Retirement in Florida or Southern Coastal town?

[Just Limin']

Hi all,

We live near Annapolis and are close to retirement. We love the Bay and our Ranger 25SC. But, maybe it's time for a new venue. Warmer area, blue water, lower housing prices and lower taxes...
Seems like there are several tug owners in Florida. We'd love suggestions as to great places to live and boat.

Thanks,

Nancy & Bill Eggert
Just Limin'

 

[knotflying]

Oh man, the sky is the limit. I suggest you travel around to different places in your boat and eventually something will click. Until then enjoy the cruising.

 

[Don and Brenda]

After a winter like you have had in the northeast cannot blame you for wanting warmer weather and better tax base. I have 8 days to go and the house just sold so we are headed north for better cruising grounds.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Nancy and Bill:

Lisa and I felt the same way, sold our house and did the Great Loop. We turned a one year trip into living onboard and cruising for 5 years when we decided to buy a house again in our hometown back In Michigan. This is when we sold our larger boat and bought an R27. Our choice is to bring our boat south in the winter, cruise for 3 months or so and then return to northern Michigan for the spring, summer and fall. The west coast of Florida, for us, presents a better cruising area, more open water, great anchorages with easy access to the Keys.....this is a good place to start.

 

[Brian B]

If all goes well the GANSETT RANGER will be cruising FL next Winter. We have already begun planning and upgrading equipment to make the trip. With both of us now retired there is no sense in enduring another New England Winter with a Ranger Tug sitting in the backyard. The boat came from FL and this was her first New England Winter, I can hear her telling me to take her back to FL. 😀

 

[Pete]

We have had a winter place near Sarasota for 15 years, after checking out much of SW Florida from Tarpon Springs to Marco Island and some locations on Florida's east coast. Until last year we spent our summers in N Michigan but now, other than vacations, we are full time Florida residents.

The west coast offers more cruising options than the east coast. On the other hand the east coast provides easier access to the Bahamas. For us SW Florida and in particular the Sarasota area was a clear first choice but it really depends both on what kind of boating you plan to do and your interests beyond boating. Rather than take up too much space on this forum I'll send you a pm.

Pete

 

[LADYBUG TOO]

Nancy & Bill,

We live in Pensacola, Florida, "the western gate to the sunshine state" as our former Mayor used to say. Cruising from here is really great. Our bays provide many excellent spots for "on the hook" and also some great marina's. We can go inside on the ICW or outside in the Gulf, east or west. We get a few "Loopers" here from time to time, generally coming down the Tenn/Tom waterway. There are great cruises from here to Destin, Port St. Joe, Panama City, Apalachicola, Carrabelle and the Big Bend Area. Ladybug, Too is moored on Bayou Davenport and the only time she is out of the water is for painting and the occasional storm.

Pat & Carolyn, Ladybug, Too

 

[Nudge]

We have a great boat slip in a hurricane safe harbor in Miami if you're interested!

 

[Our Idea]

We moved to the Fort Myers area (Alva) about a year and a half ago from California. We have a house on the ICW Caloosahatchee River with our 29 ft tug. It is very common here for people to have their own dock behind their home and the boating destinations are unlimited. We go left to the Gulf or go right to the Atlantic. For the price and the friendly people you cant beat SW Florida. We feel like we are in Heaven! 😀

 

[Dale777]

Just Limin',

Although we live in Texas, we spend many months in our condo, with a boat slip, in southwest Florida in Fort Myers Beach. Within 10 minutes by Ranger Tug, we can be in Estero Bay along Estero Island with great beaches, waterside restaurants and shops.

Or, within 15 minutes we can be in the Gulf of Mexico heading south to Naples, Marco Island, the 10,000 island area or the Florida Keys. Or, within 15 minutes we can be in the ICW heading north to a myriad of coastal islands (Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, North Captiva Island, Cayo Costa Island, Pine Island, Gasparilla Island, etc. on up to Tampa and beyond to Tarpon Springs) Or, within about 30 minutes we can be in the Caloosahatchee River heading east through the Okeechobee Waterway to Stuart, FL on the east coast. From there you can go north or south along the ICW of the Florida east coast.

There is a freeze line just south of Tampa, where it doesn't freeze along the coast. So, if you don't want some cold weather in the winter, keep that in mind.

Check it out. You might like it.

 

[Just Limin']

Thanks to all who responded. It looks like the greater Sarasota area seems to fit our needs. Exactly which little town will depend on the house we find when the time comes. We'll fly down this summer and spend a few days looking around. Still need to retire (maybe on July 1st) and sell our house near Annapolis.

Nancy & Bill Eggert
Just Limin' R25SC

 

[Rodeo]

You will certainly want to spend some time in Apalachicola where you will find the seafood very similar to the Chesapeake. Although I agree that being further south has some advantages as far as cruising destinations the one thing we do not have is wall to wall traffic. Whenever I go to Tampa or Fort Meyers I am astounded at the grid lock I encounter and it seems to be at almost all times of the day (at least in the winter). Apalach has wonderful oysters and the blue crabs are available 12 months of the year, in addition the shrimp industry is huge and you will find almost every type of fish available either at one of our seafood markets or at the end of your own line. Prices for homes are reasonable, the people are friendly and the town has the "Old Florida" culture and feel that is no longer evident in some of the other towns mentioned in previous posts.
In addition we have Wefings Marine right across the causeway in Eastpoint, Marc Grove and his staff are excellent and Wefings is one of the largest and oldest Ranger dealers in the country. The cruising opportunities are wonderful, from the almost endless river systems to the Gulf ICW to just heading your boat further south to explore some of the destinations in other posts. Tallahassee is about an hour and a half away and has sports, medical as well as great shopping available.

 

[Zambi]

We all have our biases - mine being that St. Petersburg is a relatively undiscovered gem of culture - art galleries, theatre, great restaurants and a vibrant downtown, with reasonably-priced marinas and moorings right in the small city center. Great fishing, white sandy beaches, and no "miserable mile" boat traffic issues (vs. access to Ft. Myers).....