Palm Harbor for 50 year olds? (Tampa, Clearwater: condo, homes, neighborhoods)

[Adream]

My husband and I will be traveling to Florida to explore. Our youngest is graduating from high school next year, so we'll be (semi) empty-nesters looking for a change of locale.

We thought we'd look around Naples (we used to own a condo there) - which is beautiful - but lately I've been reading about the Palm Harbor / Dunedin / New Tampa / Odessa general area. I seem to find my way back to zeroing in on Palm Harbor. I get the feeling that this is a vibrant area, with lots of activity and beauty. (It looks absolutely gorgeous!) Maybe it's a better location for us as active 50-year-olds than Naples.

Please don't get me wrong - we think Naples is gorgeous.....but maybe it's alittle bit old and stuffy for us? (Really, if I'm wrong, I'm willing to listen! ) It could vary depending on the neighborhood too, I guess.

We enjoy beautiful neighborhoods and a pretty downtown, but frankly, we also enjoy people who are down-to-earth, friendly and warm. (As opposed to social-climbers and pretentious, which I'm sorry to say we found quite a bit in Naples. I'm sure that's not everybody, and there are lots of friendly people too - I TRULY don't want to insult anyone.) Both my DH and I have worked hard our whole lives and we are looking to downsize, have some fun and enjoy life!

For those of you in-the-know, am I on to something here? Would the Tampa-Clearwater region be a good area for us to find people around our own age to make friends with and create a new life? Is Palm Harbor a good idea? What town would you suggest?

Thank you very much for your responses!

[Adream]

I've received some great replies on my rep page and PM. Unfortunately, I don't know how to locate the people who responded on my rep page (but I thank you very much! )

Please add your thoughts to this thread, even those in the same boat as I am. Maybe we can share information. Thanks!

Here's a wish for luck to all of us in search of 'Home Sweet Home!'

[Keeper]

I would recommend Palm Harbor or Dunedin or even Land O Lakes. There are some really nice homes around Land O Lakes in the older subdivisions but not close to the beaches You won't have to evacuate if there is a hurricane, that would be something to consider.
Since I haven't lived in Naples, can't tell you if it is better or not, but I have heard it is more expensive to live there.

You might want to check out Safety Harbor too. Nice little downtown, not that far from Palm Harbor and Dunedin

[Mortgage John]

I'm 51, and I've lived in this area all my life. I wouldn't live anywhere else. We've got it all here - beaches 4 miles west, Mickey 90 miles east, baseball in the Trop, Bucs in Tampa, fishing, canoeing, and some of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet. I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Honestly, they're going to have to drag me out of here kicking and scratching.

And not a snowshovel in sight for at least 500 miles...

I wish you all the best!