where would you relocate?????

A number of years ago on Christmas morning my Mom called and said they wouldn't be coming for dinner. I said "why". She said they got too much snow. I looked out MY window and saw grass. WE are only 14 miles away. The weather service reported 7 feet that morning in their area. Nevertheless, the house didn't fall down and the bushes and trees lived to see the next Summer. Gotta love (hate) "Lake Effect". You just need to know where to build your house.

A co-worker moved to the south for a promotion. He bought an gorgeous older house. The first hurricane season he lost the roof and all of his mature pines, which were the selling point for the house.

Its not hot or cold, or hurricanes or snow. You have to look at the Whole picture.
 
We have thought Wrightsville Beach, NC would be a good location. Bought a boat there a few years ago, spent some time with surveys then loading it up before bringing it back to FL. Have been back through on our current boat. Just like the area.
 
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We have thought Wrightsville Beach, NC would be a good location. Bought a boat there a few years ago, spent some time with surveys then loading it up before bringing it back to FL. Have been back through on our current boat. Just like the area.
An old friend transferred to a better job in Wilmington. Since he was a boater and loved the seashore he bought a house in Wrightsville and commuted.

I forget the year, but a hurricane destroyed his house and he lost everything.

A few years later he moved to Buffalo, NY. I guess snow ain't that bad after all.
 
Yes, Florida has hurricanes. We've been lucky where we live. There's also plenty of warning and time to prepare. Of course, with the really bad ones preparation often is useless.

In Iowa where we used to live was a Derecho this summer. No warning. 75 to 100+ MPH winds from Nebraska to Canada. Hours of strong and destructive winds. Did I mention no warning? Some of our friends lost everything. Many were without power for 11 days.

I like warning. It also seems that disaster relief flows into FL more quickly than it did in Iowa this summer.

Every place has it's challenges and blessings.
 
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My friends that are snow birds say the cruisers in Florida are far and in between center counsel are all you see. Maybe it's the area they are in near Tampa. Sounds like the type of boating we do here on the Great Lake isn't that common.
We have heard this before. Friends from our marina moved south a couple years ago and almost immediately sold their Mainship for a big Whaler (like 30’ plus big). The surprise neither were all that into fishing, and both are fond of creature comforts.
 
N.Wisconsin / S. Superior Shore in the Spring-Fall. Fort Meyers Beach area in the Winter.
 
We have thought Wrightsville Beach, NC would be a good location. Bought a boat there a few years ago, spent some time with surveys then loading it up before bringing it back to FL. Have been back through on our current boat. Just like the area.
Not anymore, this place has gotten so overcrowded, and no updates to infrastructure. It's a traffic nightmare. We are trying to figure out where to go.
 
My friends that are snow birds say the cruisers in Florida are far and in between center counsel are all you see. Maybe it's the area they are in near Tampa. Sounds like the type of boating we do here on the Great Lake isn't that common.

I don't know that I fully agree with that dvx - There certainly are a lot of people who fish and use center consoles for that, but we have nice cruisers in Tarpon Point Marina in Cape Coral as well as other marinas in our area.
 
An old friend transferred to a better job in Wilmington. Since he was a boater and loved the seashore he bought a house in Wrightsville and commuted.

I forget the year, but a hurricane destroyed his house and he lost everything.

A few years later he moved to Buffalo, NY. I guess snow ain't that bad after all.

Ok, Jim we get it that you like where you live. However, the facts are that people have been leaving Western NY by the thousands each month for years. They are coming to the Carolinas and further south. I have a very good friend in my office from Buffalo. He loves the Bills but bought Panther PSLs next to mine and now pulls for both teams. Charlotte is a city of transplants and Western NY represents a good bit of the new population and none want to go back to cold and snow.
 
I don't know that I fully agree with that dvx - There certainly are a lot of people who fish and use center consoles for that, but we have nice cruisers in Tarpon Point Marina in Cape Coral as well as other marinas in our area.

Well actually my observation would be that you are both correct.

Fort Meyers has a lot more "bigger" boats than Tampa. A lot of serious cruisers really prefer the Fort Meyers area given the proximity to the both the Okeechobee and straight shot to the keys.

In the Tampa area there are not that many slip options for boats over 50. More difficult to find. Fort Meyers much more available.

Tampa/Clearwater is different than St. Pete, which is different than Sarasota/Longboat, or Fort Meyers.
 
Not anymore, this place has gotten so overcrowded, and no updates to infrastructure. It's a traffic nightmare. We are trying to figure out where to go.

I haven't been there with a car in 4+ years. Beautiful area but I guess that is what attracts people.

@bahamabreisus are you thinking about other areas?
 
Ok, Jim we get it that you like where you live. However, the facts are that people have been leaving Western NY by the thousands each month for years. They are coming to the Carolinas and further south. I have a very good friend in my office from Buffalo. He loves the Bills but bought Panther PSLs next to mine and now pulls for both teams. Charlotte is a city of transplants and Western NY represents a good bit of the new population and none want to go back to cold and snow.
The "facts" are that people move because they want to, or because they have to because they feel they need to because of job stability, or they have an illness and need a certain climate.

Moving by the thousands to the carolinas may be an exaggeration. Maybe only hundreds.

When my company moved to NC, quite a few moved back to NY after they retired.

I quit a $150,000 job and lost a pension just because I refused to move to Charlotte. Been there and thought it sucked. But, to each his own. As long as a person is happy, that's all that matters.
 
Well actually my observation would be that you are both correct.

Fort Meyers has a lot more "bigger" boats than Tampa. A lot of serious cruisers really prefer the Fort Meyers area given the proximity to the both the Okeechobee and straight shot to the keys.

In the Tampa area there are not that many slip options for boats over 50. More difficult to find. Fort Meyers much more available.

Tampa/Clearwater is different than St. Pete, which is different than Sarasota/Longboat, or Fort Meyers.

As my wife and I look at live-aboard options we obviously don't need to pick one place. For those of you why have spent more time traveling the ICW what draft restrictions do you see?
 
The "facts" are that people move because they want to, or because they have to because they feel they need to because of job stability, or they have an illness and need a certain climate.

Moving by the thousands to the carolinas may be an exaggeration. Maybe only hundreds.

When my company moved to NC, quite a few moved back to NY after they retired.

I quit a $150,000 job and lost a pension just because I refused to move to Charlotte. Been there and thought it sucked. But, to each his own. As long as a person is happy, that's all that matters.[/QUOTE
As an ex NYer, I must say I hated the winters, even though I played Hockey and Skied. I wish it was only by the 100s. WE live in a small coastal town north of Wilmington, they cant build developments fast enough. Neighborhoods are going on every piece of vacant land. I love the mild winters, but get all 4 seasons.
 
As my wife and I look at live-aboard options we obviously don't need to pick one place. For those of you why have spent more time traveling the ICW what draft restrictions do you see?

Will vary based on areas.

West coast of FL, ICW runs from fort Meyers to tarpon springs. We have 6ft draft, run from Clearwater south to Fort Meyers on any but a really low tide ( negative). Have an idea on the shallow spots and are careful on those. The spot in Venice was dredged last year.

North from clearwater to tarpon springs (10 or so miles), I want more water than mlw at low tide. A foot or so of tide solves the problem areas.

East coast icw is generally ok until you get up towards the north part of Fl. South GA gets pretty shallow.

Best thing is to add the CG survey data to an app like aqua max. While the data may be old in spots, it will show where the shoaling spots occur.

Number one caution are the inlets. Not all inlets are passable at all times. Some I would not take our 47 through at any tide level, even though it had much less draft than our present boat.
 
Will vary based on areas.

West coast of FL, ICW runs from fort Meyers to tarpon springs. We have 6ft draft, run from Clearwater south to Fort Meyers on any but a really low tide ( negative). Have an idea on the shallow spots and are careful on those. The spot in Venice was dredged last year.

North from clearwater to tarpon springs (10 or so miles), I want more water than mlw at low tide. A foot or so of tide solves the problem areas.

East coast icw is generally ok until you get up towards the north part of Fl. South GA gets pretty shallow.

Best thing is to add the CG survey data to an app like aqua max. While the data may be old in spots, it will show where the shoaling spots occur.

Number one caution are the inlets. Not all inlets are passable at all times. Some I would not take our 47 through at any tide level, even though it had much less draft than our present boat.

Thanks, really good info. I am aware draft may limit us but it certainly sounds like you are making it with a 6ft draft. One of the boats we are really interested in looking at (Nordhaven 47) is just under a 6ft draft.

Our initial goal is to get somewhere south of Nashville and get situated for a year with live-aboard life including work, etc in one home marina. Start to cruise from their so we hopefully won't be rushed at any point and can carefully plan routes. Goal is to do parts if not all of the Great Loop and cruise the East coast, FL and Caribbean extensively
 
I also live in the NE. Cape cod. We have a house with a boat dock in the backyard and love it. Unfortunately, we have the same complaints as you. Short season and Massachusetts is a crazy place to live with taxes and politics and "don't do this; don't do that" non sense.
Heres an idea;
have that new boat hauled down to Florida (when you buy it) for the winter. Rent a dock space from someone through a broker. Boat around and get the lay of the land.
It'll cost you a little but you will make a better decision.
 
I don't have a dog in the fight, yet, but what I've always heard about relocating for "retirement" was to test before you buy. A year or so before, spend it renting potential places to see if it really appeals to you.

Jaybeaux
 
I don't have a dog in the fight, yet, but what I've always heard about relocating for "retirement" was to test before you buy. A year or so before, spend it renting potential places to see if it really appeals to you.

Jaybeaux
I'd agree with this assessment and renting for a "test drive" sounds like a good idea, although that would maybe involve storing personal property or renting out your residence. Not sure that part would appeal to me. We traveled for 5 years post retirement a couple months at a time, to see the sights and to see if there was any place that really spurred our interest. Ultimately, we didn't find any other region outside of the Great Lakes that we preferred.
 
I don't have a dog in the fight, yet, but what I've always heard about relocating for "retirement" was to test before you buy. A year or so before, spend it renting potential places to see if it really appeals to you.

Jaybeaux

before I retired we took a few trips to Fla each year starting on the NE of the state and worked our way down then NW side etc after living on the boat for 7 months we did more exploring and decided to build on the west coast of Fla.
That’s how we did it.
 

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