Best places to live around Sarasota (Miami, Tampa: homes, safe area, allergies)

[KositaQ]

My husband and I regret having to move away from our beloved NEPA, but we have no choice. We need to move to a less humid, tranquil, less cold-like place where we can breathe air and not worry about cold humidity affecting our breathing, nor the winter and trying to shovel all of that.

My husband has CHF and also had developed asthma and other related breathing problems. We have to find a better weathered place we can move, live and thrive in. There is a possibility that the company I am in can relocate me to Tampa, and we need to be prepared in advance, we need to know more about the area without having to travel beforehand.

We also are considering the cost of living there as compared to my NEPA-commuting life to NYC (which I LOATHE!! - 4hrs one way is way too much!) would rather drive as I did when I was in Miami I could save some $$$ and try to live with an income of 60K/yr in a confortable manner (no kids).

We are considering somewhere in Central Florida where it is warmer, and has a 'melting-pot' like demographic area that is not too congested nor crowded-like such as Miami (lived there for almost 10 years and I can tell you by my own experience we do not intend to move near there)

I have a few questions about either the Sarasota Area or the Tampa Bay Area:

- How is the percentage of pollen/humidity/mold, etc, in both areas? How humid is it in the surrounding areas?
- How are the surrounding areas near Tampa Bay? Are they safe to live? would like to know about them.
- How about Sarasota? I heard it is naturally beautiful. I've also heard it is less congested than Tampa
- Also need to know about the best hospitals nearby. Can anyone recommend a good heart center? I've heard Sarasota has one of the best rated Heart Centers
- We are looking for a place where the quality of life is as good as our NEPA place but without the mountain-like humidity and the winter snowstorms. In a few words you can tell me how humid it is and how does it compare with for example living close to the beach.

Anything realistic from real locals or people who'd been there, done that would be greatly appreciated...

[SoFLGal]

Originally Posted by KositaQ

My husband and I regret having to move away from our beloved NEPA, but we have no choice. We need to move to a less humid, tranquil, less cold-like place where we can breathe air and not worry about cold humidity affecting our breathing, nor the winter and trying to shovel all of that.

My husband has CHF and also had developed asthma and other related breathing problems. We have to find a better weathered place we can move, live and thrive in. There is a possibility that the company I am in can relocate me to Tampa, and we need to be prepared in advance, we need to know more about the area without having to travel beforehand.

We also are considering the cost of living there as compared to my NEPA-commuting life to NYC (which I LOATHE!! - 4hrs one way is way too much!) would rather drive as I did when I was in Miami I could save some $$$ and try to live with an income of 60K/yr in a confortable manner (no kids).

We are considering somewhere in Central Florida where it is warmer, and has a 'melting-pot' like demographic area that is not too congested nor crowded-like such as Miami (lived there for almost 10 years and I can tell you by my own experience we do not intend to move near there)

I have a few questions about either the Sarasota Area or the Tampa Bay Area:

- How is the percentage of pollen/humidity/mold, etc, in both areas? How humid is it in the surrounding areas?
- How are the surrounding areas near Tampa Bay? Are they safe to live? would like to know about them.
- How about Sarasota? I heard it is naturally beautiful. I've also heard it is less congested than Tampa
- Also need to know about the best hospitals nearby. Can anyone recommend a good heart center? I've heard Sarasota has one of the best rated Heart Centers
- We are looking for a place where the quality of life is as good as our NEPA place but without the mountain-like humidity and the winter snowstorms. In a few words you can tell me how humid it is and how does it compare with for example living close to the beach.

Anything realistic from real locals or people who'd been there, done that would be greatly appreciated...

Hi There!

I can't tell you a whole lot about Tampa since I've never lived there but I have visited. To me Tampa is just too congested and has to many people for my liking. It is also above the frost line and not as tropical as Sarasota.

I would have to say that Sarasota is naturally beautiful, great people, lots of stuff to do, gorgeous beaches, etc.

My father had a heart transplant about ten years ago up at Tampa General. His treatment started at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. I can tell you his treatment was first rate. I would highly recommend Sarasota for their heart center.

I does get hot and humid here. You are in a very tropical climate in SW FL. My mom has severe asthma and seems to do OK here, unless she goes in a home with mold, cats, etc.

Have you ever been to the Sarasota area? I would suggest that you come for a visit and check the area out. I was born and raised here and couldn't imagine living anywhere else

[gypsychic]

Sarasota is a far better place to live than Tampa, IMO. Much smaller, less congested, way more beautiful, better climate, etc. etc. and good health care. Florida is a humid state all over, as we are subtropical and surrounded by water. However, I can tell you that my first husband suffered greatly from asthma when he lived up north near Boston, and even when he lived in Tampa. However when we moved to Sarasota it went completely away.

Good luck to you!

[Central Illinois 1]

Check out Siesta Key in Sarasota. It is a little pricey realtive to inland areas. But, given the current state of the housing market, there might be some pretty good deals there. It is a very safe area with convenient shopping and entertainment and the beaches are fantastic.

[Big House]

Originally Posted by KositaQ

My husband and I regret having to move away from our beloved NEPA, but we have no choice. We need to move to a less humid, tranquil, less cold-like place where we can breathe air and not worry about cold humidity affecting our breathing, nor the winter and trying to shovel all of that.

My husband has CHF and also had developed asthma and other related breathing problems. We have to find a better weathered place we can move, live and thrive in. There is a possibility that the company I am in can relocate me to Tampa, and we need to be prepared in advance, we need to know more about the area without having to travel beforehand.

We also are considering the cost of living there as compared to my NEPA-commuting life to NYC (which I LOATHE!! - 4hrs one way is way too much!) would rather drive as I did when I was in Miami I could save some $$$ and try to live with an income of 60K/yr in a confortable manner (no kids).

We are considering somewhere in Central Florida where it is warmer, and has a 'melting-pot' like demographic area that is not too congested nor crowded-like such as Miami (lived there for almost 10 years and I can tell you by my own experience we do not intend to move near there)

I have a few questions about either the Sarasota Area or the Tampa Bay Area:

- How is the percentage of pollen/humidity/mold, etc, in both areas? How humid is it in the surrounding areas?
- How are the surrounding areas near Tampa Bay? Are they safe to live? would like to know about them.
- How about Sarasota? I heard it is naturally beautiful. I've also heard it is less congested than Tampa
- Also need to know about the best hospitals nearby. Can anyone recommend a good heart center? I've heard Sarasota has one of the best rated Heart Centers
- We are looking for a place where the quality of life is as good as our NEPA place but without the mountain-like humidity and the winter snowstorms. In a few words you can tell me how humid it is and how does it compare with for example living close to the beach.

Anything realistic from real locals or people who'd been there, done that would be greatly appreciated...

There is no place I like better than SWFL! I have lived in many areas of the country, and with the hot / humid weather issue you raised, it may be tough to bear. Also the pollen in the spring can be overwhelming as well. With those things being the main points you raised, I would suggest someplace in the west, like Denver, Boulder Co., Cheyene or Laramie Wy, and other places in the south west where it is warm, and dry. Not much pollen at all.

That said, I love SWFL, and there are a lot of things to do that can make your experience here wonderful! I would recommend staying close to the water. It tempers the weather a lot, and brings in the fresh sea breeze which tends to blow the pollen in land, and provides more fresh air. You can always stay indoors and take medication, but you can also time you outside time when you need to because it rains so regularly every afternoon each summer. That does a lot to knock the pollen down so you can go out then. You do have to deal with a steamy environment for a bit, but it warms up and clears quickly. Most of the year is perfect weather though. I wish I could have recommended that you take a few junkettes down each quarter so you could get a feel for the seasons, and despite what people say there are seasonal effects even in SWFL. I just happen to like beautiful (fall), perfect (winter), beautiful (spring), and hot (summer) weather. And when it gets hot, I just go fish, drink a couple more beers . . . , and I'm good again!

Good Luck!
And Welcome to the board! You will get a lot of help here!

[whitesandbeachbum]

This link may be helpful - Worst Cities For Allergies - Forbes.com

[Big House]

Originally Posted by whitesandbeachbum

This link may be helpful - Worst Cities For Allergies - Forbes.com

That is pretty good. SWFL fairs better than I would have expected. I wonder if they have a US map that is color coded to illustrate it better?

[angelfish]

You have gotten some great posts written back here. The only thing I can add is in reference to your melting-pot demographic. If you are looking for a town rich in ethnicities, I don't think you will find that in Sarasota. Downtown Sarasota is probably the most culturally diverse area.

[ZaraZoteBuccaneer]

Originally Posted by KositaQ

We need to move to a less humid, tranquil, less cold-like place where we can breathe air and not worry about cold humidity affecting our breathing, nor the winter and trying to shovel all of that.
My husband has CHF and also had developed asthma and other related breathing problems. We have to find a better weathered place we can move, live and thrive in.

SW Florida does have pollen and molds to consider but humidity cuts down on all the stuff in the air because it sticks to it and just makes it drop. The air might be a bit uncomfortable at times but I'm sure for your husband that it beats suffering from breathing problems. A few moments ago I was ignorantly going to suggest someplace like Texas but I just read that it's way worse for allergies. Go figure...
So I suggest you understand what times of year the environment in Sarasota becomes worse than others. I mean if it's only a couple of weeks or so then you guys could probably deal with it. It beats all those months of snow.
Anyone care to stake claim on a month to be warned of?

PS - you won't find a better area for quality of life, no matter how hard you try...

[Ladywithafan]

It is EXTREMELY humid here in SW Florida. My children suffer from Mold alergies and no longer live in this state. I think it all depends on your allergies.

I enjoy living in old historic homes and I'm sure both my previous apt. and my current place do have mold. It's inevateable. I lived in a place out on AMI that was full of black (straty) bad mold & left it. My own home that I built with my Xhusband got the black mold due to water intrusion.

I think this is something you would want to discuss with your family physician, in regards to how your health issues with the humidity.