Well, it's almost Septemeber-anyone else sick of the heat and humidity yet? (Miami: to live, prices)
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Thank you! That consultant business sounds interesting - maybe I'll think on it. Not really a blogger, but I guess I should be seeing how much I post over here.
Well, I have a book called Where To Retire In Florida and it's copywrite around 1999 or so.By a married couple in their 50's. I found every one of their recommendations and facts to be accurate. For THAT time period.
It's a GREAT resource, not just geared to retirement, but focusing on stability and the other factors that are a higher priority than with younger people.... giving you a county by county review of about 30 Florida towns. With ratings. Every single thing you'd want to know from the towns politics to anything you can think ofabout the counties and ranking them by cost factors, including if there are too many billboards all over the place. Obviously, using that book now is only good for historical perspective lol.
That's how long I've been planning to live here lol. It was helpful up until 2005. One example of the age of the book is they gave poor Ft Pierce over here a pathetic one or two star rating due to blight and crime rates but now if you go to Ft Pierce, even if they are not great, they have put some money into it, some nice areas and cultural events etc. In fact the only decent produce I've found and fresh fish is from their farmers market on Saturdays.
You can get one on Amazon I think, if you want to take a look at the type of data that people like. (In fact I have two of those books I thought I misplaced my original and HAD to have it, then I fould the original)
I think blogging for a job is a very aggressive goal but you can definitely pick up some extra cash if you have a good blog.
Well, I have a book called Where To Retire In Florida and it's copywrite around 1999 or so.By a married couple in their 50's. I found every one of their recommendations and facts to be accurate. For THAT time period.
It's a GREAT resource, not just geared to retirement, but focusing on stability and the other factors that are a higher priority than with younger people.... giving you a county by county review of about 30 Florida towns. With ratings. Every single thing you'd want to know from the towns politics to anything you can think ofabout the counties and ranking them by cost factors, including if there are too many billboards all over the place. Obviously, using that book now is only good for historical perspective lol.
That's how long I've been planning to live here lol. It was helpful up until 2005. One example of the age of the book is they gave poor Ft Pierce over here a pathetic one or two star rating due to blight and crime rates but now if you go to Ft Pierce, even if they are not great, they have put some money into it, some nice areas and cultural events etc. In fact the only decent produce I've found and fresh fish is from their farmers market on Saturdays.
You can get one on Amazon I think, if you want to take a look at the type of data that people like. (In fact I have two of those books I thought I misplaced my original and HAD to have it, then I fould the original)
I think blogging for a job is a very aggressive goal but you can definitely pick up some extra cash if you have a good blog.
runswithscissors - you know what, you bring up a good point - cities and towns change over time, especially in say a decade. That could be for better or worse. Even for myself, when we lived in Sarasota before (left 11 years ago) we didn't really care for it beyond the natural beauty - felt it was stuffy and conservative, bad leadership, no "progressive" thinking, etc. We stayed away all that time and only recently went back (and BOUGHT there, lol) and I could not believe the transformation! All kinds of beautiful new construction, much better town planning, many new trees planted and great new landscaping, and emphasis on "green" and sustainable living, etc. etc.
Same can be said of our Lakeland as well, 15 years ago it was a dying, boarded up town mostly known for phosphate mining and agriculture - today it has been beautifully restored, the phosphate industry has moved south, the renovated downtown features art galleries and antique stores, lots of cultural events; and Polk County and Lakeland have been successfully recruiting new businesses.
It would be fun to travel around and do such a book. Despite the state's problems, there are still a lot of people wanting to move or retire here; and even current residents who might be unhappy where they are but not even realize that there might be a perfect fit for them right here in their own backyard of Florida; one doesn't always need to move out of the state.
So - scissors - are you retired now or have you selected your final location?
Jeez, I'm sick of it. I don't think there has been a dry day in months. And hot...God, I can't wait till the end of October.
Can't wait to get down there.
It's been a cold and rainy summer up here in NY.....i've hardly used the pool.
It's now 63 degrees and overcast here....have jeans and a flannel long sleeve shirt on now.
BUT.....things look good....i'll be back down to florida in just about 38 days.
Same can be said of our Lakeland as well, 15 years ago it was a dying, boarded up town mostly known for phosphate mining and agriculture - today it has been beautifully restored, the phosphate industry has moved south, the renovated downtown features art galleries and antique stores, lots of cultural events; and Polk County and Lakeland have been successfully recruiting new businesses.
Polk County used to remind me of some parts of West Virginia. Like it didn't even belong in Florida. It really is trying now. I haven't been to Lakeland in 5 years but it was getting better back then.
Where in the Midwest do you live? I'd consider leaving FL if a decent job was available.
Southeastern MN near the Mississippi. Great views (bluffs and river), hiking, boating, swimming, skiing (water and snow), and bike trails everywhere. Because we do have winter, we are also set up for indoor activities. Plenty of indoor swimming pools and gyms, entertainment, arts, and events available.
I also like sitting on my deck on a sunny winter day or by my fireplace on a snowy evening.
Lakeland has a really nice downtown, it reminds me of my hometown up in MA. Very clean.
Still love Sarasota...
Frank, I would kill for a day like you are having up there right now!!!! Just to get that raw cool air...
BacktoMa - I ain't gonna lie - I would love some crisp fresh air about now too!!! Say, I'll make you a deal - when you get up there in a few weeks, you can come back here and rub it in our faces how nice it is dipping into the 50's, 60's, etc or less, and in turn, aroun Dec. or Jan. we'll gloat about being at the Tiki Bar drinking Mai Tai's in the low humidity 70 degree temps! LOL
Whew, I've been working around the house today and I am sweating like a piggy......
Lakeland has a really nice downtown, it reminds me of my hometown up in MA. Very clean.
Still love Sarasota...
Frank, I would kill for a day like you are having up there right now!!!! Just to get that raw cool air...
BTF: We've had an absolutely beyond perfect perfect summer in NEOH. VERY, very abnormal We've had the a/c on maybe 10 days total since Memorial Day. Every weekend has quite literally been sunny & in the high 70s/ lower 80s. Two days ago the remants of Fay moved in & it's been cloudy & very cool. First day of school on Wed & the neighborhood kids were in pants & jackets waiting for the bus. It just has not really rained in over 40 days & we really need some rain.
We've been saving the money saved on electric (bill has averaged $49/mn since April) for what winter MAY bring. Better safe than sorry.
Our inlaws in western Mass say it has been raining pretty much all summer. Still, they get the best fall in all of the country, so they aren't complaining.
Can't beat what this summer has been like for us. Now, we just hope winter is just as nice.
Good luck on your move & hope the TSs stay nice to the area!! With a 7.3% unemployment rate in the county, the last thing it needs is more disruption.
Frank, I would kill for a day like you are having up there right now!!!! Just to get that raw cool air...
I do understand. And i'll perhaps miss this too once we live down there for good. This is our best time of year.......although it has been a colder, wetter summer then what we usually have. Usually by now the grass is brown, etc, but I have to mow my 3 acres at least once every 5 days or so. Currently at 1:30pm it is partly sunny/cloudy and is now 68 degrees. I have jeans on and now a short sleeve shirt.
I have a day off, and am helping the wife can fresh peaches she picked the other day......they will taste good when it is 20 below and a blizzard outside in a few months. Soon it will be time to pick out our douglas fir christmas tree and tag it , so we can find it in the snow in less than 3 months.
I have learned more to enjoy our 4 seasons, and yes, even try to enjoy our unpleasant winters......knowing that in about 1000 days I'll be a full time Floridian. This week there is a touch of Fall in the air. People are getting their wood cut and Home Depot have all the wood burning stoves out. Rakes are starting to go on sale, and we'll be raking leaves soon, as they are just starting to turn.
Since we have not had a sunny, warm summer this year, I'm looking forward to spending the month of October in Florida.
I guess we all just try and enjoy what we have.......better then being on the bottom side of the turf.........
Can't wait to get down there.
It's been a cold and rainy summer up here in NY.....i've hardly used the pool.
It's now 63 degrees and overcast here....have jeans and a flannel long sleeve shirt on now.
BUT.....things look good....i'll be back down to florida in just about 38 days.
It's all about perspective.
Frank D.
He said he enjoyed playing golf on Long Island again where there were no condos and real trees. He said the weather was beautiful in the 70s with no humidity in the days and 60s at night.
There's a big difference between downstate and upstate NY. I am going back in mid October for a long weekend. We are both going back for another long weekend Thanksgiving. I hope it isn't any warmer than the 50s, but it can get close to 70 around Halloween lately. It's what they call Indian Summer.
I would love to go again in the middle of the winter, but although the airfares are dirt cheap in February to NY, I will have to pay through the nose (like $400 one way) to come back to Florida. Too tempting. I might say the hell with it and not come back.
Last edited by TANaples; 08-29-2008 at 02:54 PM..
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That consultant business sounds interesting - maybe I'll think on it. Not really a blogger, but I guess I should be seeing how much I post over here. 
I am going back in mid October for a long weekend. We are both going back for another long weekend Thanksgiving. I hope it isn't any warmer than the 50s, but it can get close to 70 around Halloween lately.
It's what they call Indian Summer.
