[tercel95]

I don't miss having 4 seasons at all EVER... I hated cleaning the snow off of my car and having to warm it up while freezing... Or having to wear a michelin man sized suit of clothing so that I wasn't chilled down to the bone...

The reason you think people aren't that nice down here is because half of the population is from NY/NJ/MD/DC/VA... Most of the natives are pretty darn nice...

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by tercel95

The reason you think people aren't that nice down here is because half of the population is from NY/NJ/MD/DC/VA... Most of the natives are pretty darn nice...

They were also from MI, OH, IL, IN, and WI, especially in southwest Florida...

But you are right. The natives are super friendly and wonderful people. Unfortunately, in southwest Florida, they were VERY hard to find. When I would find one I would stop everything to talk to them!

I met a woman that was 84. She had been there almost her entire life; wonderful woman that recorded the history of the area. Even she was from Ohio! Moved to Bonita Springs when she was a baby!

[tiddles]

Where are you from? Maine for 10 years, prior to that traveled a lot around the US and the world. Originally from New Zealand (recently became a US citizen - yay!)

Where to in Florida? After considering Venice then Crystal river (husband has family there),have narrowed it down to St Augustine or Fort Walton (I think...)

Whats the attraction? Weather (I'm already dreading the winter and it's only July!), beaches, nature, year round activities, longer gardening season, level-ness for biking, close proximity to family attractions.

Research? Mostly on line. I was concerned about schools after hearing on CD how terrible they are, but I believe that St Johns and Okaloosa counties have good schools (our kids are 5 and 7.), hence the choices for locations. I'm a nurse so am confident about getting work, however am worried about hubby who is a plumber.

Did you spend time there? Have vacationed in St Augustine but not Fort Walton - we will be checking it out this fall or winter.

Did you communicate with people who lived there? Not really, although I chatted with a patient once who thought St Augustine sucked and returned to Maine where the welfare was better! (BTW thats why our taxes are among the highest in the country - people literally come from all over to get on Mainecare - no exaggeration).

So thats my story. We plan to move next summer before school starts, if I survive another winter!

[MickeyMouseFan]

Hi

I would love to live in Florida. I hate living here in the UK. It's cold, rains so much, depressing and becoming so tired and expensive, i.e. my water bill alone is £1100 per year, and rising.

I have visited Florida over the years (not just the theme parks) from 1988 and each time it's like coming home. It's always difficult to leave and I usually cry buckets .

I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2007 and jobs in this field are difficult to secure over here at the moment, though I am employed in a role that is similar to an OT.

All I would like to do is work and live in Florida, to feel sunshine on my bones, experience the American culture, 24/7 if I wanted to but this looks impossible in the current visa climate, unless I've misunderstood something??

I think I've missed the boat..........

Good luck to all those that successfully move to Florida, you're all so lucky

A

[NorthmeetsSouth]

Originally Posted by rokinronda

I am more than happy to answer anyones questions about The Villages, Fl.

Is "The Villages" a town or a development?

I am originally from Westchester, just above NYC
Hubby is originally from a small town in the Smokie Mtns.
We currently live in a burb of Atlanta.

I have been visiting mom and my brother in Port St Lucie for decades. I never thought I would consider Florida ( I like rolling hills and deciduous trees), but the older I get the more appealing Florida gets.
Atlanta was nice when I moved here 16 years ago, but it is violent and unappealing now. I would like an area with a lower crime rate, things to do and places to shop nearby, and something that is pleasing to the eye, not run-down and dingey looking.
I have checked out a few places on the east coast around PSL but someone suggested looking at the Gulf coast at Sarasota. Anyone have an opinion on the Sarasota area? I would appreciate your input.

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by NorthmeetsSouth

Is "The Villages" a town or a development?

THE VILLLAGGGEEESSSS Floridas Friendliest home town... It's a VERY active retirement community in central Florida, between Ocala and Orlando. Its a development, which is really its own town its that large. They have 70,000 residents (not all are full time residents), and are planning to have 100k when they are finished. It has like 20 golf course or something, not sure the correct number, three squares where there is almost daily live music, happy hour each night, all kinds of daily activities, two walmarts, lots of shops, people use their golf carts to get around and these are the high powered golf carts not regular golf carts. There is a bus that will take you to the Orlando airport for a minimal cost. Its a great retirement place.... http://www.thevillages.com/

[amyflorida70]

Where are you moving from: Northwest Ohio
Where to in Florida: Somewhere on the gulf side.
Whats the attraction: Warmer weather, beaches, more things to do outside all yr round. No more scaping windows.
Research: Millions of hours I swear on the computer.
Did you spend time their. Nope not on the gulf side.
Did you communicate with people who lived their. Yes, know a couple of people who live their. And lots of help from City-data.
Still applying till dh gets that call, and then we will be on our way. I just wish it was before the snow flies. Next week hear in Ohio its gonna be 60 and rain already. Yuck.
I am a determanded woman, I will get to the beach!

[On-da-Beach]

Originally Posted by amyflorida70

Where are you moving from: Northwest Ohio
I will get to the beach!

Where in Oh.?
I grew up in Perrysburg!

[amyflorida70]

Perrysburg was soooo nice, we stayed up their for a weekend, they used to have the coolest mall, and I was a teenager when we stayed forever ago, but I remeber that mall, it was an expensive mall we couldn't afford anything but it was still cool.

[Retiredcoach]

When I was in my thirty's and forty's, I believed that Florida was to be my retirement destination. I looked to retire by my mid-fifty's with the anxious anticipation of living the perceived good life. I looked at Florida (particularly along the eastern coast in a TBD beach locale) as a place to not only enjoy the sunshine, beaches, and awesome winter weather, but to sustain a comfortable standard of living.

Now that my retirement is being delayed by this treacherous economy (about 30% of my savings was lost), I have been forced to look beyond just the weather of Florida. It is just not that great of a place to be, as I looked at the total equation. Placing all the variables of a perceived good life on a proverbial balance scale, I could only place the beaches and the "snowless" winter weather as the favorable reasons for relocation. All of the other variables (including my area's higher quality of life, cost of living, fewer crowds and congestion, brutal summer weather with the hurricane potential, quality healthcare, cultural amenities, community vitality, the middle class values, virtually no crime in a 5 mile radius of my home, availability of job opportunities in retirement, et al), I am having too difficult a time even considering Florida anymore.

As I have read through the 26 pages of this thread, it seems that the winter weather and the beaches are the lone favorable reasons for wanting to call Florida home. Yours seems too much like an angry state where the negatives of leaving "home" are only recognized (and acknowledged) when the sun and the beaches cease to be the most (and from the varied posts, sometimes only) important facets of life.