Anyone moving to Florida from Wisconsin? (Milwaukee, Wausau: living in, estimate, things to do)

[CindyRoos]

My spouse and I are looking into parts of Florida we would like to move to for retirement. Anybody on here doing the same thing? Or, if you have moved to Florida, how did you like it?
We love Wisconsin but just can't take these long cold winters any longer
Thank you in advance for your helpful input

[No Happy]

No, but I'm moving to Hawai'i in August

I know people who have done it, or are snow birds. Many have ended up coming back, but I'm a a half hour outisde of Wausau so the big reason they come back is that they found a place like Orlando or Tampa incompatible with their rural lifestyle. You being from Milwaukee, that shouldn't be an issue. Also the people sometimes learn they prefer snow and cold to the humidity that can strike Florida. The majority of those who I know who move south and stay/love it there are those that move to Arizona.

[CindyRoos]

Yes, those that don't really investigate the area they want to move to and really think it out are the ones that end up back where they were.

[GraniteStater]

Never underestimate the brutal intensity of the sun, heat, and humidity at the VERY LOW LATITUDE of Florida. This cannot be underestimated.

[CindyRoos]

Yes, it's hot most of the year. I can take it

[No Happy]

Yeah, some like it, some can't take it. I've only spent a few days in Orlando in August, and it was fine for me. I have plenty of friends who absolutely love that kind of weather, so it differs person to person. I don't find the heat to be a huge issue with A/C being found everywhere you go in America. Less than a month prior to being in Florida I'd spent a considerable amount of time living in south central Africa, and without A/C (or fans, for that matter), the heat becomes a real factor. I chose Hawai'i for the more laid back setting (and just so happened to have a job for me in my field), but there's nothing wrong with Florida.

[CindyRoos]

I have heard that Hawaii is expensive. I have never been there but would love to visit there one of these days. I heard it is really beautiful!

[ranger17]

spent 6 years in SC (our temps not much different than most of FL), moved back not because we missed Wisconsin's climate but wanted to be near the grandson and family in general. Otherwise we'd still be in the south. Yes the summers are long, hot, and humid, but for us that was fine as it gave us many months to enjoy the outdoor activities we liked (none of which involved snow or ice lol). Heck mid summer we'd be cruising with the top down enjoying it. Did notice that we'd often hear locals down there complain about their weather, no different than a northerner may do so about theirs so its all relative.

We did plenty of research before our move, and had spent time there in summer to get a good feel for the climate as well as an area for living, things to do, and so on. If one does their due diligence in selecting a new spot, they may have better luck than one who does not.

Just keep in mind the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence, though i'd say that the mowing season in the south was longer.



On a side note, we did meet people who were called "half backs", something about being a midwesterner/northerner who moved to FL, couldn't handle it, but only moved about half way back (ie NC, TN, etc) so perhaps check out one of those spots to begin with.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by ranger17

spent 6 years in SC (our temps not much different than most of FL), moved back not because we missed Wisconsin's climate but wanted to be near the grandson and family in general. Otherwise we'd still be in the south. Yes the summers are long, hot, and humid, but for us that was fine as it gave us many months to enjoy the outdoor activities we liked (none of which involved snow or ice lol). Heck mid summer we'd be cruising with the top down enjoying it. Did notice that we'd often hear locals down there complain about their weather, no different than a northerner may do so about theirs so its all relative.

We did plenty of research before our move, and had spent time there in summer to get a good feel for the climate as well as an area for living, things to do, and so on. If one does their due diligence in selecting a new spot, they may have better luck than one who does not.

Just keep in mind the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence, though i'd say that the mowing season in the south was longer.



On a side note, we did meet people who were called "half backs", something about being a midwesterner/northerner who moved to FL, couldn't handle it, but only moved about half way back (ie NC, TN, etc) so perhaps check out one of those spots to begin with.

Yes, I had to move for employment, but I live in the Ohio Valley now. It's mild most of the time but without ridiculous amounts of harsh sunlight which I don't prefer. There was a total of 62 inches of precipitation last year so similar to areas of the Pacific Northwest in that regard.

[ranger17]

From what we saw, places like Asheville, Knoxville, and even Lousville are examples of cities that have something to offer without having weather extremes like a WI winter or FL summer could have.