Florida??

I am thinking about moving to Florida (from NJ) but am wondering if I
will be able to get used to the heat.

Anyone in here had experience with this issue?

Norma...

We tried living in Southwest Florida for 3 years, coming north for
Thanksgiving and Christmas.

For us, the heat was not a problem. It was great to go outdoors
without bundling up in heavy clothing or doing a fancy dance step to
avoid falling on ice. You adjust to air conditioning there just as you
adjust to heating in the north.

Year round there was someplace interesting to go, something interesting
to do. We came back north to be near family. Our first and second
grandchildren arrived on earth while we lived there.

We also came north because we found the environment decidedly not to
our liking. We, along with most of the people in Cape Coral, had the
lawn and base of the house sprayed with toxic chemicals every 8 weeks
to keep the bug population at a low level. This did not present a safe
place for the little ones to play outside. Without the spray, the fire
ants presented a real danger. While we lived there, a 3 year old child
fell onto a fire ant nest in her yard and died from the bites. The dog
and cat were constantly being de-flea'd, which was a never ending task.

We thought we would enjoy boating (a 21 footer w/cuddy cabin) and
fishing in the gulf. It was beastly hot in the summer (no A/C on
board) and windy in the winter and with all the chemicals flowing into
the waters from the canals in town, we didn't want to eat the fish.

Miy sister and her husband lived in Kissimmee for 35 years and
thoroughly enjoyed it. We were used to living in a rural atmosphere
with a minimum of insect life and our own water supply and we didn't
like the drinking water there either. When the stainless steel
silverware rests on a spot of water in the sink and leaves a rust mark,
isn't something wrong? LOL

It all boils down to personal taste, Lou. Maybe we would have been

Jazzy...

I've lived in Fort Myers for the last 26 years. As soon as I can, I'm
getting out of here and moving back to NC. The cost of insurance is
driving me out, as well as the general high cost of living. As I'm
alone here now, and with the years racking up on me, I need, and want,
to be near my family in NC.

I live across the river from where Norma lived. So far, I've never
sprayed my lawn or house for insects. I'm on city water, and it's
drinkable. So no problems that Norma had here.

The weather is wonderful. Even the summer heat doesn't bother me, as I
stay inside when it's unbearable outside, or go north for the summer.
Not once, last winter, did I need to turn on my heat! Now that is a
good thing! :)

~Mary Lee~

Sue...

ML...I think you have been a little worried a couple times....
sue

JD Cooper...

You could try Arizona where summer temps average in the triple digits.

Lou...

Yes but "its a dry heat" (most of the time) - like your oven.
I have been in Phoenix in the summer, and survived.

Annie...

*********
Lou,
A good link for checking out the states is :
Village listed, so checked zip codes on usps.com and the name of the town
Lady Lake, FL
Interesting facts can be learned...
I'm w/the others in that go for a visit before doing anything. I have a
friend, who bought a home in Del Webb's Sun City,TX, a 55+ community in
Georgetown, TX right outside of Austin and she really enjoys living there
after spending most of her life in the San Francisco bay area. She spent
time looking even here in CA, everything decent was out of reach for her
financially and after visiting the area, she went for it...here's a link:
(in case TX calls you), however there are other locations...closer to the
east coast too...Good huntin'!

Lou...

Yup, The place is in Lady Lake. The sheer size of the place is what
interests me. 50,000 people and growing.

Chakolate...

That's the part that would put me off. 50K geezers? No families, no
kids? What fun is that?

Norma...

Hey, Chak. Did we go to different schools together? I prefer living

Lou...

I have heard that comment from many folks and I am thinking about it.
OTOH My interest is in having fun in my golden years.
You do know the best thing about grandchildren? You can give them back
to their parents.
The attraction of 50,000 people is that there will be *some* with
similar interests to mine. Also, I will be able to develop new
interests. Ever heard of pickle ball? Its big down there:-))

near family and kids and I love meat. LOL

Chakolate...

teehee - mebbe we did!

I love to hear the kids in the neighborhood playing outside in the
summer. And if I go out, they often come over to say hi. (Mostly
because I sometimes have a bottle of bubbles and a dozen little wands.)

Norma

happier had we lived in another part of the state. I'm sure Marsha,
Janie, Sue and Stan have much better things to say.

Lou...

Thanks for the quick input.

There are about 50,000 55+ residents.
and select Activities Schedule you will get a 19 page pdf file!.
Furthermore match.com turn up about 60 ladies from in or very near The
Villages.
I never thought about the ants:-(( I will ask.

Thanks again.

Lou...

Norma...

We left Florida several years ago, Lou, but I guarantee, anywhere you
go in the state you will have your pick of single ladies. :)

If you can afford it, why not rent for a while to see how things work
out or go as a tourist for a month or so this winter. For goodness
sake, don't make any permanent moves til you are sure you have what you
want.

You sound lonesome to me. That's something you can learn to live with.

Lonely is another thing altogether. That requires getting out,
joining groups (I'm not a joiner but it has helped), doing things you
don't normally do...I'm exercising at tai chi and aerobics and, trust
me, I'm not into exercise! But it's with people and it makes a
difference.
Norma - off to the Deerfield Fair today

Lou...

You understand me pretty well.
Yes the 'puter can keep me occupied, and I have computer friends, like
the nice folks in here, but a real person is *much* better.
That is the attraction of The Villages. A *lot* of people.
I was down there last winter (12/29 - 1/7). It was both cool (39) and
warm (85) on different days. It is the summer that I am "sweating".
Many of the folks in The Villages seem to flee the heat, but I do not
know if I will have the $$. Renting a house there in Feb costs about
$2500 - just for the house.

Lou...

Jean B....

Which Deerfield?

Jean B....

I have no idea. I am thinking of Deerfield, Mass., in which
case, it would be interesting to me. But for all I know,
there's a Deerfield, NH.

Norma...

I'll hop in here to answer, Jean. It was Deerfield, NH. I've been to
a good many fairs in my life and I have never been to one as crowded as
this one. We got there about 3 p.m. after taking about 35 mnutes to go
the last 3 miles. The actual fairgrounds were wall to wall, shoulder
to shoulder people. I've never seen so many parked cars in my life
along with streams of them coming and going! The parking lots were two
or maybe three times the size of the actual fair. For all that, it's
one of the smaller fairs I have ever attended.

However, we had free tickets so off we went - son, dil, 3 g-daughters
and me. I just purely enjoy fairs and this was no exception. I think
I saw every exhibit that was offered. It's a good thing it wasn't any
bigger. I was limping by the time we headed back to the car. The
feet were fine but the old legs were beginning to ache. And of course
I had all the junk foods....cheese steak sandwich, maple candy, maple
cotton candy and a couple bites of a g-daughter's fried dough. All in
all, a great time. :)
Norma

Jean B....

That does sound great--for me, greater if not so crowded! :-)

Phyllis Copp...

Aren't country fairs great!? We have the Bluehill Fair every Labor day
weekend, you meet almost everyone you know there, plus exhibits, rides, junk
food, yumm!
Phyllis

Understand, BUT (big but) I am "buying" a life and lifestyle. You must
be a resident of The Villages to get that. Also, I am a renter in NJ.

I appreciate all the input I am getting because it is helping me know
what to consider. Thanks to all.

What town??
The Villages is about 1 1/4 hours north of Orlando PO is Lady Lake 32162
& 32159