[jmcalli]

How is Lake City, FL for quality of life and eventual retirement? There's a job in Lake City I'm thinking of applying for. I plan to continue to work for another 10 years or so.

I'm retired military and we like Florida for the tax benefits. We currently have a home in the Pensacola area. We don't like the heat and the Gulf humidity but I'm thinking Lake City would be more of the same. Is it drier than Pensacola? I've driven though Lake City a few times on my way to Jacksonville, etc. and it seemed pretty nice. I didn't spend enough time there to really explore it.

Eventually I would like to retire with property, maybe 5-10 acres or more.

[yamahastar]

We lived and worked in the Live Oak/Lake City area for over 10 years. That part of the state is really the Bible belt - very conservative. Lake City has really been growing and has some nice places to live. You shouldn't have any problem getting the acerage you mentioned. Because it is more inland than where you are now, it is more insulated from coastal storms. You would have to be the judge of whether it is less humid than the gulf coast. You know, everywhere in Florida is humid!

[jmcalli]

Thanks, yamahastar. I think I can tolerate Lake City if I can tolerate Pensacola, the "buckle" of the Bible belt. The photos I see of Lake City look pretty good and property seems affordable. We're tired of hurricanes so Lake City might be a better place for us.

[mquintana]

I used to live in Live Oak and have been to Lake City more times than I can recall. Both areas I think are absolutly horrible, but for a retirement area, it doesn't seem to be so bad. The pitfall is that you have to travel so far to get anywhere. It's all country there.
Lake City doesn't get hurricanes, the weather is more humid because there is no gulf breezes. Infact, it's like an oven there during the summer and freezing cold during the winter.
It's cheap to live there, that's for sure, pay will be less-more than likely-depending on what type of job you get with experience and so forth.
There's a rinky dinky mall there, a crappy movie theatre, a Super Walmart and some commercial resturants. There's not much going on there as for things to do so a trip to Gainesville (which I think is worse because of it being a college town--oh, I lived there too, lol) for better shopping and so forth.
I know a lot of people who go to Gainesville for their docs as well as the hospital. They also go there for shopping and such.
My grandparent's still live in Live Oak, as does some of my friends. For the younger crowd, the area isn't ideal but looking for retirement, I think it would be ok.

[mquintana]

Oh, and yes-they are pretty religious there in that area-Columbia and Suwannee County. Everyone is predominantly Baptist, so if you are Baptist, you will fit right in

[mango23]

Originally Posted by mquintana

I used to live in Live Oak and have been to Lake City more times than I can recall. Both areas I think are absolutly horrible, but for a retirement area, it doesn't seem to be so bad. The pitfall is that you have to travel so far to get anywhere. It's all country there.
Lake City doesn't get hurricanes, the weather is more humid because there is no gulf breezes. Infact, it's like an oven there during the summer and freezing cold during the winter.
It's cheap to live there, that's for sure, pay will be less-more than likely-depending on what type of job you get with experience and so forth.
There's a rinky dinky mall there, a crappy movie theatre, a Super Walmart and some commercial resturants. There's not much going on there as for things to do so a trip to Gainesville (which I think is worse because of it being a college town--oh, I lived there too, lol) for better shopping and so forth.
I know a lot of people who go to Gainesville for their docs as well as the hospital. They also go there for shopping and such.
My grandparent's still live in Live Oak, as does some of my friends. For the younger crowd, the area isn't ideal but looking for retirement, I think it would be ok.

Where have you moved on to? Maybe your experience would be helpful.

[DanBev]

I will agree with most of what Mquintana has to say.We have lived here 20 years,it is as humid here as anywhere else.You are reasonably safe from hurricanes,area had a brush in 1964 which flooded Live Oak.
I have never liked Live Oak or Branford. I lived in Suwannee County till 12/2008,glad to get out.
I am in Columbia County,which is still in the horse and buggy stage even with all the growth.
I do like tax advantages in this county.Most of the growth has been strip malls and churches.
You will only fit in if you join there church or part of a family circle.
We came to Lake City when Gleason Mall opened and awhile later they built Walmart Super Center.Since that time,nothing added,some left because of anti-growth.Even KMart left.
They have had opprotunities for better stores but wouldn't let them in,maybe something to do with the End Timers who have controlled Lake City.
You do not have any choices in department stores here,none to be had.
The bubble which brought people from south Florida with a pocketful of money inflated realestate prices unfairly.Realestate in general with basicly a service oriented county with next to no manufacturing jobs is down.
It is a convient area to live with I 10 & 75 here.As for medical services,they have improved 100 per cent with most of Gainesville doctors opening offices here.the hospital,Lake City Medical Center has much improved.Our last hospital visit to Gainesville was a bad experience for my wife's surgery and mine to local hospital excellent.The type of growth here has not been for much good.

[mquintana]

I moved to Tampa. I don't mind it here but my heart isn't here. Everything I need is right in the area plus more though. It's been eons since I have lived in N. Fl. but I still have friends as well as my grandparents there, it's not gotten much better. I still visit from time to time and see new little things, but nothing impressive.

Originally Posted by mango23

Where have you moved on to? Maybe your experience would be helpful.

[mquintana]

The Gleason mall is horrible. Hardly any stores in there. I remember when they added a store to it or in front of it, I cant remember the location but I remember the store...

Not much great things to say of this area, but I guess it's all in preference. It's defiantly good to get advice about the surrounding areas.

Live Oak, Branford, Mayo, Jasper, Madison, Lake City, and all surrounding towns aren't great. All small towns with small town mentality. I was quite amazed at how much different the people there think. Not to say anything bad about them, but the mentality is so different to what I am used to or compared to people who live in suburban/metro areas. IMO-those areas are way to rural...even "in town" is very rural.

Originally Posted by DanBev

I will agree with most of what Mquintana has to say.We have lived here 20 years,it is as humid here as anywhere else.You are reasonably safe from hurricanes,area had a brush in 1964 which flooded Live Oak.
I have never liked Live Oak or Branford. I lived in Suwannee County till 12/2008,glad to get out.
I am in Columbia County,which is still in the horse and buggy stage even with all the growth.
I do like tax advantages in this county.Most of the growth has been strip malls and churches.
You will only fit in if you join there church or part of a family circle.
We came to Lake City when Gleason Mall opened and awhile later they built Walmart Super Center.Since that time,nothing added,some left because of anti-growth.Even KMart left.
They have had opprotunities for better stores but wouldn't let them in,maybe something to do with the End Timers who have controlled Lake City.
You do not have any choices in department stores here,none to be had.
The bubble which brought people from south Florida with a pocketful of money inflated realestate prices unfairly.Realestate in general with basicly a service oriented county with next to no manufacturing jobs is down.
It is a convient area to live with I 10 & 75 here.As for medical services,they have improved 100 per cent with most of Gainesville doctors opening offices here.the hospital,Lake City Medical Center has much improved.Our last hospital visit to Gainesville was a bad experience for my wife's surgery and mine to local hospital excellent.The type of growth here has not been for much good.

[DanBev]

Originally Posted by mquintana

The Gleason mall is horrible. Hardly any stores in there. I remember when they added a store to it or in front of it, I cant remember the location but I remember the store...

Not much great things to say of this area, but I guess it's all in preference. It's defiantly good to get advice about the surrounding areas.

Live Oak, Branford, Mayo, Jasper, Madison, Lake City, and all surrounding towns aren't great. All small towns with small town mentality. I was quite amazed at how much different the people there think. Not to say anything bad about them, but the mentality is so different to what I am used to or compared to people who live in suburban/metro areas. IMO-those areas are way to rural...even "in town" is very rural.

Without saying anymore,I put my comment politely,Amen to mquintana post,good ol boy network!!!