[Griffis]

Originally Posted by jghorton

We've been in Florida for almost 45-years now - and would not consider living anywhere else... except, perhaps, further south in Florida where the weather is nicer during the 'rugged arctic winters' we face in the Panhandle (5-years here)

The panhandle is where we first plan to stake our flag. Most likely Panama City (not Beach) just because we have some friends there who love it so much.

We considered Jax for a time, but my wife feels as though it's just too big for her.

We are enamored of the idea of St. Augustine and the Keys, but I don't think that would be economically viable for us.

Hopefully we can at least explore these places (and much of the rest of the state) at some point.

I keep hearing great things about St. Pete as well, and the Clearwater area.

Really our plan (such that it is) is to start in Panama City, see how we like it. Depending on how we feel about it, push on South along the Gulf Coast and see what we can see between the panhandle and St. Pete.

This will all be new to us. It's exciting. Florida is like America's Last Unturned Stone to us. Between my wife and myself, we've lived (or at least had significant time in) pretty much in every other part of the country.

Again, we aren't expecting a completely BS-free life of all ease and fun, and we know better to think there is any place without some problems, things we may not love, etc. We have (I think, given the fact we've never been to the state) pretty realistic expectations, and we are aware we can't plan everything out in advance to work perfectly...we know there will be unforeseen obstacles, unknowns, etc. But if we all knew life was always going to be perfect and go off without a hitch, well--where's the adventure in that?

We just hope that we'll meet some people who are welcoming. We are pretty apolitical, irreligious, live-and-let-live, laid-back types, but we enjoy good, kind people regardless of their beliefs, or lack thereof.

We are fun-loving, but not crazy party people.

And I do hope we get to see a LOT of beach/shore. We miss that a great deal. We've been stuck in Oklahoma the past 3 years. It's not all terrible, but we are approaching our 50s. I'd love to think we can spend a lot of the rest of our days in proximity to the Ocean.

[Robert137]

With the "baby boom" generation retiring, expect the growth to continue for a while. Florida continues to have many attractions for residents of the Northeast after retirement.

[Happiness-is-close]

Weather and taxes and a lot of younger people follow their retiring parents I think. Only tropical state in the continental US.

I don't think it is jobs. Florida has very high U6 unemployment, so someone moving here wanting a corporate career would be quite disappointed.

[Buckeye614]

In Southwest Florida it saddens me to see trees and other land being torn down and paved over to accommodate yet another Publix, golf course or nondescript strip mall. The area is incredibly beautiful and I'd hate to see it lose that beauty over poorly thought out development. Growth is good to an extent but I'd like to see smart and efficient growth and not sprawling cheap chain stores.

[Griffis]

Originally Posted by Buckeye614

In Southwest Florida it saddens me to see trees and other land being torn down and paved over to accommodate yet another Publix, golf course or nondescript strip mall. The area is incredibly beautiful and I'd hate to see it lose that beauty over poorly thought out development. Growth is good to an extent but I'd like to see smart and efficient growth and not sprawling cheap chain stores.

People I know whose families have spent time in Hawaii over 3-4 generations say the same of it. It's like rich mainland developers came in, razed coastal Hawaii to the ground and replaced it with a Disney/Vegas version of "fake" Hawaii (TM).

[Happiness-is-close]

Originally Posted by Buckeye614

In Southwest Florida it saddens me to see trees and other land being torn down and paved over to accommodate yet another Publix, golf course or nondescript strip mall. The area is incredibly beautiful and I'd hate to see it lose that beauty over poorly thought out development. Growth is good to an extent but I'd like to see smart and efficient growth and not sprawling cheap chain stores.

Collier county could fit a million more people in its borders comfortably. It's actually the county with all its building restrictions that facilitate the spread out, eco-destructive tendencies of collier county.

[PDF]

Originally Posted by expatCA

Oh it is a lot more than that.

High paying jobs, educated people, good drivers, good local culture, low crime?

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by PDF

High paying jobs, educated people, good drivers, good local culture, low crime?

There's some truth to your sarcasm, I must admit, but honestly, warm weather and beautiful beaches a short drive away from anywhere within the state are MAJOR reasons why I chose to stay here. Were it not for the weather, I'd move my family to Montreal, no doubt. But the weather is that big of a deal to us that we remain here.
I recently got offered a job transfer to the DC area, which came with a rather handsome wage increase. I refused. Not worth it.

[Spring Hillian]

The Census Bureau says the US population increased 0.79% from July 2014 to July 2015. North Dakota was the biggest gainer for a fourth straight year on a percentage basis as its population rose 2.3%. Florida saw the biggest change in population, adding 365,703 people.


Emmmmmmmm.

[Spring Hillian]

Originally Posted by PDF

High paying jobs, educated people, good drivers, good local culture, low crime?

I guess so. The population continues to increase.