[avamarie]

Can anyone help me find a small town on the coast (either) of Florida?

Looking for something low key, laid back, not pretentious (South Beach) or too expensive or overcrowded. I have lived in Ft. Lauderdale but do not like it too much (Hollywood is nice). I have liked in the past places like Rincon, Puerto Rico, Martha's Vineyard, Seattle, WA and Portland, OR. The people are down to earth and there is a sense of community. Cheaper is better.I am a 42 year female, single, presently living in New York City and do not like the darkness and cold weather. Initially, I will work in a restaurant, perhaps as a manager or bookkeeper while I work on an internet business. I may just go down for a month or two to check it out.

Would any of these (or any other cities) be a match?:
St. Augustine
Naples
Vero Beach
Sebastian
Gainesville
Cocoa Beach
Smyrna Beach
Ormond by the Sea

Thank you for any advice you can provide!

[Denise in Fla]

I live in Rockledge, between Melbourne and Titusville which is called the Space Coast. Moved here form So Fl and love it. It is a small town, I find that the people here are much more laid back and nicer. Cocoa Beach is not far and if you are in the restaurant business there are plenty aound here. Sebastian is very nice area but not much to do, seems kind of a sleepy town. Try checking out craigs list for housing to give you some idea of rents. Good luck.

[2bohemians]

May we suggest a visit to the Northwest Florida coast.
Beaches of South Walton (http://www.beachesofsouthwalton.com/restaurants_search.asp - broken link)

[SoFLGal]

You should check out North Port in SWFL. It's south of Sarasota and north of Ft Myers. The housing is very reasonable. I just sold a 3/2/2 built in 2003 with high ceilings, walk-in shower, garden tub, fenced yard, very nice neighborhood for $130,000. You could probably rent something like that out for around $900. North Port has some of the most reasonable priced property from Tampa to Naples.

We are about 25 minutes to the beaches, it's a growing town, but for any nightlife you would have to travel about 35-40 minutes away to Ft Myers or Sarasota.