That is a great idea.trying out the state. And we love the gulf?
Doesnt the sarasota/bradenton airport suffice?

The trouble with Sarasota/Bradenton airport is the expensive expansion it underwent about 28 years ago. Since then, they have charged very high user fees to the airlines, which have responded by cutting service and raising fares. It can be difficult to find a non-stop. Many times when my parents were alive I would fly into Tampa and rent a car. It would be cheaper and more convenient.

My understanding is that people generally fly in and out of Tampa instead of Sarasota, partly because of expense and partly because of availability of flights. So, basically what Fra said! I don't know what, if any, shuttle options exist. It's not a bad drive, actually, but wouldn't get any easier as one gets older. It may not be a deal breaker.

maribethp, I love the Gulf, too

Both Tampa and Ft Myers (RSW) have many, many more flights than Sarasota. Life would be easier for you ( and all the friends and relatives who want to visit you) if you are closer to one of these places.

But maybe you don't want your relatives and friends with you every January to March!

, oh, good, I'm glad you were joking! Palmetto bugs are actually a kind of beetle, outdoor only--they get inside only by accident, not to infest your home, and they do not carry disease like the much smaller German cockroaches so common in cities"

That is really funny!! They ARE cockroaches (just not German, which are very nasty, small, and not all that common). My parents lived in Vero Beach and I was introduced to "palmetto bug" there, and they (that term) are common on up into the Carolinas!!
In NYC we just owned up to "cockroach".
Don't mean to turn the thread into an entomological discussion!! lOL

If you plan to buy instead of rent, check up on what your hurricane insurance will be (= "windstorm" insurance) as well as flood insurance, unless you avoid a mortgage. Re flood insurance: couple of years ago Congress almost shut down the federally subsidized National Flood Insurance Program, causing mass panic in the streets in coastal Florida and the Keys.

Also relevant for your situation: Florida has no income tax, yayyyy!

Florida is not the kindest state re Medicaid funding, homeless programs, quality of schools, etc.

Gretchen is right. Although it's a nice fairytale that palmetto bugs are beetles, they are indeed flying cockroaches and do carry disease. Many people are freaked out by roaches flying in the air toward them. A few of the bugs that people call palmetto bugs are beetles, but the vast majority are indeed huge flying American cockroaches.
http://www.catseyepest.com/pest-libr...s/palmetto-bug

"- inland versus coast"
Inland is cheaper than coast. If you buy, check insurance coverage and costs.
- "north versus middle or south- we have intered in sarasota quite a few times and loved it there"
IMO north is more like south GA/ Alabama. South Florida is more like the NE. Middle is more of a mix. You'll even find a bit of cowboy country in the central peninsula.
-"senior community versus multi- age"
Only you can decide that. Check resale activity in senior communities.
Friends of that age have chosen Deland, Bartow, Tallahassee and Mount Dora for inland options.

Gretchen and starrs are only partly right.

<just not German, which are very nasty, small, and not all that common>
Au contraire, they are THE most common infesting cockroach in restaurants and dwellings.

Palmetto bugs are indeed cockroaches--I stand corrected. But they do not carry disease, and they live outdoors or in uninhabited spaces such as abandoned buildings, so pose no threat to humans.

People are "freaked out by" lots of things that live outside, often only because they're ugly. There's a metaphor in there somewhere...

They do come inside and live in your home -

"Palmetto Bugs In The Home & The Apartment

During flooding or other times when outside conditions are unsuitable, these insects will migrate indoors and that’s when you find palmetto bugs in your home. They like to hide in dark, moist spaces like basements, sewers, crawl spaces, drains and even your dirty laundry basket! You may also find them near the bathtub or garbage can.

Since palmetto bugs are rarely seen during the day, you may not notice a problem until there is a big infestation. Know the signs of palmetto bug damage so that you can catch a palmetto bug infestation as soon as possible. These pests give off a distinct musty smell. Look for chew marks on curtains, stamps, envelopes and bookbindings — palmetto bugs love to eat anything with glue or starch. You may also notice shed skins and droppings, that look like pepper flakes, in cracks and crevices around your home.