| Mar 6 @ 3:35 PM |
"Retiring" in the Saint Petersburg, Fl. area
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swingpup
Posts: 4,039
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I have been thinking a long while about "retiring" in The St. Pete, Clearwater, Largo Fla. area. When I say retire I'm indicating taking down the "shingle," no more legal profession.
To obtain a gig on a Gulf fishing Charter Boat baiting hooks helping the guests fish, making sure the guests all were having a great etc. This would be for me the epitome of relaxation and true "retirement" enjoyment.
Has anyone "retired" in the St. Pete area? If so what are some of the upsides as well as the downsides of the area. Thank you.
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| Mar 6 @ 5:49 PM |
"Retiring" in the Saint Petersburg, Fl. area |
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JenRNinOhio
Posts: 1,187
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We visit retired family members in Largo several times a year.
We usually rent a condo on the beach.... Clearwater, Madeira Beach, North Bradenton ... Love it there.
So many of the wonderful little local restaurants & shops along the coast seem to be disapearing into condos. It seems to be more & more congested. We try to visit *off season*. But if you are considering a business aimed at tourism ... The congestion could be good for you.
Probably wasn't much help there ....
I'm seriously considering relocating to the gulf coast after the kids are out on their own ... Three years & three months ... not that I'm counting.
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| Mar 7 @ 11:22 AM |
"Retiring" in the Saint Petersburg, Fl. area
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swingpup
Posts: 4,039
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Thank you! Any assistance at this point is certainly appreciated. One of the complaints from those I've spoken with is the heat and humidity. Some of us are able to handle the heat much better then the cold, ice and snow.
The fishing boat thing wouldn't be my boat, no way. Finally a chance to simply be an employee. 
Hope the three years and 90 days moves right along for you. 
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| Mar 7 @ 11:41 AM |
"Retiring" in the Saint Petersburg, Fl. area |
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donny3
Posts: 567
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I lived there for a short time and I loved the area. Lot's to do and plenty of things to see. The fishing is great and you will love it. I would still be there if I had another person to share expenses. It was very hard to make it on my own but I did not have any retirement money to work with. Wages are not very good there but if you have retirement money and work part time you should live a very happy life. Wonderful area.
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| Mar 7 @ 7:54 PM |
"Retiring" in the Saint Petersburg, Fl. area
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minky
Posts: 235
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If you are going to be working on a boat for any length of time protect yourself from the sun.  It can be brutal.
I personally think there are many nicer areas to live in Florida.
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| Mar 7 @ 8:05 PM |
"Retiring" in the Saint Petersburg, Fl. area |
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SunBabe
Posts: 11,767
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Check with HoneyBear, Pup:
http://www.matchdoctor.com/profile_honeybear285.html
She's been there for quite awhile -- and coincidently has a house for sale. 
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| Mar 9 @ 12:22 AM |
"Retiring" in the Saint Petersburg, Fl. area
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swingpup
Posts: 4,039
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I shall do so. Thank you. 
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| Mar 10 @ 7:42 AM |
"Retiring" in the Saint Petersburg, Fl. area |
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luvmycats
Posts: 9,439
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I will be moving to Tampa in the fall. My daughter lives in Bradenton. When she first moved there, she complained that there was nothing to do, all "old" (my age and up) people there. Now that she has a family, she loves it. Its a nice quiet/safe place to raise my grandson.
I hate any city, but if I have to live in one, Tampa is my choice.  Plus, Granny is only 45 minutes away from her boy! 
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| Mar 20 @ 11:43 AM |
"Retiring" in the Saint Petersburg, Fl. area
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redhairNfreckles
Posts: 1,805
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swingpup, I have lived in Largo since Dec. '06, moved there to take care of my dying sister until she passed away, and have inherited our family home. I only live there most of the year because of declaring homestead exemption for property tax purposes. My heart is here at my little farm in Western North Carolina, to be honest.
Anyway, if you like traffic congestion, crowded restaurants, strip malls or condos on every available real estate, outrageous property taxes and homeowner's insurance premiums, high humidity days, running A/C for 10 months out of the year (and having your electric bill reflect it), road construction going on constantly and all the problems with it, increasing crime rate i.e. purse snatching, home invasions, then go for it. Personally, I can't wait to sell my house and get out of there and move back full-time to these quiet mountains where I've lived for the past 27 years.
In all fairness to the state of FL, I must also add that I lived in Largo (the same house I live in now until I married) since '59 until '81, when I moved to NC. I realize things must change over time but Pinellas County has over-developed and completely changed from good to not so good because of it. It's too late to go back to the way things were, we can only hope that the "powers that be" have learned from their past mistakes.
Your thoughts about running a charter boat might have some merit though. They seem to be thriving (if you can afford the fuel), but the fishermen that depend on fishing for a living are having a hard time with it due to all the regulations and restrictions they have now.
Oops, just re-read your post saying you just want to be an "employee" on the boat.....smart move, that way the owner will have all the headaches....lol.
[Edited on 3/20/2008 11:54 AM]
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| Apr 10 @ 11:14 PM |
"Retiring" in the Saint Petersburg, Fl. area |
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swingpup
Posts: 4,039
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Thank you as well as thanks to everyone that shared their thoughts. It looks like I'll be in Cedar Rapids for at least another year. I had mixed feeling about "retiring," now that the racing season is here and the economy is appearing shakey at best, home is going to remain home. The shingle shall remain hung.
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| Apr 11 @ 1:37 AM |
"Retiring" in the Saint Petersburg, Fl. area
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 14,366
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Swing...welcome to the wonderful world of 'golden handcuffs'...  I'm postponing it yet again too...
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| Apr 11 @ 7:37 AM |
"Retiring" in the Saint Petersburg, Fl. area |
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happygrlok
Posts: 3,299
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I too am looking at the same situation Heaven and swingpup. I thought I could move this year, but it looks like it is not going to happen. I have a home down the Interstate from you Heaven and I need for it to sell before I can make my move. The economy looks so bleak right now, I think I better stay right where I am.
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| Apr 11 @ 10:26 AM |
"Retiring" in the Saint Petersburg, Fl. area
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 14,366
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Happy, bad time to sell, hope the market picks up soon so you can do what you want.
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| Apr 11 @ 10:36 AM |
"Retiring" in the Saint Petersburg, Fl. area |
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happygrlok
Posts: 3,299
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Heaven I know it is a bad time to sell, but I don't have a choice at this time. I am paying for two places and it could be come very draining financially. I actually would like to keep it as it is in the mountains of Caballo and it is very beautiful there. It is just to big of a place for one person. And besides I really wanted to go east and not west.
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| Apr 11 @ 9:37 PM |
"Retiring" in the Saint Petersburg, Fl. area
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daisy315
Posts: 3,849
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my folks have friends that live in St Pete and they love it there.. my folks have visited a few times and would love to be able to move there.. well.. at least my mom would.. my Pop is rather set in his ways
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| May 10 @ 8:01 AM |
"Retiring" in the Saint Petersburg, Fl. area |
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tatiana329
Posts: 717
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My mother lives there in a 600 K house .... which is actually an old 1950's dump of a ( small) house ( 2 bedroom, 1 bath, about 1000 sq foot) because in florida the home values are overpriced by at least 5X of the actual worth, your paying for location and will live in a dump...
FLORIDA REAL ESTATE IS WAY OVERPRICED !!!
Without bug killer and a great AC, nobody could live there. I'd say you should consider another coast, maybe further up or around Texas. You'd have enough money left to buy your own boat and live in a decent house....
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