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07-25-2019, 05:28 AM
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#21
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 661
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I always went to Florida july/august. It was great to golf. Low season, cheap prices, and no one on the course in the afternoon!
We did however go to florida end of Dec into early Jan 2018/2019. Man, what a difference. It was amazing. Temp wise, 60s-70s, and that was in jacksonville. Ive only known florida for 90+ degrees and major humidity. I get why people snowbird there.
As for living there full time, im not sure. Living there for 3 months at a time, absolutely. We do like the 4 seasons, especially fall. We were in hawaii a couple years ago over halloween. It was odd for us seeing kids trick or treating in costumes when it was 80 degrees and we were in shorts/t shirt. We're not used to that coming from PA.
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07-25-2019, 05:49 AM
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#22
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 21,298
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To each his/her own. We lived in FL for 3 years, didn’t like it. We lived near Chicago for 26 years, lovely city but got tired of winters. I’m sure the snowbird approach is great, but I’d wonder about maintaining friendships being gone 6 months out of the year, and the cost and logistics. We moved to N.C., hope it’s a happy medium.
Folks in FL may “hide indoors” in Summer. How is that different than folks up north hiding indoors in Winter?
__________________
No one agrees with other people's opinions; they merely agree with their own opinions -- expressed by somebody else. Sydney Tremayne
Retired Jun 2011 at age 57
Target AA: 50% equity funds / 45% bonds / 5% cash
Target WR: Approx 1.5% Approx 20% SI (secure income, SS only)
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07-25-2019, 05:50 AM
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#23
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gone traveling
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 1,156
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As I age, my tolerance for cold temperatures (Northern Ohio) has diminished greatly, and I spend far more time huddled near the woodstove than I do outside. Some days, the only time I am truly comfortable is my morning shower, or in my heated waterbed at night.
I relish my time in the sun during the Summer, and rarely wear shoes, always have shorts on, and can comfortably watch evening TV in a 82 degree non-air conditioned, house.
I fully understand the Florida thing, but don't understand hiding in the A/C, I would be out all morning doing things. It's so refreshing not to have to bundle up to go shopping, or to deal with ice/snow.
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07-25-2019, 05:57 AM
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#24
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Florida's First Coast
Posts: 7,718
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Grew up in the UK, smelling like a wet dog most of the time (Constant Rain). Spent early w*rk years in Canada, freezing for 6 months, then off to SoCAL (Weather Heaven) for 15 years (That was it, no more winters for us), but could not enjoy it that much as the traffic was diabolical, ocean cold and beaches always soo crowded. Retired in the Caribbean, weather hot yes, warm oceans, great people, great food, but those damn whirly winds put a damper on things in summer.
Then moved to NE FLA, not quite SoCAL weather heaven, but not too shabby, beautiful uncrowded beaches, MCOL, Average people, excellent healthcare, everything within easy reach including seclusion if one likes that king of thing. Yes summers are warm, but better than freezing winters any day, and one does get used to it. I cannot remember the last time I wore long trousers and closed shoes.
If property cost were not so high for a tiny home in Hawaii that is where we would be. But we cannot imagine living full time in a 1000sq older home or condo, and we are not about to spend $2m+ on a nice Hawaii paradise. So NE, FLA seems not so bad.
__________________
"Never Argue With a Fool, Onlookers May Not Be Able To Tell the Difference." - Mark Twain
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07-25-2019, 06:01 AM
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#25
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 205
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Lived in Maine, Florida, Arizona, California, Minnesota, Michigan, Utah, etc., etc.
So, I guess I know the extremes of hot and cold climates.
Florida is great from about October-April ( IMHO ) - The rest of the year it is like walking out into a wet diaper that smells of rotting foliage and...OLD PEOPLE.
Not to mention that Florida (and it's weather) also attracts all sorts of critters...Meth Heads, Homeless, and general Skeezoids.
Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course....
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07-25-2019, 06:48 AM
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#26
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 144
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as an east-coaster (NY), most folks here move or snowbird to FL. me, don't care for FL, but do snowbird to AZ. and not the Phx valley AZ (might as well do FL), but W AZ, near the river/CA. it's the "FL" of W US .. OR, ID, WA, MT, and W Can
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07-25-2019, 07:04 AM
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#27
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Bloomington, MN
Posts: 1,157
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We've been leaving cold MN and spending 2 weeks every Feb. in Florida. The kids and Grand kids fly down and we have a great time. My wife hates hot weather so we'll never spend more than a couple of weeks there...but I could be persuaded.
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07-25-2019, 07:11 AM
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#28
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 978
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It is hot and sticky here in the summer, but we still play tennis or pickleball most mornings, then spend the rest of the day rehydrating. You have to learn to pace yourself and not overdo it in the extreme heat/humidity. Of course, it the winter months, it is muy bueno!
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07-25-2019, 07:18 AM
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#29
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Tampa
Posts: 11,296
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EarlyBirdly
Lived in Maine, Florida, Arizona, California, Minnesota, Michigan, Utah, etc., etc.
So, I guess I know the extremes of hot and cold climates.
Florida is great from about October-April ( IMHO ) - The rest of the year it is like walking out into a wet diaper that smells of rotting foliage and...OLD PEOPLE.
Not to mention that Florida (and it's weather) also attracts all sorts of critters...Meth Heads, Homeless, and general Skeezoids.
Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course....
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Bolded by me - this is true in parts of Florida. The nicer MCOL places like where we live, where @SWR lives, rarely see these types of folks.
Plus agree with @Marko's post that compared to parts of the Northeast, people can display acts of kindness and just are more pleasant overall with no ulterior motives.
__________________
TGIM
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07-25-2019, 07:31 AM
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#30
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Dryer sheet aficionado
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Brandon
Posts: 32
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For me I have lived and worked in florida for over 30 yrs. The heat does not bother me in fact I love it. The biggest thing for me is the sunshine. Constant gray sky's in the winter put me in a funk. Seeing and feeling the sunshine on my body and face makes me happy. Nothing better then sitting on my deck under my huge oak tree with my Alexa playing, holding an adult beverage, watching my dog chase after squirrels.
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07-25-2019, 07:55 AM
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#31
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 11,078
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We thought about Florida, cause that's where retired people live. Both of our parents retired there.After 10 years of looking we gave up and went with plan B.
Here's the thing about snow, it only piles up a little each time it snows. I mean this is what 10'- 12' of snow stacks up like. No problem! It's not near that deep. Add in some tires, chains, shovels, tow straps, snowshoes, yaktrax, and you are off.
IMG_1550779866579.jpeg
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07-25-2019, 08:00 AM
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#32
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 432
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This is the perfect segue to bring in the "Florida Man meme" - a staple of the people for the news business. Sometimes I wonder how the newscasters say this with a straight face - As in "Florida Man Steals $300 Worth of Sex Toys While Dressed as Ninja"
https://www.ocala.com/article/LK/201.../604146281/OS/
And a complete list of Florida man's exploits for your amusement.
https://wtfflorida.com/tag/florida-man/
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07-25-2019, 08:03 AM
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#33
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 661
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Florida man twitter feed...nuff said
The strangest things happen in florida. Yes, there are a lot of pill heads, no doubt. Check out "the oxycontin express" and "cocain cowboys."
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07-25-2019, 08:07 AM
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#34
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,788
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Go-NoGo
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"A Florida man used a pair of scissors to cut off the penis of a man he suspected of sleeping with his wife, deputies say."
Ouch. I hope they were sharp scissors.
As for FL, I have a sister and brother who moved there. My sister loves it -- she lives in a secluded area on the water. My brother is not so happy, because he's struggling with the heat. He's coming from Oregon. I moved to the south (MS) myself 20 years ago, and at first the summer heat was withering, but after a few years, I got used to it, more or less. Now I just hide inside during July and August. The rest of the year is fine.
I'm prone to seasonal affective disorder, so moving down south has really helped with that. Sunshine is good for you. The friendly people down south can't be beat, either, although from what I understand, Floridians aren't quite as friendly as other southerners. I'm sure it depends on what city we're talking about.
I think FL becomes the default destination because people who want to move to warmer climates don't want to move to the other southern states (MS, GA, AL, LA), because their reputation isn't that great.
I could probably have a happy retirement in FL if I set my mind to it. FL has plenty to offer, and so much of happiness/satisfaction is about the inside game, not the external environment. But if I'm going to relocate, it'll probably be somewhere a bit north.
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07-25-2019, 08:15 AM
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#35
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 152
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I don’t think my wife and I would want to live full-time either in FL or in the North.
We’re in our early and late 60s and ‘semi-retired’ about 5 years ago, but both continue consulting on the side. We bought a large condo on the northeast coast of FL (near Daytona) about three years ago and became FL residents. We currently spend about 3-5 months a year in FL, 3-4 months in DC and 3-4 months traveling (for business and pleasure). Last year, for example, we spend May in Charleston (for Spoleto) and mid-October through November in Paris (where my wife studied drawing), renting furnished apartments through VRBO or AirBNB. My mother-in-law moved into our FL apartment and our younger son is moving into our DC house, so we’re avoiding the problem of empty properties.
We’ve been spending 2-3 months each winter in FL, but also a month or more in the spring, summer and fall. Coastal FL actually seems a little cooler in mid-summer than DC -- the major difference seems to be that the hot weather starts earlier in the spring and ends later in the fall. Spring is probably our favorite time in FL, stormy fall our least favorite. Winter can get a bit chilly, but is wonderful for walking on (the nearly empty) beaches and hiking in the wetlands. Since we have lots of relatives in the Carolinas, adore Charleston, find the auto-train convenient, and have good (and well priced) airport connections in Daytona and Orlando, traveling back and forth isn’t much of a problem.
Right now the mix is best for us... Not quite sure what will do when we start slowing down and get less mobile.
Don’t think I’d want to live in Florida full time. While it’s pleasant and relaxing, it can also be more than a bit boring... too many strip malls, beach bars and down-market tourists (though I do like Daytona’s bike weeks!).
DC can be a bit hectic and exhausting. But we love going to movies and theater and museums and we’ve got lots of friends there. It’s not Minneapolis, but winter can still be cold and wet, so it’s nice to get away.
Right now we’re still quite active. We ski for a week or two each winter and hike for a week or two (the TMB and the Amalfi coast last year) each spring/summer. But we’re certainly slowing down and taking longer stays in fewer places. We‘ve actually toyed with the idea of moving to full-service “white glove” building in NYC when we‘re less mobile or a well-run continuous living urban high-rise (like Montgomery Place in Chicago, where my aunt lives).
But, for now, splitting out time between DC and FL and other vacation settings seems best.
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07-25-2019, 08:25 AM
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#36
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Fair Lawn
Posts: 2,959
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For 30+ years we have vacationed in Florida virtually every year, in the summer! We stay at a glorious hotel in Fort Lauderdale, on the beach. Yes, it sure is hot in the daytime but is pleasant enough in the evening. But we are also one of those people who enjoy the different seasons (I live in NJ). I am physically active, so I'm outdoors as much in the winter as I am in the summer. Sure, on the occasional bitter cold day I might hibernate in the house, just as I will hibernate when it's over 90 degrees and humid.
I can see why some people would like Florida for year-round living, but it's not for me. To each his/her own.
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07-25-2019, 09:06 AM
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#37
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 63
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Florida real estate has a lot of appeal to me for retirement living. I really like the typical Florida property - a one-story ranch, two car garage, open plan with indoor/outdoor orientation to the back yard with a pool. This type of house can be found all over Florida at reasonable prices. Where I live in the DC suburbs, the choices are basically a townhouse or tract mansion at $500K and up. Almost no one-story houses here. However the heat and general vibe probably still disqualify me from moving to Florida. I’m guess I’m more of a northeasterner. Plus I do have several Florida relatives I can visit in the dead of winter.
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07-25-2019, 09:25 AM
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#38
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,498
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I COMPLETELY understand why retirees might want to move to Florida. I love the weather there, all year around. And the beaches! The swimming and snorkeling and boating and more! Oh my. What a beautiful state. Not to mention the seafood, the theme parks, and the many other activities available in Florida, all of which are big "plusses" for me.
The traffic, not so much, the sinkholes are a bit spooky, hurricanes are icky, and I noticed in Miami that I really wished I could speak Spanish sometimes. But overall I think Florida is a terrific state.
Now, F absolutely detests Florida. He says it's the heat, but gee, he wants to live in New Orleans so I don't get it. Well, his family has lived in New Orleans for at least 6 generations for sure, probably more, so I guess maybe he feels this is where he belongs. Anyway, if he is living here then I want to stay here with him.
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07-25-2019, 09:34 AM
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#39
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gone traveling
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,375
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Zero state income tax. Seems to a general trend to those & away from high taxes but there are other factors.
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07-25-2019, 09:40 AM
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#40
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,409
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dtail
Bolded by me - this is true in parts of Florida. The nicer MCOL places like where we live, where @SWR lives, rarely see these types of folks.
Plus agree with @Marko's post that compared to parts of the Northeast, people can display acts of kindness and just are more pleasant overall with no ulterior motives.
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IMO there are 'two' Floridas. There's the one about 3-5 miles wide along the entire perimeter of the state. Then (Orlando area excluded) there's inland Florida which can get kind of sketchy; aforementioned meth heads, skeezoids etc.
__________________
Living well is the best revenge!
Retired @ 52 in 2005
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