quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
Halfbacks - people who move from places like Michigan and Wisconsin to Florida because they get tired of the snow only to find that Florida sucks for nine months of the year due to heat, humidity, direct sun, so they move halfway back.

That is why I think the Pandhandle has become more popular - it only sucks for 5-6 months, not the full 9+ of central and 12 of south florida.

I live in Naples, FL on the gulf coast. Heat doesn't bother me near as much as cold, which is why we moved here from Chicago.

No state income tax, which is great. Property taxes are probably close to half of what I'd pay on a similar house in the Chicago area. Also great on gun rights.

A gorgeous beach is 4 blocks away.

I hate mosquitos more than just about anything, and they are rarely a problem here. I thought it would be so much worse basically being near the Everglades, but the mosquito control authority does a great job. We had a couple days day this past weekend after an unusual 72 solid hours of rain where the skeeters got pretty bad. It was the first time in 4.5 years where I really complained about them. Today I was out with the dogs and didn't encounter one. And in the winter time, they are not really an issue.

Speaking of winter, they are really lovely here with warm but not hot temperatures, nice breezes and very little rain.

The downside is the summer rainy season. From June through maybe September, it rains pretty much every day. Often it's only 30 minute to an hour of rain, but it can be more. You just learn to get stuff done in the morning.

All in all we are very happy here. It's not a big city, so it doesn't have the energy or breadth of commerce/restaurants that a big city has, but being an affluent town, what is here is very good.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:

quote:

Originally posted by RichardC:
I took my dog out at 1 a.m. for a walk.

The moon was beautiful.

Well ya, because that's the only time any sane person would go outside in Florida during the summer.

quote:

Originally posted by CQB60:
See ya in S.C. in a few years

Halfbacks - people who move from places like Michigan and Wisconsin to Florida because they get tired of the snow only to find that Florida sucks for nine months of the year due to heat, humidity, direct sun, so they move halfway back.

BLOWBACKS: Yankees who moved to Fl and the hurricane blew them halfway back home. Bye.

We call them Snowbirds here. Keep the golf courses busy in the Wintertime, and return to the Midwest about May first.

I enjoy the summers in SWFL. All the tourists have left and the roads are clear. Bought in Cape Coral in 2013. We have a nice screened lanai so mosquitoes aren't an issue. I love FL so far. Always have.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
We call them Snowbirds here. Keep the golf courses busy in the Wintertime, and return to the Midwest about May first.

I have a friend who is a "reverse snowbird." His home is here in Central Florida, but he moves to his summer place in the Blue Ridge area of VA for the summer months.

I also have a few friends who have places in the NC mountains. They are pilots (coincidence maybe, but they all have Cessna 182s) and they fly up to NC for weekend and holiday get-aways.

Economically ...the area seems depressed. It's a little better than when I was growing up, but it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. There doesn't seem to be a lot of opportunities for high paying jobs.

Schools aren't great.

There is not a lot to do, and the nearest "big" city is a hike. If you are in to water sports, it is great for that. The beaches are awesome, and the fishing is good (although you have go out a ways).

The town seems to be pretty racially divided, and there is definitely a good old boy system. Pensacola really is lower Alabama... it is the deep south. I went to private school there and knew many of the old families from the area.

Lastly, I have a darker complexion and can pass for many difference races.... I got called every racial slur you can imagine growing up on a pretty regular basis. I would not want my children growing up in that environment.

quote:

Originally posted by lakeray:

quote:

Originally posted by ACTEG:

Grew up in Pensacola and currently live in central FL, would not move back to Pensacola.

My wife is considering moving there. What don't you like about it?

Thanks,
Ray

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ACTEG,

update, well went to Gulfport last week to look around. neat little town. went house hunting, found a place in st pete it's close to 37th ave north and hyw 693 zip 33710. if the inspection looks good ,i'll be moving there. had a great time there, good sea food and beer, sailing a 51' sailboat and beer and relaxing and beer...:>}

leaving 8/22

quote:

Originally posted by ACTEG:
Economically ...the area seems depressed. It's a little better than when I was growing up, but it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. There doesn't seem to be a lot of opportunities for high paying jobs.

Schools aren't great.

There is not a lot to do, and the nearest "big" city is a hike. If you are in to water sports, it is great for that. The beaches are awesome, and the fishing is good (although you have go out a ways).

The town seems to be pretty racially divided, and there is definitely a good old boy system. Pensacola really is lower Alabama... it is the deep south. I went to private school there and knew many of the old families from the area.

Lastly, I have a darker complexion and can pass for many difference races.... I got called every racial slur you can imagine growing up on a pretty regular basis. I would not want my children growing up in that environment.

quote:

Originally posted by lakeray:

quote:

Originally posted by ACTEG:

Grew up in Pensacola and currently live in central FL, would not move back to Pensacola.

My wife is considering moving there. What don't you like about it?

Thanks,
Ray

Really. I grew up in Pensacola, lived in ATL, Greensboro NC, moved back. My black friend who is transplant from up north says this is the friendliest place he has been.

Congrats! I'm in St Pete myself. Check-out Fort DeSoto State Park once you get here.

I lived in pass a grille way in the late 70's. I'm mostly retired. will be working part time on sailboats taking tourist on cruises.i'm looking forward to riding my Harley too.

well made it here, left vegas about 930 am and got here Friday morning @600 am. long drive. thank goodness my son went with me,and my two rotts. just getting stuff done before the moving van gets here.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
I like it, but it's getting busy around here.

Yes it is. There's no offseason anymore.



.

quote:

Originally posted by taz95dog:
well made it here, left vegas about 930 am and got here Friday morning @600 am. long drive. thank goodness my son went with me,and my two rotts. just getting stuff done before the moving van gets here.

Congratulations, taz95dog!



.

South Florida, on the east coast has turned into a third world shit hole. You may want to brush up on your creole and Spanish if you venture this way. Beaches are nice but other parts of the state have nice beaches without the crowded conditions. As soon as I retire I will be out of the area.

We spent 8 years in Florida, near destin. We're currently in Virginia and trying hard to get back to FL. As others have said, the climate sucks 6 months a year and I don't like constant swamp ass during the summer. But if you live on the water you can cool down easily, and the other 6 months a year are nice. I'd prefer to live in the mountains but climage isn't the only factor. We really liked most of the people we met there. Panhandle is pretty conservative and friendly.

I like visiting Miami and the keys but don't think I'd want to live there because of the people. Good luck.

Welcome to FL! I'm up in Tampa/Oldsmar. I get around all over the place for both work and fishing/diving. Gulfport is a decent little area. We have one more month of high humidity but come October the weather will be awesome.

For upcoming things to do, you have the Tampa Bay boat shows in the next week or two and the Clearwater Powerboat races coming up at on 10/1 I believe. You can head out to Pier 60 to watch them if you don't have access to a boat. Stone crab season will be starting up in October so John's Pass will have a seafood day down there in the Village to walk around and check out all of the shops.

Welcome to Florida !
Bob Kallotte here in Sarasota about an hour or so South of you. Feel free to contact me if I can help in any way.

Welcome to Florida. You may have a chance to prepare for your first hurricane! Stay frosty.