Ohio Born & Raised Frozen and want the Beach (Boca Raton: insurance, rental)

[Retiredcoach]

[b]It has always been my perception that when I turn 60, I will be entitled to my own little slice of paradise. I always thought that Florida would be my home state during my retirement years... my own personal "Nirvana". If one reads the various posts to guide you in your decision- making process with an open mind, you will be able to make your decision based upon your information, not your emotion.

If you are moving based purely upon the fact that you do not like Ohio snow, you are making an emotional decision, not an informed decision. Florida has its warts, much like Ohio or any other state. If you are able to come to grips with what other posters are sharing with you based upon their experiences, those Florida nuances can be either overcome or personally insurmountable. At least, you are less likely to feel that you are "blindsided" by those facts that you never realized existed.

Only you will be able to answer whether you will be able to cope with the "greener grass on the other side (Florida)". You will be facing: a higher cost of living, a lower paid workforce, expensive housing, hurricanes, nearly unbearable humidity 3/4 of year, much denser population, very high crime pockets near suburbia, higher property taxes, traffic everywhere... You will be able to weigh your personal positives (beyond the sunshine) with what other posters are sharing as their drawbacks to what could be your future home. My suggestion would be to proceed cautiously; there is no Nirvana in Florida.

[Travel'r]

Hi, FloridaBound,

<<<Towns that made our list were Naples, Ft. Myers, Sarasota, Port Charlotte, St. Pete, Tarpon Springs, Ft. Lauderdale, Dania, Ocala ( may be to far to beach for us?) Clermont, Winter Garden, and Cocoa so most are west coast from mid FLA to south FLA.>>>

I liked living in Naples because it was friendly and nice with every shopping opportunity imaginable, from bargains to Sax, and fast food to the Ritz (only town in US with two of them!)

Sorry, I never looked for antiques, but Naples should not disappoint.
There is a section (not gated) called The Moorings. It's a golf course community in a neighborhood, just nice single one-2 story homes. It runs between Tiamiami Trail (40, where infinite shopping abounds and just keeps going all the way down to Tin City), and the Gulf!
You may wish to visit naplesdailynews on the web. You could spend a month on that thing!

Naples also has soooo many gated communities on golf courses. Naples is a very wealthy town but middle class folks (like me :>) live in Naples Park, a residential neighborhood which was safe and pretty, as well as other sections more east. Many duplexes and single homes in Naples Park (also known as North Naples), just not with its own golf course :>).
Immocalee Road borders it to the North. I think Bonita Springs, and then Fort Myers, are next going north. I think Naples is bleeding into Bonita, these areas are being developed beyond belief!

Please don't believe the "rich snob" myth. I have worked in country clubs and lived around them for years and the "filthy rich" are going to be as friendly and gracious as anybody. And they are the first to say hello when they see you in the grocery, too. It's just a matter of courtesy. I wish that myth would go away, and just wanted to mention this because Naples has so many. The household names are the ones you'd never in a zillion years guess that they are because they're so down to earth and secure within themselves that they don't have to put others down to feel better.
(Sorry, but I see "rich snobs" mentoned so much everyplace & didn't want the "rich" myth to deter you from considering such a lovely town).

I don't know about the schools.

Have to be honest and say that Naples does have traffic that could put I95 to shame (Pine Ridge/Airport/Tiamiami), but that's because it has been so built up, and just keeeeeps going... I loved the CAT, the adorable bus system. They got me everywhere (when I wasn't walking). This is a town (for as big and busy as it's getting) that you can go into a business and they'll know you the next time you go in. I just found it to be a classy town. People were nice.

Sarasota and Port Charlotte, while I did live near them (on Gasparilla) and only went for shopping, I really didn't care for that area, but I don't want to badmouth it because what I didn't like is just me.

St. Pete (the city, very high on crime & drugs) and St. Pete Beach (just over the bridge, between Intercoastal & the Gulf): Lived nearby on Clearwater Beach and would recommend this strech for folks who like to party a BUNCH (like every day)! I'd stick to vacatons here. There are little beach towns along the Gulf which are more quiet, such as Indian Rocks & Belleair Beach, but I found them to be more isolated; not much "community". And there's always bickering with the town councils -- it's a mess. Not good Gov't along here (from what I read every day), so the schools may parallel.
Extremely "laid back"@.

The "funnest" part of a new adventure is doing all this detective work. I loved (almost) every place I lived in Florida because I saved like mad and considered what would be available there -- especially not having to drive and quality of life. There are some lovely Florida towns. It's just that they are expensive. But worth saving for/investing in.

The newspaper websites are the best! Every town's paper is probably on line by now, as well as their TV & Radio news stations. I'd scour them real good for all the towns on your list. (I should have stocks in google :>).

Best wishes on this exciting endeavor@@@!

[Jammie]

When I read your original post, Lakeland came to mind. I see that it was already mentioned so I second that. Another suggestion would be Sebring. It isn't far from Lakeland and it's in Highlands County.

[chisoxfan]

FloridaBound,

I see that Fort Lauderdale and Dania Beach are on your list. Please private-message me if you would like more information, particularly on Fort Lauderdale.

Re negative posts: The state has its problems and many people are struggling to make it here; there's no disputing that. Many good, thoughtful, rational, accurate points have been made about Florida. You've got to separate those from highly emotional screeds authored by people who hate Florida and seemingly would like nothing better than to see the state sink into the ocean (I'm sure that line will inspire someone to write that we're doomed here within 10 years because of global warming).

Anyway, it seems like you have a pretty good idea what you want and have done a lot of homework. I wish you the best of luck in your search.

[Floridabound09]

Thank all 4 of you recent post. I appreciate your input, will make comments tomorrow eve on each.

As far as date for my HATE FLORIDA DONT COME HERE BASHERS on this board.

Didnt have much time but take a look

I live outside Columbus Ohio

Comparison to Lakeland Area

Median monthly costs for houses with a mortgage in Polk County in 2000: $839

Columbus Ohio for the same year was $1078

Cheaper in Florida

Crimes reported for the counties which I live and Lakeland

Here 78,404 reported crimes
There 37,609

Safer to live there by these numbers

Avg Wages

My town Ohio
34999
Lakeland Florida
39795

Better wages in Lakeland

People living in poverty

My town Ohio
16.7%
Lakeland
5.98%

Avg rental cost of 2 bdr apartment
My town
725 per month
Lakeland
575 per month

Travel time to work
My town
15-29 minutes 47%
Lakeland
15-29 minutes 23%

Murders
My town 111
Lakeland
22

There is more, but need to get to bed.

So far, I have done my homework and Lakland Florida wins by a long shot.

I have spent allot of time in Florida on business and vacation, have made notes of things for 10+ years. I have researched everything down to dog license.

What I found for your bashers is this.
We all (states ) have good, bad, ugly and great, you just have to find the great or close to it and add your little touch.

Heck, St Louis Miss has us all beat, worse crime city in the US.

Will be back tomorrow eve.

Thanks for all the input.

[Need_affordable_home]

[quote=Floridabound09;455028]First of all stop calling me sir, call your Dad that!

If I was your dad, I would had knocked some sense into your head by now.
You have it made and do not know it.

Second, how the hell would you know what it is like being cold when you said it yourself, been to Toronto when I was a little boy.

Pleeesseeee ,stop stating how it is to be cold when you have never been cold.


LOL im just showing my manners. You seem very angry in your posts. Take a deep breath, light a fragrance candle, sit back and relax
Also its rude to overuse those H and D words. Be a polite gentleman, sir and change your tone

Ive been cold plenty of times. Was reeeeeeally cold in Wyoming when white water rafting. Wow that was miserable! Worse than I remember when in Toronto.

1. Something is wrong with your city if your insurance and taxes is higher than FL. Doesnt make Ohio bad, just your city is overpriced with those expensive houses. If there is nothing "desirable" about your city then I can see everyone moving out and that city will be a ghost.
2. I am not as frail as you think. Its all about comfort and sorry but 80 isnt exactly comfortable. Its gonna get to 95 and humid in the summer. 99% of the people are gonna be really miserable except Elfyum and maybe you.
3. The weather does forecast the lows to be mid 20s but no ice, no snow and the highs will be 50. Who cares about the lows when you are nice and warm inside at night. Soon as the sun comes out itll get warmer. I would love a nice sunny 50 degree day.
4. Dont worry about me, I will make my living on the computer and wouldnt have it any other way. As for moving to a cold state, I will visit the northeast in the winter. If I can stay warm by being all bundled up then im moving there. Else maybe ill just get a $30,000 mobile home and like 3 acres of land for $50k in north CA and make my home in this wonderful location with the best weather in the world. Probably worth living in a mobile home to be in a desirable California location.
5. It can get to 40 here in south FL and I told my parents not to dare heat the house or ill open the window as I hate it hot. Was 66 degrees in my room without heat so I just saved my parents money on heat because no one in south FL needs heat except Elfyum
6. Ohio in Jan probably has highs of 40 degrees and lows of 20 degrees on average. Almost never gets below zero. Im sure I can handle 20, even 10 degrees. Dont know about minus but I arent relocating anywhere that gets minuses more than one day per winter. I handled it in Toronto as a little boy and now im a man
7. LOL your gonna offend the Canadians by calling them nuts. Maybe they tolerate cold better than you ever could? I am gonna be honest and admit I could never tolerate Canada except Vancouver, maybe Toronto but thats pushing it. Northern Canada? No way! I wouldnt even be able to tolerate states like Maine or North Dakota. Ohio is much, much, much milder than those states and especially Canada. You think Ohio at 10 degrees is cold, youve seen nothing further up north. I am not even gonna challenge you because I wouldnt go this far north myself.
8. Used to love swimming as a child. Lots of adults collect coins and candles. Dont collect stuff like dolls but some adults do.
9. I wouldnt work in 200 degrees for $200 an hour, I would melt in about 30 seconds. You too.
10. Ill take my coins and valuables with me if we evacuate a hurricane. Gonna lose my pet goldfish though
11. Bad dreams? You make me laugh. 50 degrees beats 80 anyday. Can you enjoy the 50 degree Ohio spring for me?
12. The seller says he pays $150 a month for heat on a 2000 square feet house. Your city in Ohio is just way overpriced. Not everywhere costs as much.
13. Lakeland may be cheaper than your overpriced Ohio city but plenty of other cities up north that costs a fraction as much. Can get nice big 2000 living square feet houses(many with basements) for $30k to $50k in some (safe) cities. Couldnt touch those houses for less than around $200k anywhere in Florida. Ill take the snow over the hurricanes. Snow doesnt destroy houses like hurricanes do.
14. Many Floridians list by total square feet, be careful.
15. Funny you dont like NYC, know lots of people living there and they pay big money for a small apartment!
16. Wonder if your gonna be going back to Ohio once you get scared off when a hurricane hits you.
17. a/c very high because Florida is 95 degrees and humid in the summer. Up north the summers are 75 degrees with less humidity. Much more comfortable.
18. Wont get frostbite with boots and gloves.
19. Your 8 year old can enjoy the beach. I used to go to the beach as a kid but the sunburns, sea lice, saltwater in your eyes/mouth and jellyfish get old...
20. I know how to show my manners and I dont cuss, you do.

[sickofmichigan]

I live in Michigan and this winter really did it for us also! Yesterday was nice but today another grey depressing day that will turn cold again by tonight!! We have had snow in late april before. Can't understand why people whine and complain about 90 degrees when we're up here where you can't go outside comfortably for 6-7 months of the year, where we enjoy our flower beds and gardens for 2 months!!! We will be moving in June to either the St. pete/Tampa or Cape coral areas and we can't wait!!! Have you had any luck with finding places that are "nice" with low crime?? Can't wait to have a palm tree in my front yard!

[Need_affordable_home]

Originally Posted by sickofmichigan

I live in Michigan and this winter really did it for us also! Yesterday was nice but today another grey depressing day that will turn cold again by tonight!! We have had snow in late april before. Can't understand why people whine and complain about 90 degrees when we're up here where you can't go outside comfortably for 6-7 months of the year, where we enjoy our flower beds and gardens for 2 months!!! We will be moving in June to either the St. pete/Tampa or Cape coral areas and we can't wait!!! Have you had any luck with finding places that are "nice" with low crime?? Can't wait to have a palm tree in my front yard!

Michigan is several degrees colder than Ohio. You cant compare the two. It can be 45 in Ohio and snowing in Michigan! I consider Michigan too cold for me. Dont want to live anywhere further north than Ohio or Pennsylvania. 90 degrees is very hot, especially if its also humid like Florida! You cant stay out more than two minutes without sweating and getting sunburnt. Cant exercise or work outside either without getting heat exhaustion. Ive gotten dizzy many times before. I would walk from the school bus stop to my house(half mile) and I couldnt walk strait cause I was dizzy and light headed and drenched in sweat. Cloth went strait to the laundry and I took a cool shower. Its really miserable and I think the grass is greener(or whiter) up north. I cant go outside like 8-10 months of the year without getting heat exhaustion. Up north id be able to go outside like 9 or 10 months of the year. The winters last 3-4 months in Ohio and Pennsylvania. You are getting warm weather now, just go outside its like 60-70 degrees! Go grow some flowers!

[bmurphy]

Uh, you can compare Michigan and Ohio. They have similar climates...

NAH,
WHAT THE HECK DON'T YOU GET ABOUT THE 70 DEGREE WEATHER NOT BEING NORMAL IN PA/OHIO RIGHT NOW?

Why is it so hard to understand? It's a 2-day warm front. Steadily going back to cold tomorrow.

*IT'S NOT NORMALLY LIKE THIS IN MARCH!* Please swallow the information - I'm getting so sick of you calling it a "mild" climate. Get real. Please.

[bmurphy]

[quote=Need_affordable_home;456054]

Originally Posted by Floridabound09

First of all stop calling me sir, call your Dad that!

If I was your dad, I would had knocked some sense into your head by now.
You have it made and do not know it.

Second, how the hell would you know what it is like being cold when you said it yourself, been to Toronto when I was a little boy.

Pleeesseeee ,stop stating how it is to be cold when you have never been cold.


LOL im just showing my manners. You seem very angry in your posts. Take a deep breath, light a fragrance candle, sit back and relax
Also its rude to overuse those H and D words. Be a polite gentleman, sir and change your tone

Ive been cold plenty of times. Was reeeeeeally cold in Wyoming when white water rafting. Wow that was miserable! Worse than I remember when in Toronto.

1. Something is wrong with your city if your insurance and taxes is higher than FL. Doesnt make Ohio bad, just your city is overpriced with those expensive houses. If there is nothing "desirable" about your city then I can see everyone moving out and that city will be a ghost.
--Why is his city automatically overpriced and ridiculous just because he wants to move and it's more expensive then Florida? Not every city that is expensive ISN'T worth it...a lot of them ARE worth it!

2. I am not as frail as you think. Its all about comfort and sorry but 80 isnt exactly comfortable. Its gonna get to 95 and humid in the summer. 99% of the people are gonna be really miserable except Elfyum and maybe you.
--Way less then 99%. Most people up north love summer the most of all the seasons. People dread winter.

3. The weather does forecast the lows to be mid 20s but no ice, no snow and the highs will be 50. Who cares about the lows when you are nice and warm inside at night. Soon as the sun comes out itll get warmer. I would love a nice sunny 50 degree day.
-No ice? No snow? You mean this week or in general? Ohio is a pretty snowy state overall. Sunny 50 degree days probably aren't the norm in March (well maybe, but still, not during winter).

4. Dont worry about me, I will make my living on the computer and wouldnt have it any other way. As for moving to a cold state, I will visit the northeast in the winter. If I can stay warm by being all bundled up then im moving there. Else maybe ill just get a $30,000 mobile home and like 3 acres of land for $50k in north CA and make my home in this wonderful location with the best weather in the world. Probably worth living in a mobile home to be in a desirable California location.
--That land must be on a faultline or something. That's all I'm gonna say. If you're dumb enough to buy it without research, whatever.

5. It can get to 40 here in south FL and I told my parents not to dare heat the house or ill open the window as I hate it hot. Was 66 degrees in my room without heat so I just saved my parents money on heat because no one in south FL needs heat except Elfyum
--Will you SHUT UP about the heat already? You live in Florida. It's hot. STOP SAYING IT IN EVERY DARN POST!

6. Ohio in Jan probably has highs of 40 degrees and lows of 20 degrees on average. Almost never gets below zero. Im sure I can handle 20, even 10 degrees. Dont know about minus but I arent relocating anywhere that gets minuses more than one day per winter. I handled it in Toronto as a little boy and now im a man
--Probably being the key word. No. The highs are not 40 in January even here in PA, let alone Ohio.

7. LOL your gonna offend the Canadians by calling them nuts. Maybe they tolerate cold better than you ever could? I am gonna be honest and admit I could never tolerate Canada except Vancouver, maybe Toronto but thats pushing it. Northern Canada? No way! I wouldnt even be able to tolerate states like Maine or North Dakota. Ohio is much, much, much milder than those states and especially Canada. You think Ohio at 10 degrees is cold, youve seen nothing further up north. I am not even gonna challenge you because I wouldnt go this far north myself.
--Uhh, very few people live in Northern Canada, you must have missed his point because your reply is irrelevant.

8. Used to love swimming as a child. Lots of adults collect coins and candles. Dont collect stuff like dolls but some adults do.
--What does this have to do with anything?

9. I wouldnt work in 200 degrees for $200 an hour, I would melt in about 30 seconds. You too.
--Uh, 200 degree weather doesn't exist, But anyway, I think a lot of people would work in the heat for that much money.

10. Ill take my coins and valuables with me if we evacuate a hurricane. Gonna lose my pet goldfish though
--Poor little goldfish. What exactly does your life consist of, sitting in your room like a hermit all day? I'm sorry, but you seem to be pretty lonely and boring.

11. Bad dreams? You make me laugh. 50 degrees beats 80 anyday. Can you enjoy the 50 degree Ohio spring for me?
--You really shouldn't be that obsessed that you dream of colder weather every day. Take a chill pill. Moving isn't the world. Why don't you MAKE SOMETHING OF YOURSELF where you are now?

12. The seller says he pays $150 a month for heat on a 2000 square feet house. Your city in Ohio is just way overpriced. Not everywhere costs as much.
--No, maybe his city is nice. You just find these cheap, abandoned cities and call them nice for that reason alone. If Texas for example were California-priced, you wouldn't think it was nice anymore.

13. Lakeland may be cheaper than your overpriced Ohio city but plenty of other cities up north that costs a fraction as much. Can get nice big 2000 living square feet houses(many with basements) for $30k to $50k in some (safe) cities. Couldnt touch those houses for less than around $200k anywhere in Florida. Ill take the snow over the hurricanes. Snow doesnt destroy houses like hurricanes do.
--Okay, that was such an uninformed, DUMB statement...snow causes lots of damage, and so does ice. You're so naive. Seriously.

14. Many Floridians list by total square feet, be careful.
--This is the same for every state.

15. Funny you dont like NYC, know lots of people living there and they pay big money for a small apartment!
--Because they like it. He doesn't. So?

16. Wonder if your gonna be going back to Ohio once you get scared off when a hurricane hits you.
--WHAT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND? Ohio has TORNADOES. They KILL MORE PEOPLE THAN HURRICANES DO, on average. Why are you ignoring this?

17. a/c very high because Florida is 95 degrees and humid in the summer. Up north the summers are 75 degrees with less humidity. Much more comfortable.
--Ohio and in general the north is still hot and sticky in summer. Just not for as many months. It feels the same as Florida though. And don't try to argue with that.

18. Wont get frostbite with boots and gloves.
--What about your face?

19. Your 8 year old can enjoy the beach. I used to go to the beach as a kid but the sunburns, sea lice, saltwater in your eyes/mouth and jellyfish get old...
--Just go live in a box wrapped in plastic wrap. You're fricking scared of EVERYTHING. People who act scared are the ones who end up victimized anyway.

20. I know how to show my manners and I dont cuss, you do.
--IMO, he had a good reason to cuss, but that's just me.

Read all the replies please NAH.

Why don't you MAKE SOMETHING OF YOUR LIFE while you're in Florida? You're 25 and seem to have done nothing with yourself--no car, no money, no job--do something while you're still there instead of obsessing about Oil City, Ohio, Texas, etc. Make something of yourself til you move.