Gainesville Area (Ocala, University, Alachua: sales, high crime, vacation home)

[bbegirl64]

Looking for a great small town to purchase a vacation home that will eventually become our retirement home. We would like a white population, beautiful nature, good high school, decent jobs, access to some art and culture, and cooler weather or at least seasonal changes in temperature. Currently living in South Florida and are sick of living with people who have no morals, no work ethic, and terribly mainstream, mall mentality!

[Hartwick]

Your question is a common one with many common complaints about living in South Florida. It appears that many, many South Florida residents are fleeing that area for the same reasons, and many more( high crime, high taxes, traffic congestion, rampant crime, drugs, prostitution, on and on), and relocating to Central Florida where the pace is slower, it's safer, less expensive, and an overall vastly improved quality of life. Many have chosen the Ocala area ranging up to Gainesville to relocate.

Your criteria may be a bit restrictive and you may need to compromise on some issues. But, the quality of public schools(while not great or comparable to high schools in the Northeast) is going to be far better than where you live. And, the University of Florida is just up the road in Gainesville.

As far as seeking scenery, this is Florida...there's just not that much natural diversity that one would call it a scenic area, or even a beautiful area...when compared to say, the Appalachin or Adirondack Mountains, or the Grand Canyon, the National Parks, the National Seashores, the Outer Banks, on and on. Florida, even Central Florida and the Panhandle is just mostly flat with few rolling hills; lots of piney forests; lots of sand, swamps. It's not exactly a state that I'd move to to enjoy it's natural scenery.

The weather here in Central Florida certainly has it's seasons, going from mostly hot and humid summers, to cool(sometimes cold) winters. There's not much as far as Fall or Spring weather, which I think lasts maybe 2 or 2 days.

As far as possible cities go, Ocala is certainly much smaller, less busy(but still lots of traffic). Has an increasing variety of cultural opportunities, lots of quality shopping, quality medical care. Gainesville has the University which of course brings with it massive traffic congestion, especially during the college months and football games. There are world-class medical care facilities; lots of cultural opportunities. But, the cost of housing, including taxes, sales tax, etc., are much higher in Alachua County. But, you get what you pay for.

Hope this helps...we hear it wherever we go about South Floridians relocating away from the hustle, bustle, crime, traffic, etc., and escaping here to Central Florida

[yamahastar]

Originally Posted by bbegirl64

Looking for a great small town to purchase a vacation home that will eventually become our retirement home. We would like a white population, beautiful nature, good high school, decent jobs, access to some art and culture, and cooler weather or at least seasonal changes in temperature. Currently living in South Florida and are sick of living with people who have no morals, no work ethic, and terribly mainstream, mall mentality!

You don't want much, do ya? I'm proud to day you won't find what you are looking for in Gainesville or Ocala. We are a diverse population, with everyday problems and hot, humid weather.