim in the OCEAN (Jones Beach). He wanted to experience waves again. I guess he didn't know he was swimming in the "waves" of the GULF OCEAN.

I have to go pack now. We are moving to "waterfront" property. There is this FAKE LAKE that some builder dug up in back and put water into it. Nope, we didn't pay more for this property. I told the seller it was a fake lake. We did get a lower price.

Florida is a very, very STRANGE place. Fantasy World isn't just in Disney.

It's been fun to say the least.

[LewLew]

Originally Posted by HockeyMom72

People looking for an oceanfront home on LI would be highly insulted at a real estate agent who took them to a home on the Sound. Now, if they just said generally waterfront that would be different.

As I said, I lived there for 20 years. Those of us from the North Shore NEVER said we lived near the Ocean. Yeah, let's ride all those ocean waves on the LI Sound. Geesh. About the only waves you would get is from the Port Jeff Ferry going by.

My husband has lived here now for 3 years. When he came up to NY last summer, he wanted to go to the beach so he could swim in the OCEAN (Jones Beach). He wanted to experience waves again. I guess he didn't know he was swimming in the "waves" of the GULF OCEAN.

I have to go pack now. We are moving to "waterfront" property. There is this FAKE LAKE that some builder dug up in back and put water into it. Nope, we didn't pay more for this property. I told the seller it was a fake lake. We did get a lower price.

Florida is a very, very STRANGE place. Fantasy World isn't just in Disney.

It's been fun to say the least.

That is called a retention pond...for the record. Most people raise the price b/c it's a view of something and not a neighbor. Florida isn't a fantasy world. Glad you got a deal and were able to stay here. Maybe you'll start to appreciate it someday.

[EasyCheeze]

Property right on the Gulf would be considered "oceanfront" and there are waves just not too often. The Gulf is the ninth largest body of water in the world. "Gulf - usually referring to a large bay that is an arm of an ocean or sea." Not fantasy at all. If you don't like it then go back home. And man made lakes also exist and not just in Florida. Lake Mohawk in NJ is man made. Again, if you don't like it why would you move there?

[EasyCheeze]

Originally Posted by HockeyMom72

Neither the Gulf of Mexico nor the LI Sound looks or feels like the OCEAN. Maybe they might TASTE like it, but that is about it.

This looks like ocean to me. Taken during late August 2007 on the GULF. Add some brown to the water and a wetsuit on the surfer and it could be NJ.

[LewLew]

Originally Posted by EasyCheeze

This looks like ocean to me. Taken during late August 2007 on the GULF. Add some brown to the water and a wetsuit on the surfer and it could be NJ.

Hey, it looks pretty clear too. The OP might want to know where it is! Thanks for sharing....

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

I think it depends on how strong the waves are when your there.

I was at Cayo Costa which is at the end of Upper Captiva out from Fort Myers a year ago and the water was crystal clear, it was like paradise.

[HockeyMom72]

Originally Posted by EasyCheeze

Property right on the Gulf would be considered "oceanfront" and there are waves just not too often. The Gulf is the ninth largest body of water in the world. "Gulf - usually referring to a large bay that is an arm of an ocean or sea." Not fantasy at all. If you don't like it then go back home. And man made lakes also exist and not just in Florida. Lake Mohawk in NJ is man made. Again, if you don't like it why would you move there?

I guess that is all people move here for is the weather. This is where my husband got a job. Weather or beaches was not a factor at all. Strange as this may sound to those on this board, living in Florida (again for me) was never on the radar screen. If his job had taken him to North Dakota, that is where we would be.

When we retire, it will out of Florida.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by HockeyMom72

I guess that is all people move here for is the weather. This is where my husband got a job. Weather or beaches was not a factor at all. Strange as this may sound to those on this board, living in Florida (again for me) was never on the radar screen. If his job had taken him to North Dakota, that is where we would be.

When we retire, it will out of Florida.

So let me get this straight. Because you don't like the weather or the beaches, it's not a factor at all for anyone? I'm sorry, just picking strings .

[HockeyMom72]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

So let me get this straight. Because you don't like the weather or the beaches, it's not a factor at all for anyone? I'm sorry, just picking strings .

To uproot yourself, leave your family, and move thousands of miles away just for the weather? Now, I can see the snowbirds point of view. Vacation, etc. I envy them. They go home. How many come here and LEAVE because of practical reasons; no jobs, cost of living, miss family, etc. Paradise can wear thin when you have no money and all your family is far away.

As I said, we came here for the job. That is all. When our retirement time comes, we will be gone. Very unfortunate life had to work out that way, but so be it until circumstances changes.

In the meantime, I just have to hibernate here in the heat as so many people have said so many times that they did up North in the cold.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by HockeyMom72

To uproot yourself, leave your family, and move thousands of miles away just for the weather? Now, I can see the snowbirds point of view. Vacation, etc. I envy them. They go home. How many come here and LEAVE because of practical reasons; no jobs, cost of living, miss family, etc. Paradise can wear thin when you have no money and all your family is far away.

As I said, we came here for the job. That is all. When our retirement time comes, we will be gone. Very unfortunate life had to work out that way, but so be it until circumstances changes.

In the meantime, I just have to hibernate here in the heat as so many people have said so many times that they did up North in the cold.

Now, that is a different story. If you have family here, your taking a job here, then maybe the weather and beach are a nice advantage. I honestly haven't seen many want to move here just for the "beach", but tons of people who seem to think that "everyone moves here for the sunshine and the palm trees". Your right, in your situation, that sucks to say the least. I would never ,ever, ever tell somebody to pack their bags for sweet sunshine without rounding up a job, making sure they can balance the expenses, and analyzing what they are leaving behind. Florida is facing multifaceted issues, but it doesn't mean that the beach and the climate aren't positives to living here for some people. I always tell people to avoid the "paradise" mindset and just analyze their situation. If someones coming here with a good job, maybe some good friends, then you can STILL find at least a decent quality of life in many parts of Florida totally ignoring the beach and climate and simply looking at schools, crime, traffic, social scene, etc. While your right, Florida isn't "paradise" or the land of milk and honey, nobody is suggesting that it is.

And honestly, I wouldn't live in or recommend Naples to most people. Its true that the cost of living is ridiculous and there is no economic force driving it, and its a terrible place for families, especially families with teenagers. It has it's niche (the "snowbird" or "new money" crowd) but there are much better parts of the state for most people. And no, I don't look at Florida as being the almighty one for quality of life. Like anywhere else there are good points and bad points that need to be assessed for the individual situation. And yes, for most, the clearest water on the Gulf Coast doesn't mean Florida is for them.