Relocating to South Florida / Keys area

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jar546:
Although some may not consider it South Florida, I recently purchased a 2nd home in St Lucie County over on the east coast. I am approximately 2 hours south of Orlando, 1.5 hours north of Fort Lauderdale and about 3.5 hours from Tavernier/Islamorada where I like to dive when in the Keys. The area is much nicer than the Keys as far as infrastructure is concerned and I don't think you have to worry about getting "island fever" which I have been told about. We were able to secure a home at a very reasonable price, much less than it would cost to build and it is in a gated community. Choose wisely but if you want to be closer to your sibling then it sounds like the Keys it is for you. I am not sure about the school district but you can do a search for Port St. Lucie Florida Schools. Good luck.
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We too, bought in St Lucie County a few years ago. If we had really appreciated Blue Heron Bridge at that time, we might have bought a little further south--Hobe Sound/Jupiter south to Palm Beach Gardens. BHB is a world class muck dive. We see stuff there we never see on the reef, lots of macro but consider this--I've seen more Eagle Rays diving the bridge the last few years than I ever saw elsewhere................................plus Batfish, Sea Robins, Flying Gurnards and many more critters are fairly common at the bridge. It IS a unique spot!
 
I too have been looking to FL. The above posted link helped a lot as far as schools go. I have an 8th grader, which means she will be in high school next year. Her education is very important to me, much like yourself. We very much want to be on the east coast with the ability to do beach dives but yet travel to get on boats. We are hoping to make the move before she starts 9th grade. A couple of books that I have gotten are Ned Deloach's Diving Guide to Underwater FL and Doug Stamm The Springs of FL. Both very helpful, as far as diving goes. Not only schools, but how far from Int. airports, YMCA, pools, malls, shopping. For the last 6+ years we have been living in the middle of no mans land. Over an hour to the airport and husband travels a bit for this job. 50 mins to the YMCA, shopping, hospital. One thing we will do once we get close is get a FL map, hang it and start pinning important items that we want. With school being number 1. Good luck and let us know how it goes and post if you find any good info for those of us who will be following you down there.
 
From a lifestyle standpoint, the keys are a world away from dade and broward counties. It's amazing how much things change once you get onto overseas highway.

Miami/broward are crowded and people are less considerate of others to say the least. You get to key largo and it's like everyone took a chill pill.

I live in broward because I work in dade but will be considering the keys closer to retirement
 
Vero Beach area has good schools, a simple, less crowded lifestyle....FANTASTIC property deal and oh yes......lots of accessible diving. Awesome diving is 40 minutes away. Merely great diving is right here. It's a tough life....but somebody has to do it.
 
FYI Monroe County Schools (Keys)

Combination category which includes 1 to 8th grades

Key Largo School-33rd
Plantation Key School-30th (mm90)
Montessori School in Plantation Key-9th

This out of 160 or more combination schools in Florida

Don't know where this bad rep came from, but Monroe County Schools are highly regarded on academic levels in Fl
 
I, too, am looking to relocate to the Keys. I'll probably end up working in Islamorada. Can anyone tell me about that area? Would you suggest living in Key Largo? (Background - I'm a single female in my early 30's, no kids. Like to be social but don't want to live right in the middle of the party :) What would you say is the average rent for a 1-bedroom? Any suggestions on where to look online for apts? Thanks in advance!
 
I love Key Largo and would have no problems with putting my kids in school here if they were younger. Really.
 
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