Florida relocate question

[BigAbe75]

So, those of you that live in Florida ... what made you decide to live on the Gulf side over the ocean side - or vice versa?

My family has vacationed since my childhood to Ft Myers Beach annually. My wife and I were in St Pete’s Beach recently and got to wondering why we don’t live in FL.

Is boating different on one side over the other? Beaches different? I have no experience with the Eastern part of the state. (And very little experience with the gulf side outside of Ft Myers ) Jobs different? Demographics different (snow birds on one vs other)?

Thanks for a little insight. I’m not sure if we are actually considering this... but starting to wonder, if a person wanted to retire there and nothing is holding you down... why wait till retirement to live closer to paradise?


Edit: or any relocate south, actually. What was your thought process in determining where to go? How did you go about finding a job, before moving? Tks!!

 

[Dean P]

I grew up in New England and moved down to Florida in 1989 (30 years, wow! goes by quick) for a job (still at that same job). Accepted the offer, sold my house in Seekonk Ma, moved to Clearwater, Fl. and never looked back. We now live in St. Pete. Love it here; one of the best moves I ever made. We traded snow life for water and boating.
As far as East Coast verses West Coast, I feel the East Coast side is very commercialized (more tourist, cruise ships, etc.). They're also more prone to hurricanes. Knock on wood, we have not been directly hit. We have had better luck than them.
Not sure if I answered your question, but we raised two successful boys (now 25 and 26) and wouldn't change a thing. Funny, neither one lives in Florida; one in Atlanta and the other in Boston. I know they'll be back...

 

[JDinfla]

I think you have your coasts switched around.

 

[Dean P]

I think you have your coasts switched around.

LOL!!!! You're right. How sad....

 

[Wisefam22]

@BigAbe75 gulf has "prettier" water. St Pete area is amazing for boating I lived there for summer growing up (tarpon springs) it was a blast. Bunch of good places to live on bothsides.

I believe st Pete area and south water stays in mod 70s year round.

 

[AJack]

I'm in Tampa because the Man told me to move there. Anyway, no experience with the Atlantic side, but the Gulf does have clear water. Tampa Bay is very murky and tends to have bigger waves, but very convenient.

 

[I_squared_r]

I'm also thinking about relocating because all my family left for Palm Beach County, Florida. It's down to only my mom and I here in NY. NYC has its merits, but the rising cost of living, deteriorating infrastructure, and terrible climate has me wanting to sporadically leave.

 

[BigAbe75]

I’m a chicken when it comes to these kinds of life changing events. More than the move, I’m nervous about changing jobs.

Having been in the workforce 22 yrs, I’m only working for my 3rd employer. I’ve had a few position changes within. But, this feels unheard of when I look at a lot of my college friends.

Just don’t like change, I guess. Even though every one has been positive, so far.

 

[2kwik4u]

I’m a chicken when it comes to these kinds of life changing events. More than the move, I’m nervous about changing jobs.

Having been in the workforce 22 yrs, I’m only working for my 3rd employer. I’ve had a few position changes within. But, this feels unheard of when I look at a lot of my college friends.

Just don’t like change, I guess. Even though every one has been positive, so far.

Interesting. I've passed on a few jobs for this very reason. My parents however have been all over the dang country. Vegas, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Macon, Jacksonville, and now near Champaign, IL. Spent my childhood in New Mexico while my dad was chasing work, moved "home" to KY, and haven't left since.

Hell we moved 20 miles away to the other side of town, and into Indiana. Some of our friends won't come visit us now because we're "Way over there in IN"......dude, it's seriously like 4 miles further from your house to my new place than my last place, WTF? He still doesn't cross the bridge.

We're in a great school system now, so we'll be here another 18yrs or so until the youngest gets out of high school. Once he's out, we are too. Definitely headed south to somewhere with clear water and more sunny days than not.

 

[I_squared_r]

I’m a chicken when it comes to these kinds of life changing events. More than the move, I’m nervous about changing jobs.

Having been in the workforce 22 yrs, I’m only working for my 3rd employer. I’ve had a few position changes within. But, this feels unheard of when I look at a lot of my college friends.

Just don’t like change, I guess. Even though every one has been positive, so far.

Send out some resumes, be patient, and do remote interviews via webcam. Then take some extended vacations there to really get a feel for it. My friend suggested to visit during the Summer so you can see how hot and humid it can be.

I'm 29 years old in 2 weeks and I had 9 different jobs. I was a janitor, automotive mechanic, laborer, BIM coordinator, and an engineer. Even did some freelance CAD work while in college. I can easily adapt to different living situations. Probably most people can once you remove that paralyzing fear.

 

[Dean P]

Probably most people can once you remove that paralyzing fear.

There's a lot of truth behind that. New Englanders are home grown and typically never venture out.

I say "Don't forget to Live!"

 

[BigAbe75]

@veedubtek @Mainah

You guys have mentioned here that you recently migrated south. Anything you can add regarding your decision making?

@Mainah what led you to S Carolina over farther south?

 

[Wisefam22]

If you want input in atlanta its great. We actually live about 40min north of the city of Atlanta in a smaller town. We are within 30min of whatever we would need, however, all of the weekly shopping needs are within 10min or so.

I am 30min from lake lainer as well. We will start pulling the boat over to lake in March to cruise and eat at some of the restaurants. Late april early may water is swimmable and stays that way through sept.

4.5hr to Charleston 4.5 to hilton head 6 to gulf coast and 5.5 to Jacksonville.

We are here due to owning small business but at some point plan on getting small place along gulf somewhere as well.

 

[robert843]

So, those of you that live in Florida ... what made you decide to live on the Gulf side over the ocean side - or vice versa?

My family has vacationed since my childhood to Ft Myers Beach annually. My wife and I were in St Pete’s Beach recently and got to wondering why we don’t live in FL.

Is boating different on one side over the other? Beaches different? I have no experience with the Eastern part of the state. (And very little experience with the gulf side outside of Ft Myers ) Jobs different? Demographics different (snow birds on one vs other)?

Thanks for a little insight. I’m not sure if we are actually considering this... but starting to wonder, if a person wanted to retire there and nothing is holding you down... why wait till retirement to live closer to paradise?


Edit: or any relocate south, actually. What was your thought process in determining where to go? How did you go about finding a job, before moving? Tks!!

Don't do it stay up north there is nothing in Florida worth worth moving for.

Jeesh if you all keep trying to move there all the property will be gone by the time I can get down there.

 

[BigAbe75]

I suspect I would miss my 2acres and outbuilding for the toys. Course, might not need quite as many toys either.

 

[adrianp89]

I suspect I would miss my 2acres and outbuilding for the toys. Course, might not need quite as many toys either.

You can easily grab 2 acres if you stay further away from the water, 40-45 minutes.

However, don't move here. We have enough people lol.

 

[veedubtek]

Back in 2010 I was living in the northern panhandle of W.V. and was sick and tired of the cold, so we headed south - made it as far as N.C. (best job offer all things considered at the time). 8 years later, we were still cold, so we made sure to do it right this time. Simultaneously decided it was time to do my own thing, so that made location a bit easier. We fell in love with the small town feel of P.G. here, don't really care for many of the big cities. No experience with the east coast, my limited time there has always seemed dirtier I guess. We're only 60 days into it so far, but we're completely infatuated with all of it. 88 today and sunny, and it seems like that's just what it is every day. I can deal with the heat, I can't stand the cold. I'll never move back up north. We were boating sunday. We'll be jet skiing this weekend. No regrets.

 

[Mainah]

@veedubtek @Mainah

You guys have mentioned here that you recently migrated south. Anything you can add regarding your decision making?

@Mainah what led you to S Carolina over farther south?

There were lots of factors for us. In reality would have been better job wise for us to be daily commute distance to Charlotte or Atlanta but those areas were just too busy for our liking. We hadto be within a few miles of a large lake. Also had to be within a few miles of a top notch high school for academics and wrestling with a large grocery store in that few mile radius too (we are spoiled as telecommuters). 4 such towns on three different lakes in SC fit that bill along with being a couple times a month commute distance to Charlotte. We also knew that both of my brothers would end up in SC for different reason as well. I did not like the east coast of Florida (too busy) and we did not travel to the west coast.

My one big tip would be to travel to many areas for more than just a few days each. We did it while doing college tours with our oldest over a period of two years on partial working vacations as both my wife and I work remotely anyway.

Funny thing is that the town we ended up in was never on our list. In fact the whole area was on the bottom of the list as far as visting to check it out. @Andy S can take credit for suggesting we check out the town we now live in. When we did it just fit us.

 

[Betik]

You can easily grab 2 acres if you stay further away from the water, 40-45 minutes.
.

can you give a couple of examples in terms of location and estimated damage to our savings account ?....

 

[jocolo21]

I live smack in the middle(Orlando) we go boating west for sand bars and islands 3 rookers Anclote caladessi et , down to fort de Soto, Ana Maria, etc, warmer waters and clearer, when we go east usually stay in the inner coastal, Sebastian sandbar, Disappearing Island, peanut Island , Haulover in Miami etc. water is a bit colder and darker outside the inner coastal. Then you have the St Johns river 1hr ride up to the springs. So basically plenty of choices in either coast. me being in the middle I don't get stuck in either one and when I don't want to drive far, the only lake I go is The Butler Chain up to Bird Island, is only a 20 minute drive for me. I work in JFK and get to go home and boating or dirt biking and away from the artic tundra that being up north lately