Venice and a limited income?

[mkbmpb]

I'm fairly new to the board, but read posts regularly, have for years, and it is a wealth of information.
Saying that, I hope you do not rule out Venice before you thoroughly investigate it. I also strongly encourage your daughter to go back to school and at bare minimum get her LPN, she can do that and still work p.t. if she has to and has a strong backup plan for her child. It can be done, I've done it.
I currently live in the midwest. What I find most interesting is how many post on the high cost of living in SW Florida. I live in the midwest, extremely rural, with no ammenities like shopping, good roads, many restauruants and certainly no jobs. Our property taxes are higher here than SW Florida and my house insurance is about 10-15% less. No hurricanes in the midwest, but our rates are not cheap. I live in a town of 800 people if you want a comparison. We pay high taxes to pay local government salaries and benefits, while the population continues to drop.

Less taxpayers = more taxex paid per household.

What I have learned from these postings is that no matter where you inquire, somebody will have excellent, good, mediocre and bad things to say about it. I always try and remember that wherever you choose, somebody else has left there because they don't like it or found something better or more to their tastes. Everywhere you go, including where I live.

Personal attitudes are a reflection also of where you are in life. If you're healthy, enconomical stable, in a good or bad relationship, etc. The grass is hardly ever greener, you just have to want the change. I say run toward the goal, never away from somethng. Change is good if you are ready and in a position to accept it.

My husband and I have just about 100% decided to relocate to the city of Venice. We love it. We love the charm, we love the slower pace it appears to have. Sarasota is a wonderful city but I can always go there from Venice, as well as take advantage of all the keys and beaches. Driving to Sarasota from Venice is nothing to what we are used to. I drive 30 minutes to buy groceries.

We know the 'silver foxes' will descend on Venice in the winter weather, but hey, that is Florida in general, except maybe a bit less? in the center of the state for those that don't care for the water, and prefer other things for tourisism. The nearest town where I live {with any size or something to do} is a college town; same thing = populations grows 5 fold from end of August to mid May. You have to deal with.
People move to this city for jobs and opportunities and great housing each and every day. I doubt siver foxes are much worse than 18-22 year old students away from home and having a good time......
Go and explore the area, you might be surprised at what you can find in a rental right now. Prices are good. Kudos to you on making on your salary, you are a wise, financial person that seems to make good decisions. You couldn't have made it otherwise.

Good luck on your search, and I hope you realize your dream someday. May you and daughter and grandchild prosper.