I finally moved to Florida.

[traveller]

Well, it is official, I have at last moved from Chicago, Illinois to Fort Myers, Florida. Although I did feel sad at first about living on my own for the first time, I eventually got over it. The nightlife here is far better than in Chicago, obviously the ladies are a lot nicer here than they were in Illinois, the beaches are a lot better; Fort Myers beaches don't have shootings, homicides, and such like Chicago's beaches have, and of course the weather here is just gorgeous.

[Jester]

Congratulations!

Sounds very nice. Took guts to go.

Make yourself strong and independent. All else will follow.

[Rock]

Well, it is official, I have at last moved from Chicago, Illinois to Fort Myers, Florida. Although I did feel sad at first about living on my own for the first time, I eventually got over it. The nightlife here is far better than in Chicago, obviously the ladies are a lot nicer here than they were in Illinois, the beaches are a lot better; Fort Myers beaches don't have shootings, homicides, and such like Chicago's beaches have, and of course the weather here is just gorgeous.

Wow, I'm from Illinois (studied some time in Chicago) but now stay in Fort Myers when I go back. My parents live there about 3 months a year, snowbird style. I typically spend 3-4 weeks then do a side trip to a nearby Carribean or South American country before returning to Asia.

If I got married to an Asian girl, I think I would like to bring her with me to live in Fort Myers maybe 3 months a year. It's absolutely gorgeous, super modern, cheap, and safe in areas on South 41 where Walmart is all the way down Summerlin to Fort Myers Beach. Captiva and Sanibel are paradise. See some the theater shows. Visit the Edison and Ford estates. The local library in that area is wonderful and so modern and stylish. There's a beach theater which allows you to have a meal and even alcoholic drinks while you watch your movie. Shopping is fantastic.

Fort Myers/Cape Coral have about everything yet still have a smallish medium sized city feel. There are lots of interesting beaches going south a bit to - Estero Beach then Naples. Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach are 2-2.5 hours away. Orlando theme park area with Disneyworld and all the water park stuff is like 3 hours away.

Southwest Florida airport is bright and new with flights all over the US via Southwest and a couple other convenient carriers. Fort Myers is full of modern condo complexes with swimming pools, warm water jucuzzis, clubhouses, etc. Renting is super cheap and property prices fell dramatically in 2009 and have only recovered a bit so its a bit like Vegas for buying property. Real estate taxes are low, especially if you establish homestead. Medical facilities are modern and superb.

There's golf, swimming, fishing, boating, beach activities, wave runner dolphin tours, and all kinds of other great fun galore. You can do casinos on the casino boats or take visit Key West via the 4 hour speed boat that goes down everyday. Lot's of early bird specials and generally great value for money infrastructure cus so much tax is paid by non-resident snow bird property owners relative to how much it actually gets used.

Careful about the roads tho cus they drivers tend to either be college kids during certain times of year or much older retirees who often have seeing problems and react more slowly.

[traveller]

Careful about the roads tho cus they drivers tend to either be college kids during certain times of year or much older retirees who often have seeing problems and react more slowly.

If you think Florida drivers are crazy, you haven't seen true reckless and dangerous driving until you've been to Illinois! In Illinois, nobody watches where they are going, they weave dangerously around other drivers, they drive drowsy, often refusing to move and stopping up traffic when the light is green. Illinois drivers also rudely cut other people off. Sometimes they blow through red lights, they also quite often blow through railroad crossings when the gates are lowered and the red lights are flashing. They also refuse to move at railroad crossings after the train is over and the gates are raised, as if waiting for another train. Illinoisans only care about themselves, getting to their destination hours early, and every day, they are always coming within as close as just a few inches of a catastrophic accident.

[jamesbond]

Well, it is official, I have at last moved from Chicago, Illinois to Fort Myers, Florida. The nightlife here is far better than in Chicago, obviously the ladies are a lot nicer here than they were in Illinois.

Congratulations traveler to your move to Florida. How much would a one bedroom apartment cost in Fort Myers? In the Chicago area, a one bedroom starts at 800 dollars a month most one bedrooms are around 1,000 dollars a month!

I am seriously considering moving to Florida myself. First I need to do more research on the best areas to live (Miami, Orlando, Fort Myers, etc.) and then I will need to find a job and a place to live.

[Rock]

Careful about the roads tho cus they drivers tend to either be college kids during certain times of year or much older retirees who often have seeing problems and react more slowly.

If you think Florida drivers are crazy, you haven't seen true reckless and dangerous driving until you've been to Illinois! In Illinois, nobody watches where they are going, they weave dangerously around other drivers, they drive drowsy, often refusing to move and stopping up traffic when the light is green. Illinois drivers also rudely cut other people off. Sometimes they blow through red lights, they also quite often blow through railroad crossings when the gates are lowered and the red lights are flashing. They also refuse to move at railroad crossings after the train is over and the gates are raised, as if waiting for another train. Illinoisans only care about themselves, getting to their destination hours early, and every day, they are always coming within as close as just a few inches of a catastrophic accident.

No, I don't think Florida drivers are crazy. I'm a man who has spent a lot of time in places like China, Colombia and even a few weeks in Dominican Republic. My perspective is different.

It's just what people who've spent their whole lives in USA tell me. And it is true that demographics in places like Sarasota and SW Florida tend to be skewed to the old side except and, during certain periods of year, drunk college kids.

If you've spent time in China or certain other crazy driver countries, you won't be phased by Illinois which is btw where I grew up. My parents also grew up there and still live there majority of year. They drive a lot including up to Chicago. Only accident they ever had in Illinois was like 30 years ago when an out of towner ran a stop sign and broadsided my mom.

They always told me, as long as you drive defensively, your risk is low. That has worked for me so far even though I used to like taking 'ghetto tours' during the day sometimes lol.

[traveller]

Well, it is official, I have at last moved from Chicago, Illinois to Fort Myers, Florida. The nightlife here is far better than in Chicago, obviously the ladies are a lot nicer here than they were in Illinois.

Congratulations traveler to your move to Florida. How much would a one bedroom apartment cost in Fort Myers? In the Chicago area, a one bedroom starts at 800 dollars a month most one bedrooms are around 1,000 dollars a month!

I am seriously considering moving to Florida myself. First I need to do more research on the best areas to live (Miami, Orlando, Fort Myers, etc.) and then I will need to find a job and a place to live.

For me, about $115.00 a month. Water, sewer, and garbage pickup are free/included in the rent.

Fort Myers is a very cheap area housing wise. I have seen concrete block structure (not mobile/manufactured homes, but concrete block structure!) homes in Fort Myers even as big as 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms sell for as low as $35,000! In fact, in the summer of 2008, there was actually a house for sale, in Fort Myers, Florida, that I actually wanted to buy! It was 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, roughly 900 square feet indoor space, concrete block exterior, hipped roof, built in 1998 so more than likely it had those laminated hurricane resistant windows, and it was on the market for only $20,000!

[E Irizarry R&B Singer]

Careful about the roads tho cus they drivers tend to either be college kids during certain times of year or much older retirees who often have seeing problems and react more slowly.

If you think Florida drivers are crazy, you haven't seen true reckless and dangerous driving until you've been to Illinois! In Illinois, nobody watches where they are going, they weave dangerously around other drivers, they drive drowsy, often refusing to move and stopping up traffic when the light is green. Illinois drivers also rudely cut other people off. Sometimes they blow through red lights, they also quite often blow through railroad crossings when the gates are lowered and the red lights are flashing. They also refuse to move at railroad crossings after the train is over and the gates are raised, as if waiting for another train. Illinoisans only care about themselves, getting to their destination hours early, and every day, they are always coming within as close as just a few inches of a catastrophic accident.

No, I don't think Florida drivers are crazy. I'm a man who has spent a lot of time in places like China, Colombia and even a few weeks in Dominican Republic. My perspective is different.

It's just what people who've spent their whole lives in USA tell me. And it is true that demographics in places like Sarasota and SW Florida tend to be skewed to the old side except and, during certain periods of year, drunk college kids.

If you've spent time in China or certain other crazy driver countries, you won't be phased by Illinois which is btw where I grew up. My parents also grew up there and still live there majority of year. They drive a lot including up to Chicago. Only accident they ever had in Illinois was like 30 years ago when an out of towner ran a stop sign and broadsided my mom.

They always told me, as long as you drive defensively, your risk is low. That has worked for me so far even though I used to like taking 'ghetto tours' during the day sometimes lol.

I 2nd what Rock says here. In developing countries, you don't even need a driver's license to drive. Most of the cop cars in DR cannot even catch up to you to stop you to give you a ticket jajajajajajaja!!!!

[E Irizarry R&B Singer]

Well, it is official, I have at last moved from Chicago, Illinois to Fort Myers, Florida. The nightlife here is far better than in Chicago, obviously the ladies are a lot nicer here than they were in Illinois.

Congratulations traveler to your move to Florida. How much would a one bedroom apartment cost in Fort Myers? In the Chicago area, a one bedroom starts at 800 dollars a month most one bedrooms are around 1,000 dollars a month!

I am seriously considering moving to Florida myself. First I need to do more research on the best areas to live (Miami, Orlando, Fort Myers, etc.) and then I will need to find a job and a place to live.

For me, about $115.00 a month. Water, sewer, and garbage pickup are free/included in the rent.

Fort Myers is a very cheap area housing wise. I have seen concrete block structure (not mobile/manufactured homes, but concrete block structure!) homes in Fort Myers even as big as 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms sell for as low as $35,000! In fact, in the summer of 2008, there was actually a house for sale, in Fort Myers, Florida, that I actually wanted to buy! It was 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, roughly 900 square feet indoor space, concrete block exterior, hipped roof, built in 1998 so more than likely it had those laminated hurricane resistant windows, and it was on the market for only $20,000!

Dude, I know how much you loathe Chicago/Chicagoland. I am only staying in Chicago due to how convenient O'Hare is to NYC/NJ (1hr 45mins bang touchdown), IAH/DFW (Texan airports bang touchtown in 2hr 45 mins), O'Hare to Toronto Pearson Int'l (45 mins bang touchdown), Chicago O'Hare to Calgary (bang touchdown 2 hrs 15 mins). I travel 75 percent of the time, all expenses paid so that's why Chicago is strategically important for me.

Heck, there are even int'l flights to Central America for 500-600 R/T and take 6 hrs to fly to most destinations there!