i may be a bit premature but.....

[charlie_the_tuna]

Ferm, not sure. didn't know there were two. the one by Sanibel and cape coral and captiva. south end of the island. st james city.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by charlie_the_tuna

Ferm, not sure. didn't know there were two. the one by Sanibel and cape coral and captiva. south end of the island. st james city.

Thats the bigger one which is the one I figured you were talking about. My sister in law lives down there, but inland next to I-75. The area is growing pretty rapidly, and not one of the cheaper areas to live in anymore. It's an unusual area with alot of money with those living out on the islands/beach, but as you go inland it quickly turns into illigal aliens, fruit pickers, and other assorted trash. I would reccomend spending some time in the area as it isn't for everybody.

[macojoe]

Fruit pickers!! Perfect for CTT!! lol

[charlie_the_tuna]

Originally Posted by macojoe

Fruit pickers!! Perfect for CTT!! lol

maco, you'd be the first fruit I pick.

[charlie_the_tuna]

wanted to bring this one back for some more speculation. i'm a bit closer to the move now and have a few friends who are also considering the area. talk to me about FISHING!!! southeast vs southwest. I guess i'll spend some time riding around on my scooter looking for some fishy water. sammich in the basket, rods in the back. maybe some light tackle rod bending action from shore, suds, canals. some nice sammich size snappers and such. how different is the inshore fishing between the east side and the west side? it wont be every day I dunk the boat so i'd like to just scoot up to some water and catch me some tasty fish tacos. what do you south florida guys think???
also, the snorkeling. I know it's awesome on the east coast. what about the west coast?
kayaking?

[THEFERMANATOR]

The big problem right now is red tide and blue/green algae. There has been massive fish/everything kills down there. If it recovers there is kayaking a plenty. Fishing from shore is mostly limited to piers and bridges due to the shallower water depths on the Gulf/west coast. South Florida is getting VERY over populated, and the fisheries is suffering. My brother in law was a guide down there until red tide hit last year and wrecked everything. Our new governor has taken an aggressive approach to fixxing the water problem's, but it is a complex/complicated issue, and will take millions and lots of work to begin to correct it. The inshore waters of the Gulf in south Florida is some of the most beautiful there is with rivers, bays, harbor's, flats, oyster bars, rock beds, mangroves, and anything else you can think of, but boating traffic is EVERYWHERE! I'm sure it will recover down there, but it's going to take some time.

[charlie_the_tuna]

well, that went fast! i'm now only 4 years from pulling the pin on my career. i'll be 60. my wife wants me to stay a bit longer but man!! I just want to get started on the next chapter of my life already. still focused on pine island. Sanibel. naples. cape coral. never really spent a lot of time on the west coast but I feel it calling me.

[13Echo70271]

Just a thought..
A NE Ohio friend who used to own a house in FL now rents a house there for month or so each winter. His rational was that for what he was paying for a house ($165,00 + taxes, maintenance, etc. every year ) he can rent a place or even a different place every winter. He has done this for the past 15 years.