Sarasota named #1 place to retire again by US News & World Report

[MOforthewin]

Originally Posted by Jensen440

We own property in Madison, it's very nice, and the inhabitants of Huntsville-Madison are mostly very smart, educated and experienced people, and a lot nicer.


Really I can't compare Manatee-Sarasota to Huntsville - just doesn't work that well...but most of these published comparisons are a bit bogus anyway. North Alabama is a very nice place indeed, but it can get a bit chilly no doubt, but that doesn't stop the desirability. People make the city - and the people here are really nothing to crow about either. Amenities are one thing, but character, ethics weather, and attitudes are another.


I'm a native Southerner and native, your mileage may vary.


I even have good friends that moved OUT of Nashville, to Huntsville, because of the invasion of transplants from the west coast. Nashville has already lost its character. I hope Huntsville doesn't devolve like Manatee-Sarasota-Lee....but we have options for sure.

Nashville you can thank the media for promoting it. People moved there for the entertainment. Basically the hollywood of country music

[loves2read]

I wish stories like this would just stop…

[Jensen440]

Originally Posted by loves2read

I wish stories like this would just stop…

Agreed. The obvious promotion of all of Florida, but especially around here will result in making the area even more miserable, with more miserable, despicable transplants. It is already turning into a traffic jungle - overcrowded schools, obsolete roads/access, water problems/runoff/table, electrical grid failures/updates, and cellular service deficiencies, beach erosions/crowding, Police and Fire staffing issues, Garbage disposal delays, permitting backups, Hospital/EMS issues, Higher Homeowner insurance, out of control vehicle insurance rates, increases in FEMA flood zones, increased property taxes, higher CDD fees to cover developments, Longer wait times for servicing all cars and trucks, miserably longer lines at grocery stores and specialty stores, increased wait times for restaurants even...


This is nothing to herald, brag about, boost or promote, but these marketing pieces continue to the detriment of the environment and QOL.


Be careful what we pray for. This stuff is a longterm losing proposition.

[Trying941]

Originally Posted by Jensen440

Agreed. The obvious promotion of all of Florida, but especially around here will result in making the area even more miserable, with more miserable, despicable transplants. It is already turning into a traffic jungle - overcrowded schools, obsolete roads/access, water problems/runoff/table, electrical grid failures/updates, and cellular service deficiencies, beach erosions/crowding, Police and Fire staffing issues, Garbage disposal delays, permitting backups, Hospital/EMS issues, Higher Homeowner insurance, out of control vehicle insurance rates, increases in FEMA flood zones, increased property taxes, higher CDD fees to cover developments, Longer wait times for servicing all cars and trucks, miserably longer lines at grocery stores and specialty stores, increased wait times for restaurants even...


This is nothing to herald, brag about, boost or promote, but these marketing pieces continue to the detriment of the environment and QOL.


Be careful what we pray for. This stuff is a longterm losing proposition.

A couple of points in reaction to the above.

First, I dislike the click-bait promotions too. They paint a false picture of Sarasota as the Floridian version of the Land of Oz. Sarasota is great, but so are 100s of other places. And, great for me may not be great for you. Lists like this assume everyone likes and values the same things. If you like snow boarding, Sarasota is not Colorado.

Second, not everyone who moves here is one of the "miserable, despicable transplants." I am very glad that new restaurants are opening because of transplants who want to start a business here. Korean BBQ is not local and neither is Sushi. I like having the option. We could use an H Mart like the new one in Orlando - but we will not get one without a larger Asian population.

Third, growth is inevitable because of migration caused by federal immigration policies, corporate interests, the decay in large urban cities that are being destroyed by corrupt politicians and bad policy decisions and the ability to work at home. But the rate needs to be planned and managed better - it is currently managed poorly. New housing is too expensive and rents are rising without limit. Developers are not paying their fair share. Where are the workers for new hotels supposed to live? New homes starting at $350,000 at 5.125% are priced beyond reach for most.