[PaulaC]

I truly wanted to love it here in TN, however, I guess spending 38 years in FL was hard to compete with! We had dreams of buying a small house with a basement (for sports room and tornadoes) and living a simple life. However, we couldn't sell our house in FL, so everything happens for a reason! I'm not going to cut down anything in middle TN, but both my husband and I are ready to go back to FL so we don't have to experience 9 degrees in the winter and 100 in the summer. Yes, FL has heat and humidity, but we have watched over the last three years and FL actually had lower temps in the summer than we have experienced in middle TN. Never thought that was the case. Can't even describe how miserable 9 degrees really is. Just terrible, IMO. Anyway, we are looking to be able to go back by the end of this year. Anybody want a great job in commercial property management?!
To the OP, as others have suggested, perhaps a different area of FL would be for you? I think it might be worth considering before you do what we did...best wishes no matter what.

[hiknapster]

It has nothing to do with temperature. When it comes to how hot it feels, dew point is king, even trumping humidity. It does get crazy hot in Middle Tennessee and even West Tennessee, that's for sure, but it still won't beat south Florida, that's for sure. Of course, you move to Florida knowing that and need to adjust accordingly. Doing extensive research on weather - and understanding it - is definitely a must, no matter where you move.

[PaulaC]

hiknapster is right. Dew point makes the difference! If you have lived in FL, you know what that's about. Tropical is just...well, tropical. Different than many other areas, but if you are looking for something different, perhaps East TN would be nice for you. It didn't seem so extreme as far as the temps go, but I'm sure hiknapster could give more details on that. Electric bills seem higher in TN, but that could be because we are in a rental that is not well insulated, so it could very well be pretty much on par. Other costs seem pretty even, other than sales tax, but I think that is off-set by property taxes.

[hiknapster]

I have no idea what Middle TN utilizes but East TN uses the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the nation's largest public power company, and one of Roosevelt's most ambitious New Deal projects. Today it provides some of the cheapest electricity in the country. We started out in a uninsulated rental and are now in a well-insulated, well-built home. Our bills are CRAZY cheap.

Tax-wise, we are 47th in the country for tax burden. You can't beat it unless you want to move to Alaska, Nevada or South Dakota.

[hashbrown]

Originally Posted by mia_magination

I am just curious with many of us Floridians fleeing the state like fleas from soapy water, what is keeping those of us here?

Laziness

[ferret111]

Originally Posted by hashbrown

Laziness

Or perhaps a general fondness for my home state.

[sweepea]

Originally Posted by Retiredcoach

.....There are sacrifices and rewards to choosing any place to call home.... taking the good with the bad.....

Trust your instincts, and determine what is not only best for you, but your family, as well. Maybe you will be able to carve your niche in Florida, but there is a big world out there. Don't let winter sunshine, beaches, and "relocation syndrome" be the lone driving forces to experiencing what life has in store for you. Good Luck!

I tried to rep you for this well-thought-out post, but couldn't. Said so well!