A cold hating Pennsylvania man in Florida

[strobot]

Me the issue is more the growing congestion. We have seen vast tracks of land being developed... 10,000 boomers in the US turn 65 each day. Plenty of buyers.

We actually didn't mind the traffic at all, or really notice it. That being said, we are from the DC/MD area where 30 miles can take 2 hours depending on time of day/week.


As far as bugs are concerned, the beach is where we got bit the most! I'm not sure if they were sand fleas or what but it was miserable.

 

[Dtail]

I have lived in gated and guard gated and they are completely different. A gated community just slows a criminal down although a good number you just bunch in *1234 or 1234* and you get in or #. Try it on yours and see! Guard gated takes a little effort generally. Although as the OP points out they had a security flaw. I also know of one guard gated where you just say you are going to the country club to golf and they let you right in without even calling the starter to check. So as the op says nothing is perfect. I am sure it's stupid but I am more concerned about alligators and bugs in FL as I do not think I want to live with an abundance of either.

Only have to worry about alligators if you live on a pond/lake. We face a conservatory, so no worries. Okay one can't swim in the lakes either.
As far as bugs go, it is not an issue all year round, much more so in the 6 month summer. Even then, if one has a screened in lanai, one can sit out at night.

 

[PoorOldCountryBoy]

I have family in FL that have been going since the 1970's. Yes it is super hot--visit in July or August some time before moving. It is brutal--115 and dry in Palm Springs is much nicer than 90/90 humidity in Florida.


The crowds are becoming worse - very much like California. That said, it is a nice place to spend the winter.


The doctors are money machines--multiple medical frauds (unnecessary tests, etc. )committed with my family. And watch out for the new protective laws for people who are in nursing homes-could make out of state family have issues directing your care. Enough said on that.


If security worries you consider a condo. I find the older people with a lot of time on their hands tend to get a "get off my lawn" syndrome when someone trespasses in their gated community. This is a time of life when they have a great fear of loss and trespassers trigger that.


No offense to your relatives, but I would worry more about the ugly people in the new developments than anyone trying to get in. Many who come down have profound sense of cultural entitlement.


Older real estate is cheaper than the newer homes, but anything built after Hurricane Andrew has better construction codes and will survive a hurricane better. My relatives are all in 1970 or 1960 homes and they just survived 100 MPH winds with nary a scratch, but the party starts when you get to 130 MPH winds. If you are inland (Orlando area for example) you will likely not experience that no matter what hits you.


Every place has its issues, it's just good to know before you move. Good luck to you.

 

[target2019]

I would be more concerned about increasing hurricane intensity. The heat was a show stopper for us.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

Personally, none of the above bothers us. It did take a year or so of getting used to, but when we left SoCAL we were in the Caribbean for 3 years, that environment was a lot worse than Florida from a bug perspective.

Honestly, if you believe all the hearsay and negative feedback about Fla, then you should not come. It will actually do us a favor as it is getting crowded in some areas.

However, if one carefully reviews Fla Counties, their Quality of Life and Healthcare availability (as opposed to only COL), you will find some actually spend money in the right ways. Some parts of Florida are less like Louisiana, Mississippi, and North & South Carolina than one thinks. If you are just looking for LCOL, then you are asking for trouble IMHO.

 

[Dtail]

I would be more concerned about increasing hurricane intensity. The heat was a show stopper for us.

I agree that the heat is the key issue.
My DGF loves the heat. Had on a little heater last week, as the overnight low was in the low 50's outside.
For me, I will still go outside and play sports in 90 degree heat, but we would stay inside in 25 degrees in winter in the North. So would rather have major heat than major cold but of course YMMV.

 

[Dtail]

Personally, none of the above bothers us. It did take a year or so of getting used to, but when we left SoCAL we were in the Caribbean for 3 years, that environment was a lot worse than Florida from a bug perspective.

Honestly, if you believe all the hearsay and negative feedback about Fla, then you should not come. It will actually do us a favor as it is getting crowded in some areas.

However, if one carefully reviews Fla Counties, their Quality of Life and Healthcare availability (as opposed to only COL), you will find some actually spend money in the right ways. Some parts of Florida are less like Louisiana, Mississippi, and North & South Carolina than one thinks. If you are just looking for LCOL, then you are asking for trouble IMHO.

100%.
The healthcare costs and quality of service in excellent in SWR's area and mine too.
Florida is state with many different cultured and COL experiences.
Living where we live in the St. Augustine and Tampa areas is very different than living in most parts of Northern FLA. Of course, that type of more rural/LCOL area seems to work for some folks on this site and all the power to them.
We also purposely didn't wish in a snowbird area due to extra winter congestion, but yes it is slowly getting more crowded almost everywhere in FLA.

 

[Amethyst]

Forty years ago, I lived with my parents on the east coast (Palm Beach County). The consensus, then, was that only the perimeters of Florida had a climate fit for humanity, and that no one would ever want to live in inland Florida. How times and people's notions change

This is a growing problem, especially on the West coast which is just about unbearable in season for us.

Out on the east coast it is getting worse but I would say it is about 1/5th of the West coast in season.

Living near the beach helps with the bugs and the heat. The breezes are pretty much constant year round. We have not used our AC at all this year..... YET.

Remember anywhere inland in Florida is going to be brutal from a heat perspective.

 

[Rianne]

DB has lived in FL for approx. 30 years. First 10 yrs. in Boca Raton, last 20 yrs. in Ft. Lauderdale. He moved b/c (this was his preference, no judgement here) Boca was primarily wealthy, slow paced, well manicured, high end stores, restaurants etc.

Ft. Lauderdale offered excitement, diversity, an awesome downtown area as well as beautiful beach. Traffic is terrible but he's nestled in a comfortable community (not gated) within walking distance to grocery stores, restaurants. There's easily accessible transportation. I always liked the South Beach scene, the artsy and diverse community. But I'm only a visitor. I appreciate "messy" creative living. Not one for groomed perfection where everything is orderly and manicured. Seems unnatural.

 

[gstillson]

Today it will hit the low 80s with the humidity matching - the a/c is on.

You could have led with this. It is only a couple days into spring for Pete's sake!

 

[strobot]

Ultimately, and what seems to be the consensus here, is that every area to retire has different things that people like about it...or don't like. OP mentioned quite a few delightful things in another post as well, so hopefully the FL residents don't take this as state bashing. Humidity, bugs, and other detractors can easily be cancelled out with nice things too.

 

[HadEnuff]

Ray, just so you know, I've been back from Florida for 72 hours. Still waiting to see a glimpse of the sun..I know exactly what you refer to when you mention "the cold gray"...could be like this for weeks.

Actually, right now I'm OK with it because I've been gone for 3 months and am enjoying being back in "my" space, but if I'd been here for Jan-March I'd be a basket case right now.
Enjoy Florida. It is what it is, which is warm, crowded, sunny, warm, buggy, sunny and warm. Did I mention warm? and sunny?

 

[Moemg]

I have lived in Florida 23 years all in a non gated community.I have only felt unsafe once at a local mall . Florida has bugs but not near as many as New Jersey . I haven't seen a bug zapper here ever .Florida is not paradise but it is a good place to live in your older years . There is so much push to be active and social and that is what keeps people going .We are in our 70's but we have friends in their mid 80's still playing tennis regularly.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

What appears to be happening in FLA over the last 10 years is the disparity between the well off and those not so fortunate. It is not uncommon to see a run down low income trailer park within a few miles of some beautiful communities. This was the hardest thing for us to get used coming from an affluent community in SoCAL.

I think as a result the more affluent surround themselves with Country Clubs, Gates and guards in order to appear distances from the poverty that still is very apparent in certain areas.

 

[Silver]

We have never felt unsafe in our area. We are a gated Country Club community. Upscale according to realtors, but I would debate that.

Orlando and the surrounding areas are not a measurement on Florida lifestyles, in fact Orlando is an example of where NOT to live. Visit OK. Live... No.

The Keys are Great, getting there though all the South Miami Burros is a different story.

I want to thank you for saying that Orlando is not a place to live. No one should ever even consider it.

I've lived in Orlando for over 20 years and we are full-up with people who love it here. Newbys need to go elsewhere indeed.

 

[Dash man]

I just got back to PA after the winter in Florida. We live right on the beach in SE FL about 20 miles north of Ft Lauderdale. It was beautiful down there and we have few bugs and a wonderful sea breeze in our area. The traffic isn’t bad when you know the times to go out. It’s no worse than where we live in PA. We’ve had one nice day in PA since we got back. Traffic is always a pain here.

 

[dtbach]

Spent a bit more than a year in Pensacola 40 years ago during Naval Aviation Training. There were 2 or 3 hotels at most on Pensacola Beach and maybe a couple hundred houses. Traffic was non-existent getting to and from the beach.
Just went back a few years ago. What a difference!! Still a great beach but sure a lot different. Guess it got discovered LOL! Wish the heck I had bought a lot on the beach back when. But I do remember the bugs the most. Masses of them.

 

[Badger]

Don't feel particularly concerned about our 60+ yr old 1500 sq ft painted concrete block home being broken into and pillaged. All the other homes like ours have been knocked down and replaced by new homes ranging from 3600 to 6000+ sq ft. Not too many would risk felony jail time by breaking into our home when there are so many better prospects next door. Besides they wouldn't find anything of value here just an old computer, old TV, old motorcycle, and books. I like to ride an old bicycle and my wife plays tennis. We are just not into lots of things. The joke would be on them.


Cheers!

 

[misshathaway]

I want to thank you for saying that Orlando is not a place to live. No one should ever even consider it.

I've lived in Orlando for over 20 years and we are full-up with people who love it here. Newbys need to go elsewhere indeed.

How about Winter Springs? I'm staying there in an AirBnb in July (heat tolerance test). Far enough north not to crowd you out?

I am struggling with the crime thing - considering Ocala and Winter Springs, crime statistic opposites. But no town is 100%. Last week here a kid got stuck by a discarded needle at a grade school playground.

 

[brucethebroker]

Here is your google result. I don't see a lot of safe zones in Florida. People convince themselves all of the time. My FIL was a believer that Daytona never got hit. Then he was hit by 3 in one year.

https://www.news-press.com/story/ne...-florida-storms-path-past-100-years/91637546/

1. Note the 100 year timeline.
2. Look carefully at the few cat. 4 & 5 hurricanes. Note the number of "open" areas across the state, with no or little exposure.
3. Re: cat 3 and less: "Category three hurricane: A hurricane with winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Storm surge generally 9-12 ft above normal. Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. ...."
4. Back to "every hurricane in the last 100 years" title of the article.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

I want to thank you for saying that Orlando is not a place to live.

You are most welcome.

Assuming you like the brutal heat and humidity, the congested I4 corridor and being surrounded by Disneyites, then it is probably OK. Otherwise I will stick by my original opinion in it not being the BEST place to live in Florida for us, but OK to visit. As you know everything posted here on such subjects are opinions and should only be taken that way YMMV. Also our opinion is based on a retirement location, not during one's w*rking years.

But there and then, I would say the same thing about Jacksonville which is only 40 miles from us and that is in our preferred NE coastal location.

 

[Amethyst]

We saw that in PA and western NC. People want to live somewhere, developers buy up what land they can get, and the new developments are now next to places that have always been there and would have scared away upscale buyers in the past.

A lot of well-off retired people move to Florida simply because there is (currently) no state income tax. On top of that, Florida's employment base is mostly services-oriented, and not well paid. So those factors naturally skew the state toward income inequality.

What appears to be happening in FLA over the last 10 years is the disparity between the well off and those not so fortunate. It is not uncommon to see a run down low income trailer park within a few miles of some beautiful communities. .

 

[ckelly78z]

I just came back from an extended weekend at my BIL/SIL house on the SE coast. The traffic, and congestion is absolutely a non starter for me, with long waits at any resturaunt, and pushy East coast, big city folks being rude. I like the comparatively slow /friendly pace of NW Ohio, but also the lower prices, and COL. I don't mind visiting, but couldn't/wouldn't consider living there just for the weather.

 

[pb4uski]

Today we turned on the AC for the first time in a long time... we get a nice crossbreeze when the lanai doors are open and screen door on the opposite side of the condo is open... we try not to us AC if possible since we prefer a breee but when it gets too humid then the AC goes on.

Certainly not 11 months a year for us.... more like 8 months.

 

[Mdlerth]

I want a climate with a thermostat

Weather is a very individual preference. When I was 10, summer couldn't get too warm for me. The hotter the better. Loved summer, shivered all winter.

When I moved to South Carolina (state motto: "Hotter than The Devil with a fever") in my twenties, I was in right in my element.

But about age 35, something about my metabolism changed and I found high heat to be debilitating. These days I prefer it cooler. The only aspect of winter I dislike now is commuting on slippery roads, and once I FIRE that will be behind me.

I could see myself being very comfortable retiring in Alaska. Except, of course, for the loneliness - DW could never live there. Too fragile.

OTOH, I could never live in FL. Too hot for too long. Plus everything there wants to eat you, from mosquitoes in the air to ticks on the ground to gators in the lakes to sharks in the ocean. And now I hear they have giant anacondas or pythons or something slithering all over the state. Danger lurking behind every palm tree!