Pinellas or Sarasota? (Tampa, Dunedin: condos, homes, private school)

[Tink444]

Hello,
Lived in Boca for 10 years and it was pretty great and I miss Florida.
Am not enjoying the MidAtlantic and NE.
It is too crowded and all one does is work 24/7 letting family and life slip by.
Not young am 60.
Boca too too: Pretentious plus many other things and I do not want to go back. Starting over again is not making me happy but one must do what they must.
This time the St. Pete area or just north of it and south of Tampa are more appealing because I
figure there will be a few nicer people that like to get out and do things too. There is an art community in both areas I believe?

Single Female with grown child who lives in DC.
Realtor in DC and MD and might continue or not and/or get into property management or even something else entirely.
I am headed that way to make up my mind in the next couple of weeks.
Want urban but laid back too. (Originally from Houston close in so big does not scare me but cramped does and now a veteran of DC traffic and the DC drivers are scary)
A place where it is easy to meet people. (without a kid in your life it is not as easy as meeting as it is when you are a bus stop Mom or private school Mom )
Long term growth of an area is important and not an area that is overly conservative is better.
Am not independently wealthy so making a wise investment is important.
Boca did not have a sink hole problem and from what I have read south of Tampa is better than Pinellas.
Thoughts please and thank you !

[kmarc]

"Want urban but laid back too."

I think you're more likely to find that combo in the St. Pete area, although if I had to choose between the two, Sarasota would be more my choice.

[Tink444]

Why ? do not want to be too close a neighbor! Art community in St. Pete area?

[kmarc]

I would prefer Sarasota because it's less congested, but both areas have active, vibrant arts communities, although I would argue that St. Pete's is more diverse. Both areas are fairly liberal, I think, but Sarasota is more "conservatively liberal", if that makes any sense.

[Tampa Homes]

Originally Posted by kmarc

I would prefer Sarasota because it's less congested, but both areas have active, vibrant arts communities, although I would argue that St. Pete's is more diverse. Both areas are fairly liberal, I think, but Sarasota is more "conservatively liberal", if that makes any sense.

Makes sense to me. I love St. Pete, especially downtown and think it's very easy to meet people here. Also, as you said, because there is more diversity.

[Wwanderer]

I must admit that I found Sarasota a bit "too, too". We chose Dunedin for our winter home (retired), and are very happy with this location. Laid back but also vibrant. Lots of condos, so lots of property management companies. Worth a look.

[Sunscape]

Originally Posted by Tampa Homes

Makes sense to me. I love St. Pete, especially downtown and think it's very easy to meet people here. Also, as you said, because there is more diversity.

Sarasota is also nice.

[algia]

I vote for Sarasota in your circumstance because Pinellas is too crowded.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Wwanderer

I must admit that I found Sarasota a bit "too, too". We chose Dunedin for our winter home (retired), and are very happy with this location. Laid back but also vibrant. Lots of condos, so lots of property management companies. Worth a look.

"Too-too" what? LOL

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by algia

I vote for Sarasota in your circumstance because Pinellas is too crowded.

This ^^^