What about Starke,Fl? (Keystone, Middleburg: zoning, retirement, move)

[LINYchick]

Thanks Florigidge I will do some more research on the net however I read somewhere that South Fl gets hit more w/ hurricanes than the North therefore I would rather move up North so far I cancelled out Starke and am looking at Lake City and Lakeland and Charlotte North Carolina ... Yeah I know I'm crazy... I'm all over the map to make a long story short I just found out one of my in-laws lives in Charlotte NC, my mother in law might be moving there too and wants me and Hubby to come along not too crazy about that idea but as long as I live at least 30 to 40 minutes from her I'm cool Now I have to decide between 2 states AHHHHHH..........!

[firemed]

Originally Posted by LINYchick

Thanks Florigidge I will do some more research on the net however I read somewhere that South Fl gets hit more w/ hurricanes than the North therefore I would rather move up North so far I cancelled out Starke and am looking at Lake City and Lakeland and Charlotte North Carolina ... Yeah I know I'm crazy... I'm all over the map to make a long story short I just found out one of my in-laws lives in Charlotte NC, my mother in law might be moving there too and wants me and Hubby to come along not too crazy about that idea but as long as I live at least 30 to 40 minutes from her I'm cool Now I have to decide between 2 states AHHHHHH..........!

My wife and I were born and raised in Florida but I have a house on 2 acres in the upstate South Carolina area we go to for a break. I love it up there. when I retire thats where I am going. 2 hrs to the beach or 2 hrs to skiing. we love it.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by florigidge

"hiknapster" i was throwing out suggestions as to where she might live and also find a job. fort myers was one of those suggestions. i don't live in fort myers - but i have been there many times over the years. i am a long time floridian, 1951-2003, presently out of state. i would live in fort myers in heartbeat as compared to jacksonville, which is what she was thinking...and yes, i've been to jacksonville many many times, again, over the years.

btw, where IS your choice? i don't seem to see it. i'm sure it will be the very best place to live in florida because after all, it's YOUR choice and no one else's opinion seems to matter.

these are all just opinions; she's not committed to take anyone's suggestions. i suggested searching on the net instead of just looking on a map and deciding "starke" might be okay since it was between g-ville and jacksonville, which is what she did.

Geez. I just said it would not be my choice and asked if you lived there!

Me? I lived there nine years and left.

Fort Myers is one of those places that doesn't look too bad on vacation and turns out to be a nightmare once you move there.

Comparing its crime stats to Jacksonville may astonish you.

According to the latest data, Jacksonville had 12.4 murders per 100,000 and a crime index of 525.3 (U.S. average is 325.2.

Get ready for this...

Fort Myers had 31.1 murders per 100,000 and a crime index of 933.2.

[A Country Girl]

Let me tell you about Starke! I am from Jacksonville and had looked for a quiet, safe, friendly, Mayberry type town for years! I had never thought about Starke because I thought it was too far to drive to and from work in Jacksonville. BUT I found the perfect place to raise my family off a county road. When I am out riding my tractor, most people honk and wave as they go by. My children run and play with their pets and swim in the pond. My husband and I sit out on the porch or under a pecan tree and talk and laugh. LIFE is soooo much better here in Starke, relaxed and fun. PLUS, we have Jacksonville and Gainesville just a few miles away if we need that extra excitement! In my book, Starke is awesome!!!!

[GR82BAGATOR]

I would say no to Stake and I am from here. There are some very nice people in these small communities BUT they can still tend to be indifferent to outsiders. Have you thought about Orange Park, Green Cove Springs or Middleburg? I am from Gainesville and I do like it here but the job opportunities are very limited and it is a younger community due to the college. Oh, and there are also Penny Farms or Keystone Heights that are in driving distance to Jax. I can't tell you much about these communities except I have family that have lived in Middleburg & Green Cove Springs and they loved it but you'd probably have to work in Jacksonville, that's where you'll find the most job opportunities.

[GR82BAGATOR]

Originally Posted by florigidge

LINYchick, have you checked out southwest florida? try some searches on ft. myers area.

i lived in gainesville for 17 yrs (and also as an undergrad in the 70s) and liked it very much but didn't find much opportunity, job wise. if you are not a student, it is very much a "family" town. not a lot of single or older single activity.

you might could also try tallahassee which has a more northern feel to it. might be more state jobs there.

i was reared in miami but felt forced out in the mid80s. it was a paradise to me when i was growing up, but it became this megalopolis and rather scary. anything below ocala, for me, would be a stretch unless i was insanely rich and could afford to live a very high life in miami. forget orlando - talk about a madhouse of traffic and big city!

jacksonville might work but i've never much liked it. it is called "river city" btw. the st pete/tampa area is a growing area and not just for retirees. it is an area i might consider myself.

when you look on the map of florida, anything smaller than the big cities or the college towns is very much "the south" so beware. you'd have a rude awakening if you are used to a diverse and cultured city. there are small cities and towns in florida that are very georgia-like (sorry georgia...)

I like your last paragraph and I am from one of those "southern" towns and I love it (for the most part)....it's a very nice place to raise children, it can be smothering at times though! Anyway, I like they way you put it, I have been trying to tell people that not all of FL is like Orlando & Miami (Thank God....haha) but you have to be aware of that "insider" mentality before you just up and move to "small town" FL....we are nice people but we tend to listen for what "accent" you may have before we extend our hand. I'm not trying to be mean, just realistic and if you are a Native Floridian you know exactly what I am talking about....have no fear the "south" is alive and well in some parts of FL...

Oh & I totally agree...anything south of Ocala is not for me either!

[mainship]

When you were deciding between two towns, Keystone Heights would be a better choice than Starke. Miss info here State Prison is in Raiford not Starke, Speed trap is north and south of Starke, Waldo and Lawtey. Good info is that Starke is the south and has people to match, it is not NPB or Miami.

[macguy]

Originally Posted by mainship

When you were deciding between two towns, Keystone Heights would be a better choice than Starke. Miss info here State Prison is in Raiford not Starke, Speed trap is north and south of Starke, Waldo and Lawtey. Good info is that Starke is the south and has people to match, it is not NPB or Miami.

I believe the Union Correctional Institution is in Raiford,FL and the Florida State Prison is in Stark. Raiford seems small only like 40 or 50 acres. I think the executions take place at the Florida State prison in Stark. I used to have a few friends I visited there but haven't been there in years.

[coreyva]

Originally Posted by A Country Girl

Let me tell you about Starke! I am from Jacksonville and had looked for a quiet, safe, friendly, Mayberry type town for years! I had never thought about Starke because I thought it was too far to drive to and from work in Jacksonville. BUT I found the perfect place to raise my family off a county road. When I am out riding my tractor, most people honk and wave as they go by. My children run and play with their pets and swim in the pond. My husband and I sit out on the porch or under a pecan tree and talk and laugh. LIFE is soooo much better here in Starke, relaxed and fun. PLUS, we have Jacksonville and Gainesville just a few miles away if we need that extra excitement! In my book, Starke is awesome!!!!

I would agree. I grew up outside of Starke, Kingsley Lake, and have always loved going back home. I was a military brat, and then spent time in it myself. I've been all over the world and currently live in Idaho, but I go back to Starke whenever I can. I love it there. It is a slow way of life, but I much prefer that to the hustle and bustle of many other places I've lived.


Someone earlier said Starke was a speed trap, that is incorrect. Lawtey and Waldo are where the speed traps. They are the towns north and south of Starke. All the locals know to slow when passing through them.

AAA Report
Use 32091 for the zipcode if you aren't local.

[coreyva]

Originally Posted by macguy

I believe the Union Correctional Institution is in Raiford,FL and the Florida State Prison is in Stark. Raiford seems small only like 40 or 50 acres. I think the executions take place at the Florida State prison in Stark. I used to have a few friends I visited there but haven't been there in years.

They are one and the same.
Florida State Prison - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia