Tampa Bay is great! (Spring Hill: appointed, wages, place to live)

[algia]

You've covered pretty much everything! next time go to Miami, and then Key West...

Florida is great in small increments! If you're used to "STUFF"...it gets boring pretty fast. BTW last year temps in Tampa were in the 28th's!

Originally Posted by marcopolo

I don't care what anybody says, the greater Tampa Bay area is fabulous.

We just finished a three week stay, enjoyed a number of wonderful restaurants, watched the sun set over the gulf about 15 times, swam every day, ran up to Orlando for a fun weekend...and the weather was near ideal.

Part way home tonight, it will get to 32 degrees at Atlanta and who knows what when we get all the way North.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by marcopolo

I don't care what anybody says, the greater Tampa Bay area is fabulous.

We just finished a three week stay, enjoyed a number of wonderful restaurants, watched the sun set over the gulf about 15 times, swam every day, ran up to Orlando for a fun weekend...and the weather was near ideal.

Part way home tonight, it will get to 32 degrees at Atlanta and who knows what when we get all the way North.

I'm glad you enjoyed your time here marco. Yes, I agree, THE GREATER TAMPA BAY AREA is great! Folks, did you notice he said TAMPA BAY AREA not Tampa? He is including a lot of places. It's weird how people will post such a great positive post, only to be followed by a bunch of sourpuss ones.

Marco, hope you keep enjoying yourself here. My husband and I tell each other every day how lucky we are to live here in beautiful Sarasota.

[Pragmaticus]

For the OP, I am happy that you like it..

I will say this. Living here is a paradise if you like Florida-like and can afford it. Many people have a bad taste in their mouth because really you get to be paid crappy salary and still have expense like north. I don't blame them.

Personally, I love it here and I could go anywhere in the world if you pay me what I get here. For a change I wanted to go to D.C. and they couldn't pay me what I get here adjusted for the cost of living. So, yeah it is paradise for me...still.

[Spring Hillian]

I agree. I think a lot of people relocated expecting to find the higher salaries they were paid else where.

Originally Posted by MeInDenudinFL

For the OP, I am happy that you like it..

I will say this. Living here is a paradise if you like Florida-like and can afford it. Many people have a bad taste in their mouth because really you get to be paid crappy salary and still have expense like north. I don't blame them.

Personally, I love it here and I could go anywhere in the world if you pay me what I get here. For a change I wanted to go to D.C. and they couldn't pay me what I get here adjusted for the cost of living. So, yeah it is paradise for me...still.

[marcopolo]

Originally Posted by alfbroker

When you don't have to work, clean up after yourself, eat out all the time, drink like a fool, and are able to spend far more money per day than you usually do, anyplace can be paradise. You won't be living like that if you move here, unless you're wealthy. That's why it's called a vacation. Tampa was your best choice?

Alf, User8 and others: I WAS working during this three week trip, every business day, 8 hours. I have to work, but for weeks at a time I can work from anywhere. I clean up after myself, or the condo would turn into a pit. I spend about the same money when we are in the Tampa Bay area as back home. For the past two years we have spent 15-18 weeks per year in FLA, aiming for 21-25 weeks in 2012. And yes, those August and September stretches with highs in the 90's every day--we were in FLA and LOVED IT.

Tilli, SpringHillian, Gorays, kbrkr, thanks for understanding what I'm talking about. Gypsychic, you picked up on the diff between Tampa Bay area and Tampa--kudos to you.

When I can have morning coffee before work by the water, watching the crabs work the beach, the fish jump and the birds fish; swim laps in the pool at noon; work all afternoon and then watch the sunset over the gulf...to each his own, but this is as close to perfect as I can get right now.

I understand some people face ugly commutes, or have trouble paying their bills, or can't find time to enjoy the amenities due to life's pressures...none of those apply to me at this point in my life. For where I am and who I am, my spot in FLA might as well be paradise. If it isn't for you, I'm sorry.

[asimegusta]

Originally Posted by marcopolo

When I can have morning coffee before work by the water, watching the crabs work the beach, the fish jump and the birds fish; swim laps in the pool at noon; work all afternoon and then watch the sunset over the gulf...to each his own, but this is as close to perfect as I can get right now.

Exactly, my thought too!

[Kevin from Tampa]

To the OP.....glad you loved it. I do too. I've lived all over Florida (Miami, Ft Lauderdale, Jupiter, Orlando, Tallahassee) and Tampa Bay is my favorite area...especially right now...perfect weather and the snowbirds aren't here yet (snowbirds, I love you all, but when you come, the traffic doubles and the restaurants are full....).

[Sunscape]

This is perfect weather now...
One more reason to love TB area!

[Keeper]

There is good and bad about every place. What is wonderful for one person may not be so for you. It is HOT in Tampa but the fall/winter are very nice. Don't come expecting it to be like where you use to live because it won't be.

There was one member who suffered with depression from too much sun. FL definitely was not the place for them.

[FloridaKash]

Glad you enjoyed your visit Marco. We have been here for 16 months now and are still enjoying it.

This weekend we setup the fire pit and enjoyed a fire into the wee hours of the night and the kids made "tents" with blankets and towels in the pool enclosure and slept for a few hour before we dragged them in. Enjoyed my neighbor's daughter's birthday party across the street. They had a big jumper, crafts and food. All outside.... in November... in the sun.... without snow... I was in shorts. Not bad for November.

MIL is coming for Thanksgiving from Alaska. Although now we have lived here for awhile and find anything below 80's as a bit chilly I'm positive she'll be out in the hammock getting a tan as long as the temps are above 75.

I just need a dang pool heater and I'll be set. Until then, I'll just have to make due with the hot tub.