[sunseeker]

Hi all,
I'm new here. Thank you for reading my post. I've read a lot that has been posted. I'm looking for opinions...what you specifically like, what you hate, any opinions... good, bad, indifferent, all are valuable.

A little about me, I'm 35, married, no kids yet, maybe in the future, maybe not. My biggest hobby is my coral reef aquarium, I am active in several reef clubs and plan to continue where ever I move. I love snorkeling and hope to scuba dive in the future (better to see the corals where they really live). I enjoy the outdoors (when it's warm), I love any type of botanical garden. Good food and good friends are also important to me. I grew up and currently live in the Poconos. I HATE where I live. I moved back to help out my mom, who has since past away. It is now time to move on.

This is what I HATE about the Poconos:

1. It's way too cold. I'll take 90 degrees any day! It's July and it was a balmy 57 degrees last night. We are in a heat wave...it's 77 degree right now.

2. Nothing is convenient. Well, the cemetery, the churches, the VFW and the scary bar are just down the road. Trip to the mall is 25 miles one way!

3. Diversity? What's that? Oh wait that's right, there is a homosexual couple in town and there used to be a Jewish family who lived within the school district.

4. Education, What's edjamcation? Is that important?

5. Fine dining... at Arby's ...it's roast beef.

6. Entertainment = drinking, hunting, drinking, TV, drinking, trash burning, drinking...


I lived in Allentown and the suburbs of Philadelphia for a couple of years. This was much better. Here's why:

1. It is significantly warmer, (but it still snows, no snow=good).

2. I could walk to one or more grocery stores. 15 minutes to the mall with traffic.

3. People have heard of Yom Kippur and Kwanzaa.

4. When you say degree, people think school, not thermometer.

5. 4 and 5 star dining within 30 minutes.

6. Entertainment included botanical gardens, hiking trails, theaters with stadium seating, cirque du soleil, trips to the shore.

My ideal community would be an open minded suburban area, with good hospitals, sidewalk cafes and outdoor eating, where 57 degrees is considered really cold, a mall(s) is close by, education is valued, a lazy Saturday afternoon trip to a museum, garden, or to go snorkeling is easily done and a special night out might be to go see a show or concert.

Any suggestions on where to look or where to avoid?

I'd also love to talk to any people familar with both Florida and Eastern Pennsylvania or New Jersey. Also, if anyone is looking to head north I will gladly talk to you about the areas I am familiar with (Eastern PA & most of NJ).

[heatam]

I was born and raised in Philly, for 32 years, before I came down here just 2 years ago. I hated Philly. While everything you say is true, I could say why I hate it:
1. No my little golden son, the pretty tiny pink baggie found on the front lawn does not have sugar in it
2. My husband and I were darn tired due to running after 3 little boys who stole my child's bike, right next to the front door (but we got it!!!)
3. The school I worked at made the news. No, not just because of the misbehaved children, and poor grades. But because of the shooting and related car crash right out front and we had to be in a lockdown.
I could go on

Now, for where you want to live, it sounds like Naples, where I live, might be right for you. The thing I do have to tell you, is that it is pretty expensive to live here. Housing and probably taxes (I don't own, so I don't know about the taxes). EVERYTHING you mentioned that you were looking for, you have here. Luckily, I haven't had to go to a hospital, so I don't know about all that, but everything else, you nailed Naples.

[rkumar3]

I would say all your needs will be met in Southern Palm Beach... I personally love and live in Delray Beach. It has absolutly nice downtown with great restaturants, bars, caffes, shoppes etc. The beach is world class. You can easily go to a live concert/show in Palm Beach/Broward or Miami.

[moderator CUT]

Good luck in your search

[bamboosmom]

Hi Sunseeker,
you are the oposite of me! Where were you in the Pocono's? Ya know there are many counties that are considered the Poconos and they are very different from one another. Its a really big area.
We are here in sunny Punta Gorda~! You will always have warm breezes, little sidewalk cafes, the harbor, the beaches, gardening galore!
We are selling because we want to expand our own business and be back near the family. If you need any info on my area, PM me and I may be able to answer your questions. The Punta Gorda area is still fairly cheaper than Naples depending on where you look.

[NSHL10]

Sarasota? My in laws live there and they say its the best place for museums.

[kimwick]

I am lookinjg to move up that way. We can exchange the things we don't like in Pm's. I don't think everyone thinks the same way. lol. I just think it is funny that you have bad thoughts about PA and I have thoughts about FLA.

[MrTudo]

Poconos are a lot of fun and pretty too in certain seasons. But I wouldn't want to live there full time.

Florida's a tough act to follow.

[sunseeker]

The Pocono's can be beautiful. It rarely gets very hot. You never need air conditioning. I forced my husband to buy one 5 years ago during a warm spell when I had been sick in bed for a week, we haven't used it since, it's just never gotten that warm, it actually almost made it to 85 degrees today, but we had thunderstorms go thru, the evening news news just went off and it's 67 degrees. If you don't like the heat this is the place for you, as long as you don't mind the cold and the snow. Last frost is after May 15th, Where I live, the crocus come up in mid March, Daffodils mid april, leaves on decidious trees come out after Mothers day mid may, Memorial day brings peoney and lilacs. Leaves start to change mid September usually peak the first week in October and are completely of the trees by Halloween, trick or treated many times in the snow. Skiing can start in early November. It's green for less than 4 months.

[FL Daisy]

You just spelled out 'Sarasota' in big cap letters! LOL... It has EVERYTHING you want except for the snorkeling.

[Tomsan]

We live in Mount Pocono, PA. It's a small village, but hey, we even have our own WalMart and movie theatre. We moved here from Sea Bright, NJ over ten years ago to raise the kids in a more rural area, but surprise! It's become almost as crowded & congested as the Jersey Shore, and I can't wait to see what happens when our first casino license is granted in a few months

I have to agree that we have the world's worst weather. It's a frozen tundra in the Winter, and rain-soaked in Spring and Summer. I never would have believed I'd have flooding problems while living on top of a mountain.

We are longing to return to a coastal town for retirement, one with warm weather this time. We're exploring from North Carolina to Central Florida looking for the perfect small town with beaches, boating, restaurants and activities for all ages - no sprawling retirement communities for us. We like to be able to walk to shops & cafe's, etc. Where are these hidden treasures?