When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I typically don't share personal thoughts online in forums, but....
I just came across this thread via a link from a different thread I was checking out. I might ramble a bit, but for some reason I felt a need to post something, so bare with me.
I grew up in NY and moved to S. Florida in my mid to late 20s. This was mid 1990s. Between 1994-2004, I lived in Plantation (Ft. Lauderdale), Tampa, North Port, and Ft. Myers. Growing up, my family had time share in Marco Island, and I fell in love with it from day one. My goal was to somehow move to Marco and build a life there.
Prior to moving to FL, one time while on vacation in Marco with my family, for the hell of it, my brother and I decided to go check out some intercoastal lots. We walked into a local realtor, and they showed us around the Island and some lots not far from the hotels on the beach. we came across one lot we liked. It was a typical lot on the intercoastal, direct access (no bridge) and had some decent homes next to, and near to it. Asking price was $84k. The lot was ready to build on, sea wall, etc. We went back to our time share and discussed it. I remember my father saying, $84k? That's way too expensive! Although I knew it was the right deal at the right time, I let him talk me out of it (my dad was old school and very financially conservative). At the time, I was just starting out and even splitting it with my brother, I still would have needed a mortgage, etc. For those of you familiar with the area, I don't need to tell you what that lot is selling for today. I'm not complaining now, done enough of that over the years. Besides, I know we all have our coulda, shoulda stories. I've been looking lately, and the prices now are insane and beyond my reach unless I spend a majority of my income on it!
Fast forward a few years, and I moved to Fl. The closest I came to Marco was Ft. Myers (45 min +/-). At the time, I was in the retail business as a manager, sales person, and owner at various stages over the years. After so many years in retail , I decided on a major career change that required me to go back to school and leave Fl, ultimately working for Uncle Sam. That journey took me to DC, and even overseas for
a few years. Around 14 years later, I'm still with the Gov, and not in Fl. :-) Although somewhere in the South (and not thrilled with where I live), not Fl.
Every time I see pictures of Fl, the beach, the lifestyle, etc, I get depressed! I have wanted to move back to Fl for years, but, as the old saying goes, I'm living with golden handcuffs. I'm terrified at the thought of leaving a good gov career(specialized and not easily found elsewhere) at the age of (around 50) for the unknown. Over the course of my life, I have struggled financially, and have also done well. I know which one feels better. Yet, the thought of waiting another ten years for retirement before moving back, seems.....like an eternity. Do I take make the move now for the unknown, buy something there now for the future, or just wait it out for retirement(and assume I will be in good enough health to enjoy it). Decisions, decisions...
Anyway, I better stop there...this rant was entirely too long as is. Sorry to derail the topic. :-)
Eglin AFB is somewhat nearby. Lot's of govt contract work there. Is that a possibility?
Having said that I would not want to commute to Eglin or Hurlburt Field like my neighbor Army Captain. He leaves early early in the morning and comes home late. He loves his waterfront on the bay though. Not that Eglin is not surrounded by waterfront but its old. Things have shifted to Walton County in NW FL locationlocationlocation wise on The Emerald Coast. Hence the heavy traffic into Destin located in nearby Okaloosa County. Best to stay east of Sandestin in South Walton for anyone considering my local. One can mitigate their traffic early mornings.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Originally Posted by Sabre34
The Coastal Areas in Florida are generally referred to by the following “Coast” names:
First Coast. East coast from Georgia border to Daytona.
Space Coast. Daytona to Melbourne.
Treasure Coast. Vero Beach to Boca Raton.
Gold Coast. Fort Lauderdale to Key Largo.
Lee Island Coast. Key West to Port Charlotte.
Cultural Coast. Port Charlotte to Bradenton.
Sun Coast. St Petersburg Tampa Clearwater.
Nature Coast. New Port Richey to Apalachacola.
Forgotten Coast. Apalachacola to Panama City.
Emerald Coast. Panama City to Pensacola.
and the 2 secret ones:
Christian Republican rust belter coast= Sarasota to Naples on the gulf side.
Hebrew coast= South of St. Augustine to Miami on the Atlantic coast
My wife and I both grew up in FL and spent our working lives there as well. Mostly the Gulf Coast/Tampa Bay area. We saw a wonderful state with lots of fishing and beach access become a clogged traffic jam with hysteria broadcast by the media every hurricane season. It became a joke. Mansions and condos blocked way too much access as the years went by. Cheap insurance disappeared with Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and made it almost impossible to afford if you had a nicer home. Counties raising taxes non-stop finally did us in, along with the worsening traffic, and we now live comfortably here in the western mountains where traffic is an unknown word and taxes are about the same as when we retired here 15 years ago. January and February are lousy winter months for us but we enjoy the changing seasons and holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas where you don't sweat when you go outside. Also, not a love bug in sight. We don't miss those stinkin' creatures trying to destroy your car's paint every May and September. If you have money and are retired, Florida can still be heaven if you live on the water and don't need to fight the traffic. Unfortunately that's not us. We miss our old Florida and when we visit occasionally in the winter, it is sad to see what has happened to it. If you had the pleasure of living in FL in the 60's and 70's you know what we are talking about. As the saying goes, you can never go back.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
1S florida is one of the the only placed that stays lush green all year around and is best suited for winter snowbirds-
2 the west is for rust belt , midwest and farm state transplant christian white conservative normal people and canadians and you will fit like a glove
3 the east side of the south florida is for everyone else
4 If you are young/under 50 and wish to have a carerer in fla, sw florida is " not" for you because the economy is not broad based, it is vacaTION CENTRIC, seasonal and for senior snowbirds. You will hate it.
5 if you have money and want to be private and live next to white people, Naples FL is heaven for you- no one else lives there
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Originally Posted by Sabre34
The Coastal Areas in Florida are generally referred to by the following “Coast” names:
First Coast. East coast from Georgia border to Daytona.
Space Coast. Daytona to Melbourne.
Treasure Coast. Vero Beach to Boca Raton.
Gold Coast. Fort Lauderdale to Key Largo.
Lee Island Coast. Key West to Port Charlotte.
Cultural Coast. Port Charlotte to Bradenton.
Sun Coast. St Petersburg Tampa Clearwater.
Nature Coast. New Port Richey to Apalachacola.
Forgotten Coast. Apalachacola to Panama City.
Emerald Coast. Panama City to Pensacola.
rust belt bluehair coast= swfl from sarasota to naples
Although Florida is extremely popular for its warm (winter) weather & no state income taxes, it was dinged in scoring for its relatively very high crime rate & poor health ratings by www.bankrate.com on July 12, 2018. Bankrate is a Personal Finance website.
Our local paper quotes "Walton County in the panhandle of Florida ranked as the nation's 21st fastest growing county in 2015-16...Walton County's population increased from 65,440 to 68,376 between 2016 and 2017, according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau...News records show Walton was also the state's third fastest growing county between 2013 and 2014". Walton County stands out for having the lowest county property taxes out of the 67 Florida counties but that's all covered in later posts. www.visitsouthwalton.com is the attraction.
Be that as it may, thefastest growing county in Florida is Sumter County in central Florida,led by The Villages,which is the premier active adult retirement community in Florida. The Villages has the oldest median age of any U.S. county. 2010-2017 population change in Sumter County is up 32.8% (94,279 to 125,165). It has its own social, charity based club of vette owners living in "The Villages".
I'm still about 8 years or so until I retire but I may be calling you sooner than later as I need to plan ahead. Your location looks fantastic. Stay tuned my friend and keep your phone close by.
1S florida is one of the the only placed that stays lush green all year around and is best suited for winter snowbirds-
2 the west is for rust belt , midwest and farm state transplant christian white conservative normal people and canadians and you will fit like a glove
3 the east side of the south florida is for everyone else
4 If you are young/under 50 and wish to have a carerer in fla, sw florida is " not" for you because the economy is not broad based, it is vacaTION CENTRIC, seasonal and for senior snowbirds. You will hate it.
5 if you have money and want to be private and live next to white people, Naples FL is heaven for you- no one else lives there
Do you happen to live in Naples? If so, do you know the guy that bought that 48.8 million $$$ mansion (built in 1994) at 2500 Gordon Drive and then tore it down?
The one that brought us to FL for my first OFFICIAL STATE VISIT while on 10-day excursion back in 1990.
That picture reminds me every day on why I want to move South...especially now that Winter has set in. Stay tuned...you may get a call from me sooner than later.
Party is over for now. Good advice, double check everything as it changes by the minute. What a pain trying to get back to Michigan and deciphering what is what between the various states then it all changes . Stay safe all !
We are in our 70s and because we are more susceptible to this virus we are sheltering in place and only going out when absolutely necessary so this might be a good time to pull the front seats out of my 2006 104,500 baby.
In the very NE corner of Florida (Amelia Island) and the beaches are closed as of this weekend. Our private golf course is still open for play but the municipal course is closed. Not a whole lot to do
04-07-2018, 10:35 AM
perhaps a bit of a rant...
That journey took me to DC, and even overseas for
It's been over 6 years now. How much longer?
Good advice, double check everything as it changes by the minute. What a pain trying to get back to Michigan and deciphering what is what between the various states then it all changes . Stay safe all !
