Tampa Bay area info please!! (Lakeland, Plant City: mobile home, taxes, living)

[xnyer]

I am nearing retirement. As my "handle" implies, I am an ex-NY'er (from Upstate) and have spent several years in SW Ohio. I am single, politically conservative (read into that what you will), and middle class. I like small town living with occasional access to the city for variety (restaurants and museums). I like an out-of-doors lifestyle with trails and paths and not overly crowded streets (with sidewalks) for walking and bicycling. I would like to have the ability to drive my sportscar on pleasant evenings without sitting in traffic jams or getting run over by an 18 wheeler. Those are essentially my parameters for relocation. Other than the total collapse of Social Security and the stock market or escalating taxes, I don't get too excited by things going on around me. I've had my time in life to worry about all those things, but now as a new generation moves to the forefront, let them have their turn. I want to focus on enjoying life with the time remaining, which is why (beside the weather) I like Florida as I do. It seems you folks live life in the present.
I have been researching mobile home communities (age restricted) in all the communities listed on Craigslist and have criss-crossed the state by car. If any posters have ideas or suggestions on places I can look into in greater detail, I would greatly appreciate it. Oh, and not to forget-- I love your beaches, which is why I could never retire here in Ohio!

[CaliGirlTampaBound]

Everything youre looking for is what im in search of as well! But no one wants to reply to my thread! haha I'll let you know if I come across any useful info!

[Pragmaticus]

Originally Posted by CaliGirlTampaBound

Everything youre looking for is what im in search of as well! But no one wants to reply to my thread! haha I'll let you know if I come across any useful info!

Well if you are like OP, not sure you get all you want with such a loaded question.

Let's see

I am single, politically conservative (read into that what you will)[1], and middle class [2]. I like small town [3] living with occasional access to the city for variety (restaurants and museums)[4]. I like an out-of-doors lifestyle with trails and paths [5]and not overly crowded streets (with sidewalks) for walking and bicycling [6].

I would like to have the ability to drive my sportscar on pleasant evenings without sitting in traffic jams[7] or getting run over by an 18 wheeler. Those are essentially my parameters for relocation.

I have been researching mobile home communities (age restricted)[8] in all the communities listed on Craigslist and have criss-crossed the state by car. If any posters have ideas or suggestions on places I can look into in greater detail, I would greatly appreciate it. Oh, and not to forget-- I love your beaches [oh yeah 9], which is why I could never retire here in Ohio!

I am looking for it and be back when I get the answer

[BucFan]

OP, you do realize that the Tampa Bay area isn't exactly "small town" don't you. Did you mean to post in the Florida forum? There are a few communities along the panhandle that might appeal to you.

[jambo101]

Originally Posted by xnyer

I like small town living with occasional access to the city for variety (restaurants and museums). I like an out-of-doors lifestyle with trails and paths and not overly crowded streets (with sidewalks) for walking and bicycling. I would like to have the ability to drive my sportscar on pleasant evenings without sitting in traffic jams or getting run over by an 18 wheeler.

That sure doesnt sound like the Tampa area will be for you.
You say you've been around the state,anyplace that looked promising?
As Buc says i'd be looking in the panhandle area for a nice town not too far from the beach and nice country roads for that sportscar,
Somewhere in this area, Crestview and Defuniak Springs would be on my shortlist.Areas closer to the beach would be nice but they tend to get more expensive ...
http://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=US-...=9&via=3,4&z=8


Out of curiosity what kind of sportscar?

[xnyer]

Originally Posted by BucFan

OP, you do realize that the Tampa Bay area isn't exactly "small town" don't you. Did you mean to post in the Florida forum? There are a few communities along the panhandle that might appeal to you.

Perhaps I should have mentioned a small town within the greater Tampa metro area. In my mind, that can be an hour or more away. On the edge of suburbia so to speak.

[xnyer]

Originally Posted by MeInDenudinFL

Well if you are like OP, not sure you get all you want with such a loaded question.

Let's see

I am single, politically conservative (read into that what you will)[1], and middle class [2]. I like small town [3] living with occasional access to the city for variety (restaurants and museums)[4]. I like an out-of-doors lifestyle with trails and paths [5]and not overly crowded streets (with sidewalks) for walking and bicycling [6].

I would like to have the ability to drive my sportscar on pleasant evenings without sitting in traffic jams[7] or getting run over by an 18 wheeler. Those are essentially my parameters for relocation.

I have been researching mobile home communities (age restricted)[8] in all the communities listed on Craigslist and have criss-crossed the state by car. If any posters have ideas or suggestions on places I can look into in greater detail, I would greatly appreciate it. Oh, and not to forget-- I love your beaches [oh yeah 9], which is why I could never retire here in Ohio!

I am looking for it and be back when I get the answer

Not sure what you mean by "loaded question" Craigslist seems to have several mobile home communities listed in Lakeland, Zephyrhills, Plant City, for example. Are these communities not part of the larger Tampa Bay area? If not, I'm sorry, using the area I'm in as a guage of measurement, Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati are all merging into one huge area and I'm caught in the middle, read SPRAWL. Dayton and Cincinnati are already being referred to as a "metroplex". I like some of the attractions of the city but need to be far enough away to enjoy the virtues of "community"

[jambo101]

Plant City might be what you are looking for..

[xnyer]

Originally Posted by jambo101

That sure doesnt sound like the Tampa area will be for you.
You say you've been around the state,anyplace that looked promising?
As Buc says i'd be looking in the panhandle area for a nice town not too far from the beach and nice country roads for that sportscar,
Somewhere in this area, Crestview and Defuniak Springs would be on my shortlist.Areas closer to the beach would be nice but they tend to get more expensive ...
US-90 W/W Tennessee St to US-319 S/US-98 W/Coastal Hwy - Google Maps


Out of curiosity what kind of sportscar?

To answer your question, an '84 Corvette, likely to be replaced before I retire with a later model. Too many bugs with the cross-fire injection system and to restore it to the condition I'd like. Shame though, it's low mileage but was abused before I bought it. Thanks for asking

[xnyer]

Originally Posted by CaliGirlTampaBound

Everything youre looking for is what im in search of as well! But no one wants to reply to my thread! haha I'll let you know if I come across any useful info!

Well, stay in touch. What part of the country are you in now?