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We are 8 miles - as the crow flies - from Moss Landing, CA. We’re far enough inland that we get more sunshine than fog - but we do fog in.
We moved from the desert Rocky Mountains (Utah) and going from REALLY dry air to morning mist - was nice - but I can never put out really nice deck furniture because of the constant moisture.
That said - we’re more unlikely to be a fire hazard here.
We wanted “Mediterranean - type” weather and we got it. And we never have to shovel snow again.
Salt air will make just about everything deteriorate faster than inland. (Our heat pumps wore out in 13 years; in IL, inside furnace/AC lasts at least twice as long) The hurricanes are getting worse. As already mentioned, insurance is higher.
My personal opinion is that the air smells different/better on Florida’s Atlantic coast than it does on NC’s coast. But that’s just me.
To me, the Atlantic coast has no smell at all. The Pacific has a distinctive smell of salt and kelp, and various dead ocean critters mouldering on the sand. Personally I love it because it reminds me of my childhood. That, and the smell of Coppertone. Takes me way back to a happy carefree time.
Depending on how far from what coast of which ocean, you might get tired of fog and clouds. I could see San Francisco Bay from my first house, and the Pacific off HI from my second. After 40 years of cloudy skies, I moved to Arizona, with lots of sunshine. Now I miss the clouds. People are like that.
more stuff to consider: salt air damage, hurricanes, sea level rise from global warming, sewage spills (saw that in Mexico, gross), tourists...
To me, the Atlantic coast has no smell at all. The Pacific has a distinctive smell of salt and kelp, and various dead ocean critters mouldering on the sand. Personally I love it because it reminds me of my childhood. That, and the smell of Coppertone. Takes me way back to a happy carefree time.love that smell
same thing. sometimes if I'm blue during winter, I will pop open a bottle. the scent takes me right back to Summer's spent on eastern Long Island sound.
Retired 6 years ago after a lifetime in Central California. Vacations always included time at beaches. When I was younger I planned to retire around Cabo San Lucas. As I got older Mexico lost it's appeal.
Decided on Maui (thinking it might be too expensive). After two years here I went home and liquidated my storage unit and bought an oceanfront condo. Love it here. I am so close to the ocean I can throw a rock in the water from my balcony and the ocean is warm enough to swim year-round.
It was an adjustment going from a large four-bedroom home to a one-bedroom condo but you really don't need a lot of "stuff" here. I wear board shorts, T-shirts and flip-flops pretty much everywhere.
Salt air does corrode metals, leather, vinyl and furniture quickly. I live open-air most of the year, using the A/C only in the heat of the summer (about 92 degrees). I hate to close up my place because then I can't hear the ocean. Love all of the sea life here too: Turtles; whales; dolphins; and more.
Found a great retirement job and made new friends. Doubt if I will ever move back to the mainland.
BTW: It's been a great place to weather the Coronavirus and riots. Almost like being in a separate country and I can see and hear the ocean as I type this.
I bought a townhouse on the beach. 2/2 three story with a 1 car garage. EVERYTHING metal rots. A/C unit, locks/light fixtures/door handles and even the metal roof rotted prematurely. My place was 5 years old when I bought it and literally changed out all of the above.
I'm not a beach guy...........its fine but I'd rather live on the water with a dock/place I can have a boat.
The ocean can be loud if the waves are big and once the sun goes down there is nothing to see out there!
My ultimate dream is to retire near the ocean. Those that have retired near the ocean, what have been the pros and cons you have encountered. I have 15 more years before I can retire.
We are only about 40 minutes from the Gulf and we love it. Yes it gets hot in south Texas but every area has it good and bad points. Most of the year is very nice here. We avoid the beach from May-Oct when it's really crowded. From Nov till summer its not crowded at all and the weather is perfect! My only negative would be hurricane's but as I said every area has something. We haven't flooded where we live and just ride it out but we now own a generator just in case. It's pretty much flip flops and shorts year round down here. Did I mention that we love it?
I used to live in a high-rise condo on the Intracoastal Waterway in Broward County FL, less than 1/4 mile from the ocean. No ocean view, because of giant hotels on the beach.
I thought I'd like living so close to the ocean, but it wasn't all that great. Not being a beach person anyway, I never went to the beach, although it was within easy walking distance. I got tired of constantly washing the salt off the windows, and my condo had floor-to-ceiling windows in all rooms. That was a lot of window washing.
Hurricane season was scary. Homeowners insurance was costly.
And the annual invasion of the snowbirds and tourists. Don't get me started.
5 minutes bike ride to the ocean, can hear the waves break from my back porch. i'll stay here.
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