Retirement in Florida...recommendations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're looking in Sarasota / Clearwater area.

We are from Clearwater.

Traffic is awful, flooding so fun.

[Anonymous]

We moved to St Augustine last year and I would never go back. Its Northern FL so we have 3 seasons. I am in a beachfront, gated community. Honestly would only live gated in Florida know matter how nice the area. The HOAs are high but you don't have to worry about lawn/tree care, pays for manned gate and other amenities. We have to drive about 45 minutes for decent shopping (Nordstroms, trader joes, etc) Its not as crowded as South Florida. My mother lives in Sarasota. It very crowded "in season." Its balmy. You don't get the breeze off the gulf as you get with the ocean on the east coast. Honestly, politics was big this year but its died down and the conversations have stopped so everyone is enjoying life in a vacation spot. Even with Covid, we didn't feel as isolated because we could walk and sit outside the whole time.

[Anonymous]

look slightly south to venice/englewood area

or

Look a bit further north to homosassas

if you really want to drink the cool aid. look north of orlando at a place called the villages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In a word: don't. Retiring in Florida is so cliche. And Florida sucks.

But sun, sand and [b]most importantly no state taxes.

First, you get what you pay for. Second, if not state taxes is that important to you, then I feel sorry for you. You must be broke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In a word: don't. Retiring in Florida is so cliche. And Florida sucks.

But sun, sand and most importantly no state taxes.

I know it's popular to hate on Florida, but it's actually pretty nice living here. We live in Orlando, making it pretty close to both sides for beaches, and I was just so pleasantly surprised by how friendly people are here. Yeah, our governor sucks, but a lot of places can say that.

No thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In a word: don't. Retiring in Florida is so cliche. And Florida sucks.

But sun, sand and most importantly no state taxes.

I know it's popular to hate on Florida, but it's actually pretty nice living here. We live in Orlando, making it pretty close to both sides for beaches, and I was just so pleasantly surprised by how friendly people are here. Yeah, our governor sucks, but a lot of places can say that.

Florida is great, we own a home there and can't wait to retire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In a word: don't. Retiring in Florida is so cliche. And Florida sucks.

But sun, sand and most importantly no state taxes.

I know it's popular to hate on Florida, but it's actually pretty nice living here. We live in Orlando, making it pretty close to both sides for beaches, and I was just so pleasantly surprised by how friendly people are here. Yeah, our governor sucks, but a lot of places can say that.

It's not only the Governor.

While yes Florida is pretty, I went to the University of Florida and I will never give my tax dollars to Florida again. Florida voted in DeSantis, Gaetz, some twats down ballots, etc, and the non-masking idiots no thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:look slightly south to venice/englewood area

or

Look a bit further north to homosassas

if you really want to drink the cool aid. look north of orlando at a place called the villages.

No don't listen to this.

[Anonymous]

I miss living in Florida so much. I’m embarrassed to say that I fully expected to hate it when we moved there. Within a month I knew I never wanted to leave. Alas, the government had other plans for our family. But we will retire in Ponte Vedra in 11 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In a word: don't. Retiring in Florida is so cliche. And Florida sucks.

But sun, sand and most importantly no state taxes.

I know it's popular to hate on Florida, but it's actually pretty nice living here. We live in Orlando, making it pretty close to both sides for beaches, and I was just so pleasantly surprised by how friendly people are here. Yeah, our governor sucks, but a lot of places can say that.

Florida is great, we own a home there and can't wait to retire.

Of all the places on earth, and you choose Florida? Ugh

[Anonymous]

Sanibel Island is my dream retirement. I just want to bike everywhere and play Pickleball and browse that amazing bookstore.

[Anonymous]

We have older family on Sanibel, Boca Grande/Gasparilla Island, in Naples, and in Sarasota, all are very nice areas. I don't know if it's just the community they picked in Sarasota but it seems less neighborly and friendly than the others - they aren't friends with people on their street and mostly socialize with people they knew from home. That whole part of the state is beautiful, but some of it is FEMA AE Flood Zone so you want to think about possible flood premium increases and hurricane season if you buy a house or lower floor unit, especially near the water. It's not a bad idea to rent for a season in a few communities and see how you like it, what the social scene is like, amenities, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In a word: don't. Retiring in Florida is so cliche. And Florida sucks.

But sun, sand and [b]most importantly no state taxes.

First, you get what you pay for. Second, if not state taxes is that important to you, then I feel sorry for you. You must be broke.

Actually you don’t pay much in taxes if you’re broke, because you’re broke.

But the more money you have, the more Florida makes sense.

See, I can figure this out because I’m relatively smart.

Unlike you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved to St Augustine last year and I would never go back. Its Northern FL so we have 3 seasons. I am in a beachfront, gated community. Honestly would only live gated in Florida know matter how nice the area. The HOAs are high but you don't have to worry about lawn/tree care, pays for manned gate and other amenities. We have to drive about 45 minutes for decent shopping (Nordstroms, trader joes, etc) Its not as crowded as South Florida. My mother lives in Sarasota. It very crowded "in season." Its balmy. You don't get the breeze off the gulf as you get with the ocean on the east coast. Honestly, politics was big this year but its died down and the conversations have stopped so everyone is enjoying life in a vacation spot. Even with Covid, we didn't feel as isolated because we could walk and sit outside the whole time.

I retired to Sarasota several months ago. First, it is definitely breezy here pretty much all the time, and I live several miles from the beaches. And yes it is somewhat crowded right now, meaning traffic is a bit heavy, but nothing like the traffic jams in the DC area. I agree there's lots to do outside here which makes it easy to stay busy without being in crowds or risky situations if you want to avoid those. I live in a very nice private community although not gated. I feel very safe here and it is beautiful. I love it here. Gov. De Santis is a big problem but I don't think he'll be governor after the next election. I'm in my 60s and I've never lived anywhere based on who the governor was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In a word: don't. Retiring in Florida is so cliche. And Florida sucks.

But sun, sand and most importantly no state taxes.

I know it's popular to hate on Florida, but it's actually pretty nice living here. We live in Orlando, making it pretty close to both sides for beaches, and I was just so pleasantly surprised by how friendly people are here. Yeah, our governor sucks, but a lot of places can say that.

No thanks.

Let me guess. You've been to Disney and hated it and could never live there? Most people from Orlando don't live around Disney either.