So we moved to Florida, been here a year... now what? (Tampa: rental, HOA)

[ShakyJ]

In short, got out of the snowy cold of the north. The wife, kids and I decided that our trial run down here after a year was a good one and we will make the move permanent once our lease is up in June 2012.

Call me crazy, but some parts of FL just are not what one envisions. I live in Palm Harbor, inland, just off east lake road. Great area...but it isnt Florida to me. It isnt close to the water, the local places to it on rt 19 are just too commercial. The wife and I like crystal beach, ozona, etc. We like restaurants like Ozona Blue, Ozona Pig, and the whole scene in downtown Dunedin. That to me is Florida. Ill head up to Trinity for example. Great new area, fresh, wide open, nice homes.... but there is no essence of being on the gulf there. Florida to me it is about being close to the water and enjoying what the locals bring to that culture. Art, food, shops. I dont want commercialized options. I do want to get my morning coffee at at the locally run coffee place and see familiar faces.

What other areas are there around Tampa bay that are close to what we "like" above? We have driven down to Sanibel ( way to expensive) and fort myers beach (nice, but to run down). They have the "likes" for us too. Not opposed to Safety Harbor, Oldsmar, etc either.

Am I in the wrong area or am I asking to much of an era perhaps "long gone"

thanks!

[FloridaKash]

Originally Posted by ShakyJ

In short, got out of the snowy cold of the north. The wife, kids and I decided that our trial run down here after a year was a good one and we will make the move permanent once our lease is up in June 2012.

Call me crazy, but some parts of FL just are not what one envisions. I live in Palm Harbor, inland, just off east lake road. Great area...but it isnt Florida to me. It isnt close to the water, the local places to it on rt 19 are just too commercial. The wife and I like crystal beach, ozona, etc. We like restaurants like Ozona Blue, Ozona Pig, and the whole scene in downtown Dunedin. That to me is Florida. Ill head up to Trinity for example. Great new area, fresh, wide open, nice homes.... but there is no essence of being on the gulf there. Florida to me it is about being close to the water and enjoying what the locals bring to that culture. Art, food, shops. I dont want commercialized options. I do want to get my morning coffee at at the locally run coffee place and see familiar faces.

What other areas are there around Tampa bay that are close to what we "like" above? We have driven down to Sanibel ( way to expensive) and fort myers beach (nice, but to run down). They have the "likes" for us too. Not opposed to Safety Harbor, Oldsmar, etc either.

Am I in the wrong area or am I asking to much of an era perhaps "long gone"

thanks!

I hear ya. We have been here for a little over a year and we kind of have done the opposite. We moved from being close to the water to being more inland. We loved being close to the water and miss it, but we could not find a home that met our family needs in our budget over there so we had to move more inland.

To get the lifestyle you are looking for you need to live almost on the water. Bascially, the closer you are to Gulf Blvd the better. You may want to check out the Inidan Rocks Beach. Sounds like something you are looking for.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by ShakyJ

In short, got out of the snowy cold of the north. The wife, kids and I decided that our trial run down here after a year was a good one and we will make the move permanent once our lease is up in June 2012.

Call me crazy, but some parts of FL just are not what one envisions. I live in Palm Harbor, inland, just off east lake road. Great area...but it isnt Florida to me. It isnt close to the water, the local places to it on rt 19 are just too commercial. The wife and I like crystal beach, ozona, etc. We like restaurants like Ozona Blue, Ozona Pig, and the whole scene in downtown Dunedin. That to me is Florida. Ill head up to Trinity for example. Great new area, fresh, wide open, nice homes.... but there is no essence of being on the gulf there. Florida to me it is about being close to the water and enjoying what the locals bring to that culture. Art, food, shops. I dont want commercialized options. I do want to get my morning coffee at at the locally run coffee place and see familiar faces.

What other areas are there around Tampa bay that are close to what we "like" above? We have driven down to Sanibel ( way to expensive) and fort myers beach (nice, but to run down). They have the "likes" for us too. Not opposed to Safety Harbor, Oldsmar, etc either.

Am I in the wrong area or am I asking to much of an era perhaps "long gone"

thanks!

Have you checked out Sarasota/Bradenton? It's where we live and you can find a lot of that here. Best beaches on the Gulf Coast, too. You would really love Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria - lots of waterfront restaurants, little cafes and artsy people. City of Bradenton is on the wide Manatee River and is improving by the day - new Riverwalk there will be done next year. Sarasota has a great vibrant downtown, is on the Bay and is just over the bridge to St. Armand's and Lido Beach on the gulf. Check it out!

[user8]

exact same situation here. wife and i have been in tampa since march and while there are certain things about the city, it does not feel like florida until we go out to the gulf beaches. if we decide to stay here long term (most likely not), we'd probably look into safety harbor, sarasota, or pack up and move to the east coast (palm beach area).

[Ken E]

Check out the Ozello, Crystal River area. Theres some decent resturants, shops ect. Theres a small beach , nothing as big as further south. There's a nice atmosphere up that way.

[Tampa Homes]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Have you checked out Sarasota/Bradenton? It's where we live and you can find a lot of that here. Best beaches on the Gulf Coast, too.

Siesta Key is like walking on sugar.

[ShakyJ]

The few times we get out to the waterfront, it just seems like that is the reminder as to why we moved down here.

[Spring Hillian]

I would agree with Ken E. Take a trip up the gulf coast north of Hernando County. You may find the
FL you are looking for there. Crystal River, Homasassa, Ozello.

[SLCPUNK]

Originally Posted by ShakyJ

The few times we get out to the waterfront, it just seems like that is the reminder as to why we moved down here.

I think it's pretty common for people who live here not to get to the water as much as they'd like.

[dprevgolf]

we are relocating back into the region (former native floridian raised in tampa, lived in tampa bay, lakeland and east of orlando). we are searching for a canal water access (gulf vs bay side preferred) smaller (2000 sf+) home with a quaint feel and similar community with close access to major airport TPA / SRQ. just our perception from a brief weekend relocation trip in late march 2012. we contacted a realtor in dunedin who provided listings from clearwater north into new port richey. we started by heading north; with the undersatnding of lower property taxes (pasco co.). during our drive the climate on hwy 19 heading north was unimpressive to say the least. mostly old vacant shopping centers, check cashing / loan businesses, pawn shops & xxx private booth = skid row. we looked around NPR ending our day in gulf harbor community. we love the limestone canals vs dredged; clear water leading quickly out to the gulf. there were also some very nice homes, sme in transistion and some abandoned. this translates into opportunties for the brave. but all that surrounds this area appears to be low rent and lacks proficient county planning and hoa involvement. in general, we could not visualize this as a quaint, ride your bike down to get a cup of java enviroment. too bad because there are deals to be found on these great canals in gulf harbor. we feel it would be a gamble to invest into gulf harbor no knowing how the surrounding communities will develop possibility toward a path resembling dade county / miami. we will continue our search by starting in dunedin today and heading south. maybe something in northern clearwater (bypass st pete region) going toward bradenton / sarasota. we'll see what we find. any input would be welcomed. we are planning on short term rental while we search for properties to purchase.