Florida Weather Better For 55+ Folks? (Orlando, Palm Coast: environment, insurance, work)

[LoveBoating]

We are 59/60 years old. While living in Colorado (Denver area) for 5 1/2 years, I had a hip replacement ('05) and a shoulder surgery (fall in ice/snow) done ('07). Due to the coldness there during the winter (pain at times in both hip and shoulder) and that we didn't want anything else to happen to either of again, we moved to North Carolina (Huntersville). We arrived last Oct. '07 and I have had times in the recent winter months, of having pain in both areas yet. After talking to a few folks, we were told that a lot of people who have this "winter pain" at our age, do move to Florida to get away from that winter cold/snow.
I still function quite well and can work full-time (computer/desk), we thought that Florida would be best for us. Another reason we are looking at Florida, we love boating and fishing.
So, is Florida the "popular spot" for folks our age where "Old Man Winter" won't affect us with pain from cold??
We are only looking at the Atlantic side of the State. Perhaps, Jax or a little lower.
Any suggestions/advice would be most helpful.

[faithfulFrank]

Of course, everyone has their own opinion, but I do believe that the Florida climate is easier on the bones then the colder climates. When you factor in the added dangers of car accidents from icy roads, etc, and the many falls from icy walks, I believe that a southern climate is healthier then a northern one.

Now, I'm sure that you will have other posters here who will disagree, and complain about the excessive heat, skin cancer, etc,etc....I guess I would assume that anyone who moves to Florida already knows it gets hot in the summer.

Perhaps you may want to visit for awhile to see for yourself. My father-in-law goes to Florida every winter season for a few months......he says he notices the difference in his joints from the first day he is there to the last....once he gets back to NY, he is in pain again.

Central Florida is a mecca for retirees.....lower insurance costs inland, good hospitals, close to airports, less threat from hurricanes. Lake county has many nice 55+ communities, and hundreds of lakes. Lake Harris is onlt 2 miles from our place.....the Harris chain of lakes is great for boating.

Frank D.

[verobeach]

I do think Florida weather is easier on the bones but the summers are pretty hard on everyone. This will be my 4th summer and I still can't get used to the heat coming up off the asphalt, day after day starting in June and going through October.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

I can't speak for other people but at 41 I know my back is ALOT better here then it was in Texas.
Before I went back to visit in Dec. 2005, I spoke with the man who was my doctor back when I lived there, he asked me if my back was better and I told him it was. Well I was there in Texas for 3 weeks. I found out just how bad the cold weather was for my back, there were times that my pronounced limp was back, I almost felt like I couldn't walk at times. I can't imagine how bad it would be in a colder environment like up near Boston where I grew up.

Florida isn't great for my allergies but I can take medication easily for my allergies.

[Magnulus]

Cold weather is harder on joints. However, heat can be hard on you in other ways. If you have orthostatic hypotension or take medications that lower your blood presure, you can be susceptible to the extreme heat. Every year people die in Florida from the heat, some doing simple things like walking to the grocery store, it is like a heat wave every day. Even in the morning, if it is cool, it will be so humid that things that involve physical exertion will be uncomfortable.

Also, we get alot of rain in the summer. It isn't as bad as ice but it can ruin your day if you aren't careful on the roads. It's like a monsoon. We also have fog in the winter in some places.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Magnulus

Cold weather is harder on joints. However, heat can be hard on you in other ways. If you have orthostatic hypotension or take medications that lower your blood presure, you can be susceptible to the extreme heat. Every year people die in Florida from the heat, some doing simple things like walking to the grocery store, it is like a heat wave every day. Even in the morning, if it is cool, it will be so humid that things that involve physical exertion will be uncomfortable.

Also, we get alot of rain in the summer. It isn't as bad as ice but it can ruin your day if you aren't careful on the roads. It's like a monsoon. We also have fog in the winter in some places.

Even with all the above, I think Florida is overall much better for older, achier bones and muscles. I love the warm humidity, it makes me feel good. Now granted, like everyone else I don't like monsoons or the extreme heat waves. but honestly, that happens during about 4 months of the year. Overall, warm or hot weather feels much better for aches and pains.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

Originally Posted by Magnulus

Cold weather is harder on joints. However, heat can be hard on you in other ways. If you have orthostatic hypotension or take medications that lower your blood presure, you can be susceptible to the extreme heat. Every year people die in Florida from the heat, some doing simple things like walking to the grocery store, it is like a heat wave every day. Even in the morning, if it is cool, it will be so humid that things that involve physical exertion will be uncomfortable.

Also, we get alot of rain in the summer. It isn't as bad as ice but it can ruin your day if you aren't careful on the roads. It's like a monsoon. We also have fog in the winter in some places.

I think your right, I do suffer if I have to be exposed to extreme heat without a break. I am fine by the pool so I can jump in and cool off. I also dehydrate quickly. Its something I watch.
It would also have been worse if I stayed living in Texas since it gets alot hotter there. I drink water like you can't imagine.

[FHMullane]

There is no comparison with FL and Northern CA as far as the aches and pains. Much less in FL. Also because it rains pretty often the allergy thing is fairly short lived. Although there are about 4 hot and humid months AC makes it bearable and a dip in the pool or the ocean should do it. Everyone dresses super casual and it doesn't get THAT hot.

I think the north end of FL gets too cold in winter... shorter winter but it does get cold. I would think south of Orlando would be best.

[flaglerwrangler]

Palm Coast area is 70 miles south of Jax and as I said in a previous post, my heat pump ran a total of 33 hours throughout the entire winter. We had all of 3 frost delays all winter and was on the course by 9:15 those days. It's not cold, at all.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Everything is a tradeoff.

It gets humid here. to me, it feels pretty good after the aridity in Denver.

After many, many years in Colorado, driving in blizzards, cleaning up broken tree limbs from May snows, picking green tomatoes when the first frost (or snow) threatens in September, weathering the furnace-like summers, the occasional fog or monsoon in Florida is a welcome relief.

And supposedly, up where we are, hurricanes are less common, but of course one always has to be prepared for the worst.
Up where we are, it gets cold a few times every winter. Might this still bother you? I don't know. It never lasts very long.