Mrs Blindref retired early so it was time to make the move from Pennsylvania to Florida to be close to our son and his family. Her Nana clock has been ticking hard so we moved 20 minutes away from them to be close to our 6 year old granddaughter, and 4 year old twin grandsons. It's pretty awesome to be treated like a rock star when they see me. They actually like me.

We moved to St Augustine and are about 30 minutes from the beaches. The weather has been perfect, but I know we are in for hot and humid starting in a few weeks.

We are also about 15 minutes away from Top Gun Supply St Augustine. It's been a while since I ordered from them having worked at a gun shop and range in PA and being able to get what I needed through work. I'm looking forward to stopping in their store and checking it out. Sooner or later I need to get a job so maybe Tom and Michelle are hiring??

Florida government is much more efficient than PA. It only took 55 minutes to get my drivers license, register my truck, register to vote, and get my LTCF. The people down here are also much more friendly and helpful. Go to Home Depot and usually no less than 3 or 4 employees ask you if you need help, when in PA their motto seems to be "don't make eye contact".

Life has been crazy and busy these last few years. Moving from a house you've lived in for almost 35 years isn't easy. Especially when your significant other can't throw stuff away, but we're finally settled in and have some time to enjoy life for a minute.

Hopefully I'll also have the opportunity to spend more time here again on the Forum.

Have you decided on an alligator load for your favorite CC yet?

Congratulations! I want Texas, but haven't convinced my SO yet.

Welcome to Florida.

Yes the state government is way more efficient. I learned that when we moved here from New Jersey almost 25 years ago and we are a lot more friendly to the 2nd amendment.

When we moved I was amazed at how much stuff we accumulated when we live in New Jersey and how much we donated after we got here to get rid of it.

Yes it is going to get very hot in the next few months however one thing you need to be prepared for is Hurricane season.
Starts in June and runs till the end of November. Just make sure you are not scrambling at the last minute for supplies. Our first big hurricane back in 2004 caught me a little off guard.
P.S. it is not just during hurricane season we can get bad storms so always keep an eye on the weather.

Try to be as prepaid as possible in the beginning of the season, it creates a lot less stress if and when a hurricane is coming.

Congratulations, sounds like a great move, a good life-changing decision.

quote:

Originally posted by blindref
Life has been crazy and busy these last few years. Moving from a house you've lived in for almost 35 years isn't easy.

Yes, when we moved from CA to TX 7 years ago, it was perhaps the most difficult project we ever took on. State to state ain't easy. But worth every minute.

Congrats!
My folks are there 1/2 time, have been for about 30 years, but haven’t experienced the speed of the government..
Glad you’re loving it!

Nothing better than spoiling the grandkids.
Enjoy!

Congrats on the move! St. Augustine is a really nice place to retire. My wife & I visited there 2 October dates in a row. We were never without something new to do or explore! Being northeners, (NH) the weather was perfect for us! We stayed at a place at St, Augustine Beach. Hope you enjoy retirement!!!

St Augustine is nice. We are down in Ormond Beach. You would have to put a gun to my head to convince me me move back north.

quote:

and get my LTCF.

Sucks about the long-term care facility, but welcome to Florida besides that. Have you looked into getting a concealed weapons license (CWL)?

Welcome! Glad to have you here.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:

quote:

and get my LTCF.

Sucks about the long-term care facility, but welcome to Florida besides that. Have you looked into getting a concealed weapons license (CWL)?

- back in PA it was a License To Carry a Firearm.
Lots of new terminology I need to learn. Yes Sir, I got my CWL all in one shot.

Welcome! we are up in Orange Park, approx. 20 miles from you. Don't worry about the heat and humidity, you'll get used to it. Here's a short list of things to get:
Generator (with extended fuel tank) to keep the refer, lights and comms up. recommend Honda eu2200i.
Gas cans (at least 6) 5 gallon size
Propane tanks for the grill and emergency cooking
Several 20x30 tarps
if you have trees get a chain saw
a couple of spare small box fans
a good yard guy, your yard will get away from you quickly.
a plat map of your local area to see where the water accumulates. its not unusual to get 20+ inches of rain in a few days time.
a couple of sturdy garden hoses, the sun will kill a normal hose in 1 or 2 seasons.
Do not use ethanol gas in your equipment use ethanol free (marine grade). also use stabil in all the small gas engines.

If you have any questions just post up there are multiple sigforum members in this area, I would be happy to help .


ETA: learn and bookmark Weather.gov keep it on your phone and desktop get into the habit of checking it daily to learn the local weather patterns.
also you are just minutes away from Greg Cote LLC. so magazines arrive quickly!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ltz400,

Congratutlations on the move, and welcome to the South!

Congrats on the move from the cold north to the wet heat... And just remember grandparents duties include spoiling the grand kids and filling them up with plenty of sugar items before sending them home to their parents..................................... drill sgt.

Welcome from Central Florida!

St. Augustine area is beautiful.

It's nice to see our members moving to Florida. Welcome.

Congrats.

You are really going to miss digging out from these PA winters right…LOL

We were in Orlando last February and it was just so disorienting to step outside and it’s 89° as I walked to the pool, back home it’s 3 feet of snow and 20°.

I’m sure you’ll get used to it!

Welcome to Paradise. The weather is generally wonderful, but was a little chilly this winter.

We have about a month of Spring, then our Summer which generally lasts till around the 1st part of December.

If you like warm, you'll love it here and, IMO, there's just nothing better than coming in from outside in the Summer and feeling the cool A/C in your house. A cold Sweet Tea (you may prefer something stronger) and, later, burgers or hot dogs on the grill (maybe air fryer if you prefer). That's what we did yesterday.

I hope you love this place as much as we do.

Bob

During hurricane season, stock up
Water
Beer
Generator
Bring in the window screens
Chainsaw
Food
Batteries
Gasoline
Propane

You can cut plywood and paint it for the windows and it’s a once time payment. Bring in the screens so they don’t get damaged, after the storm moves off you will be able to keep the skeeters out.

Power usually isn’t out for more than a week at most

Congrats. I’d like to be a snowbird. We usually visit St Augustine when we go to Daytona in October.