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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
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    Question To move or not to move?

    So my husband asks me the other day - do you want to move to Florida when you retire next year? Of course I said yes, as the winters in Pittsburgh are getting worse every year, but then I thought would that be the best move. For those of you who relocated to the Sunshine State what are your thoughts Pro or Con. Are living expenses doable on fixed incomes, are medical supplements to Medicare good, are the summers so brutal you can't go out? What areas of the state are best for retirees? I don't think we want to go into the Villages or Ocala areas or south to Miami but stay either coastal or around Orlando. So in a nutshell anything you can tell us about a move would be helpful in our decision.
    Thanks in advance. Cathy

    Feb 26 - Mar 5, 2019 Port Orleans Riverside
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    Dec. 7-13, 2008, Royal Plaza at DTD
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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Morristown NJ
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    Good questions, following along.
    - Lynn -
    INTERCOT Staff: Theme Parks, DVC

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
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    Silver Spring,MD
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    I am planning on moving to Orlando at retirement time. Good questions you have asked. I shall wait for the answers too.
    First visit 1976
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  5. #4
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    Jul 2001
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    I relocated to Florida not long ago but haven't been here long enough that I can answer the questions you pose. I'm still trying to figure out the answers to some of what you have asked. We did look at communities in Ocala but decided the area was not right for us. We thought about areas that are closer to the coastline but became concerned about potential issues with flood insurance. We close to live in central Florida and selected an active, 55+ community. Thus far, we are enjoying it very much.
    Linda aka: Faline
    INTERCOT Staff: Vacation Planning,Trip Reports and Disney Camping
    [email protected]

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
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    I moved to Florida in August 2013. Our first place was an apartment in Winter Haven. I bought a house in the 4 corners area area in Davenport. I'm a 20 minute drive to Disney.

    As for Medicare, I just got a plan from Humana that has a $0 premium. It also has vision and dental as well as Silver Sneakers which is a gym membership. You didn't mention physicians. I now see all providers in the Florida Hospital Medical Group, utilizing Florida Hospital Celebration Health as my hospital. There is also a fitness center in the hospital and they accept the silver sneakers.

    Feel free to ask any further questions. Good luck with your decision.
    Marci

    Many visits. Live 20 minutes from the parks.
    Work at Universal Studios in Diagon Alley. Ollivanders/ wand magic.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
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    Cumming, GA
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    We are looking at doing the same thing but a little farther down the road (4 years or so). My aunt and uncle recently moved from GA to Deland, Fl into an active 55+ community and love it very much. About an hour to WDW and 20 mins to the beach.
    Janet, aka JanetMegan


    Scrapbooking-There is a fine line between a mental illness and a hobby.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    May 2003
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    Maryland
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    Quote Originally Posted by wilcat View Post
    as the winters in Pittsburgh are getting worse every year
    Just so long as you get DirctTv to be able to watch the Stillers. :-)
    "You used all the glue on purpose!"

  9. #8
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    May 2006
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    If you have lived in the northern US your whole life, you will find the first summer difficult. After that you kind of get use to it. You will also learn to do things early in the morning, and in the evening during the summer to avoid the mid day heat.
    "Welcome, Foolish Mortals..."

  10. #9
    Join Date
    May 2007
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    I plan to retire there as well. I can retire in less than a month but will probably wait till the end of the year. I want to live near Orlando and if it's in a "retirement" community that's good too. I'll be 50 when I retire, so I suppose that precludes me from the 55+ places mentioned?? My kids are grown, I like to run ... I'm nervous to pick up and move .... I moved all over the world while in the Air Force, but that's been a long time ago and to be young and move was much easier ....
    80 1st./04POR/05POR/06POR/07POR/08POR/09POR/10POR/
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    14FQJun/14POPJul/14PORNov/15POPFeb/15FQJun/15AoADec/16ASPNov/17AoAJun/ 17POPSep/18CBJun/19PORApr/

    IN GOD WE TRUST !!

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  11. #10
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    Aug 2001
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    Quote Originally Posted by #1donaldfan View Post
    I plan to retire there as well. I can retire in less than a month but will probably wait till the end of the year. I want to live near Orlando and if it's in a "retirement" community that's good too. I'll be 50 when I retire, so I suppose that precludes me from the 55+ places mentioned?? My kids are grown, I like to run ... I'm nervous to pick up and move .... I moved all over the world while in the Air Force, but that's been a long time ago and to be young and move was much easier ....
    My parents live in a "55 and over" community in Arizona and they just require one member of the household to be over 50, I think it depends on the rules of the neighborhood. I'll be young too (probably 45) but hubby is 15 years older.
    Janet, aka JanetMegan


    Scrapbooking-There is a fine line between a mental illness and a hobby.

  12. #11
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    Dec 2007
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    I'm quite a bit younger so I can't speak to the cost of medicare supplements, but the cost of living in terms of regular everyday items (gas, groceries, etc) is really no different from somewhere like Pittsburgh where you're coming from.

    In terms of housing, there's everything from million dollar homes to 200-400k neighborhoods all the way down to trailer parks. I don't know if you have your house paid off and will have plenty for that or if you'll only have a small fixed income, but that's going to determine a lot of how and where you can live.

    I personally don't find summers brutal, but that's really a personal thing. How do you handle it in Pittsburgh when you get those weeks where it's in the 90s and humid everyday? Because it will be like that for months in a row in Florida. If you love that weather you'll thrive, if those days make you absolutely miserable, well....

    The other big thing to consider is family. Are you the type who are at every family birthday, every grandchild's basketball or soccer games? Will you be able to afford to go back for those things on a fixed income? Some people can live thousands of miles away from their kids and family and still feel just as close, some people move away and miss that interaction.

  13. #12
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    Jun 1999
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    We didn't move to Florida, but we did move from up north (Massachusetts) to an area of the country that's ALWAYS hot (82 degrees today). If you move be prepared to lose track of the months-"What month/season is this?" I found when we moved that I was so dependent on the seasons, I'd see Christmas decorations and wonder "Are we near Christmas? Before? After?" I miss those seasons, but DH loves it.

  14. #13
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    May 2000
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    Having lived on the East Coast of Florida the equivalent of 18 years (grew up in Minnesota, now living in Texas), I think it is a bit costly to live in the Orlando area, but some of the suburbs and nearby towns/cities are more manageable. The one thing I would caution is to keep expectations reasonable. Some people move to Florida expecting it to be like a vacation every day, but in reality it’s just like any other place in the country as far as the daily grind—grocery shopping, paying bills, mowing the lawn, etc. (albeit warmer).

    On a side note, we have enjoyed our time in Florida and Texas, but after living in subtropical climates for 26 years, we are planning on retiring to Maine in eight years or so. 😉

  15. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by JanetMegan View Post
    My parents live in a "55 and over" community in Arizona and they just require one member of the household to be over 50, I think it depends on the rules of the neighborhood. I'll be young too (probably 45) but hubby is 15 years older.
    I'm still on the hunt to re-locate !! I have a few applications in at Disney actually. I want to work after retirement, part-time, mostly. I've not heard anything back either, presumably since my address is currently in WV and they are searching for someone closer?? hahaha ... if they'd call, I'd re-locate ASAP ..... I'm done with snow n ice ... I need sun and heat ...
    80 1st./04POR/05POR/06POR/07POR/08POR/09POR/10POR/
    11PORJan/11PORApr/12ASPJun/12AKLJul/12POPNov/13AKL/
    14FQJun/14POPJul/14PORNov/15POPFeb/15FQJun/15AoADec/16ASPNov/17AoAJun/ 17POPSep/18CBJun/19PORApr/

    IN GOD WE TRUST !!

    STEELERS, SIX TIME SUPERBOWL CHAMPS

  16. #15
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    Aug 2004
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    Quote Originally Posted by #1donaldfan View Post
    I'm still on the hunt to re-locate !! I have a few applications in at Disney actually. I want to work after retirement, part-time, mostly. I've not heard anything back either, presumably since my address is currently in WV and they are searching for someone closer?? hahaha ... if they'd call, I'd re-locate ASAP ..... I'm done with snow n ice ... I need sun and heat ...
    Here's another West Virginian who is fed up with the snow n ice and looking for some where warmer.
    KAY

    DVC MEMBER - OKW & HHI
    First trip to WDW - Dec, 2005
    Last visit to Disneyland - 2014

    First trip to Disneyland - 1955

  17. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by TheDuckRocks View Post
    Here's another West Virginian who is fed up with the snow n ice and looking for some where warmer.
    Well, I'm still in WV, getting closer n closer to winter ... yea, it's only July but I don't like it .... I'll be Florida bound soon, fingers & eyes crossed !!
    80 1st./04POR/05POR/06POR/07POR/08POR/09POR/10POR/
    11PORJan/11PORApr/12ASPJun/12AKLJul/12POPNov/13AKL/
    14FQJun/14POPJul/14PORNov/15POPFeb/15FQJun/15AoADec/16ASPNov/17AoAJun/ 17POPSep/18CBJun/19PORApr/

    IN GOD WE TRUST !!

    STEELERS, SIX TIME SUPERBOWL CHAMPS

  18. #17
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    Mar 2008
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    Quote Originally Posted by TheDuckRocks View Post
    Here's another West Virginian who is fed up with the snow n ice and looking for some where warmer.
    Quote Originally Posted by #1donaldfan View Post
    Well, I'm still in WV, getting closer n closer to winter ... yea, it's only July but I don't like it .... I'll be Florida bound soon, fingers & eyes crossed !!
    From someone who has lived their entire life in the Southeast, it won't be long until the heat and humidity in the summer will not be much fun for you. I can understand hating the snow where you live. I would absolutely hate dealing with snow but the summers down here with upper 90's and high humidity aren't much fun either. The best scenario would be to live in Florida in the winter and up North in the summer. Those that do that are referred to as "Snow Birds" down here because they show up in the winter.

  19. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by 1DisneyNut View Post
    From someone who has lived their entire life in the Southeast, it won't be long until the heat and humidity in the summer will not be much fun for you. I can understand hating the snow where you live. I would absolutely hate dealing with snow but the summers down here with upper 90's and high humidity aren't much fun either. The best scenario would be to live in Florida in the winter and up North in the summer. Those that do that are referred to as "Snow Birds" down here because they show up in the winter.


    Today begins "those" days. Today and through the weekend the Heat Index will be around 108 degrees! Hottest it's been since 2006. But the thermometer on my desk says 72 degrees. Nice if you don't have to go outside until November.
    Frankie #1440

    INTERCOT Staff

    Every day there is sad news, but each day itself is glad news.----Found in fortune cookie at Nine Dragons Restaurant in Epcot while having lunch during INTERCOT's 10th Anniversary Meet




    But If Not

  20. #19
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    Mar 2004
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    Do all the Donald Duck fans live in West Virginia?
    I'll meet you at the Rainbow Bridge.

  21. #20
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    Aug 2004
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cinderelley View Post
    Do all the Donald Duck fans live in West Virginia?
    Could be, I know there are a couple of other Intercot posters that have Donald as an avatar or his name used from WV.
    I have lately been rethinking the move south thing. Summer is here and even if it is hot in WV right now it is nothing like the heat in the south. And it is so beautiful March through October. Plan for the next few years will be longer trips to WDW late January/early February during the cold and uglies here.
    KAY

    DVC MEMBER - OKW & HHI
    First trip to WDW - Dec, 2005
    Last visit to Disneyland - 2014

    First trip to Disneyland - 1955

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