I've been living in Florida since 1999. If I look back now ...I can't believe it's been almost 10 yrs since I picked up and left everything behind.
When my wife and I got engaged to be married back in 1989....we would always talk about how we love going to Florida during the winter and having fun. I'll never forget when my wife said..."If we haven't settled on living in NY over the next few years and we weren't were we want to be with our jobs then let's just pick up and move to Florida." When most people hear the word "Florida" they think of Hurricanes...tornado's......bugs...lizards...alligators...rain storms and sunny...hot humid weather.
Well if you look around the world...there are many other places around the world that have most of the things listed above but if you look around here then you'll also notice that we have some great attractions and other fabulous things you can enjoy while you set down some roots here.
There aren't that many places around the world where you can go and bury your feet on nice white sandy beaches... have your choice to play on many championship golf courses...have a picnic at your local park...go on a boat ride...exersise outside or just relax outside at home all year round...but in Florida you can.
Florida is not for everyone but it sure beats shoveling snow and ice and freezing your little butt off 6 months out of the year.
It seemed like every time we would travel there we would sit at the pool and have this euphoric feeling that we could make it here and have a lot of fun. We always joked about how we could work in the hotel we would stay at but that never happened. when we went to the beach we would also talk about how I could become a life guard or a jet ski instructor...but that never happened either...it was all fantasy..I wanted to stick to what I knew and did the same with insurance..to this day...we are both in the same profession that we started in.
We figured if there wasn't anything that important to keep us there then why not just move. So one week in 1997...I decided to get on a plane and go down to Florida and play some golf. I didn't take my wife with me on this trip because my daughter just turned 1 yrs old and they were with me a month earlier there visiting my in laws. This trip was solely for me to just get away and play golf. Nothing else...I just left my Real Estate business behind and went to the links for some enjoyable rounds of golf and nothing but golf.
Little did my wife know but I was also driving to every new development looking to see if it was possible for us to actually purchase a home. Well when I spoke to her on the phone one evening...she asked me how my golf game was and I told her that it was pretty bad but I also told her I bought us a home. She almost freeked out on me. She asked me what we would do about jobs and how were we going to live? I said Simple..."we'll just sponge off your parents for a few months until we get settled." That actually made her laugh and she said to go for it.
We ended up having to wait about 6 months for the house to be built so we had ample time to prepare. We still had to sell the house in NY and we still had a lot of debris to get rid of because it was a very old home we ended up with from her late aunt. Everything worked out pretty well and we officially closed on July 2, 1999.
If I look back now at where we are I would have to say that it was the best move we ever made so if you want to have that Florida feeling why don't you come down and visit first and see what you might be missing.
You can't enjoy what you can't feel...feel it and enjoy.
There is so much to offer and you'll find that your enjoyment will never end.
For more information please contact Neal The Real Deal Bloom
-CRS-Realtor® /Remax Premier Assoc.
2500 Weston Road ,Suite 103
Weston FL 33331
(954)608-5556
The Real Deal tells it Like it is in Real Estate
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I used to live in Florida and LOVED IT! I would move back in a heart beat if the business was not here. Looking at your photos is great! ~Rita
We plan on retiring in Florida. We go twice a year and love it. Everyone laughs at us and questions why we would want to live with the horrible heat, rainy season, huge bugs, hurricanes... But we think it's awesome and can't wait to settle there!
Neal, it's so interesting, having lived in Florida way over twice as long as you, and in Texas over 25 years our perspective is completely the opposite. Cold and shoveling snow and driving around on icey roads is actually highly appealing. I guess if you get comfortable with something too long you just want the opposite. It must be that grass is always greener on the other side.
Neal: What an awesome story! It takes alot of guts to just pick up and move--I'm guessing that you didn't have to 'sponge' off of your parents very long at all!? I feel the same way about Florida as you when we're vacationing but, I don't have the courage to just leave Charlotte behind like you did NY. Of course, we have 4 great seasons here so, shoveling snow is RARELY an issue for us!
What a brave soul(s)... I have to tell you I love the smell and the beaches. But, the hurriacanes and evacuating freak me out. But, you are happy and that is all that matters.
Florida is a great place to live...we love it here even if we have to fight with a few things that many people aren't comfortable with...but it's just like any other place in the world...there are always going to be some pro's and con's in every state.
I smell salt water..I smell freshly cut grass..I smell rain...I smell money! Aroma therapy at it's best.
Hey, it's nice to hear a little "history"! Sounds like you have really enjoyed being there. I hope everything workes out well for Roscoe. He's quite a best friend. Some hunan friends never stay devoted that long.
Neal you mean that Florida isn't just "Hurricanes...tornado's......bugs...lizards...alligators...rain storms and sunny...hot humid weather." :) :)
Who is the little guy playing "T" Ball?????
My hubby was born and raised in Pensacola. We've visited often over the years, and even though there isn't family left in Florida it is a trip we take along I-10 when visiting folks in Biloxi. I have to have my fix of the sunshine and white beaches and believe it or not, hot humid days.
I would love to have a vacation home in Florida to escape the winters.
We've lived in three states and are already contemplating our next move (when the last graduates from high school). Some have that wanderlust, and others don't. I definitely have wanderlust! There's too much out there to discover...
I was just talking to a friend today about being adventuresome enough to just pick up and move to another part of the country or world. I'd do it, and she is planning a move to NC ASAP. I'm so happy that you guys found your dream in Florida. GBU!
funny just tonight my husband announced he thinks we should move to FL - he is having a tough time already with the cold here and his leg - time will tell - can I feel FL - we shall see -
Neal- What a wonderful story......you sure had guts to go house hunting without the wife, and then say "Honey I bought us a house" .......LOL :) The spirit of how you moved was just what I needed to read for my restless soul that has been wanting to move for a couple years now. Thanks.
Hi Neal,
Your story is awesome! I love the idea of living some place warm year round it gets pretty cold here in the winter! :)
Lizette,
Thanks for stopping by.
George,
The little guy was playing ball ...no idea who it is..I was at the park watching the game so I took the photo.
Kris,
We can all use a sunny day fix in our lives:)
Gita,
Plenty of them for sale...if you ever want to see the area...let me know:)
Kelly,
It's a nice place to live but as long as you don't mind a few little bugs and some rain and hot weather then you'll love it...always time to do things outside too!
Elizabeth,
I never regret moving here....even when things could be better I look at the palm tress and it becomes very tranquil.
Thesa,
I know we talked about this in the past...think about it and if you want to visit then I'd love to meet you finally.
Kathy,
I took a big chance hoping we would love it here but I knew in my heart we would and we do.
Suzanne,
Thanks,I'm done with the cold weather...I can do more in the heat:)
Neal-Who needs Florida! It was a cool crisp 40 degrees this morning here in Mass. The Red Sox are in the Playoffs again, October would not be the same sitting at Fenway Park freezing our butts off.
Joe