Do you regret moving to Florida?

My brother lived in Fort Myers for many years. He called me in 2020 and during our conversation I mentioned that I lived in Eureka, California, about 75 miles from the Mendocino Triple Junction, the most seismically active part of California. He casually asked me "How can you live there with all those earthquakes?"

I just laughed and said something like "We get thousands of unnoticeable earthquakes a year here. The last significant earthquake we had was in 2010, and all that did was knock over some of the old Victorian house's chimneys. All it did to my house was we got a small crack in a wall."

Then I asked him "How many times has Hurricanes tore up your house?"

He never said anything about "all those earthquakes" again. :)
 

Florida is a big state and as some have pointed out each area is different , I am in hurricane '' prone'' South Florida , Summers are getting hotter and worry about a hurricane .

I am looking at Tenn , KY and NC .

I live in a HOA area which I would NEVER do again and I'm a boring person , follow rules , keep the house , garden nice but had enough of the HOA so decided time to leave by Summer
 
seadoug said:
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.
Click to expand...
'' South Florida started to grate on me. It is full of rude people and aggressive drivers''

You are not kidding and the most unprofessional people with zero concept of time going .
 

Last edited:
papa tiger said:
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.
Click to expand...
If I had the money for a second home it would be in KW which is kind of '' Hippie '' and though bald now , lol I relate to that mentality and was a '' Hippie '' for awhile when got out or Army / drafted decades ago .

I like KW a lot but worry about hurricanes which is why only having one house to buy there is not for me .

I'm in Miami and not for me at all but rest of Florida is good . My neighbors are all lovely people and even they want to move .
 
I was in Cape Coral, Florida for 1 week in July back in 1983. I determined at that time that, between the oppressive heat, the infinite species of flying insects, the fact that my brother kept a stash of emergency food and supplies in case of a hurricane, and the wildlife that it was uninhabitable. I never wanted to return there again.
 
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!!! 🙏🏼
Click to expand...
Florida is being built up very quickly which is a shame even farmers are selling and one gated community after another is being built .
 
I've never visited Florida and have not thought of moving there. From what we see on American TV news, hurricanes seem to be becoming a more frequent occurrence. Is that true, or not? And can anyone explain how far inland from a coastline the damaging force of Florida's hurricanes can extend? Is that damaging effect blasting further inland than it used to? (Hopefully not.)

BTW, my sympathy is with anyone who has been harmed, terrified, or suffered property damage during one of these storms.
 
Last edited:
NotCompSavvy said:
'' South Florida started to grate on me. It is full of rude people and aggressive drivers''

You are not kidding .
Click to expand...
JBR said:
I've never visited Florida and have not thought of moving there. From what we see on American TV news, hurricanes seem to be becoming a more frequent occurrence. Is that true, or not? And can anyone explain how far inland from a coastline the damaging force of Florida's hurricanes can extend? Hopefully not, but is that damaging effect blasting further inland than it used to?

BTW, my sympathy is with anyone who has been harmed, terrified, or suffered property damage during one of these storms.
Click to expand...
Winters here are great but Summers are getting hotter and put aside whether man caused or not they are getting hotter which means hurricanes stronger and can sit over an area longer .

I have lots vegetables I garden and last 2 Summers close to high 90s daily for months so gardened early . I hope I am wrong but would think in time a monster is coming and I'm to old to go through that plus had enough of Miami and HOA .

There are areas in Florida which are hurricane safe and it is a nice state .
 
JBR said:
I've never visited Florida and have not thought of moving there. From what we see on American TV news, hurricanes seem to be becoming a more frequent occurrence. Is that true, or not? And can anyone explain how far inland from a coastline the damaging force of Florida's hurricanes can extend? Is that damaging effect blasting further inland than it used to? (Hopefully not.)

BTW, my sympathy is with anyone who has been harmed, terrified, or suffered property damage during one of these storms.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure these days, but if you look at a place like Asheville, NC that is so far inland but was devastated it doesn't seem to matter anymore.

We left South Florida in late 2005 after two major hurricanes. One downed a two-story tree and blew 21 roof tiles off our house. We were 25 miles from the coast and still felt the effects. Going through a hurricane is terrible, but the days afterward with no electricity, closed gas stations and stop lights out for miles is no picnic either.
 
seadoug said:
I'm not sure these days, but if you look at a place like Asheville, NC that is so far inland but was devastated it doesn't seem to matter anymore.

We left South Florida in late 2005 after two major hurricanes. One downed a two-story tree and blew 21 roof tiles off our house. We were 25 miles from the coast and still felt the effects. Going through a hurricane is terrible, but the days afterward with no electricity, closed gas stations and stop lights out for miles is no picnic either.
Click to expand...
I do comedy and here are a a few observations .

You know you live in Miami when even Senior Citizens are getting ab implants .

You know you are in Miami when every driver regardless of age is texting .

You know you are in Miami when people in their 20's are waiting 10 hours outside in 100 degree temps on a line to buy a new cell phone they do not need yet they do not bother to drive their grandmother who lives alone once a month food shopping .

I have 2 hours of these '' jokes '' and I did my act a month ago at a hotel and though '' angry comedy '' I got a huge ovation .
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Have had a condo in SWFL since 2017, just recently started thinking about selling it. It's a second home and prices for HOA and insurance go up each year. I figure I can rent a place for 2-3 months for the same cost without all the headaches.
 
Gardenlover said:
Have had a condo in SWFL since 2017, just recently started thinking about selling it. It's a second home and prices for HOA and insurance go up each year. I figure I can rent a place for 2-3 months for the same cost without all the headaches.
Click to expand...
I ran for HOA first year or so lived here but was '' hated '' , now I could win but lost interest and was just looking at places online in other states.

HOA and Miami were not for me and since my only home hurricane season just getting longer .

I do have home insurance but like you stated it goes up to much .
 
seadoug said:
The exorbitant HOA fees that some who live in Southeast Florida are paying to get their older condos updated to hurricane standards are ridiculous (I'm talking $100,000+). Remember the condo complex that collapsed on South Beach? Yes, condo complexes like those. Residents are selling on the cheap just to get out.

Florida condo prices 'collapsing' due to HOA fees surge—Real estate expert
Click to expand...
That was absolutely horrible and being Miami what it is to this day no inspector , etc was held accountable .

If you own in a ' non HOA ' you can add another 100k to your house and most have because the flight from HOA is staggering .

A friend lives in Westchester Miami in non HOA area and their house valued at roughly 500k 3 years ago they now sold for 750k , they are moving to Georgia .

I'm in a house in a little no frills as far as no pools , etc gated community with actual yards , fences around each house so due to that they are selling nicely but yes a HOA and though we removed 2 boards in 4 years and this board is ok I would never do a HOA again .

The fancy , sound proof , multi million dollar apartments which over look the beach and you go out on your terrace and see dolphins from afar are unreal but I do not have several million dollars and as you know their HOA fee's are crazy .

In last 10 years Miami has Senior Citizen flight .

I was looking at your link and ''Worst of all: check out the HOA fee.$2,300/month. Ouch '' is not that unusual by beach . I went with someone to install plumbing for a big saltwater fish tank which being a fish hobbyist was a pleasure and the owner of the apartment paid 5k a month HOA .
I pay 250 a month in HOA but again just have a gate that opens up with barcode on your vehicle .
 
Last edited by a moderator:
NotCompSavvy said:
I am looking at Tenn , KY and NC .
Click to expand...
You do realize of course that no matter where you go, there are always risk factors. The west coast has Earthquakes, desert areas have Haboobs, the mid-west has Tornadoes, the south-east has Hurricanes, up north they have Nor-Easters. There is crime in big-cities, shortages of medical care in less populated areas. Wildfires, Floods, Blizzards, Terrorism Targets, Red States, Blue States, Police States, Racism, and Tree Huggin' Hippies! Take your pick, but it's always something.
 
Axel Slingerland said:
You do realize of course that no matter where you go, there are always risk factors. The west coast has Earthquakes, desert areas have Haboobs, the mid-west has Tornadoes, the south-east has Hurricanes, up north they have Nor-Easters. There is crime in big-cities, shortages of medical care in less populated areas. Wildfires, Floods, Blizzards, Terrorism Targets, Red States, Blue States, Police States, Racism, and Tree Huggin' Hippies! Take your pick, but it's always something.
Click to expand...
Even if I found the highly sought after Shangri la I will still complain but no more HOA is a big plus .
 
Early Feb. thru Late Feb in Panhandle of Fla is fun. Forget the rest is a great thought.
Of course, the same for Alabama, Louisiana and Texas. Many Neighbors Jan - Feb._ March
go to Islands in the gulf off of Mobile / Pensacola and along the Panhandle of Fla.
My friend flies to his Fathers place in Corpus Christy. It's his fun Winter Vacation from Snow Cold hell too.

What's $4 to $10,000 when the two of ya or just you have fun, for a lot of low / no Liability no Property tax fun.
 
Last edited:
papa tiger said:
Early Feb. thru Late Feb in Panhandle of Fla is fun. Forget the rest is a great thought.
Of course, the same for Alabama, Louisiana and Texas. My friend flies to his Fathers
Place in Corpus Christy. It's his fun Winter Vacation from Snow Cold hell too.

What's 3 - $4000 when the two of ya or just you have fun, for a lot of low / no Liability fun.
Click to expand...
Florida Panhandle as of today has a lot of nature which I love and you can go for a walk and see nice stuff as far as animals especially evening .
 
It was 6 years ago TODAY I started this thread, ha. Just happened across it and checked the date of my OP.

Well I'm still in the woods of upstate NY, and no plans to move to Florida. The previous two winters were much milder with much less snow than normal. This year we are back to reality with a normal winter. There is still some snow in my yard and elsewhere, but it will probably be gone in a few days -- temps are to get 60 and above.

I'll be 75 this summer, still walking 2.5 miles every other day, still able to do pretty much whatever I want. Problem is, I don't WANT to do much of anything. Oh well . . .
 
I grew up in Florida and lived there through my mid 20s. Now I live outside of Fairbanks, Alaska. 🤯
We are surrounded by boreal forest in a small rural communiy. Our two Newfoundlad dogs run loose on our 10 acres.
I sometimes wish I could go back to Florida. I have many fond memories of that place in the 60s through 80s, but it has greatly changed and become crowded.
I think I would be content to make a short trip there in the Spring or Fall each year and be content with that.
My older brother and wife live in Port Orange. They are fine until summer when last year they had to bail for several months due to the heat.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top