Florida vs. Texas

[Car-Guy]

I lived and worked in Houston for over 50 years and moved away as soon as I retired. For me, it was a great place to work but that's about it. I've never been anywhere that is consistently as hot and humid. The only place I've been that has traffic as bad is LA. And Houston has to be in the top 10 US cities for the % of rude people. Someone would have to pay me (a lot) to move back.....

I been thru Jacksonville a few times but haven't stayed there long enough to really comment on the pros or cons.

If it's an option, you might want to try to live in each city a few months before settling down on your retirement choice. If you do that, try living in Houston during July and August.

[harley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Florida is your best choice.

I'm pretty sure you'd be happier in TX. There's a lot more room there. The drivers here in FL are even worse than the stories make them sound. When we moved down here we went in to get our drivers licenses. After doing the eye test and filling out the forms we were waiting for them to print out. Meanwhile a woman came to get her license. She failed the eye test 3 times using the same machine DW and I had used. She was getting upset, but the clerk just said "try it on this one" and took her to a different machine, where she passed easily. I assume that machine was using the 2" letters.

I've spent some time in DFW, and the only drivers you have to contend with in TX are Texans. As long as it doesn't snow they're fairly good drivers. In FL you get people from everywhere, including Canada. And they're all really old. As my friend says when we get stuck behind someone doing 20 mph below the speed limit in the left hand lane, "don't get mad. They're planning on turning somewhere in the next 10 miles or so".

And we have fire ants too.

[REWahoo]

Sorry harley. Florida doesn't even make the top 10:

[Silver]

In Florida, if you have white hair it's a god-given right to pull out of your driveway without looking first.

I'm not kidding.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver In Florida, if you have white hair it's a god-given right to pull out of your driveway without looking first. I'm not kidding.

Reminds me of the fender-bender my dad was involved in back when I was a teen. We weere on a rural two-lane road behind an old guy going about 30 in a 55 MPH zone. Dad pulled out to pass him and the old guy, without signalling, suddenly turned left into a driveway, hitting the right side of our car.

Fortunately there was little in the way of damage, but I'll never forget what the old guy told the State Trooper who took the accident report. "I've lived here for more than 50 years - everyone knows that's my driveway. It's his fault for getting in my way!"

[MichaelB]

Really bad drivers are not in accidents, they cause them.

There is no doubt in my mind Florida drivers are more dangerous than anywhere else I have driven, and that includes plenty of Latin America. It is not statewide, though, instead heavily concentrated in South Florida. It is also not specific to any gender, age, or ethnic origin (although I do agree with Silver's post on backing out of driveways). Driving around Atlanta is also pretty bad.

[harley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Sorry harley. Florida doesn't even make the top 10:

That's because they're only here 6 months/year. If you extrapolate Dec-May into a 12 month period we'd win for sure.

Surprised to see TX at #3, though. I guess maybe outlawing the open container in the front seat caused problems. Now the drivers have to turn around and reach under the rifle rack to get their beers. Probably causes quite a few accidents.

[aja8888]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Sorry harley. Florida doesn't even make the top 10:

Looks like when you numbered the chart, you forgot No. 2 and 7, and used No. 1 and 6 twice.

Drivers.JPG

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aja8888 Looks like when you numbered the chart, you forgot No. 2 and 7, and used No. 1 and 6 twice.

Read my sig line...

[ERTX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver In Florida, if you have white hair it's a god-given right to pull out of your driveway without looking first. I'm not kidding.

Drive 25mph below the speed limit in the fast lane without having to move over for faster traffic.

[Amethyst]

I lived in S. Florida as a teenager. The traffic was awful even back then, but I don't recall that "old people" were the problem on the highways...it was more the reckless, speeding, crossing-4-lanes-at-a-whim drivers of pickup trucks sitting high on giant tires. OK, to put it bluntly, rednecks. I don't know; maybe they've been crowded out by now.

"Old People" were a real menace in parking lots, however. The many oldsters who had lost the ability to turn their heads, simply relied on their mirrors when backing out. This, combined with their tendency to drive huge vehicles (for "safety") with bad rear visibility, deceived them into thinking they had a clear space to back out, which of course led to wham. Nowadays, one hopes, the old folks' huge vehicles have the rear-view camera option.

Amethyst

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB Really bad drivers are not in accidents, they cause them. There is no doubt in my mind Florida drivers are more dangerous than anywhere else I have driven, and that includes plenty of Latin America. It is not statewide, though, instead heavily concentrated in South Florida. It is also not specific to any gender, age, or ethnic origin (although I do agree with Silver's post on backing out of driveways). Driving around Atlanta is also pretty bad.

[aja8888]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst I lived in S. Florida as a teenager. The traffic was awful even back then, but I don't recall that "old people" were the problem on the highways...it was more the reckless, speeding, crossing-4-lanes-at-a-whim drivers of pickup trucks sitting high on giant tires. OK, to put it bluntly, rednecks. I don't know; maybe they've been crowded out by now. "Old People" were a real menace in parking lots, however. The many oldsters who had lost the ability to turn their heads, simply relied on their mirrors when backing out. This, combined with their tendency to drive huge vehicles (for "safety") with bad rear visibility, deceived them into thinking they had a clear space to back out, which of course led to wham. Nowadays, one hopes, the old folks' huge vehicles have the rear-view camera option. Amethyst

The last time I was in Florida I found most older retirees in the central and northern parts of the state. Miami was like another country. Orlando was solid concrete with funny full size mice all over the place. But once you get into the "communities" it was blue and silver hair territory (gads! I'm getting into that age group!).

Back up cameras just give you a sense of what is directly behind you and not what's about to ram into you from the side.

[MRG]

Memories of my late parents, before they left FL. DM is in a nursing home needs to see her DR. All the kids happened to be visiting, really there for a family meeting.
We convinced DF he needs to hire medical transport for DM. I'm driving DFs up front to give directions my 2 dear sisters in the back. Well the van gets ahead of us due to a school zone. DF started freaking out "gotta catch up son, there's a place you can hop up on that other lane and pass that guy on the right". It was the sidewalk!! I have no dought that DF would have made that move if he was driving.

[2B]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRG Memories of my late parents, before they left FL. DM is in a nursing home needs to see her DR. All the kids happened to be visiting, really there for a family meeting. We convinced DF he needs to hire medical transport for DM. I'm driving DFs up front to give directions my 2 dear sisters in the back. Well the van gets ahead of us due to a school zone. DF started freaking out "gotta catch up son, there's a place you can hop up on that other lane and pass that guy on the right". It was the sidewalk!! I have no dought that DF would have made that move if he was driving.

It seems you are only criticizing his problem solving skills and creativity. Some son you are.

[Walt34]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Sorry harley. Florida doesn't even make the top 10:

I'm surprised that neither MD or DC even placed. Those other places must be truly life-threatening.

[texcurtis]

I have lived in Florida and I currently live in Houston. Both are hot as heck in the summer and are quite humid.

The things I like about Houston are the winters, the diversity of so many things to get into and diversity of people, the can do spirit, the art & culture scene, the sports, the entrepreneur spirit is alive & well here, easy to fly out of, lower cost of living, etc.

I was able to retire early due to lower housing and cost of living.


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

[Alan]

When we first arrived in Texas in 1987 one our neighbors, a transplant from Boston warned us about the drivers. He said that Texans had gone straight from the horse to the pickup and they drive their pickup just like they ride their horse.

Last week at 7:30am we were driving to the gym and saw an SUV in the lane on our right veering around a little. At the next light we could see what the issue was. The driver was obviously going to work and had her suit jacket draped over the steering wheel while she wielded one of those lint pickup rollers. I made sure to hang back when we moved off and she continued her wavy journey for a short while before turning right into the town center.

[Cobra9777]

I've been in Texas my whole adult life. Mostly in North Texas. Have lots of friends in Houston, so we've spent a lot of time there over the years. But that would be my absolute last choice on where to live in this state. We love the Hill Country, and would move there in a heartbeat. But we'll stay put for a while longer mainly due to family and DW still working OMY.

Texas is always ranked in the top 5 states for lowest overall tax burden. No income tax, but property tax averages around 2% of fair market value, and sales tax is high at about 8.25% average. In our case, we don't have much income anymore, but we own a large primary residence and two rental homes. So it feels like we pay a lot of tax.

Overall, we like the weather in North Texas. There are two months of extreme cold in the winter, and two months of extreme heat in the summer. But otherwise, 8 months of relatively moderate temperatures, lots of sunshine, and low humidity, which allows for plenty of outdoor activities. We do get thunderstorms, hail, and tornadoes every spring, but I've never actually seen a tornado, except on the news. And while homeowner's insurance is pricey as a result, on the bright-side, everybody gets a new roof for free every 5 years or so.

Cost of living is quite reasonable. We typically have gasoline prices that are lower than the national average. Very affordable housing, with high-quality homes available for $90-100/sqft. Food seems quite reasonable as well. Good schools and the unemployment rate is generally well below the national average.

I've never lived in Florida, but having grown up on the Gulf Coast and spent lots of time in Houston, that is NOT the weather I want in retirement. The central highlands of Costa Rica look pretty good though.

[Sunset]

Quote:

Originally Posted by harley ......In FL you get people from everywhere, including Canada. And they're all really old. As my friend says when we get stuck behind someone doing 20 mph below the speed limit in the left hand lane, "don't get mad. They're planning on turning somewhere in the next 10 miles or so". And we have fire ants too.

First time I went to FL, I was blown away by how fast , as in Crazy fast people drove on the main roads near Crystal Beach FL.

I get criticized when visiting old friends in Canada about my aggressive driving habits from the U.S. so its not like I'm doing a Sunday drive.

Some of those FL folks seem to be wanting to speed up their arrival in heaven by driving the way they do.

[timo2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunset First time I went to FL, I was blown away by how fast , as in Crazy fast people drove on the main roads near Crystal Beach FL. I get criticized when visiting old friends in Canada about my aggressive driving habits from the U.S. so its not like I'm doing a Sunday drive. Some of those FL folks seem to be wanting to speed up their arrival in heaven by driving the way they do.

+1

We visited my sister in the Tampa area. once. Those drivers were the worst I have ever seen. Not the old ones. the younger ones that cut directly across 3 lanes through marginal spaces between cars to get to a quick stop or gas station. The ones that merge by zooming onto a crowded freeway seemingly with their eyes closed. And we did notice a third group of 'drivers': the folks that have lost their driver license and travel on old rusty looking one speed bicycles. They also cut across roads with a total sense of abandon.