Sarasota, FL - anyone live there?

[ramonesfreak]

thinking of relocating to the area next year. i have a friend there so i know a little about it but have not spent time there

ive read most of the threads on city-data too and get a good feeling about the place...people seem to speak positive about it

how is the salt air on the old porsches? i wont be able to buy a house so i suspect i will be without a garage....i realize the lack of A/C will also be a problem...ill have to live with it...ive had several vehicles at one time for 10 years now and im sick of it. i want the 911 to be my daily driver

do you like it, hate it? thoughts?

[masraum]

I'm from the Tampa area and spent '88-95 in the Tampa area. Similar climate to Houston, where I live now. Sarasota will likely be a bit more temperate because it's closer to the water than I was in Tampa. I lived with an '88 targa here in Houston for a year without AC. It wasn't too bad. Windows down in the morning on the way to work and I was cool enough. Same on the way home, I got darn hot, but was able to change into something more comfy when I got home. What color is your car and it's interior? I hope neither is black.

The salt air should be ok on your '83 if you aren't living right on the water. It is fully galvanized afterall.

I spent some time there partying with a buddy occasionally. It's nice.

[crb07]

No garage-ouch, not good. more you are inland the better. Want to see a picture of my lawn mower? It sits outside, not pretty.

[ramonesfreak]

yea the rain showers and salt worry me...as does the heat/sun on the interior parts and the humidity on the engine...

[URY914]

It is a very nice area. Look for a place with covered parking.

[Normy]

You need to consider a local ordinance before you move there. It might cost you thousands of dollars-

There is a local requirement that your hair is blue.

Another requirement: The largest, most plasticy BUICK that is available. It has to be the latest vintage; 2009 is not enough, you need to own a 2010 or later car. And your blue hair needs to be at least 6 inches tall~

Also, you need to consider the homeowners association in your building. they don't want to spend a DIME but want the association to 1. Pave the road in front of the condominium, 2. Put in a pool.....yet don't want to raise association fees when the pool goes in! Hello?

N!

[HunterVonWurst]

Originally Posted by Normy

You need to consider a local ordinance before you move there. It might cost you thousands of dollars-

There is a local requirement that your hair is blue.

+1 - Sarasota is God's waiting room. Geezer City.

[Normy]

You know, if you are somewhat young as I kind of am, when the wind blows past my shorts sometimes I get a hard-on.

-It occurs to me that said blue-hairs might need the occasional services of a young man. Did i mention the fact that I just spent $1000 on tires and parts from 928Motorsports?


N!

[HunterVonWurst]

Originally Posted by Normy

You know, if you are somewhat young as I kind of am, when the wind blows past my shorts sometimes I get a hard-on.

Mmm-kay. And this applies to Sarasota how?

Saw you in the 928 on Davie Blvd., westbound a few weeks ago.

[ramonesfreak]

well im 38..i have read that the area had a lot of younger professional types....are you talking about florida in general? because thats been my impression of the entire state, and ive been all through it many times...everybody knows florida has a large senior population

having lived in a condo, i would NEVER live in one again...so that not an issue.

seems like a nice place but i guess ill have to spend a few weeks there and see

im a native new yorker so, i realize there will be a difference in culture

im basically looking for an easy going life, close to the beach, where i might find a job and enjoy a more outdoor lifestyle and be able to enjoy vintage porsches more than i can in NY and perhaps make some friends my own age

im not a fan of hurricanes and that would probably be my biggest concern

i thought that i might find sarasota to have plenty of artistic attractions...films, music etc...and good food and a fairly low cost of living, compared to NY. i actually love miami but im burned out from city living and inflated housing costs and vandalism...so sarasota has sparked an interest

as for the wind making you hard, well thats great for you...mine stopped doing that around the age of 25

im not sure what your new tires for your 928 have to do with this, but congrats!!

[HunterVonWurst]

Originally Posted by srandallf

...are you talking about florida in general?

having lived in a condo, i would NEVER live in one again...so that not an issue.

im a native new yorker so, i realize there will be a difference in culture

im basically looking for an easy going life, close to the beach, where i might find a job and enjoy a more outdoor lifestyle and be able to enjoy vintage porsches more than i can in NY and perhaps make some friends my own age

im not a fan of hurricanes and that would probably be my biggest concern

i thought that i might find sarasota to have plenty of artistic attractions...films, music etc...and good food and a fairly low cost of living, compared to NY.

Florida in general? No. Sarasota is essentially a retirement community.

A condo is the only thing you will be able to afford in Sarasota if you are currently "looking for work".

Native New Yorker? C'mon down! Every other one of your homeboys has. You'll fit right in, especially if you have that New Yaawwker accent.

Friends your own age? Again, avoid Sarasota.

You will crap your pants during your first hurricane. The Gulf Coast gets hit more regularly than the Atlantic Coast.

Culture? In FLORIDA? When I first arrived, I went to a Bocelli concernt wearing dress slacks, a dress shirt and a sport coat. I was surrounded by buffoons wearing beach shorts, flip-flops and Guayaberas...all yakking on their cellphones why Bocelli was performing. I may as well have been at a Dolphins game.

[imcarthur]

HunterVonWurst speaks some serious truths here imho.

Ian

[ramonesfreak]

there are no apartments in sarasota? only houses or condos?

[HunterVonWurst]

Originally Posted by srandallf

having lived in a condo, i would NEVER live in one again...so that not an issue.

You said you don't want to live in a condo. Condo/apartment = same thing. So you have two other options...a house or a trailer park.

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by HunterVonWurst

Florida in general? No. Sarasota is essentially a retirement community.

A condo is the only thing you will be able to afford in Sarasota if you are currently "looking for work".

Native New Yorker? C'mon down! Every other one of your homeboys has. You'll fit right in, especially if you have that New Yaawwker accent.

Friends your own age? Again, avoid Sarasota.

You will crap your pants during your first hurricane. The Gulf Coast gets hit more regularly than the Atlantic Coast.

Culture? In FLORIDA? When I first arrived, I went to a Bocelli concernt wearing dress slacks, a dress shirt and a sport coat. I was surrounded by buffoons wearing beach shorts, flip-flops and Guayaberas...all yakking on their cellphones why Bocelli was performing. I may as well have been at a Dolphins game.

I lived in FL for 27 years. This info is dead on. In the end the only thing you will like about FL is the weather in non hurricane areas. Just wait until you find out how much insurance is...LOL! Culture???? Faggetabaattit.

[ramonesfreak]

Originally Posted by HunterVonWurst

You said you don't want to live in a condo. Condo/apartment = same thing. So you have two other options...a house or a trailer park.

apartments and condos are not the same thing....you own a condo and pay association fees and are a slave to the homeowners association and assessments.

an apartment, you rent.

[targa911S]

"rent" in FL is NOT cheap. You have a lot of fees up front. SRQ is very nice and the beaches are good, but it, like most of FL is pretty senior. I think average age in FL is dropping but it's still around 55.

[ramonesfreak]

i hear ya. thing is, the world has changed. even in NYC, culture is disappearing. the Bottom Line is gone, CBGB is gone. Many things that made NYC great, are gone. Starbucks on every corner...I left NYC partly because it felt like part hamster-wheel, part shopping mall.

im not scared of seniors...but i do like a little action. I do like when good bands come through town...having options is nice. I know sarasota is not going to be Austin, Tx...I can accept that but im not sure i can live with it. i hate new development and i hate when everything is clean and nice. i like grime and crime and mystery and danger...i was made for New Orleans, but wont move there for obvious reasons

i once got a job offer in the Keys, about 8 years ago. spent a week there and went nuts from isolation..... looking back, i sorta kick myself i didnt take that job - but, i was alot younger and was living in NYC and couldnt make the transition.

now, im older, feel older and feel like ive done and seen just about everything and all i wanna do is relax under a palm tree, play in a local pub band, drive the 911 and enjoy the ocean view.

but, i need access to good income and good ethnic food

[URY914]

The average age of a floridian resident is 44.9 years old

[trap]

Sarasota isn't as bad as some make of it. It certainly was God's waiting room but things have changed somewhat - it's actually a pretty decent place. Good access to the water, it does have a semblance of culture (Florida style) and there are things to do. The beaches in particular tend to be much quieter (older) than other places along the coast, though.

Brian Johnson from AC/DC lives there - how quiet can it be?