Where should I live in Florida

[Ana]

......

And if you're moving to Florida you DO want a boat, even if you don't know it yet.

I agree with that statement, but forget the ramp game, you want your house on a canal with ocean access so your boat is always ready to go.

 

[FullThrottle]

I agree with that statement, but forget the ramp game, you want your house on a canal with ocean access so your boat is always ready to go.

That is the best case scenario, and it costs $100,000 extra. But if money is no option...

 

[Ana]

That is the best case scenario, and it costs $100,000 extra. But if money is no option...

Doesn't HAVE to be 100k extra if you're flexible. There's still few places in Broward with reasonable access to the ocean (less than an hour transit) for less than upgraded homes in good school districts.
It's a matter of accepting trade offs and being ready when the opportunity knocks.

 

[DSR-3]

Lived in FL all my life.
No way I would ever voluntarily choose to live on or near a FL coastline.
Or the villages.....

Great thread, please keep it coming!
I would like to hear the story about the comments above...

 

[BrackaFish]

Great thread, please keep it coming!
I would like to hear the story about the comments above...

While I cannot speak as to how @greeniguana arrived at their thoughts on this matter, I can comment on my similar thoughts.
Living on the coast exposes one to all kinds of issues such as increased insurance due to hurricanes and flooding, higher maintenance costs due to salt air and things like increased traffic and tourism.
The Villages, mmm. The stories are legendary. Imagine Lord of the Flies done with retirees. Geezers Gone Wild! Fatal accidents involving golf carts, political fights that make our current political climate look like child’s play and having one of the highest STD rates in the US at one time. Yes kiddies, Viagra does more than keep you from rolling out of bed at night. In fairness, it does seem like the place has calmed down since it opened, but at one time it was know to be the kind of place that would have spawned FloridaMan.

 

[Ana]

While I cannot speak as to how @greeniguana arrived at their thoughts on this matter, I can comment on my similar thoughts.
Living on the coast exposes one to all kinds of issues such as increased insurance due to hurricanes and flooding, higher maintenance costs due to salt air and things like increased traffic and tourism.
The Villages, mmm. The stories are legendary. Imagine Lord of the Flies done with retirees. Geezers Gone Wild! Fatal accidents involving golf carts, political fights that make our current political climate look like child’s play and having one of the highest STD rates in the US at one time. Yes kiddies, Viagra does more than keep you from rolling out of bed at night. In fairness, it does seem like the place has calmed down since it opened, but at one time it was know to be the kind of place that would have spawned FloridaMan.

All the above is 100% true.
But there's more true to Florida than one neighborhood or one set of fact about the place, first thing that comes to mind is that waking up with the smell of salt in the air makes me feel very lucky, even if the underside of my jeep may end up like swiss cheese. that's why they invented the rhino spray. I rather smell salt than pollen, as they have in other parts coating everything in yellow dust, others may see that yellow stuff as a magnificent sign of something I don't know.

Imagine a person from somewhere in Asia (or any other continent) visiting a little town on Arkansas, or Delaware or Nevada. Just that little town and then go back home telling people about United States. Will this person's description be an accurate picture of the US? Is there ONE picture of the US?

I have friends that live in Orlando and the way they live their life puts them in zero contact with the mouse attractions or the general tourist, maybe a lost soul ends up in their area once in a while, but it isn't common.

Like I said in another post, I'm not trying to sell Florida, definitely not the SE where I live, but let's face it, FloridaMan and FloridaWoman can be found anywhere in the world. …. and we all smile while shaking our heads when we hear from them.

 

[Graeme Fraser]

While I cannot speak as to how @greeniguana arrived at their thoughts on this matter, I can comment on my similar thoughts.
Living on the coast exposes one to all kinds of issues such as increased insurance due to hurricanes and flooding, higher maintenance costs due to salt air and things like increased traffic and tourism.
The Villages, mmm. The stories are legendary. Imagine Lord of the Flies done with retirees. Geezers Gone Wild! Fatal accidents involving golf carts, political fights that make our current political climate look like child’s play and having one of the highest STD rates in the US at one time. Yes kiddies, Viagra does more than keep you from rolling out of bed at night. In fairness, it does seem like the place has calmed down since it opened, but at one time it was know to be the kind of place that would have spawned FloridaMan.

I've never been to Florida, but WOW this Villages place sounds amazing! I love your 'Lord of the Flies' analogy. Sorta like Mad Max with mobility Scooters?

Definitely going on my bucket list

 

[Jcp2]

All the above is 100% true.
But there's more true to Florida than one neighborhood or one set of fact about the place, first thing that comes to mind is that waking up with the smell of salt in the air makes me feel very lucky, even if the underside of my jeep may end up like swiss cheese. that's why they invented the rhino spray. I rather smell salt than pollen, as they have in other parts coating everything in yellow dust, others may see that yellow stuff as a magnificent sign of something I don't know.

Imagine a person from somewhere in Asia (or any other continent) visiting a little town on Arkansas, or Delaware or Nevada. Just that little town and then go back home telling people about United States. Will this person's description be an accurate picture of the US? Is there ONE picture of the US?

I have friends that live in Orlando and the way they live their life puts them in zero contact with the mouse attractions or the general tourist, maybe a lost soul ends up in their area once in a while, but it isn't common.

Like I said in another post, I'm not trying to sell Florida, definitely not the SE where I live, but let's face it, FloridaMan and FloridaWoman can be found anywhere in the world. …. and we all smile while shaking our heads when we hear from them.

You’ll be glad to know that the It’s a Small World ride in Disneyland Paris contains three representations of America; a baseball player, a cowboy, and a Hollywood star. Canada gets a hockey player, which is a step up from a Mountie, I guess.

 

[O-ring]

I've never been to Florida, but WOW this Villages place sounds amazing! I love your 'Lord of the Flies' analogy. Sorta like Mad Max with mobility Scooters?

Definitely going on my bucket list

yeah, now I know where to move if I end up an elderly widower.

 

[BrackaFish]

yeah, now I know where to move if I end up an elderly widower.

@O-ring if you ever get to that stage, come on down as they say in the game shows!
All kidding aside, @Ana is correct about there being many different Floridas. Maybe because there is a very large part of the population that comes from elsewhere, variety abounds. Whatever you are looking for, chances are you can find it in Florida, sweeping Mountain View’s excluded. Cosmopolitan, Raunchy, Urbane, Touristy, Quiet, Beaches or Woodlands, Florida does pretty much offer something for everyone. For most of us that live here, we take our Florida with Warts, Weather and all and we do enjoy what it has to offer.