Living in Florida

pine island fred

Lieutenant Junior Grade
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Dec 20, 2002
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1,144
Re: Living in Florida

BWE1953, apologize if it sounded like all midwest people have drinking problems. Should have been much more specific and said PINE ISLAND. As a local popular shirt says A DRINKING VILLAGE with a FISHING PROBLEM.
PI is one of those end of the road places, a bit like EVERGLADE CITY. Deserted in the summer, in season we become infested with people from MICH. and WIS. , spreading their money around, good thing. These people are enjoying their golden years boating and fishing, which for some odd reason I cant explain, also includes beer. Night activities abound with lot of choices of playing cards or bar hopping.
Sunday mornings they clean up their act and go to late morning church services followed by an all afternoon pit stop at the MOOSE, LEGION or VFW, probably drinking cokes. You can tell what kind of week its been by listening to the recycling truck emptying the bins up and down the street. There are a few in denial like my neighbor who puts his burbon bottles in the regular trash or my recycl bin. One neighbor from KY., a stand up baptist, will not allow anything in his house and instead keeps his wine jug in my outside beer refrigerator. Says he leaves it there for my wife.
Just telling it like its is. As they have been telling me at the meetings most of my life, admiting you have a problem is the first step to recovery. Maby someday someone on this island will get the message. regards FRED
 

skargo

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Sep 14, 2008
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4,640
Re: Living in Florida

"Sounds like MD". . . .Bwaaaaaahahahaha!!

Maybe take your own advice :) MD is VERY hot, and very humid in the summer. I notice you never lived here ;)

I owned a house, and a condo for many years in Cocoa Beach. While I didn't reside there I spent plenty of time there. Of course FL is hotter, it's closer to the equator duuuuh :D

All I said was sounds like MD, I didn't say MD was hotter, or even as hot as FL. I'm not trying to take away your title of most amazing place in the universe to live, sheesh!
 

skargo

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Re: Living in Florida

Yeah I didn't mention Julaugust when I suggested central Florida. That is when the heat and humidity numbers here are both 90+ for at least a month or so. Everyone has their months of unbearable weather unless you live in San Diego. Bonus is during hurricane season you already live where the coastal folks evacuate to during a hurricane.
I lived in San Diego twice.
The first time, we experienced some crazy Santa Anna winds. Our house had no AC. The wind was HOT, like sticking your head in an industrial dryer. I had a motorcycle, and I was sweating riding it! Never experienced anything like that anywhere else.
Other than that, San Diego has some glorious weather! :D
 

rainman99

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Apr 13, 2009
Messages
207
Re: Living in Florida

WOW what great advice. The weather thing sounds a little discouraging, and man eating snakes:eek: .Searching alot of the areas that have been suggested the lake county looks nice and the northern area too. Thanks so much for all the advice.
 

Expidia

Commander
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Aug 26, 2006
Messages
2,368
Re: Living in Florida

Pick up a copy of "Places Rated". Great book. Comes out every 5 years.

Compares about 350 cities as to 9 various categories like quailty of hospitals, transportation, weather, jobs, cost of housing, CRIME etc . . . The warmer the climate the higher the crime rate!

This way you can categorize whats "most" important to you and your Wife.

Then spend several days vacation in each several areas/cities that you have zeroed in on.
I was contemplating a move from NY to Atlanta GA several years ago. We have taken about 4 several day vacations there over the last few years seeing if it fits us.

Spent some time in Charleston too because we love the ocean. Been going to FL for 40 years for vacations but I couldn't live there unless I was super-rich, had a house (in a gated community) directly on a canal just off the inter coastal and owned at least a 45 foot plus cabin cruiser that is docked on the canal behind my house! But if I could affords all that I'd rather live in Southern CA like around Newport Beach-Laguna area where the weather is amazing all year round.

Go into a Barnes and Noble or Borders. Buy a cup of coffee and take a copy of it off the shelf. Sit in a chair and page through it. I bet you buy it.

Or buy a copy off Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Places-Rated-...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267230246&sr=8-1

Read some of the reviews of people who bought the book:

http://www.amazon.com/Places-Rated-...dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

It's the most complete study of cities to live in I've ever read!

Hahahaha . . . Rainman . . . I just noticed your nickname . . . Dat's a good one . . . keep it because if you move to southern FL, you'll fit right in since it rains every 15 minutes certain times of the year there :D
 

ezbtr

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May 1, 2002
Messages
3,087
Re: Living in Florida

i LOVED Ocala, FL. Was there quite a few times for work a few years back and was amazed at the horses they raise!!??? Ive been all over FL., and that was my favorite place, fishing is amazing in that whole state. But again, although I worked there A LOT all over, I havent lived there, but it sure was pretty....
 

TilliamWe

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Dec 21, 2004
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Re: Living in Florida

WOW what great advice. The weather thing sounds a little discouraging, and man eating snakes:eek: .Searching alot of the areas that have been suggested the lake county looks nice and the northern area too. Thanks so much for all the advice.

In my opinion Northern Florida is the worst of both worlds. Low wages and it still gets cold/snows. I can get that anywhere.
I wouldn't sweat the man eating snakes, though. The gators don't bother you during the day cause it's TOO HOT, the snakes would be the same way.
 

JustJason

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Aug 27, 2007
Messages
5,321
Re: Living in Florida

JB said:
"Sounds like MD". . . .Bwaaaaaahahahaha!!

Hahahaha... Tell me about it. I'm a Mass native that lived in Orlando for 2 years. New England, no matter if your a the tip of Maine or the very bottom of NY, Is nothing like Florida.

Here's what Florida is like from May Till Sept....

Want to go fishing??? Nahh... to hot, want to sit inside and enjoy the AC

Want to go golfing??? Nahh... to hot, and if we don't finnish the 18 holes I paid for were going to get downpored on, + find a place to hide from the lightning, I want to sit inside and enjoy the AC

Want to go to a theme park??? Nahh... to hot, the rollercoaster seats burn my tush, its going to pour in the afternoon, I want to sit inside and enjoy the AC

Want to go the the beach??? Nahh... to hot, plus the sand is to hot to walk on without causing 2nd degree burns on the bottom of your fee. I want to sit inside and enjoy the AC.

Want to go out to eat this afternoon???? Nahh... to hot, plus I don't want to get caught in the rain, the ground is so wet around here it practically floods the roads, I want to sit inside and enjoy the AC

Want to catch a movie... it's air conditioned??? nahhh, can't afford to, my electric bill was $450 this month.

Want to BBQ tonight... Nahhh Don't like flying cockroaches.
Unlike their northern bretheren, palmetto bugs don't scurry when you turn on the lights, they are huge, and tell your wife this.... They fly like bumble bees. Not uncommon for one to hit the grill.

But from Oct to April it's beautiful down there.

If your really thinking about FL. Do a 6 month rental during the summer months before you commit to moving down there. Especially if your not planning on being snowbirds.
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Messages
51,019
Re: Living in Florida

i could say, just the opposite for winter up north. too dang cold to do anything. Palmetto bugs are controlled buy the pest control man. we have the once a year service, on a 60 year old house, no bugs. they also do the yard. the city controls the mosquitos.

now, if you move to the boonies, swamp, you are on your own.
 

skargo

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Re: Living in Florida

Hahahaha... Tell me about it. I'm a Mass native that lived in Orlando for 2 years. New England, no matter if your a the tip of Maine or the very bottom of NY, Is nothing like Florida.

Since when is MD in New England, or even close to MASS? HAHAHAHAHAHA sheesh x10!
 

BWR1953

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Jan 23, 2009
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Re: Living in Florida

I know MD is not part of NE, but which region is it considered? Mid Atlantic? Costal Plains?
It's south of the Mason/Dixon line, so it's southern.

I grew up in MD and went back there for 10 years from 1988 till 1998. Yes, it does get hotter there than it does here. Never been over 99 degrees here in recorded history. Can't say that about MD, where it routinely got over 100 during the summer, PLUS have a drought at the same time. In 1997, we had 11 weeks with no rain and a couple weeks with temps over 100 each day.

Our dry season down here is winter, with May being the driest, which makes the summer t-storms very enjoyable when they finally arrive.

As others have said, it's the consistency of the heat that gets to folks. About August, they start hoping for things to cool down... then have to wait another month or TWO before it actually happens.
 

Bigprairie1

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Jun 13, 2007
Messages
2,568
Re: Living in Florida

I'm with JustJason on this. I wouldn't move anywhere unless I spent at least a good 6 months there renting and checking it out. Lots of changes involved that you may or may not like.:eek:
Weather and particularly temperature has never a been a factor in people's happiness or quality of life so do some homework on where you are considering moving to and from.
Good Luck
BP:):D:rolleyes:
 

rainman99

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Apr 13, 2009
Messages
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Re: Living in Florida

WOW the more post we read about Florida summers it sounds like there should be a state of emergency declaired, people evacuated, FEMA and the national guard brought in. Wait a minnute thats for huricanes. Guess that another reason summers suck there. Ok the wife is starting to think southern Nevada (May become a new tread) Living in Nevada.
 

JaSla74

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Oct 14, 2008
Messages
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Re: Living in Florida

WOW the more post we read about Florida summers it sounds like there should be a state of emergency declaired, people evacuated, FEMA and the national guard brought in. Wait a minnute thats for huricanes. Guess that another reason summers suck there. Ok the wife is starting to think southern Nevada (May become a new tread) Living in Nevada.

Take it all with a grain of salt. Everyone has an opinion & their big fish story. Lots of big fish stories in this state:D.

I think Florida is a great state. I've always loved it, always wanted to move here, & have enjoyed every minute since transferring down.

I feel the 1st few summers in any Gulf Region state are going to tough until you become acclimated to them. I worked with some guys from KC while living in Baton Rouge (I'm from Louisiana) & they were absolutely miserable during the summer months. I thought nothing of it.

I assume the same would go for southerns moving up north. I spent a Christmas in MN & that was the coldest I'd ever been, but I'm sure if I lived there a few seasons there, love it or hate it, I'd eventually become acclimated to it. Of coarse that could be tough for me, because I don't care for cold weather or snow.

It's all personal preference. Every state will have its draw backs. I heard horror stories of bugs, gators, & humidity before moving here from Arkansas. However, I felt last August was more tolerable here, because the heat wasn't stagnant. I also didn't have to put on a can of Off just to go outside. The mosquitoes, at least where I'm at, are nothing compared to where I lived. The only gators I've seen were at the Alligator Farm.

Florida is a great state. I recommend central to northern regions. The state has a lot offer & it's easy to fit in. I love it.
 

JustJason

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Aug 27, 2007
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Re: Living in Florida

skargo said:
Since when is MD in New England, or even close to MASS? HAHAHAHAHAHA sheesh x10!

Doh.... I just looked at a map and you by all means are correct sir!!! For whatever reason I thought MD was next to connecticut. my bad. :)
 

Shamus O'toole

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Jan 4, 2009
Messages
254
Re: Living in Florida

If you don't like the heat stay out of Florida...I for one love it. Winterize your boat??? whats that??? Not in florida.
 

TilliamWe

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Re: Living in Florida

If you don't like the heat stay out of Florida...I for one love it. Winterize your boat??? whats that??? Not in florida.

Didn't you have several nights well below freezing just a month ago? You may not have to winterize your boat, but you would be smart to drain manifolds and the block, if you have an I/O!

The summer was hot when I lived in FL from March 1995 to July 1998, but having a boat and jumping into the water was the best way to beat it! I fully recommend that!
 

BWR1953

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6,283
Re: Living in Florida

WOW the more post we read about Florida summers it sounds like there should be a state of emergency declaired, people evacuated, FEMA and the national guard brought in. Wait a minnute thats for huricanes. Guess that another reason summers suck there. Ok the wife is starting to think southern Nevada (May become a new tread) Living in Nevada.
Nahh... don't let all those stories scare ya away. I've lived in FL 3 times and I'll never move away again. It's paradise, ah tells ya! :D
 

BWR1953

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Jan 23, 2009
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6,283
Re: Living in Florida

Forgot to mention that I've lived in MD, DC, VA, TX, WA, CO, OH, WV, CA (southern & northern), Australia and FL. I love FL the best of all. Been here 12 years this go around.

Not just for the awesome climate (it's springlike for 6 months of the year), but for no state income tax, relative gun freedom (you can keep a loaded handgun in your glovebox for self defense - try THAT in MD), variety of climate (colder in the northern part) and low cost of living.

It really is a great place to live.
 
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