Do you regret moving to Florida?

911 said:
The reason I chose Naples was because I wouldn’t have to drive anywhere. Naples has it all covered, including it’s own hospital or health center. Banks, grocery stores, doctors, hospitals, library, etc., everything I would need. Even golf and tennis courses and tournaments. And, the beach is close by. I just need to buy a new boat. When I left Clearwater, I sold my other one. This time, I think I’m either going for a Pontoon or a Catamaran boat. I only want to float around in the bay and maybe do a little fishing.
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I have an old memory of Naples. I was with my parents, probably 14 or 15 yo. at the time. We got stuck in traffic for a long time, someone's boat (a bigger one) had come off its trailer and was sitting in the road. (I hope it wasn't yours... :)
We rolled down the windows, shut the car off and i had brought several car magazines to read (1978-ish) and I ducked down in the back seat out of the sun.
My parents were a little more upset about it.
 

I don't regret moving to Florida. I visited three times and that was enough.
I went to Florida, and felt the humidity PLUS the heat; all the BUGS/MOSQUITOS/ROACHES; smelled the swamps and damp moldy air; saw all the part-time residents in the winter; the gobs of low life in some places; the gobs of high life
(mostly rude New Yorkers visiting for the winter) in some places; the commercialism/party school atmospheres; the high property taxes and said:

Oh, and I experienced the freeways chocolate blocked during rush hours as well as during a hurricane evacuation...never again.

I definitely WOULD regret moving to Florida! LOL

The best thing about Florida is driving in a convertible down to the keys, turning around down there and heading home to Arizona. Arizona may be a tad warm but without the humidity and bugs, it is heaven without tourists.
 

I was told how horrible Florida was before moving here. It was about the bugs, alligators, hot humid weather and hurricanes. So, we ignored the advice and we moved here, mostly to be close to family members. It turned out great for us. You can have pest control for the bugs, alert for hurricanes to get out safely and alligators are something that could happen but so far, so good. After husband retired and the hurricanes are becoming more likely, it does cause concern. I think we will stay and hope for the best.
 
We have had a place in Naples for the last seven years. Lots of new housing development going on. But I think that is going on state wide.
Although I hear the housing prices are coming down and the HOA fees are going up.

If you plan to only be there seasonally it "might" be cheaper to rent a place for a few months and let someone else worry about the upkeep, insurance, HOA fees and taxes.
 
Rae said:
I was told how horrible Florida was before moving here. It was about the bugs, alligators, hot humid weather and hurricanes. So, we ignored the advice and we moved here, mostly to be close to family members. It turned out great for us. You can have pest control for the bugs, alert for hurricanes to get out safely and alligators are something that could happen but so far, so good. After husband retired and the hurricanes are becoming more likely, it does cause concern. I think we will stay and hope for the best.
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That is great, if it works for you! Awesome, and you seem to have found what works for you.
Am sure Florida has some really good attributes for some people, but not for others.

Some people can't take the Arizona or Colorado air dryness; the "no green" in southern Arizona (though northern AZ and the mountains are a totally different climate/topography), either.

Variety in preferences and qualities of places to live are why everyone is scattered where ever they deem fits their needs and desires.

I find just living in America with all its variety, is the best regardless of which state one visits. Visiting a multitude of environments is easy and fun!
 
Gardenlover said:
We have had a place in Naples for the last seven years. Lots of new housing development going on. But I think that is going on state wide.
Although I hear the housing prices are coming down and the HOA fees are going up.

If you plan to only be there seasonally it "might" be cheaper to rent a place for a few months and let someone else worry about the upkeep, insurance, HOA fees and taxes.
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That is what we do when we need a beach fix: we do a short term rental in San Diego. Very economical way to enjoy the best of an area.
 
Almost bought a place near Pensacola, offered the seller a price. He wanted more.
It sold a year later for what I had offered. As it turned out it was my lucky day. Been
Past - near most every costal city & Orlando. Didn't care for them. Experienced the
incredible storms of Florida. Not my Tea. That wind across southern Florida, that wind!
My Pilot friend had a home in Sarasota, said all they did was work all winter fixing it.
They sold it and moved to the Lake too. The Lawyer friend quit the Gulf Shores
and moved to the lake too. Naples, drive to Rattlesnake Hammock rd. The tollway is near.
You can drive 35' below sea level near the everglades.

Love the Greater St. Louis Areas. It's weather is ok. Many tough youngsters etc wear shorts year-round.
I wear sleeveless jackets most of the winters. An occasional Icy day or 2. Never been anywhere I liked
more than the Midwest. Everywhere else lost my interest quickly.

As I drove away from Florida I never looked back. Never to go again. I'm sort of drawn to S.C. Up around N.C. But Naw! I
Wasn't able to find an end Condo for the Winters. Day trips to Myrtle Beach and Charlston Areas. But even they changed
over the years especially after Hugo. So much destruction. Lots of Canadians were there. Played golf with them.

Never stay in a Motel near, "Tallahassee, Cigar Smoke / smell" chokes ya.
Miami, ya pay to get in and out of. Drive past mile after mile of tall walls. The Winds !
Ya buy gas at Tollway islands and pay state upped taxed gas prices. Ye eat at those state
prisons.

My neighbors have a home in Key West, another in Key Biscayne but I said no thanks on visiting...
not interested in flying over the Smokeys. Been to Atlanta many times too. The Mississippi River
shows me all the water I need to be on / over. I will hang on to my Lake home as long as necessary.
Different strokes for different folk.
 
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911 said:
The reason I chose Naples was because I wouldn’t have to drive anywhere. Naples has it all covered, including it’s own hospital or health center. Banks, grocery stores, doctors, hospitals, library, etc., everything I would need. Even golf and tennis courses and tournaments. And, the beach is close by. I just need to buy a new boat. When I left Clearwater, I sold my other one. This time, I think I’m either going for a Pontoon or a Catamaran boat. I only want to float around in the bay and maybe do a little fishing.
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Oh, pontoons are the best. You don't get there fast, but you do get there in style. Lots of room for everything you need. We had one and we bolted a big deck box to the front deck and no matter what the weather, we always had dry towels, clothes, food, etc.

Now, you CAN put big engines on them and move faster but I saw one once that was seriously overpowered and the whole front half of the pontoons were out of the water when they were accelerating and it didn't seem that they ever got "on plane" properly.

We had enough power to pull water toys behind us (no skiing, though).

The other great thing about pontoons is that you can bash the heck out of the pontoon and put a big 'ol hole in one and still get back to the dock safely. Slowly, but safely. Don't ask me how I know.....
 
As a lifelong Florida resident, I'd just like to say that yes, like the vast majority of other naive Floridians, I most certainly DO regret you 🫵🏼 northerners moving down here and trashing up our once beautiful state.

Please change your minds and move back home!!! 🙏🏼
 
MrJim said:
As a lifelong Florida resident, I'd just like to say that yes, like the vast majority of other naive Floridians, I most certainly DO regret you🫵🏼 northerners moving down here and trashing up our once beautiful state.

Please change your minds and move back home!!! 🙏🏼
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Many might consider it if 👆 are willing to pay for the move.
 
I've wintered in FL for the past 7 years.
I had a home in Fort Myers Beach.
It was fun, the people are nice.
This is my first winter back in WI.
I do miss it.
It just seemed like it was time to stop.
 
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Not exactly answering the question, but I grew up in Florida. I lived in Tampa from 1966-1986. I enjoyed it. I moved to Miami in 1986 with my career and it was great because I was young and single. Settled down in Pembroke Pines (outside Fort Lauderdale) in the late 80's. Used to drive 25 miles to work which could be over an hour each way. Went through two hurricanes in 2005 and said "no more".

As I moved into my 40s, South Florida started to grate on me. It is full of rude people and aggressive drivers. Not to mention I felt like a minority because I spoke English. Hubby used to hate it because he was in retail, had a name tag, he is Filipino so his last name is Spanish and people would just come up to him immediately speaking Spanish.

We moved to Dallas in 2006 and haven't looked back. Yes, the summers are hot but the winters are mild and people are generally friendly. Humidity in Florida? I could only wear a shirt one time before it went to the cleaners. In Dallas, it can be 80 degrees outside and I don't break a sweat.

Hubby's family is in Jacksonville and Miami and we have looked at going back but I honestly don't know where we would move to. Homeowner's Insurance has gotten so expensive because of the recent, severe hurricanes. We would never move back to South Florida. Naples has become way too expensive and pretentious these days. It is 80 year-old men driving Bentley convertibles with their 50 year-old wives in tow. I do like the Sarasota area but even that has become cost prohibitive.
 
I lived in Cape Coral for a year in the late '70s. I liked it. Ft. Myers Beach was great, the sunsets were amazing, and it was cool to see owls perched on mailboxes around the neighborhood. There was definitely a lot to do in that area.

We were thinking about going to Florida this past summer when we were trying to decide on a vacation destination, but they had a lot of hurricane damage, so we opted for D.C., instead.
 
Manatee said:
A Yankee comes down, spends his money and gets on back home.
A Damn Yankee comes down and stays. :cool:
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Thanks for clarifying that!

Always wondered what it took to graduate to "Damn Yankee" status.

Ex's "ex father-in-law" , who moved from mid-state Illinois to Houston area used to complain about them, I found that quite entertaining!
 
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