[Spagettio]

I teach in Key Largo K-8 school and we didn't have a single new teacher last year. When I moved here 5 years ago, I had several job offers, but now times are tough and our enrollment is down and that means fewer jobs. All schools in the Keys are part of the Monroe School District. Check out Keysschools.com for job openings. I would have a job before I decided where to move because otherwise, times are hard.

[pilatesgal318]

Hello to all. My husband and I are scouting a few different areas in Florida for a possible relocation. He is from Florida (10 years in Miami, 7 years in Tallahassee, school in Tampa) and I am from North Carolina. We currently live in the Virgin Islands; love the weather, island lifestyle, but want to eventually be in a place that we can drive to see family. We are in our mid to late 40's, have no children, and are looking for a quiet community that has not let the almighty dollar demolish all sense of character to the place, something with the laid back island lifestyle that we have grown accustomed to in our 2 1/2 years here on St. Thomas. We are looking at Venice, FL on the west coast and Stuart on the east coast; anyone who can give me advice on the job market there (husband is 23 years telecommunications, custom cabinetmaker, property manager....I am a Pilates practitioner, personal trainer, yoga, massage therapist who has had my own business for 8 years), areas to live (looking at Key Largo to Big Pine...not really interested in Key West...husband LOVES Islamorada!), places to stay on our trip, real estate agents, and general information about the area would be appreciated. We just returned from a scouting trip to Stuart and St. Augustine and will plan a trip to the Keys and the west coast of FL in the spring.

We have an excellent moving forum here in the VI that helped tremendously in our relocation to the islands...it took us 3 years to get here but the information from folks was so valuable. I hope to find the same with your forum.

Thanks in advance for all of your assistance!

Kind regards,

Linda O'Toole

[crisp444]

Linda: if you are coming from the Virgin Islands and want a relaxed, island lifestyle, I would suggest that you do consider the Keys. Islamorada is probably an ideal location for you; it is close enough to Miami for easy access to the airport but far enough away to feel like you're somewhere else unique. Key Largo and Tavernier are the northermost Keys and may be a bit too suburban/exurban for you. Key West is a very unique, vibrant place in which your yoga business may do well, but you have said that you aren't interested in going that far down the Keys. The Middle Keys are very quiet; there's really not much there and shopping/dining options are much less there than in the Upper Keys. Please let me know if you would like any Islamorada-area recommendations for things to do or places to eat, and enjoy your visit!

[pilatesgal318]

Thanks, crisp444! Actually, my husband has always stayed in Islamorada when he has visited the Keys. It has been a few years since he has been but loves it there. Says that Key Largo still feels like you are on the mainland and it doesn't sink in that you are in the Keys until Islamorada! I think as far as Key West is concerned he has always felt it is a bit too touristy for his taste; that is why he likes the quietness of the Middle Keys (says Marathon is nice, too). If you have ever been to the Virgin Islands and tried to shop, you would think that ANYWHERE is better!! There are certainly a multitude of inconveniences to adjust to living here but we honestly do not mind them so much and prefer not having the Super Walmart's, Target's and Starbucks ago-go like anywhere USA. That is one of the things we have tried to get away from. Don't get me wrong, it is nice to have them within driving distance, if needed, but we can live without them. We have been here going on 3 years and I have found all of the places that deliver, via USPS, any items that I might need. I think we would want to stay in the Middle Keys so that we could drive to Upper and Lower to check them out. I know the job market in the whole state is awful right now but we are not in a hurry...just keeping our eyes open. I would love any suggestions for places to stay (hotels, cottages, rental house, etc, we are flexible!!). I'm sure my husband would love to find any old car buffs who might be lurking around down there, too. He has a '69 Camaro and '66 Ford Pickup...he misses them dearly! Thanks again and keep the info coming!!

[crisp444]

If you and your husband want to explore more of the Middle Keys and Lower Keys this visit, I would suggest staying at Parmer's Resort (a.k.a "Parmer's Place") in Little Torch Key. Here is a link to their website: Parmers Resort, a unique waterfront resort in the Florida Keys. Lodging, Vacation Rentals. It is located halfway between Key West and Marathon, about a half-hour drive along US1 to each.

So it seems you want to consider areas other than Key West, Key Largo, and Tavernier. I'll try to describe those areas:

Islamorada/southern portion of the Upper Keys: beautiful area with lots of fishing and boating and a couple of small beaches. Lots of restaurants and small business (as well as a few suburban-style shopping plazas) that cater to both tourists and locals. During the weekends, there are many people there that are on day-trips from Miami or Fort Lauderdale.

Middle Keys: outside of Marathon, this area is pseudo-rural and very quiet. There are some small, beachfront resorts, a few restaurants, and virtually no shopping. Lots of retirees living in mobile home parks, and a few residential neighborhoods off of US1 to house the rest of the locals. Marathon is a lot more busy: it has grocery stores, some chain stores, several gas stations, some restaurants, and several thousands year-round residents.

Lower Keys (not including Key West): mostly locals; not many tourists at all. This area has a lot of residential neighborhoods full of year-round residents who either work in construction/landscaping/service industry, or in Key West or Marathon. A pretty large portion of the residents drive to Key West to work everyday. Shopping and dining is pretty limited, and people drive to Key West (or, to a lesser extent, Marathon) for that, too. Big Pine Key does have a large grocery store, chain pharmacy store, etc. for daily needs. One good thing about this area: the very northermost tip of the Lower Keys is home to Bahia Honda State Park, which in my opinion is one of the prettiest beaches in Florida. Some pictures are below.

[Irishrdhd]

My parents have a place in Marathon and they live in a nice,quiet neighborhood.Coming from an urban area,it's always nice for me and my hubby to enjoy their peace and quiet!
I would definately have a job lined up before you move because most of the Keys' real estate is fairly pricey.A small 2 bedroom place on a canal can cost as much as $500K or more.Also,if you plan on buying a place,be aware that new houses are usually on stilts and there may or not be electricity on the garage level.You will also have to negotiate stairs quite a bit.On the plus side,you get an incredible view from the top level!
Hurricanes are something every Floridian needs to know about.I have been in South Florida for 20 years and have seen my fair share of them.Fortunately,the state is usually well prepared in the event of these emergencies.One thing my husband and I do is have a hurricane "kit" that we keep in our laundry room just for hurricanes.It is a big Rubbermaid tub with a first aid kit,batteries,2 battery operated fans,canned foods,a manual can opener,cat food(for the cat..not us,lol)a flashlight and a small tool kit.
Good luck in your move and if you do come to the Keys,make sure you visit Key West.It's a blast!

[cuba libre]

Crisp - that IS the prettiest park in FL. Too bad your pictures were taken on what looks to be a windy, cold looking day. The water has that milky look to it that you only see in the winter....

[pilatesgal318]

Thanks for the advice, Irishrdhd. We lived on a barrier island on the coast in NC so are very familar with hurricanes and the necessary precautions and currently, live in the Virgin Islands (can't evacuate if one's coming, even if you want to!! Got to batten down the hatches and pray!). And, we wouldn't even think of moving until at least one of us had secured a job! I have been checking out the MLS in the Keys and will continue to monitor the prices...we have some money to invest as we owned a home for 11 years in NC. I certainly want to visit Key West as I know it has it's own style and can be lots of fun...Crisp444, thanks for the pics...looks like an appropriate substitute for the Caribbean!!

[LateNight]

Just a quick two cents:

As a four year resident of the Keys, namely Key West to Big Coppitt Key ten miles up the road, I can tell anyone curious about relocating here that the keys are not economically stable at all, and the high cost of living there is not justifiable in the slightest; unless of course you fall in love with the place. Be warned though. From the very bottom, it's about a three hour drive to the mainland - 55 miles per hour all the way, and it's one road in, and one road out.

Practically speaking, it's of course a very small area, with equally small job opportunites and things to do for fun. Jobwise, if you're trained in a specialty, such as the medical field for instance, you'll probably find work, as good help is hard to find and retain in the keys, and employers know it. Unless you are wealthy, or the military is paying for you to live here, you will probably run into some hiccups however. But again, the place is very expensive, and economically unstable; due in no small part to the annual threat of hurricanes, serious storms, and it's heavy dependence on tourism. "Mandatory Evacuations" which are not really mandatory, except for tourists, are common in the event of a hurricane. And remember, there's only one road out. Personally, I've been here through two hurricanes; and while thrilling to witness, I would not have wanted to be on the ground to see the second one (Wilma), as it covered the low lying islands in seawater and destroyed quite a bit of property.

The cost of real estate is at a low right now due to the national economy, but still very costly, as are taxes and insurance. A quarter of a million dollars would not buy you very much, maybe a bungalow. Be prepared to either make a lot more money, or live on less. Access to goods and services is limited, and the schools are not that great.

You'll also find a general lack of professionalism which permeates everything due to the overall transient, and slacker lifestyle in the keys. These islands are a microcosim, so any change that occurs, you will notice right away, and not all of it is good. Land is at a premium, so disputes over it's development are constant, at least in more populated areas, and the local politics are often corrupt.

In closing, it's an okay place to visit if you can afford to live in style like a tourist. But living in the Florida Keys is an entirely different ballgame entirely. Unless you have an all consuming passion for boating and fishing, and can live with the inconvenience of extreme isolation, or in fact isolation happens to be your thing, there are places you would probably enjoy settling in a lot more. I hope this helps somebody.

[pilatesgal318]

Thank you, LateNight, for your "two cents"...all very valid points and ones anyone should consider when moving to an island (or islands). We have dealt with all that you have dealt with in our move to the Virgin Islands (with your only road out being an airplane!!). Police corruption, $450,000 for a 1000sf "fixer upper", horrible public schools (we have no children), high violent crime with 49 murders in the territory this year alone for a population of 50,000 people, high tax and insurance rates, very few jobs (we are entirely tourism based as well and the economy is a huge factor right now), few good and services, etc. Even with all of these things, we still think it is worth the sacrifices we make to live here (and possibly there!!). We went from living in a 2800sf house with 2 acres in NC to living in a 800sf cottage on less than 1/4 acre...but, oh, what a view!! We pay attention to storms as they come off the coast of Africa and have had to board up twice in our 2 1/2 years here; no evacuation, you have to stay and hope for the best.

You have said things that should be food for thought for anyone considering this type of move. There are a great deal of "costs" to live in paradise...we have found, however, that this is the type of lifestyle we want....thank you for your candor...