Does everyone from the northeastern area go to Florida or have property there? I know many retire there. Must be a great place to live but I don't think I can take the humidity myself. We have been to Orlando several times and I like heat but not humidity. Maybe winter time is better as we always went during the summer? I'm going to retire next year so just checking things out. The wife wants to move to Maui but I don't think I can live on an island. Love Maui for vacations but live there????
Does everyone from the northeastern area go to Florida or have property there? I know many retire there. Must be a great place to live but I don't think I can take the humidity myself. We have been to Orlando several times and I like heat but not humidity. Maybe winter time is better as we always went during the summer? I'm going to retire next year so just checking things out. The wife wants to move to Maui but I don't think I can live on an island. Love Maui for vacations but live there????
Why couldn't you live on a island? How much space do you really need? Most of the Western US is NOT HABITABLE...... You can't go many places without a road. Lets see if you lived on Maui, you'd bbq, empty beer bottles, cut the grass, take out the trash, wash the car's, clean the garage, avoid the lovely woman when shes in one of those moods, ignore the phone on weekends, take the dog for a walk, jaw with the nieghbors, oogle the chicks on the beach, dream about winning the lotto, take the stingray out for a cruise, walk on the beach, set two posts for a hammock,
Complete the honey do list, go to the super market with the ol lady' cuz if you don't you'll end up eating Tofu, they don't buy beer or man food. So pretty much what you'd do on Maui is what you do here. "A man marries a woman and hopes she never changes, a woman marries a man and hopes that he will change" We never do and they take that as an insult, and get mad at us all the time, you could live on an isalnd but she'd go nuts.
A man could live in anyother man's house as soon as he found the bathroom.........that irritable thing with the long hair and pointed toe nails are all the same world over.
I am almost ready for my 1,000 mile ride back to New Jersey tomorrow.
I came alone to the house in Florida this time so I am in charge of doing laundry, vacuuming, doing the dishes and overall cleaning before I leave.
I am packed, full tank of gas and the bra is on.
Watching baseball this afternoon and football tonight.
Get up early tomorrow morning and hit the road.
I will post in a couple of days how the trip was. I really enjoy driving the Vette for long rides.
Lou
Dude, you live in New Jersey? Thats not a life thats a sentence. Highest cost of lving in the US.....no personal freedoms.......
If it isn't against the law in Jersey yet, wait a minute and it will be.
TMI Toms River ah, ring a bell? Passic County has the highest property taxes in the US....then theres the jewel of Jersey, Newark, Jersey City, Jersey in the dump site for NYC......
Cold winters, high heating, and cooling bills........you must be very well off to live in Jersey. Don't drink the water you can use a glass of water for a nite light.
Floriduh, isn't much better. Take look at the Southern Sierras in California, low property taxes fixed at 1% of the purchase price for as long as you own the home. My taxes are $882 a year. Highest elec bill in summa $28.00 Highest heating bill in Jan $ 35.00 to $50.00 a month. Car tag $165.00 Low crime, 0 traffic.........98% gringo.
Have a safe trip We'll be looking forward to hearing from you when you get home. We wanna know you made it safe and sound.
Susan
Susan, thank you for the well wishes. Made it back in good shape. Traffic was not bad and the weather cooperated until I got to Virginia on Monday. A little rain but not too bad. I love driving the Vette on long trips. It is very confortable and holds the road well. Averaged 26.1 mpg on the trip back. Not bad since I was mostly driving between 75 and 82 mph.
Ken - Both my wife and I are retired. We had been vacationing in Florida since the late 70s. Went there mainly in the summer when the kids were off school. We have always loved it there. We mostly went to the east coast and stayed away from the middle of the state because of the high humidity and heat. It is better by the sea. We bought a house in New Smyrna Beach (about 20 mi south of Daytona) in 2003 and spend about 6 months a year there. Our friends call us the coocoo birds because we come back to Jersey in November for the holidays.
Redwing - My wife was born in New Jersey and I immigrated here in 1956 from Cuba. We make a hell of a couple. She is a hard headed Dutch girl and I am a fiery Cuban. We love the area, have family here and very good friends. We do live in Passaic County which it does have the highest taxes in the state. 25 or so miles from lovely Newark, Jersey City and others. LOL.
Glad ya made it .I take 84/81 south rather than 95 when going to Florida .I pick up 95 only when I get to the Carolinas .I like to hook up with a group from Corvette Action center and run the "Tail of the dragon".
Like yourself I love the open road driving.I'd love to head west ,Vegas is 46 hrs seat time vs 23 to Orlando .
I am going to retire next year and thinking about leaving Cali. I like warm weather 80 is perfect but not the humidity. Do you have recommendations of places to check out in Florida near the ocean? Ideas of housing cost close to the ocean/beaches?
I am going to retire next year and thinking about leaving Cali. I like warm weather 80 is perfect but not the humidity. Do you have recommendations of places to check out in Florida near the ocean? Ideas of housing cost close to the ocean/beaches?
Thanks,
Ken
The only area my wife and I have not traveled is the Panhadle. Not sure what it is like there. We just love New Smyrna Beach on the east coast. It is a small family oriented town 20-25 south of Daytona Beach. It is only one hour from Orlando and Disney World, 45 min from Cape Kennedy, 1 2/2 hours from Jacksonville and about 4 hrs from Miami. What I am trying to say is that it is centrally located and have lots of places to visit close by. We bought a house that is three blocks from the beach. It is a three bedroom, living-room, dining-room, kitchen, two baths, florida room, carport house. Except for the third bedroom, all rooms are big and confortable. I took out the cartport and built a 1 1/2 car garage. We paid 250k in 2003. Since then, the real estate market has depreciated quite a bit in Florida. So, for that money, you can find a bigger house. It is hot and humid in July and August. Being close to the beach it is not as bad as in the middle of the state. I am going to try to include a picture. See how it goes. Lou
I am going to retire next year and thinking about leaving Cali. I like warm weather 80 is perfect but not the humidity. Do you have recommendations of places to check out in Florida near the ocean? Ideas of housing cost close to the ocean/beaches?
Thanks Lou! I'll have to check it out. Think it would be a permanent move for us. We both like Hawaii but very expensive to buy and live there. I want to be able to travel and spend money on fun stuff, not just to survive.
Thanks Lou! I'll have to check it out. Think it would be a permanent move for us. We both like Hawaii but very expensive to buy and live there. I want to be able to travel and spend money on fun stuff, not just to survive.
Places I like in Florida :If I had money -Key West :because of grand children-Orlando :nicest beach and warm winters-Naples :inland ,the way Florida was-Sebring
Lou, Question for you. I have been thinking about buying a place down in Florida. I kinda like the West Coast area more then the East Coast. Problem is I am not fully retired as of yet but kind of semi-retired and the wife who also works is way behind me 7-1/2 years. Who watches your place in Florida when you aren't there? My sister has a condo on the water in Fort Myers but they have neighbors there who watch her place who live there year round. My brother-in-law and sister go there twice a year from the 2nd week in October to Thanksgiving and then back after Christmas until Spring. As I mentioned I would like to buy something but could only stay there maybe 2 weeks out of the year. Am I nuts to even think about doing this? Been thinking about it for years. Prices are so cheap down there now that I am really getting a itch about making a move to buy a place. Would like to buy a home but maybe a condo would be better considering the circumstances in my case.
-- Edited by ffas23 on Friday 8th of October 2010 12:59:37 AM
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Lou, Question for you. I have been thinking about buying a place down in Florida. I kinda like the West Coast area more then the East Coast. Problem is I am not fully retired as of yet but kind of semi-retired and the wife who also works is way behind me 7-1/2 years. Who watches your place in Florida when you aren't there? My sister has a condo on the water in Fort Myers but they have neighbors there who watch her place who live there year round. My brother-in-law and sister go there twice a year from the 2nd week in October to Thanksgiving and then back after Christmas until Spring. As I mentioned I would like to buy something but could only stay there maybe 2 weeks out of the year. Am I nuts to even think about doing this? Been thinking about it for years. Prices are so cheap down there now that I am really getting a itch about making a move to buy a place. Would like to buy a home but maybe a condo would be better considering the circumstances in my case.
-- Edited by ffas23 on Friday 8th of October 2010 12:59:37 AM
My youngest daughter had just gotten out of a bad relationship and asked if she could go to Florida and stay for a month or so. She fell in love with the area, started a business and lives three miles from us. She checks on the house almost every day because she runs with her dogs after work and goes by our house.
What my wife and I did was to rent a condo each time we went to Florida and while there, started looking for a house. On the way back from food shopping one day, my wife saw this house. The next day we called the realtor, saw the house, made an offer and signed papers the same day.
I would not buy a house if I was only going to be there two weeks per year. I would buy a condo only if for investment or to rent it when I was not there.
Putting myself in your shoes, I would vacation at different parts of Florida until I found the one place my wife and I liked best. Then I would probably buy a condo until we were ready to spend at least 3-5 months there.
Best of luck in your decision. What I think about is that we are not getting any younger and should enjoy ourselves as best we can. My enjoyment is walking to the beach with my chair, cooler and book and spend a couple of hours there. Then going for a ride in the Vette. Lou
My dog Lizzie was reading this thread and wants to know your dogs name.
Please tell Lizzie that PJ says Woof!!
My boy is having some problems. He is 13 years old, has diabetes and is deaf and blind. He can't travel with us anymore so for the time being, my wife or I stays with him in N.J. while the other goes to Florida. Don't know what to do right now.
My dog Lizzie was reading this thread and wants to know your dogs name.
Please tell Lizzie that PJ says Woof!!
My boy is having some problems. He is 13 years old, has diabetes and is deaf and blind. He can't travel with us anymore so for the time being, my wife or I stays with him in N.J. while the other goes to Florida. Don't know what to do right now.
Well give your son a big hug from all of us .Kids are so special .
Thats not gunna happen in Floriduh, its semi tropical...... Summers are horrible...hot sticky, humid, you run the air all summer and most of the winter. The only time of the year when its good is winter. Traffic is bad, theres no cap on property taxes. Property is cheap there.......and its going to stay cheap there for the next 10 years or better. It was over built in the boom times......most home owners who bought in the boom times are upside down, whole nieghborhoods are owned by the banks.
You can live 2 blocks from the beach and in order to see it you have to stand on top of your car. Miami is crime pit.....think Oakland, Richmond, and you got it. Coming from New Jersey Floriduh is attractive, but coming from Lincoln Ca, Floriduh has nothing much to offer.
If you really want to leave California, put your stuff in storage and rent out your home, and get in the car. Before I'd consider Floriduh I'd look at the Carolina's, there not flat.
Think Hurricane Andrew.........flattened Floriduh.....it doesn't take much when your 6 feet above sea level.... Looking for a retirement place the no.1 issue is medical. No. 2 is cost of living. Its hard to beat California for that.
If you want tropical check out the Virgin Islands, USVI, BVI, & Spanish Virgins........ Condos are always the worst investment, last to go up in value, first to drop in value. You want to seriously consider a year in any area where you might want to retire in. The money in retirement is not going to be there.......think a 60% drop or better in income, retirement savings.....its like trying to hold water in your hands.
For me I'm easily entertanied, if I'm not sick, not in pain, not cold or wet or hungry. I'm good.
My boy is having some problems. He is 13 years old, has diabetes and is deaf and blind. He can't travel with us anymore so for the time being, my wife or I stays with him in N.J. while the other goes to Florida. Don't know what to do right now.
Just keep loving him like you're doing until it's his time to go to Rainbow Bridge.
My step-daughter sent this to me last week....
A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS:
1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak. 9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.
10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.
-- Edited by Speedie on Saturday 9th of October 2010 01:24:56 PM
My dog Lizzie was reading this thread and wants to know your dogs name.
Please tell Lizzie that PJ says Woof!!
My boy is having some problems. He is 13 years old, has diabetes and is deaf and blind. He can't travel with us anymore so for the time being, my wife or I stays with him in N.J. while the other goes to Florida. Don't know what to do right now.
Well give your son a big hug from all of us .Kids are so special .
Snoopy, I think I did not express myself properly. When I said my boy, I meant my dog PJ. Thank God my son is healthy, married and has given my wife and I a wonderful grandson.
I agree, when its not life anymore its time to move on. My mother lived to long......this beautiful women with nothing but love and giving in her life was reduced to shell of her former self.
One can indeed live to long. I just hope that the Christian's are wrong, the Christian version of Heaven would bore me to death....and the other place, while all of your friends would be there it doesn't sound to pleasent.
"You go to Heaven for the secenery, and you go to Hell for the friends".....Mark Twain.
Your little dog was and is a Godsend. A guy on another forum said it this way, "Lock your dog and your wife in the trunk of your car, and when you open it, whos going to be glad to see you"?
I do appreciate the women, but as much as one might love them, its impossible to get along with them, they're too strange. I've never, ever, argued with my dogs we have our times, but I'm boss and they respect that. In turn I respect them.
"Nobody ever said that life was fair". Cuidate Amigo
We'll be looking forward to hearing from you when you get home. We wanna know you made it safe and sound.
