What one is better,S.E. michigan or S.W. Florida? (Orlando: jobs, big house)

[yachtcare]

Originally Posted by Big House

Its cool. .

I always enjoyed putting on the equivalent of a space suit, so I didnt freeze running between the house and the car, so I could start it and let it run for a half hour to warm up. Oh, and of course trying to get a simple job done. It takes 20 minutes to change a set of spark plugs here. It took eight hours up there in the winter. Three minutes to R&R each plug, 57 minutes between each one to thaw your frostbitten fingers out. I'll be leaving Fl ASAP, but I wont ever be going north(not to live, anyway)

[TANaples]

Originally Posted by Big House

The fall which lasts about two - three weeks, or a good rain/snow after the trees change colors - which ever comes first is beautiful. And so is a nice ice storm until all the limbs fall off your tree, and strips the power lines off the poles - That looks great for a couple hours. We can trade the couple summer months of AC for the several months of expensive heating costs. I'll fish all year round in the harbor and gulf - you can sit on a bucket over the ice - and catch some nice sun fish. It is all a matter of perspective. I like golf, fishing, swimming - you like parkas, boots, snow shovels, long johns, and toating firewood. Its cool. ((just teasing to stir up a sharp response))).

It's all what you like. I used to dread the 3 months of summer up North, even as a child. I would cry when my parents took me to a beach! I didn't, and still don't, even like wearing shorts. Now, I have 12 months of summer and all that stuff. I like everything you said, plus cooking big comfort foods in a oven, baking pies, pumpkin and apple picking, coming in from the cold and snow to a nice warm house, flannel pj's and down comforters, etc., etc.

Someday, someday.

[ChrisA70]

That's what the garage is for.... I have the opposite spark plug replacement issue here. 4 hours in the May-November months in Florida, 2 minutes to remove each plug, 58 minutes in the house drinking a gallon of water, and toweling off the sweat.

Yachtcare where you headed to?

Originally Posted by yachtcare

I always enjoyed putting on the equivalent of a space suit, so I didnt freeze running between the house and the car, so I could start it and let it run for a half hour to warm up. Oh, and of course trying to get a simple job done. It takes 20 minutes to change a set of spark plugs here. It took eight hours up there in the winter. Three minutes to R&R each plug, 57 minutes between each one to thaw your frostbitten fingers out. I'll be leaving Fl ASAP, but I wont ever be going north(not to live, anyway)

[yachtcare]

Originally Posted by BacktoFLigo

Yachtcare where you headed to?

Still have my sights set on Truth or Consequences, NM as a base of operations. Big lakes, marinas and boats mean I can(theoretically) make an immediate living. From there I will spend some time exploring the area from west TX, NM, and AZ in my RV, to find just the right place to settle in. If economic conditions are favorable, I'll head out next June. Yes, it snows in TorC, NM but it doesnt stick for long, usually melts by noon the same day. Yes, it's hot, but it's a dry heat.

[GrannyII]

Sounds like some have forgotten that living in the north - with no extra money - is not so great, either.
The best scenario is having two homes - one in the north for summers - and one in the south for winters.
When you are older and have a retirement income, then you may view this differently.
Besides being cold.....gray skies are very depressing when viewed for months on end.

[ChrisA70]

And constant hot weather and sun gets depressing too... Daily thunderstorms with heavy rain. Mega humidity... Some of us like different things, you may like constant heat, I may like cold, cloudy days... To each his own they say.

Originally Posted by GrannyII

Sounds like some have forgotten that living in the north - with no extra money - is not so great, either.
The best scenario is having two homes - one in the north for summers - and one in the south for winters.
When you are older and have a retirement income, then you may view this differently.
Besides being cold.....gray skies are very depressing when viewed for months on end.

[121804]

Originally Posted by BacktoFLigo

And constant hot weather and sun gets depressing too... Daily thunderstorms with heavy rain. Mega humidity... Some of us like different things, you may like constant heat, I may like cold, cloudy days... To each his own they say.

BTF- We just got back from western MA; your part of the woods. Northampton was having some sort of sidewalk sale & were the granola crunchies out in full force Lots of herbal remedies & "made of hemp" clothes. Always an interesting place to walk around.

We saw some great homes for sale.

Food was about .25 -.50 higher there than here in NEOH but food has always been more expensive in NE among other things. Gas was maybe about .10 more if that.

West MA has gotten a lot of rain this summer thus everything is super green & alive. We went up to MT Skinner & it was like being in a rain forest on the drive up there due to how well everything has been growing.

Just can't compare that area of western Mass to CC. Great that it doesn't snow in CC but that is maybe the only benefit at times

Springfield looked awful, but than again it always looks awful!

Wasn't aware retirement income was a guarantee but think if you are were you like it, you will find a way to pay bills. I come from a family that would be bored out of their minds if they were retired. To each their own.

My dh & I are so happy we didn't get stuck with a home in SWFL & were able to move. If anything else, you didn't buy & can afford to move...good decision that way!!

When we "retire", we'd like to buy an old farmhouse to restore in Hatfield. After seeing what I did in SWFL, I prefer to see life & hear signs of life & not get angry stares from those who don't think you move out of their way fast enough when they are in their scooters in the aisle of Publix. I once had a cashier at Publix tell me she moved to SWFL so she could get away from her grandkids. Wow. But that just seemed to be the mentality of SWFL.

GOod luck BTF...better have a job lined up in Ma though

[ChrisA70]

As if I wasn't homesick enough!!! Thanks!!! LOL!!!!

I love skinner state park. Was the house open up there at the top?

Yes Northampton is the Earthy Crunchy, granola eater city of them all... I love it though, such a nice city. Yes Springfield is pretty much a dump as usual, so is Holyoke(half of it). I never go to springfield, and only to the Holyoke Mall. I like to stay in my area. Hatfield is one of the BEST places out there, love that town.

When I was up there last winter food was the same as here, no difference from Publix, Alby's... Plus BigY has buy one get 2 free deals all the time, and good sales...

2 months from Friday we pick up our Penske and leave the 3rd(October). It's killing me waiting to go... I won't miss the trees changing!!!

VERY glad I didn't buy a house here, never would have due to the fact I never wanted to stay down here anyways.

Thanks, and keep in touch!!!

Originally Posted by 121804

BTF- We just got back from western MA; your part of the woods. Northampton was having some sort of sidewalk sale & were the granola crunchies out in full force Lots of herbal remedies & "made of hemp" clothes. Always an interesting place to walk around.

We saw some great homes for sale.

Food was about .25 -.50 higher there than here in NEOH but food has always been more expensive in NE among other things. Gas was maybe about .10 more if that.

West MA has gotten a lot of rain this summer thus everything is super green & alive. We went up to MT Skinner & it was like being in a rain forest on the drive up there due to how well everything has been growing.

Just can't compare that area of western Mass to CC. Great that it doesn't snow in CC but that is maybe the only benefit at times

Springfield looked awful, but than again it always looks awful!

Wasn't aware retirement income was a guarantee but think if you are were you like it, you will find a way to pay bills. I come from a family that would be bored out of their minds if they were retired. To each their own.

My dh & I are so happy we didn't get stuck with a home in SWFL & were able to move. If anything else, you didn't buy & can afford to move...good decision that way!!

When we "retire", we'd like to buy an old farmhouse to restore in Hatfield. After seeing what I did in SWFL, I prefer to see life & hear signs of life & not get angry stares from those who don't think you move out of their way fast enough when they are in their scooters in the aisle of Publix. I once had a cashier at Publix tell me she moved to SWFL so she could get away from her grandkids. Wow. But that just seemed to be the mentality of SWFL.

GOod luck BTF...better have a job lined up in Ma though

[TFloy]

There are many things to do in fl especially if you like golf.. There are bike trails, night clubs and many more Moderator cut: edit: real estate advertising

[Suncoast Guy]

IMO, SW Florida is better than SE Michigan. SW Florida has Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Naples, Seminole Casino, etc. SW Florida is more than just Cape Coral and Fort Myers.

I wouldn't go to Michigan if you payed me. That is the pit of the United States, it's gets to cold, it's crime written, and when I was there it was about as attractive as that women in the Planters Peanut commercial! I would stick to SW Florida compared to SE Michigan. I would stay in Florida PERIOD compared to Michigan.