Hey Florida folks

[Ntlange]

I have lived here, land locked, in this icy he'll we call wyoming my entire life. When my wife graduates with her PHD I keep hinting to want to live somewhere nice, say Florida maybe. Hehe. Anyway I hear that during the summer the heat and humidity are horrendous. What do you guys think who live there? I guess the question is especially aimed at those who have recently moved/ retired there.

Thanks

 

[Andy S]

Living along the coast of Florida is the place to be, the humidity and heat are lower than living in the central part of the state plus there is typically some amount of a breeze. No matter where you move, there will be some amount of time to acclimate to the weather. I bet @tim h has some good input on this since he recently moved from Wisconsin to Florida.

edit: I grew up in Clearwater, FL before leaving.

 

[CrankyGypsy]

I moved here from gloomy/snowy Erie, PA in 2001. the past few summers I've sworn I'm getting out of this sweat-fest. then winter rolls in and I convince myself it's really not so bad.

but summer always comes back around...

 

[Just1more]

I dream of moving to Florida....every. Single. Winter. I hate Illinois Winters.

 

[blacksapphirez]

how are the property taxes & insurance in FL?

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

I lived in taxachusetts for 20 years moved here to St Pete Florida in 1972 never looked back. I hate the cold weather and in the Gulf of Mexico the water seldom gets below 60 in the winter. There is NO state INCOME tax . Property is very affordable and even though it is hotter in the summer than Massachusetts , I recall the summers being pretty brutal due to the humidity and the bugs back there. So if you sit in the house all winter wishing for summer to arrive maybe you should take a trip to Florida and check it out. I went to L A in 1972 and St Pete hands down I liked it here way better and the water was a lot warmer. And you can save a bunch of money on snow tires.

 

[CrankyGypsy]

well, if you're gonna bring L.A. into the conversation

I visit my friend out there (Alhambra) any chance I can get: perfect, consistent weather with every type of terrain. you can paddle board out to the Pacific from Marina Del Rey, hike the mountains, or snowboard Big Bear in a t-shirt ....all in the same week and within 1.5 hours. if it wasn't for the ridiculous cost of living (despite CA being broke?) and the drought problem, I'd be doing anything I could to relocate.

 

[Ronnie]

Drought is over, if not officially yet. Some of The Tahoe resorts got 5 feet of snow in the past week and last year we had a good rain season as well. I think you can boat comfortably all year in s cal but not n cal, it gets cold and it rains from November through March but never snows.

Every county collects a 1% luxury tax on boats that are kept there. Sales tax varies by county and there is a 1% to 2% annual tax on property. Real estate costs are outrageous and most homes are on 1/4 acre not acres like some of you may be used to. I don't know about the state being broke but think it depends on the source of information. The party that wants California to separate from the rest of the u.s. claims that Ca has the 20th largest economy in the world.

All that said, if I could I'd move but only to s cal for the better weather.

 

[Drift Away]

I just got transfer down here to tarpon springs in May as far as living goes the Summers definitely get hot and humid but there's no better boating around. Tons of islands good people you just have to deal with the afternoon rain shower

 

[tim h]

I just got transfer down here to tarpon springs in May as far as living goes the Summers definitely get hot and humid but there's no better boating around. Tons of islands good people you just have to deal with the afternoon rain shower

Exactly ...

 

[Benny Sibbitt]

move to the coast, hands down!

 

[COtoFLsurf]

Just moved to Key Largo after 28 years in Denver, so pretty good comparison for Casper. We love CO and did it right for 28 years, but it was simply time for a new adventure. We wanted a place that was warm year-round, on the water, access to major airport, cool laid-back vibe, and for those reasons Key Largo is perfect for us. Our house is on a canal adjacent John Pennekamp State Park so boat is on a lift in the backyard and we SUP/kayak all the time thru the mangrove trails. We moved end of June which is the beginning of the summer season, but acclimated quickly to the new climate and learned that this is simply the land of "many showers" and "constant laundry", all different than Denver and all part of the adventure. As others have hinted, you want to be on the water if at all possible, and in fact we would not have moved here if we could not have been on the water. No state income tax, so my wife and I both got an immediate 5% raise. Property taxes are 1%, so on par with CO. We are digging the Keys. Still working on getting the boat dialed-in for surfing in the shallow waters, but we are also enjoying so many other watersports including SUP, snorkel/diving, spearfishing, and of course year-round Sandbar Sundays. Deciding factor for us: if we don't like it, we move. ;-)

 

[2nazt]

I love it here been here going on 3 years and it's great. The heat and humidity isn't that bad compared to living in VA it got brutal! We have coastal winds along the Atlantic where I am. Also remember you will may be working depending on status and most jobs are inside and in A/C plus you have A/C in the car and house. So I don't mind it at all. I'll put up with hot and sweaty for a few hours then I'll go jump off the boat and take a swim.

I spent Friday all day on the boat it was great!

 

[Scuba_ref]

Enough already....some of us can't move!!!!!

 

[2nazt]

Enough already....some of us can't move!!!!!

Oh ya forgot it is cold up North haha!

 

[McMark]

We have a place in Daytona Beach Shores for when we retire. I'm trying to get the mrs to move now. She thinks the summers will be awful so at least for now we will have a place in PA to retreat for the summer. I'd move tomorrow if it were me.

 

[Scuba_ref]

Oh ya forgot it is cold up North haha!

When I said some of us can't move - I meant it literally, we are frozen to the ground!

 

[robert cabrerea]

Living on the 1st coast. North east coast florida has been my best choice ever. Moderate winters...ussually... (it was only 30 degrees this past Monday but 75 degrees today ), and long hot summers We also have the best boating around the mighty St johns river and its tributaries. Great boat ramps are excellent and the fishing is amazing. Have not seen a pair of gloves or an ice scraper in 10 years. What are you all waiting for.!!!!

 

[ToddW850]

I'd highly recommend a move to Florida. I live in Destin, which is in the Panhandle between Pensacola and Panama City. You can't beat the water and beaches. I've lived here my whole life. However, sometimes I dream of snow....no, seriously, I wish it would snow more. We do get all the seasons in the Panhandle. It was just down to 27 degrees here last cold front that moved through. But back in the 70's this week. I kid you not, people have been paddle boarding and swimming in the water this week.

 

[Zarrella]

No sorry....Florida is full. Stay up north!
Just kidding....I have lived here for 54 years. Yes it is hot as hell.....but we like it that way.