💬 OT TCG Florida crew, assemble!

[ZXMustang]

My wife wants us to retire to the Fort Myers/Cape Coral area. I'm about 5 years out now max. We've been going there every March for several days and love it but I'm not sure I'd be able to deal with the constant heat all the time. I like being out in the garage. Hate when it's 80+ here and I'm in there. We half ass look at homes for sale every once in a while. Crazy how hot that market is.

Winter is surprisingly mild and perfect here. It’s just summer that’s hot. Winter is like money.

And Ft myers was decimated by Ian. Not sure you will want to move there. I’d rather be more up the gulf coast like Venice, Sarasota and Bradenton. South of Tampa.

 

[cdh027]

My wife wants us to retire to the Fort Myers/Cape Coral area. I'm about 5 years out now max. We've been going there every March for several days and love it but I'm not sure I'd be able to deal with the constant heat all the time. I like being out in the garage. Hate when it's 80+ here and I'm in there. We half ass look at homes for sale every once in a while. Crazy how hot that market is.

I was freaked out about the summers here before we moved. It's really not that bad and you really do get used to it. One thing I could never get used to was freezing my ass off in the winters up north and all the snow and salt and bullshit. You get 12 months of shorts and t-shirt down here, 12 months of enjoying your toys and 12 months of paradise. (with an occasional hurricane fucking things up)

 

[Flyn]

It took me about 2 years to get used to the heat. Now I like it. 70 feels cold. I can drive my car 11+ months of the year down here. Don't have to worry about the salt. I made sure it was a Florida car before I bought it. Didn't want a rust belt car.

 

[Unitsn4]

I hadn't thought about getting used to it. I have zero desire to see snow again so that would be a huge plus. If Florida is where we decide, I'll start looking at houses about a year before I am planning on retiring. Roughly May 15th of 28. Damn that's far away!

 

[cdh027]

Only in Florida.

 

[Milhouse]

Heading down Thursday to look at houses in Port St Lucie.
Wife really wants out of Illinois and I was able to create enough reason to open an office in South Florida.

 

[frank]

Took a trip to egmont key an old fort base in Tampa bay, small key off st pete beach area only able to get to by boat, jet ski, maybe a kayak on a good day. 1/4 of the island is a bird sanctuary with no public access, if caught in that area you get his with a big fine. Rest of the island is brick lined streets, old buildings or what’s left of them.

The key is filled with boaters and and families to beach it up, Snorkeling, or just walk the island all the time, Not much water action due to jelly fish and could feel the stings at time of the ones that were broken up.

 

[Milhouse]

Looks like we will be buying new construction in Port St Lucie. Seems like a great area.

Lots of cookie cutter homes but they fit what we need space and location wise.

Anybody live there or nearby?

 

[LikeABauce302]

Looks like we will be buying new construction in Port St Lucie. Seems like a great area.

Lots of cookie cutter homes but they fit what we need space and location wise.

Anybody live there or nearbraffix from CMC lives there

Graffix (Matt) from CMC lives there. I don't know if you've ever met him. He moved down there probably 5-6 years ago. He sends me pictures all winter of him doing car stuff while our junk is stored lol.

 

[frank]

The Undertow in St.Pete beach… looks like a good time.

St. Pete Beach Bar Has Bikini Clad Servers Hanging Upside Down Serving Shots

St. Pete Beach in Florida has always been more of the party section of Tampa. But there's a beach bar that's really setting itself apart.

96krock.com

 

[VenomousDSG]

The Undertow in St.Pete beach… looks like a good time.

St. Pete Beach Bar Has Bikini Clad Servers Hanging Upside Down Serving Shots

St. Pete Beach in Florida has always been more of the party section of Tampa. But there's a beach bar that's really setting itself apart.

96krock.com

My sisters family is there right now, staying in that pink hotel in the picture. Think it's the Don Cesar

 

[cdh027]

28 minute drive over the sunshine skyway. May have to check this out next weekend.

 

[DEEZUZ]

That is the stupidest thing ive ever seen

 

[cdh027]

That is the stupidest thing ive ever seen

You're a moron.

 

[blakbearddelite]

That has to be the gayest stance on girls in bikinis.

 

[cdh027]

That has to be the gayest stance on girls in bikinis.

You have to consider the source.

 

[blakbearddelite]

I saw a very Florida thing this morning on my way into work, some dude riding down the street on a bike with no tires. I initially thought the dude was drunk/high because he was so unstable, and as I got closer, I could see he had no rubber on the wheels and it was making an awful noise.

 

[CMNTMXR57]

So, just got a pic from my mother (in Orlando). My niece Jasmine got her DL. In the DMV, they let her take a pic with this huge cardboard license plate with the word "PASSED" on it as a celebratory moment. I contrast that here to Illinois, a year'ish ago when my son got his DL and I took a pic of him with his license. I got hassled by some old Karen behind the counter and almost escorted out by the rent-a-cop, about not taking pics inside an SOS facility.

 

[frank]

So, just got a pic from my mother (in Orlando). My niece Jasmine got her DL. In the DMV, they let her take a pic with this huge cardboard license plate with the word "PASSED" on it as a celebratory moment. I contrast that here to Illinois, a year'ish ago when my son got his DL and I took a pic of him with his license. I got hassled by some old Karen behind the counter and almost escorted out by the rent-a-cop, about not taking pics inside an SOS facility.

That’s because old Karen didn’t want to be in a picture not working and standing around with a line wrapped around the building.

My Florida experience at the dmv, Had to go to the dmv here for plates in my sons car, it was an unreal experience, walked in waited no more then 5 mins, obtained plates, title transferred on the spot and all good to go in about 10 mins. No appointment just walked in. It was way to organized.

Never have I been in and out of the Illinois dmv in under 20 mins, only time was when I turned 16 and my dad knew the manager at the dmv office and we cut in line infront of everyone, took a picture, and they handed my new driver license.

 

[blakbearddelite]

I would agree that I've had better experiences with the DMV down here in FL. Though most of the ones I've been to, they are by appointment only, no walk-ins. And there are a lot more of the facilities. Though they are generally smaller, there are a lot of them around.

 

[blakbearddelite]

We saw Vanilla Ice's black Bentley the other day a few miles from our house. We were one car back and to the right. The windows were super-dark, so we couldn't tell if he was driving. Neither one of us was fast enough to get our phones out, I really didn't think it was him. But my wife brought up an Instagram picture of his car and that was it.

 

[cdh027]

The wife really wanted to go to the beach today so we hit the usual spot on Anna Maria.

 

[blakbearddelite]

We haven't been to Anna Maria since summer. We used to go on Friday evenings to see the sunset and let the kids play in the sand. We gave up eating around there during popular times. We instead go to this food vendor inside a little mall that sells good empanadas.

 

[cdh027]

We haven't been to Anna Maria since summer. We used to go on Friday evenings to see the sunset and let the kids play in the sand. We gave up eating around there during popular times. We instead go to this food vendor inside a little mall that sells good empanadas.

It was pretty busy today obviously due to the holiday, but we went to the ugly grouper and got seated right away. Wasnt as bad as we thought it might me.

 

[ZXMustang]

Anna Maria island is MONEY. We love Indian Rocks as well for that Clearwater feel without the crowds. We park at 16th street. Public access, free parking and free clean public showers. As you walk out you can rinse off the feet or whole kids whatever. We really liked Fort Desoto as well. You can see the oil tankers coming in really well there. Plus lots of open beach since you have to pay $5 to get into the park and drive pretty far back to the water.

We havent been to the beach in probably over a year at this point. Just so busy lately with all the kids activities and school. But once it gets warmer, we are going back again. Love having the option. Hell it was nice just being outside over the last two days playing with the christmas presents the kids wouldnt get to play with in winter weather up north.