Best Places to Live around Tampa (Miami, Sarasota: income, quality of life, living)

[KositaQ]

My husband and I regret having to move away from our beloved NEPA, but we have no choice. We need to move to a less humid, tranquil, less cold-like place where we can breathe air and not worry about cold humidity affecting our breathing, nor the winter and trying to shovel all of that.

My husband has CHF and also had developed asthma and other related breathing problems. We have to find a better weathered place we can move, live and thrive in. There is a possibility that the company I am in can relocate me to Tampa, and we need to be prepared in advance, we need to know more about the area without having to travel beforehand.

We also are considering the cost of living there as compared to my NEPA-commuting life to NYC (which I LOATHE!! - 4hrs one way is way too much!) would rather drive as I did when I was in Miami I could save some $$$ and try to live with an income of 60K/yr in a confortable manner (no kids).

We are considering somewhere in Central Florida where it is warmer, and has a 'melting-pot' like demographic area that is not too congested nor crowded-like such as Miami (lived there for almost 10 years and I can tell you by my own experience we do not intend to move near there)

I have a few questions about either the Sarasota Area or the Tampa Bay Area:

- How is the percentage of pollen/humidity/mold, etc, in both areas? How humid is it in the surrounding areas?
- How are the surrounding areas near Tampa Bay? Are they safe to live? would like to know about them.
- How about Sarasota? I heard it is naturally beautiful. I've also heard it is less congested than Tampa
- Also need to know about the best hospitals nearby. Can anyone recommend a good heart center? I've heard Sarasota has one of the best rated Heart Centers
- We are looking for a place where the quality of life is as good as our NEPA place but without the mountain-like humidity and the winter snowstorms. In a few words you can tell me how humid it is and how does it compare with for example living close to the beach.

Anything realistic from real locals or people who'd been there, done that would be greatly appreciated...

[ricbell]

I read the word Humid on your post. I do not think you can escape humidity in Florida. Just a suggestion but you might look further west. I live in Northern California with mild winters,zero snow. I have not experienced humidity since I left Virginia 28 years ago . The snow is there 3 hours away in Winter. We have micro climates here. Where I live in Oakland gets a breeze from the ocean with coastal fog . On Monday the fog was co thick you could see your breath. With a temperature of 56 degrees. You might trouble with your health in July and August. Best of luck.