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Check out the new communities of Silverleaf, Trailmark and Shearwater on the far northwest side of St Augustine. It's around 18-20 miles inland of the coast and around 30 minutes to the Mayo Clinic. For already established newer communities check out World Golf Village. It's a little closer to the coast by a few miles, definitely far enough inland I would think however. https://www.worldgolfrealestate.com/
I always hated cold weather too. Born and raised in FL and lived there over 60 years. We moved to TN a few years back. I had people telling me that I would hate the cold and would be miserable. I found out that I don't really, because I can get warm if I need to, lol. It gets a little dreary in the winter, but I like that too as I have indoor hobbies. I love having four seasons and I have never been happier. Something to consider.
I really appreciate your insight because St. Johns County is kind of on my radar now, and I know it's colder there than what I'm used to. Maybe a bit of a colder climate will be a good thing for me.
I understand. Lots of times people get preconceived ideas about how good or bad someplace is just based on various factors.. I can tell you that Sarasota DEFINITELY has a lot higher crime rate than gets reported, the police told me so themselves. That is because of the "tourist" factor - can't scare those $$$ off. You might hear more about crime in Lakeland/Polk County due to our unbelievably GREAT sheriff. This is a good thing, I guarantee you!
As for Lakeland, most people are unbelievably surprised how nice it is here. Mind you like any other city or town it has its good and bad parts (just like Sarasota) and it is easy enough to avoid the bad. Anywhere from downtown on south is mostly beautiful and safe, with certain neighborhoods being more upscale than others. True it is a smaller city, but completely self -contained with everything you could need. A big emphasis on outdoor recreation here, with it's many parks, bike paths, outdoor trails etc. If you come check out the beautiful new Bonnet Springs Park. I think you might be pleasantly surprised!
You're awesome! I truly appreciate the links and additional information about Lakeland, which I'm definitely going to check out! You should be a commercial for Lakeland.
I'm not surprised about Sarasota. I'm in Venice a lot more since I unfortunately live here, but I've been shocked at some of the things that I've witnessed here that I never did in the 28 years that I lived in my home in the Lake Mary area.
I'm surprised that there's any crime in Lakeland. You do seem to have such a great sheriff that I'd think everyone would be on their very best behavior there because he definitely seems like a no nonsense kind of guy.
You're awesome! I truly appreciate the links and additional information about Lakeland, which I'm definitely going to check out! You should be a commercial for Lakeland.
I'm not surprised about Sarasota. I'm in Venice a lot more since I unfortunately live here, but I've been shocked at some of the things that I've witnessed here that I never did in the 28 years that I lived in my home in the Lake Mary area.
I'm surprised that there's any crime in Lakeland. You do seem to have such a great sheriff that I'd think everyone would be on their very best behavior there because he definitely seems like a no nonsense kind of guy.
There is lots of crime in parts of Lakeland, but not much in other places. South side had the least when I traveled Lakeland years ago. All the new growth was pushing South, & the North and central areas decayed.
There is lots of crime in parts of Lakeland, but not much in other places. South side had the least when I traveled Lakeland years ago. All the new growth was pushing South, & the North and central areas decayed.
Not exactly true. Southside DOES have the nicest, newest and most upscale areas, however the central core (where I live does as well). Beautiful historic areas. There are also nice areas to the far north. Lakeland is growing with a lot of new development in the works. The poor (ghetto) areas are mostly to the immediate north and northwest of downtown, and far east; however this is going to change because they built the beautiful new (privately funded) Bonnet Springs Park just to the northwest edge of town. There is a lot of new development slated to go in near there so that whole area is going to be cleaned up.
Not exactly true. Southside DOES have the nicest, newest and most upscale areas, however the central core (where I live does as well). Beautiful historic areas. There are also nice areas to the far north. Lakeland is growing with a lot of new development in the works. The poor (ghetto) areas are mostly to the immediate north and northwest of downtown, and far east; however this is going to change because they built the beautiful new (privately funded) Bonnet Springs Park just to the northwest edge of town. There is a lot of new development slated to go in near there so that whole area is going to be cleaned up.
Thanks Beach for your comment and gypsychic for your additional feedback. I've thought more about Lakeland, but I still have reservations at this time. Even though I feel a little bit better about the crime rate, another thing for me is having quality healthcare options - and not just hospitals, but doctors, dentists and anything else medically related. I was left speechless yet again today because of even more poor quality care here in Sarasota County. It's astonishing the things that I've dealt with here that I never did where my home was. Moving to an area where people have healthy behaviors (like there's a very small percentage of smokers, people exercise, etc.) is also very important to me. Polk is ranked in the lower middle range of counties in Florida as to being the least healthy. I want/need to live in the healthiest area.
Thanks Beach for your comment and gypsychic for your additional feedback. I've thought more about Lakeland, but I still have reservations at this time. Even though I feel a little bit better about the crime rate, another thing for me is having quality healthcare options - and not just hospitals, but doctors, dentists and anything else medically related. I was left speechless yet again today because of even more poor quality care here in Sarasota County. It's astonishing the things that I've dealt with here that I never did where my home was. Moving to an area where people have healthy behaviors (like there's a very small percentage of smokers, people exercise, etc.) is also very important to me. Polk is ranked in the lower middle range of counties in Florida as to being the least healthy. I want/need to live in the healthiest area.
Funny you mention health care. IMO, we have pretty darn good medical care here, with even more hospitals, etc. being built. You can't go by some silly ranking of "Polk" being least healthy. You are looking at LAKELAND (not Polk County per se), and people here for the most part are in way better shape than Sarasota, I will tell you that. We also have great dentists and oral surgeons here - in fact one of the surgeons is ranked TOP in the country. I rarely run into anyone who smokes, usually you will see that in the poorer parts of town, where I do NOT live. Again, you really have to do "boots on the ground" instead of making judgments on what someone saw from the interstate one time or visited 20 years ago, or other bogus rankings of health, etc. We would NOT have moved here from Sarasota if we felt it was sub-par in any way. Again, please come and see for yourself. I agree with you that Sarasota health care sucks for the most part, and there are a LOT of very unhealthy older people there, I personally know plenty of them.
Also, I just got out of the hospital here (Lakeland Regional) which IMO blows away Sarasota Memorial. In fact Sarasota Memorial seems like a podunk hospital compared to LRH. I had really top doctors (had a lung infection, DVTs and needed knee surgery after breaking it) They got me through it all. I was in SMH 3 years ago for DVT and was not impressed at all. Much rather have what I have here, especially since me and DH are retired now.
OP, please understand that I am NOT trying to persuade you to move here. I have nothing to gain or lose no matter where you go. I just do my best to try to help guide someone who may be dismissing a perfect opportunity without checking it out. If you visit and don't like what you see, then you know you can move onto something else. I do wish you the very best of luck. My husband and I have found happiness here, and doubt we will ever move away.
Thanks. I'm very curious - do you know why your friend chose Windermere over Melbourne and would she move to Windermere again if she had her life to live over? I don't know much about Windermere because it was on the complete opposite side of Orlando compared to where I lived, but it has been on my list of possible areas to look into. I'm not sure, but I believe that Windermere may have a lot more condos and townhomes than Lake Mary, which doesn't interest me. I want a single family home.
I'm very familiar with the Wekiva Springs area, and it's a great area, too. It's only one exit up on I4 from where I lived. It's older than Lake Mary, at least where I lived in Lake Mary, and most of the neighborhoods aren't gated, which is okay because it's a very nice, safe area. I know a lot of people who live in Wekiva Springs go to Lake Mary for shopping, doctors, etc., which isn't that far.
She is in Winter Garden, her townhouse looks more like a private home on the outside from the photos. I don't know why she changed her mind about going near the beach, but she has family in Orlando, maybe she wanted to stay close to them. She was so happy to get rid of her single family home.
Funny you mention health care. IMO, we have pretty darn good medical care here, with even more hospitals, etc. being built. You can't go by some silly ranking of "Polk" being least healthy. You are looking at LAKELAND (not Polk County per se), and people here for the most part are in way better shape than Sarasota, I will tell you that. We also have great dentists and oral surgeons here - in fact one of the surgeons is ranked TOP in the country. I rarely run into anyone who smokes, usually you will see that in the poorer parts of town, where I do NOT live. Again, you really have to do "boots on the ground" instead of making judgments on what someone saw from the interstate one time or visited 20 years ago, or other bogus rankings of health, etc. We would NOT have moved here from Sarasota if we felt it was sub-par in any way. Again, please come and see for yourself. I agree with you that Sarasota health care sucks for the most part, and there are a LOT of very unhealthy older people there, I personally know plenty of them.
Also, I just got out of the hospital here (Lakeland Regional) which IMO blows away Sarasota Memorial. In fact Sarasota Memorial seems like a podunk hospital compared to LRH. I had really top doctors (had a lung infection, DVTs and needed knee surgery after breaking it) They got me through it all. I was in SMH 3 years ago for DVT and was not impressed at all. Much rather have what I have here, especially since me and DH are retired now.
OP, please understand that I am NOT trying to persuade you to move here. I have nothing to gain or lose no matter where you go. I just do my best to try to help guide someone who may be dismissing a perfect opportunity without checking it out. If you visit and don't like what you see, then you know you can move onto something else. I do wish you the very best of luck. My husband and I have found happiness here, and doubt we will ever move away.
I'm grateful for you taking the time to set me straight. I've heard that others seem to like Lakeland as much as you so that obviously says something, and you always make me think twice. I agree with you that I really need to go there to see it for myself before making judgments.
A few weeks ago I spent a ridiculous amount of time and searched high and low to find what seemed to be the most reliable health ranking report for Florida. Most sites were very inconsistent, which made me skeptical anyway, but I found this one to be the best. Here's the link for Polk, but you can change it to whatever county or even state.
However, I totally admit that this information can be skewed big time if you look at the county in it's entirety. The reason I say that is because it shows Sarasota County as #7 healthiest in the state. I rolled my eyes when I first saw this, mainly because of what I've witnessed mainly in Venice but even in Sarasota! I said to a friend recently that I wish I could find something like this but city/town specific because that could make a huge difference.
Happy Thanksgiving, and I hope you're feeling better and on your way to recovery after being in the hospital.
Last edited by LFJourney; 11-23-2022 at 12:44 PM..
She is in Winter Garden, her townhouse looks more like a private home on the outside from the photos. I don't know why she changed her mind about going near the beach, but she has family in Orlando, maybe she wanted to stay close to them. She was so happy to get rid of her single family home.
Thanks for letting me know she lives in Winter Garden and not Windermere. I wish I could live in a townhome because I'd then have more options available, but I know myself well enough that I know it would drive me crazy to hear someone else live. There's also the liability aspect of it, too (like if my attached neighbor started a fire or whatever, which could affect me).
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