We were /are seriously of getting asmall studio/ condo in Florida. Been looking at some beautiful cities that seem to have it all. East and west coast.... ( I lived in .fort Lauderdale teen years)
Got a few recommendations from folks here too.
Anyway, I looked for a book..articles, obout Florida and retirement.
I found one that reads like I think ( the flow ) double set can be ordered less expensively and so I took both...one is retirement - how to do it "happy" .. and the other is Living in Florida..best cities ( rated each year ) descriptions of towns...activities...demographics... quiet..bustling..sleepy..fishing ..historic...costs..all the things I am looking for... now I have not downloaded or read it but I was skipping and looking throughout ...
What I see is an overriding theme..that 20 plus years ago..retirees flocked ( still do ) but costs ( like the insurance mentioned here ) are getting prohibitive.. gave 2015 numbers of retirees that came and then left because of condo maintenance fees..and upkeep ..also the mention not a few times that 6 - 7 months unless UP north beyond a certain line ( Tampa?? ) the heat is oppressive and when it does turn heavenly...the snowbirds hit...
Anyway..it is a LOT to think about .. $$ spent all year for the loan, insurances, fees, taxes, for a few months use
I think we may just choose different cities and rent for the monthly fee...and travel around. And this way we can go north in or NC ( cape cod! Boston! New Canada, Hampshire!! summer and go South in iwinter when we choose with nothing to pay in between and no worries about storms and such.. can work around docs appts and if one of us gets sick..and cannot do or just doesn't want to..nothing to rent out and unload. May change our minds a dozen times but would give opportunity to travel to different states... and not worry about carting things to and fro..just a suitcase
