Thinking about moving to Florida
 

We found a DEAL on a house in *****assa. We're heading down on Friday to look it over.
I know all about the three nearby trails, but what's there for my wife to do? She doesn't ride -- YET. ;)
I know there is some great fishing in that area (I guess I'll have to buy a few fishing poles :rolleyes:), there are some nice beaches a little farther south, the usual tourist things, but what else is there?

Will we survive the summers? :eek:

Not sure what it is you're looking "to do". There always seems to be something to do in FL. Beaches. Amusement parks. Fairs. All the touristy stuff. Seems like something is always going on.

As for "surviving" the summers, my wife and I moved from Chicago and we're doing just fine. Being as you're in Georgia I would think the transition would be easy for you.

The springs in that area are great! To heck with the beaches.

I second what you said!! Springs all over in FL

Springs? My wife used to dive is some of the springs many years ago but she's not interested in that anymore. Are the springs for diving only or is it like Rock Springs near Orlando -- clear COLD water for tubing?

Ron,

Lots to do. Kayaking is great on the rivers and along the coast. There are several kayak groups of mostly 'older' paddlers. Aardvark Kayaks in Crystal River is the outfitter I bought my kayak from There is another in *****assa. Within a 50 mile (or less) radius you have several crystal clear rivers - kayaking or tubing..

Tarpons Springs to the south... good restaurants. Tampa - just about everything. Crystal River and *****assa - swim with manatees. Ocala - great bike riding north of town with horses and hills (for you - see Gainesville Cycling Club). Orlando - not that far away. Chiefland - you'd be close to your grandson! Golf! Tennis! Beaches!

Come on down! I moved from Knoxville and don't find the summers that bad. I frequently ride 25 miles in the morning and play 18 holes of golf in the afternoon. You already know the area pretty well.

Sue

I never considered kayaking. Maybe I need to broaden my interests.

That area and Crystal Springs is known for the clear water for canoeing, kayaking, tubing, etc. I consider it "Old" Florida, taking a step back in time, away from the bigger cities and the crime and other problems that it brings. It is a bit remote, so it depends what you're looking for. You aren't too far from Orlando, Tampa, Gainesville, but certainly not close.

There are some "hilly" areas in Brooksville, Dade City, Clermont, not too far away. I'm just north of Tampa, so if you get down this way, give a shout. Good luck with house hunting. It should be a buyers market, especially in that area.

That's precisely why we want to get out of Atlanta. :o

I have strongly been considering moving to Florida myself. We are considering the area East of St Pete/Tampa. Want to come inland enough to avoid the coast prices, but still drive/ride-able distance to the keys and Terra Ceia. My wife's primary concern has also been the summer heat, but given how nice it is in the morning and evening, as well as how hot it is HERE in mid day I think she is worrying more about it than it warrants. There again, she is FROM Florida....

Just remember even from the Tampa Bay area the Keys are a good 7 hour trip.
While it is hot here in the summer (humidity not temp) it's the rain every day that can be a bummer. It rains almost every afternoon and that makes riding really only doable in the morning. But the rest of the year more than makes up for that. Another thing, most people that live more than an hour away from the beach rarely ever go. I'm about 45 minutes from the beach and rarely go. Luckily you don't have to get too far away from the coast to avoid coast prices. The housing market in Florida is one of the worst (for sellers) in the U.S.

Crystal Springs just south of Zephyrhills was bought by Nestlé about ten years ago and is fenced off now and used for Zephyrhills drinking water. It was my favorite swimming hole as a kid :(

This is a very good time to observe what's high and dry, and what might be flooded after heavy rains. The west coast of FL is getting pounded by Debby. We got at least 8 inches today. Roads flooded. If Tropical Storm Debby takes a hard left and goes toward Texas, the headlines will read, "Debby Does Dallas". hehe.

We just back from a quick trip to see the house up close, even thought we've been there several times in the past few years. Some friends we have known for many, many years are selling it -- maybe. They're saying that perhaps we might want to rent it for a year to make sure we can afford the upkeep.
Our present house is ~1320 sq ft with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. The FL house is ~3000 sq ft with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths (all the rooms are BIG rooms -- smaller yard than we currently have).
We think the reason they are saying rent, don't buy just yet is because they just aren't ready emotionally to part with it. They don't need it. It was their 4th house since the husband retired ~10-12 years ago. They also have a cabin (5th house) in the north GA mountains and are building a 2600 sq ft house (6th house) near the GA/TN/NC state line.
So if everything works out we will be moving there in late August or September when the house they're building is finished and they have their stuff moved out.
I'll keep you posted.

Check out the Nature Coast Dragon Boat team in Old *****assa.

That Dragon Boat thing looks like fun. Thanks.

It was my DH's favorite as well. I believe they probably meant to say Crystal River though and not Crystal Springs.

Looks like we'll be leasing the house for a year to see if we like the area, to see if my wife likes living in FL year round, and to decide if the house is too big or ok for two people. :eek:
We firmed up the lease thing and contacted the movers for a quote. Once our friends' house is finished in north GA (we're guessing late August to mid-September) they can get the movers to get their furniture out of the FL house. Then the movers can get our stuff and move us in.

I was looking at the Gainesville Cycling website and the Citrus Cycling website. Does anyone know what the age ranges are for these groups? I don't race or ride with the A or B groups around here. Most of the A and B riders around here are 20-40 years old and ride much faster than I can. Any "older" members in these or other clubs/groups? I'm 67 and want to ride rolling hills around Ocala and Gainesville (I think :rolleyes:). I guess they'd be kinda like my regular ride to Stone Mtn (don't want to lose my climbing muscles like I did last Feb/March).
Still looking at the dragon boat website. I hope I'm not too old for that. :)

Dragon Boat
 

Ron,

Contact me for all the info on Nature Coast Dragon Boat Club.
thekps(at)bellsouth.net

Ken

Ron,

I ride with the Gainesville Cycling Club Saddle Tramps and Gliders. Older (around your age) riders, but they may be a bit slow for you. Saddle Tramps ride 30-40 miles at around 13-14 mph average - perhaps a bit slower if there are many hills. Good group of folks to ride with. I haven't ridden with the Ocala Bike Centers riders because they average 15-16 mph on the Wednesday rides. I suspect they are a bit younger, but as Linda said, Carrie or Dan at OBC can give you info. Think you already know about the club that rides the Withlocoochee (I don't know the name of it). Glad to hear things are working out with the house - hope we can get together for a ride once you get down here.

Sue

Thanks everyone for the replies. I hope I typed this ok. I had cataract surgery this morning on the left eye. I can see and read if the type is about this big.
I'll let you all know how things progress. We're still waiting on the bank. SLOW.
Looking forward to riding with all of you.

Sue, those speeds might be ok for me. I don't ride really fast. I just enjoy riding the hills to help keep me in shape -- mostly a nice round shape. ;)

We signed all the papers yesterday to "hire" a real estate agent and he put the sign in the yard today. :)
Anyone want/need a NICE house in the Atlanta close in suburbs? The house is located at the purple spot.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=264870

I used to live in that neighborhood over on Oxford road.

Good luck on the move.

We spent 4 days and 5 nights at "the house" in *****assa. The owners are up in north GA finishing up their "cabin". Its only 3100 sq ft. We decided the house in *****assa was way too big for us and the cost of maintaining it would probably be out of our budget. And it is not close to any of the trails -- ~10 miles to the Suncoast Trail and ~21 miles to the Withlacoochee Trail.
FYI: I measured the great room. Its just under 1000 sq ft. :eek: Our house is only 1320 sq ft. :o
We did look at some villas/condos in Inverness that we liked. They were about 2 blocks from the trail. I'll keep you posted.