[grandmallie]

this really is a great thread,thanks
DH and I are looking for something in a over 55 park,that accepts small dogs,in southwest florida
we have been really checking alot of the ammenitites,prices and availabilites
seems that Tangerine Woods in Englewood looks the best so far.
we would really like to own the land, but if we could find something at the right price with low lot fee's that would be good too.
how is homeowners insurance for these,taxes etc...?
DH is 55 im in my late 40s , we are looking for somthing to retire to eventually,but still have jobs and a mortgage up here in Ct.
please give me all your honest opinions of what we should look for
we will be flying into Tampa the 19th of January for 3 days or so and want to check out parks in southwest florida.
HELP

[gumbyfly]

1. Where did you come from and how long have you been in Florida
retired after 21 years in the army - Okinawa, Japan was may last assignment
2. What was the most important reason you moved to Florida?
the weather, had a long-time friend living nearby, thought it would be a great place for my job skill
3. What make you pick the area you moved?
(Tallahassee area) best friend lived there, family close enough to visit (but not to ALWAYS be there), no big history of hurricanes or devastating storms, state government and major university made me think it would be a good place for technology jobs
4. How long did it take you to get comfortable with the move?
weather-wise, it took all of 30 seconds. For lots of reasons, like moving to the suburbs as a single man, it has not been the best decision
5. If you had to do it over again would you still move, if no, would you have chosen another area in Florida?
not to Tallahassee. Maybe someplace that has advanced out of the 1970's - Tampa, Orlando, or Miami
6. Is your "overall " life better or worse in Florida then where you moved from?
worse, but it is my own fault
7. Would you recommend others move to Florida?
absolutely. "Home" is what you make it. There are good things and bad things about every place on the planet. If you are looking to move, but want to find a place exactly like where you are moving from, you are going to be disappointed. Every place is different. If you are going to move to Miami, but wouldn't like the hispanic influences of that area, you will be unhappy. If you are going to move to the panhandle, but don't like rednecks, you will be unhappy. You can't have the beach without high hurricane insurance premiums.
In other words, move anywhere you want to, but be realistic about it. You don't get the 'perks' without also getting the 'crap'...

[JstLookin]

1. Where did you come from and how long have you been in Florida Military lifestyle, traveled for 20 years. Been here 15 years now.

2. What was the most important reason you moved to Florida? Had to be some place hot and near an air force base.

3. What make you pick the area you moved? Patrick Air Force Base

4. How long did it take you to get comfortable with the move? I loved it immediately.

5. If you had to do it over again would you still move, if no, would you have chosen another area in Florida? I moved from an overseas area so I had to move somewhere in the states. Could have went anywhere but picked Florida. I grew up in Jacksonville and lived for a short time in Daytona so I was familiar with the general area.

6. Is your "overall " life better or worse in Florida then where you moved from? My life has been great here couldnt ask for anything more.

7. Would you recommend others move to Florida? Yes.

[Floridabound09]

Have not read this thread in a while, some very good information in many of the post. Very informative!

[Denise in Fla]

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1. Where did you come from and how long have you been in Florida.
Moved here from CT, been here 5 yrs.

2. What was the most important reason you moved to Florida?

Always wanted to live here and its warm!

3. What make you pick the area you moved?

Did alot of research and thought the area fitted our needs and wants.

4. How long did it take you to get comfortable with the move?

Immediately!
5. If you had to do it over again would you still move, if no, would you have chosen another area in Florida?

I would do it in a heartbeat.
6. Is your "overall " life better or worse in Florida then where you moved from?

Life has been so much better here for us.

7. Would you recommend others move to Florida?

All depends on their situation.

[+] Rate this post positively

[Floridabound09]

Thanks for your post, can I please ask people to put the town you chose to move to in Florida as well?

Originally Posted by Denise in Fla

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1. Where did you come from and how long have you been in Florida.
Moved here from CT, been here 5 yrs.

Wow, 5 years.

2. What was the most important reason you moved to Florida?

Always wanted to live here and its warm!

3. What make you pick the area you moved?

Did alot of research and thought the area fitted our needs and wants.

4. How long did it take you to get comfortable with the move?

Immediately!

5. If you had to do it over again would you still move, if no, would you have chosen another area in Florida?

I would do it in a heartbeat.

6. Is your "overall " life better or worse in Florida then where you moved from?

Life has been so much better here for us.

Thank you for posting that.

7. Would you recommend others move to Florida?

All depends on their situation.

[+] Rate this post positively

[Tarastomsgirl]

I'm a answer since I'm moving back in a month or two but lived there for my whole life.. 7 months away is like an extended vacation right

For those who moved to Florida from somewhere else and have been there for awhile could you please answer some of these and also add your own tidbits as well.

1. Where did you come from and how long have you been in Florida.. Originally born in Bronx, lived in Key West but parents settled in Naples.. I'll now be coming from Keene NH



2. What was the most important reason you moved to Florida?
Cheaper, more jobs!, cheaper taxes, weather no snow ice cold etc. More culture, NH isn't exactly culture mecca its like small town white America.. resturants, beach WAY MORE to do , the list goes on


3. What make you pick the area you moved? I lived there my whole life, I like it, family friends there etc


4. How long did it take you to get comfortable with the move? I'll go right back into my normal life, I was already fine on vaca last week there, it was like I never left


5. If you had to do it over again would you still move, if no, would you have chosen another area in Florida? If I could do it all over again I never would have left!!!!



6. Is your "overall " life better or worse in Florida then where you moved from? It was and will be WAY better, quailty up north is average at best.. With it snowing 5 months out of the year, and too cold to go outside there is no life. If you don't ski, or ice skate forget it your homebound with a bad case of cabin fever that hot chocolate and a fireplace can't cure..


7. Would you recommend others move to Florida? YES.. If you loathe the cold, hate the snow and want roads that aren't eaten up by plows and a car that isn't ruined by the snow check out Fla.. there are many different towns and something for everyone



Fla is for the beach babies, plain and simple if you dont like to be warm and prefer to freeze your tushie off 5-6 months a year stay out. You can't go to Fla be angry its warm in January, wear pants cause you want it to feel like its winter and complain its hot. It just doesn't work that way.

The snow is great for all of about 3 weeks, once Christmas is over its like whats the point? On that same note who wants to be outside shoveling out your guests cars while they're inside enjoying themselves? The snow IMO didn't make the holidays feel any different than they had in the past. My husband was still on road patrol, the hot chocolate still made my heart palpitate and my tree was still never lit cause it just came down the next day.. If anything it's been more of a hassel up north cause we had to fit out christmas budget around out outragous heating cost!


Be thankful that in January you can step out your door in shorts, shades, a hat and tank top and be on your way and done with your errands in 20 mins. People up north are taking 20 mins just to scrape the car, warm it up and slide down their drive way. As I write this I just peeked out my window and see the snow has now gotten as high as the top of my tires, my idea of a decent quality of life is not shoveling every morning.. I leave that to the farmers!

. With prices coming down Fl is way more affordable than it has been in the past couple years so I find it hard to believe people can't afford most places down there anymore.. It just takes some looking and dedication imo... Just enjoy it, relax and soak up the sun!

[Wendyb0077]

I was born in the Bronx and my dad was from Bennington NH right near Keene, NH How about that! I live in Port Saint Lucie came from South NJ in 1989. Wanted the warmer weather. Wouldn't go back to NJ if you paid me...

Originally Posted by Tarastomsgirl

I'm a answer since I'm moving back in a month or two but lived there for my whole life.. 7 months away is like an extended vacation right

For those who moved to Florida from somewhere else and have been there for awhile could you please answer some of these and also add your own tidbits as well.

1. Where did you come from and how long have you been in Florida.. Originally born in Bronx, lived in Key West but parents settled in Naples.. I'll now be coming from Keene NH



2. What was the most important reason you moved to Florida?
Cheaper, more jobs!, cheaper taxes, weather no snow ice cold etc. More culture, NH isn't exactly culture mecca its like small town white America.. resturants, beach WAY MORE to do , the list goes on


3. What make you pick the area you moved? I lived there my whole life, I like it, family friends there etc


4. How long did it take you to get comfortable with the move? I'll go right back into my normal life, I was already fine on vaca last week there, it was like I never left


5. If you had to do it over again would you still move, if no, would you have chosen another area in Florida? If I could do it all over again I never would have left!!!!



6. Is your "overall " life better or worse in Florida then where you moved from? It was and will be WAY better, quailty up north is average at best.. With it snowing 5 months out of the year, and too cold to go outside there is no life. If you don't ski, or ice skate forget it your homebound with a bad case of cabin fever that hot chocolate and a fireplace can't cure..


7. Would you recommend others move to Florida? YES.. If you loathe the cold, hate the snow and want roads that aren't eaten up by plows and a car that isn't ruined by the snow check out Fla.. there are many different towns and something for everyone



Fla is for the beach babies, plain and simple if you dont like to be warm and prefer to freeze your tushie off 5-6 months a year stay out. You can't go to Fla be angry its warm in January, wear pants cause you want it to feel like its winter and complain its hot. It just doesn't work that way.

The snow is great for all of about 3 weeks, once Christmas is over its like whats the point? On that same note who wants to be outside shoveling out your guests cars while they're inside enjoying themselves? The snow IMO didn't make the holidays feel any different than they had in the past. My husband was still on road patrol, the hot chocolate still made my heart palpitate and my tree was still never lit cause it just came down the next day.. If anything it's been more of a hassel up north cause we had to fit out christmas budget around out outragous heating cost!


Be thankful that in January you can step out your door in shorts, shades, a hat and tank top and be on your way and done with your errands in 20 mins. People up north are taking 20 mins just to scrape the car, warm it up and slide down their drive way. As I write this I just peeked out my window and see the snow has now gotten as high as the top of my tires, my idea of a decent quality of life is not shoveling every morning.. I leave that to the farmers!

. With prices coming down Fl is way more affordable than it has been in the past couple years so I find it hard to believe people can't afford most places down there anymore.. It just takes some looking and dedication imo... Just enjoy it, relax and soak up the sun!

[nanwalt3]

We love it here. I put my answers under your questions

Originally Posted by Floridabound09

The purpose of this thread is to ask the following questions.

For those who moved to Florida from somewhere else and have been there for awhile could you please answer some of these and also add your own tidbits as well.

1. Where did you come from and how long have you been in Florida

Came from the Chicago Suburbs, and been here for 18 yrs.

2. What was the most important reason you moved to Florida?

I wanted to get out of the nasty cold winters, remember a wind chill one sunny day of 88 below 0. That and the extremely hot summers, go figure.

3. What make you pick the area you moved?

Moved to Pt. St. Lucie. I had visited it a few times and loved the sleepy, little town feeling. Reminded me of growing up in Antioch, Il. All farm country there.

4. How long did it take you to get comfortable with the move?

I was comfortable with it before I left Chicago, and loved it when I got here.

5. If you had to do it over again would you still move, if no, would you have chosen another area in Florida?

Yes, Yes, I would do it again and right where I am. My only regret was that I didn't do it sooner. Its tough to get the courage to make a long distance move.

6. Is your "overall " life better or worse in Florida then where you moved from?

Better, Better here. You can do so many outdoor things all year long. Let's face it the summers are a constant of 93 to 97. I came from the Chicago area where you can get 103 to 107 in summer and the next day be in the 40's. That's no life for anyone.

7. Would you recommend others move to Florida?

Yes, if they like having at least 9 months or more of almost perfect weather.

Many of us want and are looking to move to Florida and who better to ask them those who have done what we want, move from somewhere else to Florida then you guys.

Many posters on this board seem to be extremely happy with moving there, whether they moved 30 years ago or 6 months ago.

If you have any opinions/advise on anyone moving to Florida, what would they be?
Try to pick out an area where you can do things you enjoy and want to do, because there are so many facets to FL. From the North area, the Central, The Pan, The East or West. Every place has an allure for everyone.


Although I would like to keep this positive as possible, the bad is also welcome for those who have moved there, that way we all can judge for ourselves what you would consider bad or good and see if it would mean the same for us.

Input appreciated !

Please feel free to add your own info.

We are thinking of relocating to the North Central area of Florida. Quite and rural areas, not by the beach but charming and quaint.
We feel torn because we still love this area, but after 3 hurricanes in 2 years we're tired of cleaning up. June thru Nov. never used to phase us, but now it scares the S#*t out of us.
I know you'll be happy wherever you chose in Florida. You can always come down to an area, rent for awhile, and if that area doesn't do it, go find another FL. location.
Good Luck and Welcome Home Soon

[Tarastomsgirl]

Originally Posted by Wendyb0077

I was born in the Bronx and my dad was from Bennington NH right near Keene, NH How about that! I live in Port Saint Lucie came from South NJ in 1989. Wanted the warmer weather. Wouldn't go back to NJ if you paid me...

How bout that! Small world!! Believe me after this small stint up north you can't pay me enough to come back up.. And Jersey ..ick! Beats south Harlem though lol.. gotta pick the lesser of two evils! Though I come from Throggs Neck so its not as bad there.. still wouldn't live there