hurricanes and lightning? bah.
The thing to fret over in south Georgia and parts of Florida is gnats
Nahhh Skeeters, no see ums, palmetto bugs, pythons, monitor lizards, iguanas, alligators, and the list is growing. Also the worst, snowbirds.
hurricanes and lightning? bah.
The thing to fret over in south Georgia and parts of Florida is gnats
We've been concentrating there. Really like Boone, Banner Elk. We drove across the mountains from TN last Feb. meandering our way to my brother-in-laws in Davidson. Subscribed to some FB groups and newsletters, learning more about that area. Beautiful part of our country.
hurricanes and lightning? bah.
The thing to fret over in south Georgia and parts of Florida is gnats
Lightning: I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anyone installing a lightning protection system beyond the usual ground wires for any house. My uncle had a sailboat that was struck, which fried everything, but that’s the only lightning problem I can remember from anyone I know.
Often the perception of a threat is far more significant than the threat itself, and I am wondering if there are some methods for you to attack it from this angle. This is the actual situation with thunderstorms, since if you are indoors, the danger of any real physical harm to you is very very small, you can probably google the statistics. But the fear is indeed very real for many people, see for example here https://www.healthline.com/health/astraphobia .Probably because you haven’t met anybody who has a phobia about lightning. I know several people whose homes were struck by lightning. It just terrifies me. I grew up on the west coast where there isn’t much lightning. I can only remember 2 thunderstorms when I lived on the west coast. When I moved to the Midwest, lightning terrified me. Then I moved to Oklahoma where it was even worse.
I like the ideas that the respondents have provided, particularly about living in an elevated area. But I am now thinking that returning to the west might be the right decision, even if I’ll have to pay considerably more.
Another good thing to have is a supply of bottled water and freeze dried foods plus a way to heat the water for the dried food.
Very true. Some years ago I bought a dozen or so gallons of water at the grocery store and stored them behind a sofa. Recently I noticed water on the floor, and it turns out two of them were leaking. What a shame, but good that the floor is tile, so no damage was done.Instead of stocking bottled water, we have a collection of stackable pitchers with lids. Some water bottles will eventually leak and may cause a mess. Our pitchers are nested and empty until a storm threatens, when we fill them up.
I second the feelings about earthquakes, for me they were also more bothersome than hurricanes for which one can reasonably well prepare.I live in the Tampa/Bradenton area. Growing up in Calif, I experienced a fair number of earthquakes. These occur with almost no warning (unless you are observing your pets who apparently sense them coming). To me, earthquakes are more anxiety provoking than a hurricane you can track coming at you for days. Just maintain good homeowners coverage to include flood insurance, and keep some basic supplies if you choose not to evacuate.
Tennis-wise, I can tell you that the surrounding 40 miles has one of the most active tennis communities that rivals any place on the planet. For example, we have the Suncoast Tennis League (google it), that has been in the area 40+ years for senior men with age divisions (50, 60, 70, 80s). We currently have more than 1,800 players. There are similar leagues for the women as well. There are a couple dozen racquet clubs within 30 minutes of my house, to include the IMG Academy, which allows you in to see some really amazing players. I still manage to play at the 4.5 level and have lots of competition.
I second the feelings about earthquakes, for me they were also more bothersome than hurricanes for which one can reasonably well prepare.
About tennis, another aspect is that many of the communities here have very elaborate clubs, which besides pools and other amenities often include tennis courts for the residents. So you can walk to your court in a few minutes, and usually don't even need an appointment.
Haha, yes exactly, Mr. Pickleball! Actually our community has seven tennis courts that are usually underused, and recently there is a quite vocal group of proponents of pickleball. The tennis guys don't want to give up a court to be modified (whatever precisely this requires - Mr. Pickleball?), but now quite likely they will build one or two additional courts just for pickleball. I may look into this myself, I played tennis earlier in my life, but a few years back got myself the worst imaginable tennis elbow when I overdid it here one day, and I haven't touched a tennis racket since.Not to mention that there are a lot of Pickleball courts in FLA.
Haha, yes exactly, Mr. Pickleball! Actually our community has seven tennis courts that are usually underused, and recently there is a quite vocal group of proponents of pickleball. The tennis guys don't want to give up a court to be modified (whatever precisely this requires - Mr. Pickleball?), but now quite likely they will build one or two additional courts just for pickleball. I may look into this myself, I played tennis earlier in my life, but a few years back got myself the worst imaginable tennis elbow when I overdid it here one day, and I haven't touched a tennis racket since.
Many top and former top players live in this region too. The Williams sisters just recently sold their joint custom home (or rather, mansion) in a neighboring community, for a price that is perhaps one tenth of what such an estate would cost in California, see here https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/313-Grand-Key-Ter-Palm-Beach-Gardens-FL-33418/50940984_zpid/ Towards the end of the pictures of this listing, it also shows some details of the community club, which is probably fairly typical for the nicer subdivisions here. (This community is also just about the optimum distance to the beach, far enough to be safe from flooding and the worst of the winds, but close enough for a 15 min drive to McArthur Beach Park, one of the nicest in the region. Andre Agassi & Steffi Graf, husband and wife, also live not too far from here.<snip>
Tennis-wise, I can tell you that the surrounding 40 miles has one of the most active tennis communities that rivals any place on the planet. <snip>
I grew up in sandhills/golf country if NC. Never terrified if hurricanes. They hit occasionally. Rain and power outages but not a major deal.
It's one of the more logical phobias. We had a tree about 30 feet from our last house struck and killed by lighting while we were home.Probably because you haven’t met anybody who has a phobia about lightning. I know several people whose homes were struck by lightning. It just terrifies me.
I have been giving serious thought to the coastal areas of the southeast because they offer two things that are very important to me: beaches and lots of tennis options. But I keep going back to hurricanes, terrible storms, and flooding. I am petrified of lightning, but I could install a lightning protection system for peace of mind. I can’t control hurricanes. And so much of the land in these areas is prone to flooding.
The curve of coastal Georgia which includes Savannah and Tybee hardly ever gets hurricane weather because of the geography and ocean currents. Have a look at a map of historical hurricane paths and you'll see what I mean. The area of northeastern florida, is Jacksonville is worth a look too if no state income tax appeals to you.
So Boone, Asheville or thereabouts. You’ll definitely have full on seasonal changes, snow and all though less than northern states.
I lived in New Orleans for a few years when I was a little kid. We lived in a rental house a mile or so south of Lake Pontchartrain. I was almost 5 years old when Hurricane Betsy hit (category 3 or 4 when it hit). We rode out the storm. I think a 100 plus people in New Orleans were killed. At least one levee failed (the levees were built higher after Betsy, only to be breached by Catrina!). This was one my earliest vivid memories of something big happening and was enough for me to say "No" to living in hurricane prone areas. Later I asked my mother why we did not evacuate. She said that we were told not to, that the hurricane would miss us, but it unexpectedly turned towards New Orleans and gave it a direct hit.
2tswhite, were you in New Orleans when Betsy hit?