[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by HowDeDo

Perhaps you can have a talk with her and find out if she would like to exit the lifestyle and tell her there are many good Counsellors in Florida that specialize in determining how she slipped into homosexuality and who can work with her on overcoming it. Theres such specialized Counsellors in every major Florida city .

How does one slip into something that they are born with????

I'm left-handed so I must of slipped into that right???? Left-handed people were once accused of being evil too...........

I'm not gay but I will continue to defend them from being judged by closed minded bigots who try to make them feel inferior.
As I stated in another post.............If you like judging people so much then pull out a mirror and have at it, that should keep you busy for a LONG LONG time.

There is NOT a counsellor on this earth that can turn a gay person straight or vice-versa.......

[th3vault]

I have lived in Texas, Michigan and Florida. That said, Florida is far better in my opinion than anything in MI or anything north of the Mason-Dixon line (I'm biased, I was born in TX).

Now onto the real comparisons...which is Florida to the rest of the Sunbelt. The big 3 states are FL, CA and TX. I like FL in the fact that it is more politically neutral than CA or TX. In TX, conservatives dominate and in CA, liberals dominate. Outside of Miami, the Panhandle and of course college campuses, there really is no domination in FL, there is a good mix.

Of course the weather in Florida is great, the beaches are nice and most of the infrastructure here is new, eye candy instead of an eye sore, and well maintained. Driving distances aren't outrageous like they were in Texas either.

After that, it goes downhill. Tolls, bad drivers, snowbirds straining the infrastructure, not so stellar education system, poor income versus cost of living, high property taxes and too many NY accents (well...its true). Career outlook also isn't good for many fields (it tells something when the largest employer is a grocery store), amd I have never encountered as much apathy, impersonality and obsession with alcohol as I have here.

The negatives didnt stop my from telling my parents to retire down here though. I think FL is a great state for retirees, the best in the country. Low tutition and good football for college students, so I suppose its worth staying for college for the young crowd. After college though.... anyone between 25-55 should seek greener pastures somewhere else, the FL economy is not great for a good career as most jobs are either part time or government.

I'll stay here until I get a degree...but then I'm going straight to Texas. Anyone over 55..... you'll love it here, guarenteed.

[Retiredcoach]

Originally Posted by th3vault

I have lived in Texas, Michigan and Florida. That said, Florida is far better in my opinion than anything in MI or anything north of the Mason-Dixon line (I'm biased, I was born in TX).

Now onto the real comparisons...which is Florida to the rest of the Sunbelt. The big 3 states are FL, CA and TX. I like FL in the fact that it is more politically neutral than CA or TX. In TX, conservatives dominate and in CA, liberals dominate. Outside of Miami, the Panhandle and of course college campuses, there really is no domination in FL, there is a good mix.

Of course the weather in Florida is great, the beaches are nice and most of the infrastructure here is new, eye candy instead of an eye sore, and well maintained. Driving distances aren't outrageous like they were in Texas either.

After that, it goes downhill. Tolls, bad drivers, snowbirds straining the infrastructure, not so stellar education system, poor income versus cost of living, high property taxes and too many NY accents (well...its true). Career outlook also isn't good for many fields (it tells something when the largest employer is a grocery store), amd I have never encountered as much apathy, impersonality and obsession with alcohol as I have here.

The negatives didnt stop my from telling my parents to retire down here though. I think FL is a great state for retirees, the best in the country. Low tutition and good football for college students, so I suppose its worth staying for college for the young crowd. After college though.... anyone between 25-55 should seek greener pastures somewhere else, the FL economy is not great for a good career as most jobs are either part time or government.

I'll stay here until I get a degree...but then I'm going straight to Texas. Anyone over 55..... you'll love it here, guarenteed.

On what basis do you deem Florida to be a great place for retirees? The cost of living in Florida is the same (maybe more) than for the "under 55 set". The senior will pay the same ridiculous property taxes, HOA's, nuisance tolls & taxes, overpriced housing costs, etc.. Add to that, Florida is significantly less than renowned for its regional hospital care, its public transportation, and/or its public safety (growing crime)... all important issues for seniors. Yet, the senior will have the tremendous climate in the winter as all of our overbearing and more affluent snowbirds who overcrowd our state. And yet, the resident senior will spend the remaining 50%+ of the year indoors because of the high temperatures and humidity (all health risks). When an infrastructure is bad for one age group, it will adversely affect all!!

[floridasandy]

Originally Posted by th3vault

I have lived in Texas, Michigan and Florida. That said, Florida is far better in my opinion than anything in MI or anything north of the Mason-Dixon line (I'm biased, I was born in TX).

Now onto the real comparisons...which is Florida to the rest of the Sunbelt. The big 3 states are FL, CA and TX. I like FL in the fact that it is more politically neutral than CA or TX. In TX, conservatives dominate and in CA, liberals dominate. Outside of Miami, the Panhandle and of course college campuses, there really is no domination in FL, there is a good mix.

Of course the weather in Florida is great, the beaches are nice and most of the infrastructure here is new, eye candy instead of an eye sore, and well maintained. Driving distances aren't outrageous like they were in Texas either.

After that, it goes downhill. Tolls, bad drivers, snowbirds straining the infrastructure, not so stellar education system, poor income versus cost of living, high property taxes and too many NY accents (well...its true). Career outlook also isn't good for many fields (it tells something when the largest employer is a grocery store), amd I have never encountered as much apathy, impersonality and obsession with alcohol as I have here.

The negatives didnt stop my from telling my parents to retire down here though. I think FL is a great state for retirees, the best in the country. Low tutition and good football for college students, so I suppose its worth staying for college for the young crowd. After college though.... anyone between 25-55 should seek greener pastures somewhere else, the FL economy is not great for a good career as most jobs are either part time or government.

I'll stay here until I get a degree...but then I'm going straight to Texas. Anyone over 55..... you'll love it here, guarenteed.

that just shows you that there is something for everybody. after the hurricanes i actually thought about relocating to texas. i went to athens and lufkin looking at property and everybody that i ran into said why would i leave florida? (except the real estate agents). i thought about it and thought if they would all rather be in florida, why would i rather be in texas? i stayed and was glad that i did.

[th3vault]

I deem Florida a great place for retirees on the basis of the best combination of factors. Gated communities are very common here which provide safety and peace of mind for seniors, as well as peace and quiet. Many senior organizations exist here, more so than elsewhere, which provide activities, community and support for seniors. As for public safety problems....the crime is not usually going to happen much in the gated communities.

The cost of living might not be the best, but it is better than it was in the area most Florida seniors come from. Sure the tolls and taxes might be high compared to Alabama or Georgia, but most Florida seniors come from more expensive places like New York. Compared to NY, FL is cheap.

True, the health system could be better and heat and humidity are health risks. But if a decision was to be made solely on health care, Minnesota would be best as they have no heat/humidity and excellent hospitals. But how many people want to retire to Minnesota?

[TANaples]

I am a not retired senior and from NY. I don't want to stay here for retirement. Cheaper than NY? NAPLES is not cheaper than Long Island.

[Retiredcoach]

Originally Posted by th3vault

I deem Florida a great place for retirees on the basis of the best combination of factors. Gated communities are very common here which provide safety and peace of mind for seniors, as well as peace and quiet. Many senior organizations exist here, more so than elsewhere, which provide activities, community and support for seniors. As for public safety problems....the crime is not usually going to happen much in the gated communities.

The cost of living might not be the best, but it is better than it was in the area most Florida seniors come from. Sure the tolls and taxes might be high compared to Alabama or Georgia, but most Florida seniors come from more expensive places like New York. Compared to NY, FL is cheap.

True, the health system could be better and heat and humidity are health risks. But if a decision was to be made solely on health care, Minnesota would be best as they have no heat/humidity and excellent hospitals. But how many people want to retire to Minnesota?

Living in a gated community does not translate into safety and happiness despite your stereotyped perspective. With that type of logic, Daytona is loaded with bars, therefore, everyone under 55 will find happiness and security in being able to interact with others in a relaxed environment, who are from all walks of life. That premise makes little more sense than stating "Florida is a great place for retirees".

Would you recommend a gated community near West Palm Beach for all of its safety?

[KathyA11]

Originally Posted by doggiebus

As a native Floridian, Florida wouldn't be my first choice as a place to retire.

May I ask why?

[KathyA11]

Originally Posted by DailyJournalist

She will learn the truth soon enough, as all northerners do. Florida often looks good on paper until you are here and trying to make a living.

What if you're retired and not trying to make a living? What if you only want to work part-time?

[KathyA11]

Originally Posted by Retiredcoach

On what basis do you deem Florida to be a great place for retirees? The cost of living in Florida is the same (maybe more) than for the "under 55 set". The senior will pay the same ridiculous property taxes, HOA's, nuisance tolls & taxes, overpriced housing costs, etc..

You've never lived in New Jersey, have you? If you want ridiculous property taxes, I invite you to move here -- we own a 4-room ranch on a 50 x 100 piece of property, valued at $135K, and our taxes are close to $9000 a year -- with a scheduled increase of nearly $300 coming for each of the first two quarters of 2009. Tolls? Drive the NJ Turnpike or Garden State Parkway, both of which already have high tolls and are currently looking for huge increases.

I can't speak to HOAs, because we don't have them in this area of NJ -- but the housing has certainly been overpriced, with 6-room apartments renting for over $2K -- and you'll have to pay your own utilities, which can run over $300 a month in the winter, just for heat. New homes (on a 30 x 100 lot) were going for over $500K.

Compared to that, along with its good weather compared to our cold winters, Florida looks like paradise.