[Ken E]

Originally Posted by Sunny-Days-in-Florida

Coming up on 18 months in Florida.

Amazing how time has flown by.

I am planning on doing a nice assessment of a variety of things about Florida soon.

Hoping it will help others who are planning on moving to Florida.

Pros, cons, do's and don't etc.


The most important thing I can tell those people are for us it was the time spent researching the area we wanted to live in. Then actually spending time in that city getting to know it better.

Without any doubt it made our move a success as we believe we picked a town that fitted our wants other then not being close enough to the ocean but can drive to it whenever we want helps.

I'm glad that Florida is everything that you expected it to be. Thats fantastic. You sure were excited to move there.

[Ken E]

You must be coming up on a couple years Sunny. How about an update on how things are going.

[peace_solace]

I'm so glad to have found this thread. My husband and I have decided to move to Florida within the next 6 months and are very excited about it! I also feel that this forum has more negative stories than good ones. I had just figured the people with the success stories were too busy enjoying their wonderful Floridian lifestyles to post on this board. We almost skipped looking at Palm Coast on our trip down due to the many negative comments about that town, and I couldn't believe how beautiful it was when we got down there and how perfect it seemed for our family. Everyone should take all comments on these forums with a grain of salt - investigate the places on your own - and remember that it's YOUR life and if it's YOUR dream, then you will make it work. The weather itself is enough to boost my spirits by a ton, and the palm trees are beaches are amazing too, coming from WI!!

[RMD3819]

Originally Posted by peace_solace

I'm so glad to have found this thread. My husband and I have decided to move to Florida within the next 6 months and are very excited about it! I also feel that this forum has more negative stories than good ones. I had just figured the people with the success stories were too busy enjoying their wonderful Floridian lifestyles to post on this board. We almost skipped looking at Palm Coast on our trip down due to the many negative comments about that town, and I couldn't believe how beautiful it was when we got down there and how perfect it seemed for our family. Everyone should take all comments on these forums with a grain of salt - investigate the places on your own - and remember that it's YOUR life and if it's YOUR dream, then you will make it work. The weather itself is enough to boost my spirits by a ton, and the palm trees are beaches are amazing too, coming from WI!!

The success stories on this thread have some common points.

These folks moved here with a good job or some sort of income, or moved during the boom times. Most also had realistic expectations.

[blueherons]

Okay, here is my story.

In November of 2011 my husband found out he was being transferred from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Sarasota, Florida. Fortunately three years prior we had sold our big home, and downsided to a two bedroom condo.

We have always spent a lot of time in South Florida as five different sets of friends have second homes in Fort Lauderdale and my parents live in the keys part time. We also owned a home in Fort Lauderdale for a short period of time and we were in Florida at least once a month.

We had until January 2nd to get to Sarasota and boy did those days fly by! Trying to get down here to see rentals was impossible between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years so on January 2nd, my husband, three cats, and Beta Fish moved into the Marriott.

Trying to find a rental in peak season was trying to say the least. Everyone wanted first, last, and security so a $2500 rental quickly turned into a $7500 check. No. Way. I'd buy something first.

Fortunately we found an apartment complex close to the beach that didn't have a problem with my three rescue kitties.

While my husband and I decided to move to Florida in 2003, we didn't make it down here until 2012.

Moving down here without a job already lined up is a recipe for disaster. It has taken me a year to find a good job. Yes, you can get a waitressing job fairly easily but that's a hard way to make a living.

I LOVE living in Sarasota and wouldn't change a thing. While it wasn't my first choice in Florida cities before, it certainly is now.

My advice for anyone else is do not move here without a job. It took us nine years and was worth the wait.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by blueherons

Okay, here is my story.

In November of 2011 my husband found out he was being transferred from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Sarasota, Florida. Fortunately three years prior we had sold our big home, and downsided to a two bedroom condo.

We have always spent a lot of time in South Florida as five different sets of friends have second homes in Fort Lauderdale and my parents live in the keys part time. We also owned a home in Fort Lauderdale for a short period of time and we were in Florida at least once a month.

We had until January 2nd to get to Sarasota and boy did those days fly by! Trying to get down here to see rentals was impossible between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years so on January 2nd, my husband, three cats, and Beta Fish moved into the Marriott.

Trying to find a rental in peak season was trying to say the least. Everyone wanted first, last, and security so a $2500 rental quickly turned into a $7500 check. No. Way. I'd buy something first.

Fortunately we found an apartment complex close to the beach that didn't have a problem with my three rescue kitties.

While my husband and I decided to move to Florida in 2003, we didn't make it down here until 2012.

Moving down here without a job already lined up is a recipe for disaster. It has taken me a year to find a good job. Yes, you can get a waitressing job fairly easily but that's a hard way to make a living.

I LOVE living in Sarasota and wouldn't change a thing. While it wasn't my first choice in Florida cities before, it certainly is now.

My advice for anyone else is do not move here without a job. It took us nine years and was worth the wait.

Blueherons, so glad you ended up in Sarasota and love it here! And you have rescue kitties - so do we! Anyway, Sarasota, to me, is one of the nicest places in Florida to live; at least for what I want in an area. And in all your posts, you seem like such a cool person - so glad to have you in my beautiful city and home state!

[blueherons]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Blueherons, so glad you ended up in Sarasota and love it here! And you have rescue kitties - so do we! Anyway, Sarasota, to me, is one of the nicest places in Florida to live; at least for what I want in an area. And in all your posts, you seem like such a cool person - so glad to have you in my beautiful city and home state!

Awww, thanks for the welcome gypsychic! I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!

[Sunny-Days-in-Florida]

Please add your success stories here so many others can read, learn and enjoy them.

[ChrisA70]

Originally Posted by peace_solace

I'm so glad to have found this thread. My husband and I have decided to move to Florida within the next 6 months and are very excited about it! I also feel that this forum has more negative stories than good ones. I had just figured the people with the success stories were too busy enjoying their wonderful Floridian lifestyles to post on this board. We almost skipped looking at Palm Coast on our trip down due to the many negative comments about that town, and I couldn't believe how beautiful it was when we got down there and how perfect it seemed for our family. Everyone should take all comments on these forums with a grain of salt - investigate the places on your own - and remember that it's YOUR life and if it's YOUR dream, then you will make it work. The weather itself is enough to boost my spirits by a ton, and the palm trees are beaches are amazing too, coming from WI!!

Did you ever make it down?

[Spring Hillian]

Hey Chris... Nice to see you here again. Happy new year.