Coast or Gulf? (pension, grandparents, weather, friendly)

[brownbagg]

pure white soft sand

[otterhere]

That sugar sand is lovely for lying on... But it's harder to walk on!

[gypsychic]

OP, I am a Florida native, born and raised on the Gulf coast. There is NO SURF here, so if that is what you want you need the east coast. And you probably will not find that "quaint town" on the east coast either, so you need to compromise. You really have your head in the clouds on this. All the coastal cities are also VERY espensive, so you are not going to be living very near the coast on your budget. Maybe you need to look at another state like Georgia or SC for an affordable Atlantic coast experience.

For the record we live in Sarasota, and as far as I am concerned, it is paradise. I would not trade the sunsets over the calm turqoise water with snowy white sand for anything. Not to mention the arts and cultural amenities we have available here. But of course, I understand we all want something different. Please try to take a realistic approach to this.

[otterhere]

How would you know what my budget is?

[Curmudgeon]

Gulf = no surf. No surf = no thanks! I'd miss the crashing of waves on the shore.

[matisse12]

I love the extensive seashells on the gulf - collecting them, the thrill of finding certain shells, and the never ending surprises the shells present.

I'm familiar with the extensive seashells on the beaches at Naples, Florida and Sanibel Island, FL. Others can speak to shells of surrounding towns.

On Sanibel, a very large conch shell rolled up right at my feet, not an unusual occurrence.

Whenever I've been in Naples, FL, there have been plenty of enjoyable waves (not crashing waves) and jumping through them is great fun.

[clarksvillemom]

I'd go for Atlantic coast hands down. Fort Lauderdale or one of the little beach towns in between Ft L and Palm Beach

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by otterhere

How would you know what my budget is?

You mentioned it in another similar thread.

[MadManofBethesda]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

You really have your head in the clouds on this. All the coastal cities are also VERY espensive, so you are not going to be living very near the coast on your budget. Maybe you need to look at another state like Georgia or SC for an affordable Atlantic coast experience.

Originally Posted by otterhere

How would you know what my budget is?

Probably from some of your own comments in similar threads on this subject.

Originally Posted by otterhere

That is affordable to be full oceanfront, that is; lets out a lot of places...

Originally Posted by otterhere

I was quite happy with my plan to RV with the two cats until I came across a couple of flies in the ointment; now just buying a cheap condo on the coast somewhere sounds much easier...

Originally Posted by otterhere

...my monthly income will be pretty pitiful. In fact, I probably couldn't afford two HOA fees at once (city place and beach place).

But don't mind me. I'll just go back to enjoying my crime-ridden city, lol.

[Tominftl]

Originally Posted by otterhere

I DO like waves, and I even prefer the "dirty" sand of the Atlantic side. Yet all the decent big cities seem to be on the gulf, or am I wrong about that? I basically want a quaint, cute beach town (with dramatic surf) within very easy commuting distance of all the amenities of a metropolitan area: a university, culture, gyms, museums, health care, restaurants, airport, etc.

Sounds like you would like Delray Beach.