LTDXER said:
Nice part of the country ???? Puh leeeze ! I lived on that worthless peninsula for almost 20 years.....and here is what I experienced.... Endless, intense, inescapable, unbearable humidity, insect infestations with the bugs often large enough to carry off small children, boring terrain ( flat as a card table ), two seasons ( hot and wet & warm and wet )...plus the insane tropical storms that are violent enough to smash cities !!! An economy designed for wealthy investors or business owners......good luck if you have to support yourself with wages...other than subsistence agriculture ( unless you own the plantation ) you have only the FIRE sector to have a ( barely ) lower middle class life ( and at that, expect to have a part time job to supplement your full time job )......anything else and say HELLLOOO poverty !!! Culture consisting mostly of truck pulls and tailgate parties.... Taxes....oh yeah !....the much vaunted ( NO STATE INCOME TAX !!! ) Let me tell you how that works......you do save about 2K per year....and the employers balance that out by paying you 10K less a year than you would make anywhere else in the U.S. so really....you end up 8K in the hole in real terms.....Because as they would say in interviews...." We'll hire you...but you have to take half your pay in Sunshine...YUK YUK YUK "........I was a working nurse and was paid about 10K less in the Tampa Bay area than I would have made in an identical position in say...Atlanta. Plus, the government makes up for no state income with some of the highest property taxes you will see outside of Long Island..... So yeah, take the kid to Orlando to see Mickey......but please, spare yourself....Don't live there !!!
So....how do you REALLY feel??? Lol...
For those interested, here's my experience. I make more money here than I did at my last 121 gig, which was just outside of Chicago. My rent is less here. I have ONE job and after bills I'm able to and put money away each check.
Granted, the summers are hot and humid. But I also live five minutes from one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen and spend much of my time off in the water, which is where I love to be. The winter has been absolutely wonderful and makes up for the heat and humidity of summer.
They do grow big bugs here but during the worst of summer, I never had more than a few bites at a time. They're just mosquito bites...
As a pilot, I love flying here locally. The view from my little 172 is unparalleled when it comes to being around water. Let's just say the greens and blues of the gulf far exceed the view of Lake Michigan from the cockpit. Now the PNW (home) is a whole other story and those views are amazing. On the plus side, I don't have to deal with mountain wave activity here or mountainous terrain. Lol...
No state tax is quite nice and actually looking forward to doing my taxes this year! Personally I don't feel the hit of no state tax...
My major complaint - no changes of seasons. I do miss the seasons. Even the snow
Bottom line, it's all relative. What one person may despise, another may love. There will always be something about where you live that you wish were different or don't particularly care for, but I'm a firm believer in making the best of our situation. And I choose to be here. I'm happy with my choice. Sarasota is gorgeous.
