The Jax beach area is nice otherwise I would skip Jax.

I've had a place on Blue Ridge lake for thirty + years but haven't moved there full time. Danggit.

There is a growing community of retirees in B.R. Area is still pretty rural but most services are available. The medical community is improving to deal with the newcomers. Just two hours or so to Atlanta and that means lots of weekenders. Mid week the lake and town are not crowded.

The lake is a TVA impoundment. Flood control is near the top of the list so the lake is drawn down each fall and filled again in the spring. It is full about five months of the year. Right now it is 14 feet from full pool. A pain for dock owners. There is a year round boat ramp. Fishing is fair. Bass, walleye, bream, catfish are the main catches. Good trout fishing in the tailrace and heavily stocked mountain streams.

My email is in my profile if you have specific questions.

I could not recommend Jax-too much traffic and you would not like the politics. Some nice friendly gun clubs, though.

If beautiful beaches and fishing are priorities, I would check out the area between Destin and Panama City. The beaches are beautiful, fishing out of Destin is great, and some good shooting venues in the Eglin AFB area. There is a new airport, The Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, nearby and Southwest flies in there. This is a solidly conservative area. There might be some opportunities there since hurricane Michael smashed through there this summer.

will you be snow birding or static ?

a neighbor has been going down too Gulf shores ,AL for four winters, ( two months at a time)

he speaks highly of it

What are your needs for the ocean? Just looking at it, swimming in it, or fishing in it? The beaches on the MS coast are not very good. You need to head east of Mobile to get the really good beaches. Baldwin County, AL all the way past Panama City is pure white sand.

Of your list, I'm very partial to Blue Ridge. That's my family's favorite vacation spot.

If you are looking at Jacksonville proper, I would suggest moving further South to Ponte Vedra beach or to the St. Augustine area (or palm coast). Jacksonville has grown tremendously and traffic (as noted above) is horrendous on a good day. I lived and worked in Southside near the Town Center mall. If you are ok with a longer drive to the beach, Orange Park/Fleming Island are also options, and have more conservative local politics.

If you are retiring, having a part time job would be easier to find in Duval county, but if you are looking for quiet, I would move further away from Jacksonville.

Jax? Slightly to it north, Fernandina beach area

Florida panhandle. Destin, Fort Walton, Panama City, etc.

I was considering asking a similar question as I hope to have a southern place...small condo more than likely when I retire. It's still about five years off, but I'm thinking about it. All along I'd considered the midwest coast of Florida, but after the last election, I don't want to move to a place that could turn solid Dem and then perhaps change tax status there. Is that a real concern or am I paranoid? As alternates, I'd thought of the Alabama or Georgia coasts. I know they're not as tax friendly as FL, but better than some states, while maintaining good conservatism and mild winters.

quote:

Originally posted by doublesharp:

quote:

The GA mountains are kind of weird.

Says a guy from Florida... doesn't get weirder than the sunshine state.

Might hear a little backwoods banjo music in Georgia is all

Just a cue to paddle faster

quote:

Originally posted by 6guns:
I was considering asking a similar question as I hope to have a southern place...small condo more than likely when I retire. It's still about five years off, but I'm thinking about it. All along I'd considered the midwest coast of Florida, but after the last election, I don't want to move to a place that could turn solid Dem and then perhaps change tax status there. Is that a real concern or am I paranoid? As alternates, I'd thought of the Alabama or Georgia coasts. I know they're not as tax friendly as FL, but better than some states, while maintaining good conservatism and mild winters.

I am definitely concerned about 2020 here in FL. The GDC have been using ballot measures here to acccomplish actions that the legislature would never be able to push through.

A recent example that will bite conservatives in the rear end is the decision to automatically re-enfranchise more than a million felons in the state. There existed a prior process for re-enfranchisement for former felons, but few were willing to spend the time or effort to send in their petitions for reinstatement. Felons will be yet another reliably Democratic voting block.

In addition, Hurricane Maria and the ensuing disaster in Puerto Rico resulted in a substantial number of Puerto Ricans resettling in Central Florida. Puerto Ricans overwhelmingly lean left politically, and no doubt will maintain permanent residences here in Florida.

In 2020, there is already a ballot measure that would ban any semi-auto rifle capable of accepting detachable magazines holding more than 7 rounds.

https://ballotpedia.org/Florid...on_Initiative_(2020)

^^^ That's the kind of shit that scares me!

quote:

Blue Ridge Georgia area

No brainer. Seriously, this has to be a prank, or you've got serious ties to the other areas.

No.
Brainer!

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:

quote:

Blue Ridge Georgia area

No brainer. Seriously, this has to be a prank, or you've got serious ties to the other areas.

No.
Brainer!

i agree

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I live in Gulfport. Close to Biloxi. Have lived in mutiple states. Very gun friendly compared to Colorado. Low property taxes. Hurricanes that cause issues about every ten years. Good fishing, have not had a freeze yet this year. South Mississippi much COOLER in summer than rest of state. Humidity is high compared to Colorado. One hour from Mobile and New Orleans. MUCH less expensive than Destin and South Florida. Huge military presence with second largest Medical facility for Air Force, Navy CB base etc.

Suggest you visit and then decide. Lots of retired military.

I have parents who live In St.Augustine and is one of the considerations but that place is getting crowded fast also like the Denver area. I love fishing, preferably salt water vs fresh and my wife wants to be near water. As for Biloxi it does not have to be there but I'd like to be within an hours drive of ocean water including Alabama. I will be retired in August and probably looking for something to keep me out of trouble part time. My wife is a nurse and she will continue to work. She does home infusions also and would like to retain her customers in CO. which means being quasi near an airport.

quote:

I have parents who live In St.Augustine and is one of the considerations but that place is getting crowded fast also like the Denver area. I love fishing, preferably salt water vs fresh and my wife wants to be near water. As for Biloxi it does not have to be there but I'd like to be within an hours drive. I will be retired in August and probably looking for something to keep me out of trouble part time. My wife is a nurse and she will continue to work. She does home infusions also and would like to retain her customers in CO. which means being quasi near an airport.

There is a regional airport with daily flights to Atlanta, Houston etc. It is located just off I 10 in Gulfport.

quote:

Originally posted by steelcityfishanddive:
The Jax beach area is nice otherwise I would skip Jax.

Does Jacksonville still have that "Paper Mill Smell".

Would vote for Blue Ridge. We visit there frequently to see Dr, shopping or just being a tourist. We moved to Murphy, NC from St Pete, Fl and love it up here. We can be outside for more than 10 min at a time without breakng a sweat. Most people here are from FL, many part time. Blue Ridge is 30 min drive. Getting much more real estate and property for your money here than in FL.
We have a new place in Jacksonville, Atlantic Beach to see family more often. Beach area is nice ( you can bring your dog to the beach) and shopping is everywhere. But we really prefer to spend time in the mountains. Never been to Biloxi.

quote:

Originally posted by GWbiker:

quote:

Originally posted by steelcityfishanddive:
The Jax beach area is nice otherwise I would skip Jax.

Does Jacksonville still have that "Paper Mill Smell".

Yes, there and Fernandina Beach (which got hit pretty hard by a hurricane a few years back).

Coastal GA is another consideration.....something like Brunswick/Sea Island GA is nice.