Considering a move, really early conversations with the wife, would have to find work first, finish my house, sell it, and buy a new one, the whole deal.
Pros Cons, this would be southern Fla, on the ocean side.

 

more gun friendly area
more warning on sever storms.
Hot and humid at times
alligators
cant think of anything else...

 

You forgot that darn Mouse.

 

and The Epcot Center

 

You also forgot a very low pay scale

 

How about a Joliet transplant - - close enough?

You don't want the ocean side - - that is the "hard side." The gulf side is the gentle side. Milder weather, gentler people, more open space, better beaches, wonderful fishing, more mid-westerners living on this side. We like it much better than the hard side.

Bob

 

Bob - - you forgot a much lower cost of living. Taxes??? License plates??? Property???? Everything.

 

Took a trip to Florida in March, traveled around most of the state.
The traffic was horrendous, everywhere.
Strip mall ,after strip mall, after strip mall. Beyond belief, really.
I thought it was worse than Southern California, which I avoid like the plague.
For Sale signs everywhere. Maybe there are some deals to be had.
Hey Bob, where is this open space you talk about? Besides the Everglades, I sure didn't see any.
We drove from Tampa, down the Gulf Coast to Naples, across the Everglages out to the Keys, then up the ocean side, over through Ocala, back to Tampa.
Maybe a tiny bit of open space around Ocala, which was littered with billboards.

 

Those are some of my concerns, Id have to make 30% more there to afford the same thing i have here im told. Plus, i think id miss the snow.

 

I was born in Chicago in 1946. I have lived in Jacksonville, Fl since 1966. It is ok, but now that I am retired, I plan to move a few states north to get the change of seasons. I have never gotten used to the high humidity and all of the afternoon showers. The taxes are fairly low, but I still want to move a little farther north.

 

We're talking Alabama north right?

Sometime before I retire, I would really like to move to Norway so I can retire there....

 

I'm not from Chicago, but live in Florida. What kind of work are you looking for?? Yes, right know is a buyers market on homes on the gulf side of the state. I have seen some pretty good deals on homes. If you're lookin for space try the center part of the state, still a little room to be had, there is an area by where I live I think min. 3 acres has to be purchesed. I live about 1 hour from the beach, never go there to many dumb kids and too much traffic.

 

My grandapa is a transplant to Fl from NW Indiana. He's over by Destin in a little place called Santa Rosa Beach. Nice area, and its being built up alot. He likes it alot there because they don't get the harsh winters and mainly no snow. He comes to visit us and if it snows when he's here, he's gone the next day.

 

Just price the home insurance where you plan on living first. Their nailing folks on the coast but good, so much they can't afford their mortgage anymore.

 

Have fun living in Gods waiting room.........
And when you get hit by a cat 5 hurricane have fun with that too

Just out of curiosity, out of all the states how in the world did you come up with one of the worst???

Chicago is no paradise either but Florida?!?

You should go live in cleveland or LA while your at it.

My Opinion: DO NOT MOVE TO FLORIDA!!