Run to the sun!?!?

Lucky's

Active Member
May 25, 2010
1,873
Jupiter, FL
Boat Info
2006 320DA w/Black hull;
(2) 2016 3-up Seadoo Sparks
Engines
350 Mercruiser MPI V drives
Ok, here's the deal. The admiral and I hate winter and love boating. We are fairly whimsical people and are in the VERY early, but semi-serious thought process of making a move from Michigan to Florida. We have always loved visiting the Ft Lauderdale area but I think to live we want something a bit more low key. We both have careers that should have no problem relocating and are considering the Naples area. So CSR friends, am I crazy!? What are your thoughts on a move like this, both with the area and the idea of moving that far solely based on weather. I would also assume it would make more sense based on the size and era of my boat to sell here and buy there verses moving it? Look forward to your responses....


Shaun
Sent from my iPhone
 
Sounds reasonable to me. I like the gulf coast. That area is in the sub-tropical zone so the climate should be nice 10 months out of the year. May be a little warm in the summer but that beats the crap out of cold winter months in my book. I say go for it Shaun.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Shaun,

You called it best when you wrote to lock the thread after someone replied later in life you will regret buying a truck over a boat.

I think that applies to your question. There's a door here for you and you have stepped up to it. Going through it doesn't mean it is going to be easy, but "Lucky" is when preparedness meets opportunity. Seize it, you will never regret it.

Good luck....


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
Shaun,

You called it best when you wrote to lock the thread after someone replied later in life you will regret buying a truck over a boat.

I think that applies to your question. There's a door here for you and you have stepped up to it. Going through it doesn't mean it is going to be easy, but "Lucky" is when preparedness meets opportunity. Seize it, you will never regret it.

Good luck....


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Wow. Very well spoken and really kind of struck a chord with me. Just read this to Heather as well. Thanks.
 
Damn Yankees! These are northerners who visit the south, then figure out how life is good and they refuse to go home! LOL

Shaun,

Start the new adventure! Go for it.

I have always lived life according to Mark Twain:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover" - Mark Twain
 
We have lots of friends from West Michigan who winter in the Naples area. Don't know your age but those who have been going for many years are showing the effects of lots of sun damage to faces, etc. Need to be very careful with the sun. We do California in the winter and sometimes Tahoe and there is less worry with UV and our children are there. We may spend 2-3 weeks in the Naples area in March, but all that sun is a negative for people who have lived on boats for 40 years.
 
My bro lives in Troy, MI and has a beautiful cottage at Point Lookout on Lake Huron, and has bought a place in Ft. Myers on the Caloosatachie (SP????) River. He's going to retire in a year and will winter down there and spend summers on Lake Huron.

Go for it.
 
South Fla is too hot and I don't like dodging Buick driving 85 year old retirees from NY and NJ when I go to the marina. The So Fla sun is a killer as well.

Consider the Nw Fla coast as you shop around. We boat year round, but we do have seasons. Its easy to fin 65-75 degree days in January and Feburary, but we do have some cold windy days in the winter as well. The best thing is that the NW Fla barrier islands are almost like the keys and afford you protection anytime the wind or seas are prohibitive. We also have local people who are extremely nice and appreciate your investing in the area. Its difficult to find a local in Naples.
 
I made a ton of money in Ft Lauderdale selling light fixtures in the late 80's

Go for it and don't look back. :thumbsup:. I made the mistake for looking back. :smt021
 
Shaun,

Naples is a great place to live but a lot of good points were made about the summer heat, the really big bugs, and the average age of the community. My sister lived there for many years and finally could't deal with the negatives and she moved to Nashville. Look at Dresden a little North on the panhandle. I have a few friends who really like that area. You may also take a look at North Carolina as a option. Either way if you can swing it then go for it!
 
I would also look at the area just below Tampa Bay down to Venice. It's not quite as hot as Naples, not so crowded with the "elderly very wealthy" in the winter and has a better track record for hurricanes than most other areas in Florida (quite important when they come here)! Plus it's not so remote if you want to get to larger cities other than Miami. We initially thought of Naples but settled higher up the coast for those reasons. Your move is not as far as ours was, we moved from the UK and my husband gave up an excellent tenured government position (they thought we were mad) to move here with two teenage children just starting college and no idea how we were going to make a living, no job, just knew we wanted to be in FL....We did it, now have two successful businesses (worked really hard though....still do) and have never looked back. It has not always been easy but it's the best thing we ever did for our family. Go for it, if you don't, you will always wonder ...what if.... my husband and I wish you the very best of luck.

Brenda & Noel
 
Last edited:
I can't thank you all enough for your feedback so far. One other thought slightly contrasting that we had was the west Palm Beach area. We have some friends in that area and I also know its nice to visit but don't know about living. Anyone have any thoughts or experiences on that area? We have spent a lot of time in the ft. Lauderdale area and love it there but are reluctant to move there because of the crime. Is WPB far enough away from the Lauderdale/Miami area to escape some of the crime? Again, thanks for the feedback. It's all being considered and greatly appreciated!


Shaun
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
If I could relocate now, it would be to the Naples / Ft. Myers area. i can deal with the heat, no problem....could go to the Keys when I wanted to and cruise the gulf.

Don
 
Frank and I will be like the Florida tourism community when we tell you the cool parts of Florida that we live in…..oddly enough though; we live in two completely different parts of this state and two just as separate places of boating. He is in the panhandle of Florida (which we real Floridians call Lower Alabama) and has beautiful beaches and barrier islands to anchor off of for the day.

I on other hand will advise you and Ms. Heather to come visit my side of the state which has a real ocean, The Atlantic, and not a bay of water that Frank is on….I believe they call it the Gulf of BPexico or something like that. Research the town I grew up in, Cocoa Beach FL 32921. CB schools are public schools and are nationally ranked in the country each year. There is also two private church schools in town if you rather. Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral are small barrier island towns and are homogenous communities. We have the Space Program which is always cutting edge stuff that we watch with our own eyes as it flies to the heavens….that is if your president will allow us to participate in space again…another story.

We have off shore activities that are limited on the gulf side, such as lobster diving, big game offshore fishing and for us old time surfers we also have waves dude. There is a huge difference in the ocean and the gulf but both have advantages for sure. Frank’s beach is snow white with crystal clear water. He can get in his boat and go south or west for places like the entire west coast of Florida all the way down to the Keyes or he can head west to places like Biloxi MS for Casinos or eve New Orleans for adventure. Frank can also navigate up into the interior of the country via waterways like the Tombigbee. My side is north for the entire eastern seaboard of the US (unlimited cool spots) or south to the islands (Bahamas etc..) or Florida Keyes. Completely two difference places and both are great for family rearing.

While growing up here, we always referred to our state as the east coast was the younger crowd and the west coast was where all the blue hairs came to retire and die. Kind of holds true today for planning purposes but both sides now have mixed traffic of all ages and equally nice places to hang out…or is it that I have seen some indigo highlights in the mirror lately so my selection of who’s old kind of looses merit, know what I mean. West coast would be great for your business but not for youngsters like you and Heather. I am an advocate of my side of the state and we now have plenty of condo commando’s that will require your services in the not too distant future so no worries about work. If I had a second choice it would be in Lower Alabama moored at Treasure Island Marina in Panama City…that’s a marina worth bragging about!

Now for the ‘piece de resistance…. I am right next to the SR Mothership and we have toys! You guys must include my town in your places to search and come see me for the local boy tour. My buddy is the proprietor and director of our only digger store in town and I am sure he would provide you with all the insight to the biz you would need for Florida…

Your call coach.

R
 
Shaun,
call me sometime if you get serious about this
and I will tell you my been there done that experiences.
There are some realities you will need to know as a young person moving there.
 
Shaun,
call me sometime if you get serious about this
and I will tell you my been there done that experiences.
There are some realities you will need to know as a young person moving there.

If we get more serious I will do that Jim. Thanks!
 
Frank and I will be like the Florida tourism community when we tell you the cool parts of Florida that we live in…..oddly enough though; we live in two completely different parts of this state and two just as separate places of boating. He is in the panhandle of Florida (which we real Floridians call Lower Alabama) and has beautiful beaches and barrier islands to anchor off of for the day.

I on other hand will advise you and Ms. Heather to come visit my side of the state which has a real ocean, The Atlantic, and not a bay of water that Frank is on….I believe they call it the Gulf of BPexico or something like that. Research the town I grew up in, Cocoa Beach FL 32921. CB schools are public schools and are nationally ranked in the country each year. There is also two private church schools in town if you rather. Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral are small barrier island towns and are homogenous communities. We have the Space Program which is always cutting edge stuff that we watch with our own eyes as it flies to the heavens….that is if your president will allow us to participate in space again…another story.

We have off shore activities that are limited on the gulf side, such as lobster diving, big game offshore fishing and for us old time surfers we also have waves dude. There is a huge difference in the ocean and the gulf but both have advantages for sure. Frank’s beach is snow white with crystal clear water. He can get in his boat and go south or west for places like the entire west coast of Florida all the way down to the Keyes or he can head west to places like Biloxi MS for Casinos or eve New Orleans for adventure. Frank can also navigate up into the interior of the country via waterways like the Tombigbee. My side is north for the entire eastern seaboard of the US (unlimited cool spots) or south to the islands (Bahamas etc..) or Florida Keyes. Completely two difference places and both are great for family rearing.

While growing up here, we always referred to our state as the east coast was the younger crowd and the west coast was where all the blue hairs came to retire and die. Kind of holds true today for planning purposes but both sides now have mixed traffic of all ages and equally nice places to hang out…or is it that I have seen some indigo highlights in the mirror lately so my selection of who’s old kind of looses merit, know what I mean. West coast would be great for your business but not for youngsters like you and Heather. I am an advocate of my side of the state and we now have plenty of condo commando’s that will require your services in the not too distant future so no worries about work. If I had a second choice it would be in Lower Alabama moored at Treasure Island Marina in Panama City…that’s a marina worth bragging about!

Now for the ‘piece de resistance…. I am right next to the SR Mothership and we have toys! You guys must include my town in your places to search and come see me for the local boy tour. My buddy is the proprietor and director of our only digger store in town and I am sure he would provide you with all the insight to the biz you would need for Florida…

Your call coach.

R

PM sent.
 
Frank and I will be like the Florida tourism community when we tell you the cool parts of Florida that we live in…..oddly enough though; we live in two completely different parts of this state and two just as separate places of boating. He is in the panhandle of Florida (which we real Floridians call Lower Alabama) and has beautiful beaches and barrier islands to anchor off of for the day.

I on other hand will advise you and Ms. Heather to come visit my side of the state which has a real ocean, The Atlantic, and not a bay of water that Frank is on….I believe they call it the Gulf of BPexico or something like that. Research the town I grew up in, Cocoa Beach FL 32921. CB schools are public schools and are nationally ranked in the country each year. There is also two private church schools in town if you rather. Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral are small barrier island towns and are homogenous communities. We have the Space Program which is always cutting edge stuff that we watch with our own eyes as it flies to the heavens….that is if your president will allow us to participate in space again…another story.

We have off shore activities that are limited on the gulf side, such as lobster diving, big game offshore fishing and for us old time surfers we also have waves dude. There is a huge difference in the ocean and the gulf but both have advantages for sure. Frank’s beach is snow white with crystal clear water. He can get in his boat and go south or west for places like the entire west coast of Florida all the way down to the Keyes or he can head west to places like Biloxi MS for Casinos or eve New Orleans for adventure. Frank can also navigate up into the interior of the country via waterways like the Tombigbee. My side is north for the entire eastern seaboard of the US (unlimited cool spots) or south to the islands (Bahamas etc..) or Florida Keyes. Completely two difference places and both are great for family rearing.

While growing up here, we always referred to our state as the east coast was the younger crowd and the west coast was where all the blue hairs came to retire and die. Kind of holds true today for planning purposes but both sides now have mixed traffic of all ages and equally nice places to hang out…or is it that I have seen some indigo highlights in the mirror lately so my selection of who’s old kind of looses merit, know what I mean. West coast would be great for your business but not for youngsters like you and Heather. I am an advocate of my side of the state and we now have plenty of condo commando’s that will require your services in the not too distant future so no worries about work. If I had a second choice it would be in Lower Alabama moored at Treasure Island Marina in Panama City…that’s a marina worth bragging about!

Now for the ‘piece de resistance…. I am right next to the SR Mothership and we have toys! You guys must include my town in your places to search and come see me for the local boy tour. My buddy is the proprietor and director of our only digger store in town and I am sure he would provide you with all the insight to the biz you would need for Florida…

Your call coach.

R

I'll tell you what Shaun...will do you one better. I'll sell you a pristine 480DB sitting at Treasure Island right now. You can then try everybody's suggestions firsthand :)
 
Shaun,
call me sometime if you get serious about this
and I will tell you my been there done that experiences.
There are some realities you will need to know as a young person moving there.

I'm following this thread with great interest and would really appreciate it if you could post some of these realities here on the forum. Thanks.
 

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