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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: AquaShrimp on March 20, 2007, 04:45:26 PM

Title: Which part of Florida?
Post by: AquaShrimp on March 20, 2007, 04:45:26 PM

I've decided that I am going to move to Florida.  As an avid scuba diver and fisherman, I think that this is the place for me.  The warm weather is also a major consideration. Since I work in the w.water treatment field, I can probably get a job in any region of Florida.  But the question is, which part would be best for me?

Heres my considerations:

-Affordable living accomendations
-Low crime
-Good scuba diving
-Good fishing

Title: Which part of Florida?
Post by: DocRoe on March 20, 2007, 06:24:55 PM

i go down to Florida and the Naples/Fort Myers area is sweet :)

Title: Which part of Florida?
Post by: storch on March 20, 2007, 06:32:20 PM

any part of florida offers what you look for.  just not all in the same location.  a starter home in a decent working class neighborhood is in the mid 300k range.  there is excellent fishing on both coasts but they differ slightly.  IMHO the best diving is in southeast florida and the keys.

Title: Which part of Florida?
Post by: tedrbr on March 20, 2007, 06:36:34 PM

Do some research.  Internet is pretty good tool for this purpose.

A few years ago, I decided to move to the west side of the Mississippi, after a lifetime east of it.  Spent a few weeks researching online.  Under consideration was city size (not too big, not too small), weather, motorcycling opportunities (most important), jobs, continuing educational opportunities, outdoor experiences, crime rates, things to do, .... lot's of categories I looked at.

Settled on the Front Range and Colorado Springs.

http://www.moving.com/Find_a_Place/Compare2Cities/ (http://www.moving.com/Find_a_Place/Compare2Cities/)

http://www.stateofflorida.com/Portal/DesktopDefault.aspx (http://www.stateofflorida.com/Portal/DesktopDefault.aspx)

http://www.moving.com/Find_a_Place/Cityprofile/ (http://www.moving.com/Find_a_Place/Cityprofile/)

http://www.city-data.com/forum/florida/ (http://www.city-data.com/forum/florida/)

http://www.homefair.com/find_a_place/cityprofile/index.asp?&cc=1 (http://www.homefair.com/find_a_place/cityprofile/index.asp?&cc=1)

http://www.yellowpages.com/guide/consumerguides/article.jsp;jsessionid=KATMCDNAOUPFBQFI21FRF2Q?articleID=109466&guideID=110218 (http://www.yellowpages.com/guide/consumerguides/article.jsp;jsessionid=KATMCDNAOUPFBQFI21FRF2Q?articleID=109466&guideID=110218)


Once you've nailed it down to a local or three, look up their individual web sites.  For me, Colorado Springs turned out to be a very wired community.  For example, they post crime maps on a weekly basis.   I printed off a few weeks worth of data, printed the maps on clear, overlapped them, and was able to get a good idea of types and numbers of crime throughout the entire area, in which to base my house hunting on.

Also, good computer maps (not the online stuff), which can pull up data such as places to eat, schools, hospitals, libraries, sites of interest, and so forth can help you get an idea of what a community is like from a distance.  

Look at what industries are there.  Big difference in burgs that rely on steel mills and chicken processing factories to survive as compared to general truck stops or migrant farm work, or college towns, or areas that support high tech industries.

Finally, I spent 3 weeks traveling by motorcycle out west looking at different areas that I had researched before deciding to move.

Title: Which part of Florida?
Post by: Gunthr on March 20, 2007, 06:41:36 PM

personally, I wouldn't go further south than Palm Beach County.   Miami and the Keys would still be only 3 + hours away but you will have far less congestion.  Your auto insurance will also be lower.  Both coasts offer nice things... depends what you are looking for.

Title: Which part of Florida?
Post by: john9001 on March 20, 2007, 08:52:52 PM

if you want affordable housing and low crime you go inland , you want fishing and scuba you go to the coast.

Title: Which part of Florida?
Post by: crowMAW on March 20, 2007, 09:05:42 PM

What type of diving do you prefer?  If you would like to try cave diving (very dangerous, but I understand is rewarding), then North Central Florida has opportunities for that...around Gainesville would be a good place to look.

For reef or wreck diving, the further south the better, but I agree that the southeast coast has become nuts and is not a cheap place to live.  Naples or Ft. Myers would be better but you will probably have to drive to get to launch points closest to the dive sites you want to visit.

Title: Which part of Florida?
Post by: Halo on March 20, 2007, 11:31:23 PM

I've just touristed Florida a couple times, but only after lots of study and planning.  With your interests, you might really enjoy from Jupiter south where the Gulf Stream wraps around the Atlantic coast.  

Pricey the farther south you go, but might be doable somewhere.

Title: Which part of Florida?
Post by: FBplmmr on March 21, 2007, 05:37:36 AM

Cape Coral/ Fort myers  -gulf access homes can be had for 300k.

Dive visibility here is very poor compared to the keys though=(



As the "Cape" grows, there will be more and  houses on wells and eventually transfered to City water as the water/sewer lines go in and new RO plants come online.

(south west cape coral has some issues with salt water intrusion in the wells because of the dropping fresh water table-hence the push to get everyone on City water)

Title: Which part of Florida?
Post by: Nilsen on March 21, 2007, 06:30:43 AM

Id like to stay on one of those little platform thingies that crockett and tubbs always have their stakeouts on when they are taking down one of the drug guys. Lots of fishing gear on em so i guess thats what they are for.
:)

Title: Which part of Florida?
Post by: Roscoroo on March 21, 2007, 06:41:46 AM

Quote

Originally posted by Nilsen
Id like to stay on one of those little platform thingies that crockett and tubbs always have their stakeouts on when they are taking down one of the drug guys. Lots of fishing gear on em so i guess thats what they are for.
:)

I'd rather have one of these .
(http://www.traveljournals.net/pictures/l/5/51482-pirate-ship-with-a-tour-group--sailing-around-the-bay-george-town-cayman-islands.jpg)

Harrrrrrrr !!! :D

Title: Which part of Florida?
Post by: DREDIOCK on March 21, 2007, 07:33:50 AM

Quote

Originally posted by Roscoroo
I'd rather have one of these .
(http://www.traveljournals.net/pictures/l/5/51482-pirate-ship-with-a-tour-group--sailing-around-the-bay-george-town-cayman-islands.jpg)

Harrrrrrrr !!! :D

Wait! I think I see Nilsen! ;)

Title: Which part of Florida?
Post by: Masherbrum on March 21, 2007, 08:44:20 AM

Quote

Originally posted by Roscoroo
Harrrrrrrr !!! :D

SAY IT!

Title: Which part of Florida?
Post by: storch on March 21, 2007, 09:18:34 AM

Quote

Originally posted by Nilsen
Id like to stay on one of those little platform thingies that crockett and tubbs always have their stakeouts on when they are taking down one of the drug guys. Lots of fishing gear on em so i guess thats what they are for.
:)

it was called stiltsville and it has gone the way of the dodo.  http://www.key-biscayne.com/kb/stiltsville/index.shtml

edit:  here's a better site

http://www.stiltsville.org/pages/history.html