[blackhillsdreams]

Phil,

I know Rotonda too. it's pretty isolated. It's south of Sarasota and too far north of Ft. Myers and so forth to be much of anything other than housing. It is close to beaches however. Rotonda was purchased for pennies in the 70's I think by a developer that wanted to get rich building houses and then went broke after putting in roads and so forth. It sat for many years and then they started to build houses there. Summers are very hot on Rotonda compared to NE FL and my opinion is: it's nice but just too far from anything. I'd consider NE Fl first.

Good luck!

[Roese]

My wife and I have been looking at North Port, however we have not decided. One of the main things we are looking for is Great Fishing, access to beaches, sports bars/ restrauants. My wife is also a nurse. What cities on the Northern Florida would be idea? We really perfer the Gulf Side. Any help will be appreciated.

[FLBob]

Rotonda has seen a lot of infrastructure build out recently. There is even a British Pub on Placida Rd. You'll find a number of affordable golf courses. Rotonda was designed as a circle with 8 slices of pie, 7 of the 8 slices have homes and golf courses.
With the growth in Rotonda, and South Golf Cove, Home Depo and Publics have built stores. While you would be further way from "attractions" you would be close to Boca Grand which is a beautiful island town.

[blackhillsdreams]

Originally Posted by Roese

My wife and I have been looking at North Port, however we have not decided. One of the main things we are looking for is Great Fishing, access to beaches, sports bars/ restrauants. My wife is also a nurse. What cities on the Northern Florida would be idea? We really perfer the Gulf Side. Any help will be appreciated.

FLBob is right, Boca Grande is very nice and that area isn't overbuilt yet either. On the other end, you may even consider Pensacola of Panama City up in the panhandle if you are really into the coastal/fishing lifestyle. I've spent time on projects in those areas too. Both are nice, but still affordable for the most part. The both feel similar to the keys to me. You'd get much colder temps in winter however.

[FLBob]

Originally Posted by Roese

My wife and I have been looking at North Port, however we have not decided. One of the main things we are looking for is Great Fishing, access to beaches, sports bars/ restrauants. My wife is also a nurse. What cities on the Northern Florida would be idea? We really perfer the Gulf Side. Any help will be appreciated.

The St. Augustine area would be good for fishing, you have the St Johns river inland. There's backwater fishing inside the barrier Island, and you'd be a short ride from mosquito lagoon which is world famous for large oversize redfish.
In St. Augustine you would be between two other cities, Jacksonville and Daytona. So job opportunities should be good. There are great beaches everywhere in Florida with the exception of the keys, south of Marco and Tampa north to Apalachicola.
North Port you'd be close to Charlotte Harbor, the Peace and Myakka Rivers where I've had some of the best fishing experiences in my life.
Harpon Harry's is my favorite sports bar, siting right on the water, open air, two bars, plenty of booth seating...
I'm with you I like the gulf side, bit more laid back.

[Floridaboundphil]

FLBob, your putting a downer now ... last thing I want is a british pub ! I'm trying to leave all that behind and become a laid back and relaxed ritered person who can chill out, play golf and forget my previous life.

[FLBob]

yes but when you get tired or every restaurant and bar in the area providing you with a beer selection of "Bud, Bud light, Mich, Mich lite, and Amber bock" that British pub might just look good. It's good to have options.

Sounds like I'll see you at Stump Pass Grill, a tiki hut on Lemon bay, just the place for a laid back retired guy....Their website (mod - I have no relation with the business).

[marypoppins]

Originally Posted by Floridaboundphil

I'll not be working but living off early pension.

Will you be living here permanently? Off topic, I know, but do you have your visa sorted?

[Floridaboundphil]

Originally Posted by marypoppins

Will you be living here permanently? Off topic, I know, but do you have your visa sorted?

I've spoke to embassy. I can get 6 month visa and apply for extension. I hope to extend so plan that would do about 10 months out of 12 (maybe more if I can)

[Floridaboundphil]

Originally Posted by FLBob

yes but when you get tired or every restaurant and bar in the area providing you with a beer selection of "Bud, Bud light, Mich, Mich lite, and Amber bock" that British pub might just look good. It's good to have options.

Sounds like I'll see you at Stump Pass Grill, a tiki hut on Lemon bay, just the place for a laid back retired guy....Their website (mod - I have no relation with the business).

If I like the area and can find somewhere suitable to live looks like my kind of bar.
Maybe I'll visit anyway when I get there next month as part of my trip. Seems I have far to travel from the snows of NE to the heat of the south west. Hire car looks like putting on some mileage. Looking foward to both areas. Mine will be a Bud (cold)