where to move fl. or s.c.?

[SRD art]

I hope I didn't ruin things for you. FL is a great place to be, just not for me. I like the small town feel and I love everyone and wish the whole world could see each other as brothers and sisters but that's just not reality except for maybe in a few places. FL can be fast paced but it can also be like a small town feel depending on where you live. I only visited the west coast once, it seemed a lot more laid back and that's what I heard from folks. PS seeing an alligator behind the house is a rare thing, but it happens on occasion. Not to worry though, alligators don't eat people, we're too salty. Dogs are a different story though... lol!

[zombiekiller]

we picked up and moved to nashville in may. soooooo much better than the philadelphia metro area. We're going to move again to new orleans ( our original goal) because I landed a sweet job and can live anywhere that I want that is near an airport.

[chevnut55]

not too worried abot the wildlife..snakes a bit.
we kayak and jet ski alot in our 3 month summer window here,the only thing I seen that scared me was a water mockeson atacking the airboat we were in.
I guess if your used to it I went with my cousins behind therir house in royal palm and wath them play in the canal with nothing on but shorts!
the wifes taling alot about moving to a tropical island or the keys,but that would meen giving up all my motor hobbys..love too sometimes but we all need to play with our toys and build more toys.
its 25' here in ma today and I just ran out of propane in the shop...this sucks.

[solarguy09]

i will be talking things over with the wife..we are planning our vacation for next year, and maybe we will be checking out the area...where, i am not sure yet, but thanks for the info..

[SparkyRnD]

it's going to be low 60's here tomorrow in upper georgia. Not a bad way to ring in the new year!

[chevnut55]

We got a break and got into the mid 40's new years day..we took the cobra and bikes out. we froze but there we so many bikes out ..if this were summer and mid 40s no one would be out. we take what we can for now.

[ProMav71]

My wife and I live in Sebring FL. Today its going to be in the high 70's low 80's. The weather is great you cant beat it. This is a small town mostly retirement which means no jobs, unless your in the medical field. But houses are cheap and property taxes are low, I currently pay around $800 a year for a decent size lot and a 1800 sq. ft. with an attached oversized 2 car garage. Right now with all the snowbirds there is traffic but nothing like over on the east and west coast, or larger cities like Orlando. Were are a little over and hour or so to either coast and about the same time to shoot up to Orlando. Miami is about 160 miles to the south. We of course have the Sebring international raceway here and Bradenton dragway is about an hour to the west as well as desoto dirt tracks. You will always see different cars running around town here in Sebring, Lamboghini's, Ferrari's, Porsche's, muscle car's you name it. Something always going on at the racetrack here. Old Town in Orlando has a huge car show every Sat during the summer. There's plenty of country left around here, and your close enough to major cities that driving over for an afternoon is not a hassle. And there are tons of places to enjoy your PWC, we have several large lakes right here. And like I said your a little over an hour to either coast. The town is small so it takes some getting used to but its not bad. It's nice to enjoy the pease and quite of a smaller town and be so close to major cities.

[chevnut55]

sebring sounds good,my wife is looking to work for a hospital/edelry comunity anyways,how about paint/restoration work or motorcyce or art shops?
the wife broght home a stack of fact sheets to find the best place based on facts..I would rather go by opinions and looking for myself but it helps..atleast I now know how many sex offender and car theives live where Im looking!
she also looked up a bunc of listings for house boats ..I did not even know there was a lake that big in fl.,but where am I suppose to park 5 cars,4 motorcycles and..well the sea doo is the easy one!
shes looking and Im selling my cars to build a proper soulthern pro touring car fast this time with a top and air conditioning.

[chevnut55]

does anyone have input on cleawater fl.? we found a guy selling a nice house and large shop cheap.

[toofun]

Chevynut55 your crazy????... Why would you want to give up high taxes, short summers, winter hurricanes, bad roads, crazy gun laws, corrupt politics, nightmare trips to the RMV, ball bustin law enforcement, NO CASINOS, boston traffic, road salt, road sand, potholes, and high tolls??? ARE YOU CRAZY? LOL! About the only thing I would miss about Massachusetts would be the sports teams but I guess I could always see them when they come to town in other states!!

BTW Clearwater is beautiful... I used to go there all the time when my grandparents had a place right on clearwater beach. Always was a great place but then again maybe others can chime in here that dont live in massachusetts where ANYWHERE looks like paradise!!

[chevnut55]

Thats why I stayed here so long! its freaken gret here!!! 20 out- wind chill around 0 they salt and sanded the pot holed roads today..love it! lol...
true..the wife is not fussy about where we move as long as it warm all year.
I have been affected by everything you just wrote and do not care about sports if there is no motors involved.

[MyFriendScott]

Clearwater is a good central location if you want to be near Tampa, very close to a good selection of beaches, and the airport. It is heavy on traffic however, and short on large spaces/land between homes. I'm not surprised you are finding good buys out there on the west coast however, still plenty of excess housing supply from speculation during the good ole' days of the housing market. If you like a little more space around your home, and less traffic, look 30+ miles north or south, just got to get out of the greater Tampa area before things slow down and open up.

[SS PUNISHER]

does anyone have input on cleawater fl.? we found a guy selling a nice house and large shop cheap.

I hate it personally, the whole st pete/clw/tb area is overpopulated imho. I plan to GTFO sometime in the next few months!

[vintageracer]

Go spend a MONTH in each location picking a city or area in specific that you THINK you would like. Live the life you THINK you would lead if you lived there and see which area you like better.

We are talking 2 months out of one year to determine the rest of your life so don't tell me you can do it. Tell me you WON'T do and I'll believe that but don't tell me you CAN'T do it.

Remember this. You might not like either one!

Better to find that out from real experience than pulling up stakes moving on a whim and really being screwed!

[Kenova]

I hate it personally, the whole st pete/clw/tb area is overpopulated imho. I plan to GTFO sometime in the next few months!

I spent a week's vacation in St. Pete's Beach. I found traffic to be an absolute nightmare and the way the streets and roads are laid out there was no "easy" way to get anywhere. I'll never be back.
On the other hand (and coast) I have found Daytona beach to be the opposite. Traffic and roads/streets were easier to navigate. The beach is even nicer.
Just keep in mind that I'm only a tourist.
I do envy your southern climate though, and a big part of me wishes I had the means to make a similar move.

Ken

[SS PUNISHER]

I spent a week's vacation in St. Pete's Beach. I found traffic to be an absolute nightmare and the way the streets and roads are laid out there was no "easy" way to get anywhere. I'll never be back.
On the other hand (and coast) I have found Daytona beach to be the opposite. Traffic and roads/streets were easier to navigate. The beach is even nicer.
Just keep in mind that I'm only a tourist.
I do envy your southern climate though, and a big part of me wishes I had the means to make a similar move.

Ken

The weather sucks here, I hate it! I want seasons!

[toofun]

Vintage Racer that is EXCELLENT ADVICE!! You dont know how many people base where they want to live on the experience they had somewhere while ON VACATION only to find that it is ALOT different when they live it day in and day out on NORMAL terms..... Boston is a great NORTHERN example of that. Millions of people come here everyday to experience the "new england" experience.. Yes Boston is great to visit, but live in Mass everyday and you will have a totally different experience. It is the same no matter where you go. If you are serious about the move, spend a couple of months there first. Then come back in a month and do it again!! It may seem like alot to do but you are talking about a permanent thing....

Punisher.. grass is always greener on the other side... Seasons are overrated, especially on the cold november rain days and waiting for ever for spring to arrive days too... just sayin..

Mark
TOOFUN

[chevnut55]

Thats is why I am asking, to see what the guys who live where we want to move think.
We are looking at places we have not been and have no idea what its like there until we waste our time flying across country to look.
V/R thats the best advice and is what I have been telling my wife reseching online or even a weekend trip will not tell me enough to sell my house and shop and move as much as I hate it here.
But my idea is to narrow the serch down, buy a cheap fixer upper ..live there and explore while we fix it up and sell it for our keeper house.

[fordsbyjay]

we picked up and moved to nashville in may. soooooo much better than the philadelphia metro area. We're going to move again to new orleans ( our original goal) because I landed a sweet job and can live anywhere that I want that is near an airport.

New Orleans? Really? Why? I'm not from La but after living here 10 years I can't wait to get the heck out. It is definitely warmer then Boston but the humidity is atrocious. Look to enjoy two short seasons of nice weather every spring and fall but that's it. It is funny though because we are looking at moving south of Nashville. That general area is central to a lot of car events with in a few hours. I have also met many Ford friends in that general area too which appeals to me. I watch their weather daily to compare to La and they seem to be 20* cooler now. In the summer the temps are about the same but with out the humidty. We have been looking all over so this thread really appeals to me. I have two girls in college and next year I will have 3 so post secondary schools are still a concern. The biggest worry I have about Florida is employment. I work out of town so it doesn't matter but my girls will need jobs when they get out of school. So will their spouses one day and I would like them to live close. Can't live without my babies.

[david068513]

I lived in south FL ( staurt, west palm beach, port st. lucie area) for 12 years. I loved the weather, beaches, girls, things to do. No snow and never really "cold" however I moved to North GA and have lived here for 10 years. It's beautiful, I live on lake lanier. Nice people( ALOT nicer then FL) weather is nice. You get all 4 seasons Nothing crazy though. If it snows it's gone in a day. While there isn't as much to do. I do like it alot more.