Darisha

We are in our Canadians in our early-mid 40's and starting to look for possible retirement locations in 10 years, hopefully something where we can spend the winter and then travel during the summer months.

In about two weeks we are taking our daughter to Disney and will be driving, spending a total of three weeks including 1 week max travel to and from Orlando. We're hoping to get some suggestions on areas we should check out while we're there.

We are specifically looking for a retirement community, or family trailer park geared towards snowbirds. Since it will be 13-14 years until we retire, we are simply checking things out at this point, but may buy something we can spend a month or so at during the winters now and retire to eventually.

If you need more info, please ask - since we are just beginning to consider where to retire we're very open to looking at anything and seeing if it's something we would consider seriously or not.

tomfuller

My parents enjoyed the years they spent at Tropical Haven near the Melbourne airport. The land is owned by the airport authority but you own your manufactured home.
Consider whether you want to live on the Gulf of Mexico/Tampa side or on the East Coast/I95 side. Either side can get a hurricane.

Ackislander

What province and region are you from? People from Ontario, particularly the Toronto area, seem to converge on the West Coast as it is a bit more direct to get to. If you are from Quebec, the East Coast may be easier.

Are you from a city, suburb, or the country?

Are you used to living with other people above, below, and very close beside you? Are you bothered by the sounds other people make in hotels?

Are you used to living with regulations as to what you can and cannot do about such things as sorting the garbage, planting flowers, having grandchildren stay, flying a flag?

Is it important to have other Canadians nearby?

Your trip to Orlando will be helpful. But before you commit to anything, you need to visit a variety of sites in Florida sometime between June 1 and the end of hurricane season in October. You cannot make a rational decision about whether Florida is right for you without doing this, unless you are planning to head for the cottage on May 15 and stay there until the first frost.

I personally prefer the West Coast because it is quieter and somewhat more spacious. If you are willing to risk a frost, the area from Tampa north is interesting. If you will accept guaranteed frosts but pretty nice most of the time, the area around Ocala and over toward the armpit where the Panhandle begins is interesting as well. (Armpit is descriptive, not evaluative).

You are wise to begin thinking about this now.

nytraveler

I would definitely NOT consider a trailer park - simply too many hurricanes - and with global warming it seems the frequency will increase - not decrease. And I believe it's getting harder and harder to get insurance.

Like building a house in OK without a tornado cellar.