[pnlg]

I've read all the posts on this thread but haven't seen much on Florida's West Coast living. We are currently looking at a place located in Venice and would appreciate any pro/con info from someone who lives there or is familiar.

We are not kids, but are a very active/young-minded couple over 55 with friends of all ages. We are looking for a more pleasant, consistent lifestyle. We enjoy summer very much and all the activities it affords. Over the years, we have grown to hate northern Winters more and more. We are sick to death of longing for summer to return and spending countless weekends in the Spring/Summer working like dogs cleaning, repairing and refreshing our home, property and vehicles that took a beating over the previous winter before we can truly enjoy what's left of the short Summer. Our heads are there, but we don't want to jump.

We have a strong desire to make the most of each year, all year, not just for a few months each year. We also wouldn't mind taking it easy more often. We're nothing near wealthy, but we are decent hardworking people who have managed to save a little money over the years in addition to obtaining some nice things and make it our business to take good care of them. We also enjoy living among others who do the same.

OK, here's the deal.....we recently stumbled on an opportunity to purchase an affordable place in Venice about 10 minutes from the beach and would love to bite the bullet, but we know nothing about the area. We need help with facts/highlights/pointers, etc. to help us with our decision. We are both still working full time up North and plan to do so for a couple of years yet. We'd be part-time residents at first then full-time down the road. We currently have limited time to travel to the area and investigate. We'll certainly arrange time to visit and check out the home, but that's about it, so we need as much info as we can get up front. We may need to move on this opportunity quickly.

Please excuse my being so wordy....a little anxious about the idea of making this commitment. The home purchase would exhaust most of our savings and the move itself would be huge. Any advice or comments?

Thank you in advance

[**NoodLes**]

Originally Posted by pnlg

I've read all the posts on this thread but haven't seen much on Florida's West Coast living. We are currently looking at a place located in Venice and would appreciate any pro/con info from someone who lives there or is familiar.

We are not kids, but are a very active/young-minded couple over 55 with friends of all ages. We are looking for a more pleasant, consistent lifestyle. We enjoy summer very much and all the activities it affords. Over the years, we have grown to hate northern Winters more and more. We are sick to death of longing for summer to return and spending countless weekends in the Spring/Summer working like dogs cleaning, repairing and refreshing our home, property and vehicles that took a beating over the previous winter before we can truly enjoy what's left of the short Summer. Our heads are there, but we don't want to jump.

We have a strong desire to make the most of each year, all year, not just for a few months each year. We also wouldn't mind taking it easy more often. We're nothing near wealthy, but we are decent hardworking people who have managed to save a little money over the years in addition to obtaining some nice things and make it our business to take good care of them. We also enjoy living among others who do the same.

OK, here's the deal.....we recently stumbled on an opportunity to purchase an affordable place in Venice about 10 minutes from the beach and would love to bite the bullet, but we know nothing about the area. We need help with facts/highlights/pointers, etc. to help us with our decision. We are both still working full time up North and plan to do so for a couple of years yet. We'd be part-time residents at first then full-time down the road. We currently have limited time to travel to the area and investigate. We'll certainly arrange time to visit and check out the home, but that's about it, so we need as much info as we can get up front. We may need to move on this opportunity quickly.

Please excuse my being so wordy....a little anxious about the idea of making this commitment. The home purchase would exhaust most of our savings and the move itself would be huge. Any advice or comments?

Thank you in advance

What I don't understand is why do you want to go from one extreme-cold winters-to another-horrible summers. Believe me summers in FL are no joke, hot, humid, muggy, and very uncomfortable from May to late September. Why not try another state with a little less drastic climate change. I would recommend states a little farther north or even states out west have dry heat than humid Florida. I still don't understand why ppl leave cold winters in preference for the exact opposite, terrible summers. There are many other options than Florida ya know. Personally I would NOT dump everything you know and most of your savings for a place where you have no friends, no family, and NO JOB. I think if you do this you'll be making a terrible mistake and if you do pull the trigger at least do it in a different state, FL gets old real quick.

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by **NoodLes**

What I don't understand is why do you want to go from one extreme-cold winters-to another-horrible summers. Believe me summers in FL are no joke, hot, humid, muggy, and very uncomfortable from May to late September. Why not try another state with a little less drastic climate change. I would recommend states a little farther north or even states out west have dry heat than humid Florida. I still don't understand why ppl leave cold winters in preference for the exact opposite, terrible summers. There are many other options than Florida ya know. Personally I would NOT dump everything you know and most of your savings for a place where you have no friends, no family, and NO JOB. I think if you do this you'll be making a terrible mistake and if you do pull the trigger at least do it in a different state, FL gets old real quick.

We are apparently not meant to understand it.... If we hate something we must then love the opposite is often times a failing logic.

At least in this instance they are buying and going to be part-time residents first, so maybe they can test-drive the state and see what they think... Of course nothing seems that bad when you have the prospect of it being temporary, so......

Best of luck to you pnlg.... There are just as many people who make the transition who love it, so your odds are decent..

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by **NoodLes**

What I don't understand is why do you want to go from one extreme-cold winters-to another-horrible summers. Believe me summers in FL are no joke, hot, humid, muggy, and very uncomfortable from May to late September. Why not try another state with a little less drastic climate change. I would recommend states a little farther north or even states out west have dry heat than humid Florida. I still don't understand why ppl leave cold winters in preference for the exact opposite, terrible summers. There are many other options than Florida ya know. Personally I would NOT dump everything you know and most of your savings for a place where you have no friends, no family, and NO JOB. I think if you do this you'll be making a terrible mistake and if you do pull the trigger at least do it in a different state, FL gets old real quick.

For the life of me I STILL cannot figure out what would compel someone to answer a post like that pnlg posted with an answer like this?

Do you get points for every person you dissuade to choose "other options" other than Florida?

While pnlg's post would better be suited for the Venice/Sarasota portion of the forum, I don't think, "if you do this you'll be making a terrible mistake and if you do pull the trigger at least do it in a different state, FL gets old real quick" is helpful to anyone --- except yourself.

[OrlandoRE_Miracle]

Originally Posted by **NoodLes**

What I don't understand is why do you want to go from one extreme-cold winters-to another-horrible summers. Believe me summers in FL are no joke, hot, humid, muggy, and very uncomfortable from May to late September. Why not try another state with a little less drastic climate change. I would recommend states a little farther north or even states out west have dry heat than humid Florida. .

Everyone should move to VA, NC, TN. They have raw land for new development there, where you can build your Dream House. Things are no problems there.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by pnlg

I've read all the posts on this thread but haven't seen much on Florida's West Coast living. We are currently looking at a place located in Venice and would appreciate any pro/con info from someone who lives there or is familiar.

We are not kids, but are a very active/young-minded couple over 55 with friends of all ages. We are looking for a more pleasant, consistent lifestyle. We enjoy summer very much and all the activities it affords. Over the years, we have grown to hate northern Winters more and more. We are sick to death of longing for summer to return and spending countless weekends in the Spring/Summer working like dogs cleaning, repairing and refreshing our home, property and vehicles that took a beating over the previous winter before we can truly enjoy what's left of the short Summer. Our heads are there, but we don't want to jump.

We have a strong desire to make the most of each year, all year, not just for a few months each year. We also wouldn't mind taking it easy more often. We're nothing near wealthy, but we are decent hardworking people who have managed to save a little money over the years in addition to obtaining some nice things and make it our business to take good care of them. We also enjoy living among others who do the same.

OK, here's the deal.....we recently stumbled on an opportunity to purchase an affordable place in Venice about 10 minutes from the beach and would love to bite the bullet, but we know nothing about the area. We need help with facts/highlights/pointers, etc. to help us with our decision. We are both still working full time up North and plan to do so for a couple of years yet. We'd be part-time residents at first then full-time down the road. We currently have limited time to travel to the area and investigate. We'll certainly arrange time to visit and check out the home, but that's about it, so we need as much info as we can get up front. We may need to move on this opportunity quickly.

Please excuse my being so wordy....a little anxious about the idea of making this commitment. The home purchase would exhaust most of our savings and the move itself would be huge. Any advice or comments?

Thank you in advance

As someone who lives in the Sarasota area and LOVES it, I personally think Venice is one of the neatest and charming smaller towns on the Gulf Coast. I do have to ask you though if you are prepared for very warm to hot weather a good part of the year. I personally love the weather here, and heat and humidity do not bother me. But also, Sarasota and Venice are coastal cities and do get nice breezes which keep it a little cooler and more comfortable. I would not exhaust your savings until you come here and visit, unless you are already familiar with the area.

My opinion is that Venice is a relatively undiscovered little gem here, and over time I expect it to be "discovered", which will make it even more desirable, and hence more expensive. I see it already happening in fact. Because it has always been such a big retiree town, you just don't see a lot of riff-raff or problem areas like some other places. Not saying it's all good, it will have some sketchy areas, too, but if you are talking about buying on the island, I don't think you can go wrong. Venice is one of those towns that has a lot of vintage charm from the downtown to the beaches.

This is only my opinion, I am sure others like FLBob can weigh in on this - he lives there and loves it.

Good luck!

[KathyA11]

Originally Posted by **NoodLes**

I still don't understand why ppl leave cold winters in preference for the exact opposite, terrible summers.

Because the hot and humid summer doesn't last nearly as long as the frigid-cold winter -- and it's a lot easier to take, especially if you have arthritis. Because you don't have to bundle up in 4 layers of clothing before you even go out the door. Because you don't have to shovel, or drive on icy roads and take your life in your hands. Because your garden doesn't shrivel up and die for 6 months out of the year. Because you can go outside and cool off in a pool -- but unless you like the cold, there isn't much to do outside in the winter.

Shall I go on?

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by KathyA11

Because the hot and humid summer doesn't last nearly as long as the frigid-cold winter -- and it's a lot easier to take, especially if you have arthritis. Because you don't have to bundle up in 4 layers of clothing before you even go out the door. Because you don't have to shovel, or drive on icy roads and take your life in your hands. Because your garden doesn't shrivel up and die for 6 months out of the year. Because you can go outside and cool off in a pool -- but unless you like the cold, there isn't much to do outside in the winter.

Shall I go on?

So in other words if you're over 60 and like gardening........

(Sounds like the Florida I know..... Just get a BIG poofy hat and those big sunglasses that cover your prescription glasses and you'll fit the part... )

[verobeach]

So how did an honest inquiry about life in Venice get turned around into another war of weather.. snow vs. heat?

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by verobeach

So how did an honest inquiry about life in Venice get turned around into another war of weather.. snow vs. heat?

I'm going to guess it's because the OP was pretty clear that weather was a major factor in their decision to move?