Why I will never again set foot in the state of Florida:

[Atticus]

Florida DUers---sorry, but I will never again visit the Mouse's House, fish Lake Kissimmee or veg out on one of your beaches. Your state is not just home to tfg , but is also run by an unapologetic anti-democrat.

I have read that even more RWNJs are flocking to the Sunshine State to bask in the warm glow of the fascism that permeates the daily life of inhabitants trying to survive in your gun-toting "stand your ground" state.

I could go on, but it just boils down to "Why should I voluntarily expose myself to Florida's nastiness and danger?"

If tfg and DeSantis wind up in a cage fight and destroy each other, I might reconsider, but I am too old to think that will happen while i am still alive.

[madaboutharry]

1. I have long wanted to visit Key West.

Nope.

[we can do it]

3. Overrated, really.

[madaboutharry]

9. I have always wanted to see The Hemingway Home and Museum.

I would go just for that, and probably the seafood.

I have always loved the writing of Ernest Hemingway. Even though he was an extremely flawed person, A Moveable Feast is my favorite book.

[AngryOldDem]

98. That is a neat place, as is the Truman house.

We went to Key West on a day trip from Fort Myers (ferried in in the morning, came back at night). Besides those homes, all I really recall was that it was hot as hell, and there was a shop that sold an amazing selection of hot sauces. That, plus a thunderstorm that hit on our way back. That…was interesting.

I bought a paperback of A Moveable Feast at the Hemingway home.

[lark]

21. Key West is not good now.

It was totally wonderful in the 80's and 90's and even the early 2000s, but it's been overcome in a vast cloud of junk and drunk college kids. The bones of the city are still there and you can find some cool places to hang out, drink and eat, but you have to look hard beyond the ticky tacky tourist shacks. I would only go there again to go to the Dry Tortugas. Hopefully this changes and the dross will get torn down soon.

[we can do it]

22. It was tacky junky drunk fest when we went there in 90s- 2000.

[PatSeg]

36. We visited in the early 1970s

and it was wonderful. So peaceful and the water was crystal clear. We really hated to leave. I don't think I'd want to visit there now though.

[Farmer-Rick]

53. I visited in the 1980s

It was beautiful. Inexpensive art work everywhere, quit clean beaches and streets, small groups touring Hemingway's house. Small quiet groups at the bars; great food, first time I tasted keylime pie, such nice and friendly people. It was like the perfect beach experience. Of course I went off season and in the middle of the week.

Have the Keys been able to fight off the red neck hoards turning everything into a cracker barrel restaurant? They did it to Gatlinburg and parts of Myrtle Beach. I'm still surprised Disney hasn't gone that way too, or has it?

But I won't be flying anywhere until this latest COVID surge dies down.

[PatSeg]

68. Same here!

That was the first time I'd tried key lime pie and I loved it. I remember visiting a small café and having Cuban coffee for the first time as well. We met people who had come for a visit and ended up staying because they loved it so much. It is so sad to hear that it has changed so much.

[usaf-vet]

59. I "visited" in the 1960s at the behest of Uncle Sam. When I left in 1969 I swore I would never...

.... go back below the Mason - Dixon line again. Nothing has changed in the "deep south" for the good since I left 54 years ago. If anything, it has gotten worse. Far worse!

This boundary became referred to as the Mason-Dixon line because it began in the east along the Mason-Dixon line and headed westward to the Ohio River and along the Ohio to its mouth at the Mississippi River and then west along 36 degrees 30 minutes North.

[PatSeg]

69. I am originally from the Chicago area

but I lived briefly in Mississippi, Florida, and Texas many years ago. I couldn't leave fast enough, especially Texas which I swore I'd never set foot in that state again, not even to be passing through. Though I met some great people in all the places I lived, that didn't make up for ugliness and ignorance that was everywhere.

[EX500rider]

81. Depends what you do

[we can do it]

87. For that it would be nice. Otherwise overpriced ick.

[unweird]

5. Yeah, and the Dali museum in Clearwater

Both were desired destinations. And still are but extremely doubtful to be accomplished anytime in the foreseeable future.

[Thtwudbeme]

11. Key West died in the nineties

It was a fun little small town. I went to a cute restaurant that had chickens running around the yard...drank bourbon where Hemingway did....it was laid back and the vibe was incredible.

Now? The yuppies moved in first...then the people who drove housing prices up....and it just kept going downhill.

I'll never go back- I want to preserve my memories of a sleepy, half Caribbean/ half American town. Same with Miami- gone.

[luvs2sing]

17. Yup..

Spent a lot of time in Key West 1988-1991. Dated a guy who kept a boat at Oceanside Marina on Stock Island. We’d go down for two-week stretches in the winter. Maybe hit a few tourist spots, but mostly just live on the boat, go out to fish every morning, and only go into town for supplies. We found a couple good little restaurants outside the tourist areas and ate there if the fishing wasn’t good or it was too rough to go out. He golfed in the afternoons. It was pretty sweet.

[Lonestarblue]

34. Try St. John in the US Virgin Islands.

Lovely island, lovely people. Great weather most of the time and excellent seafood. And they could use the tourism. Parts of the island were ravaged from Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, the same ones that devastated Puerto Rico. Much rebuilding has been done, but one of their major tourist attractions was the Caneel Bay Resort, which was totally devastated. Caneel Bay provided employment for many on the island, and it has not been rebuilt.

[Traildogbob]

30. Not the

Image Jimmy Buffett sang about.

[Thtwudbeme]

73. Hi Traildog! I am glad to see you on this thread!

I have always enjoyed your perspective on DU. Funny story about Jimmy Buffett: I accidentally partied with him in the early nineties. One of my only celebrity encounters!

Several times during the night I was standing next to him, or within 5 feet. I couldn't think of a thing to say, so never talked to him. If I had known then what I know now, I would have asked for an autograph and not given a damn if he "liked" me or not. He had the Coral Reefer band with him and they were practicing and drinking. I got to hear a bunch of his hits in a very small crowd of about 30 people. It was cool.

I didn't drink much back then, and I was probably one of the few sober ones in the joint! But! I remember it well- so, there's that-

[Traildogbob]

74. Great story.

His music and lyrics kept me Smiling while I was in the Navy. A1A, Living and Dying, Latitudes and Son of a Sailer and others during that era kept us sailors in touch while at sea for long periods. Jimmy and John Prine have guided me and gave me so much joy for so long. The Cheeseburger era was challenging, but I made it through it. We had one of his restaurants up here in Asheville for a while and loved the atmosphere of Jimmy and his life style. Thank you for the story. So jealous of your encounter. “Stories we could tell”. Cheers. Thank you for the compliment.

[Thtwudbeme]

76. I lived on Mudock ave...the brick house across the lot from the

Jewish community center.

I love Asheville....but wealth messed it up for me.

[Traildogbob]

77. Oh,

I live in a rural county adjacent. Asheville is absurdly expensive. The wealthiest of Florida build their second and third million dollar getaways out here in rural mountains, and Jack up all our tax values. My place is 800 square feet. Basically a cottage. Love the free concerts and brewery’s in Asheville and food, but almost never go since Covid. These arrogant second homers up here give us a bad taste of Florida folks. But the worst of em are half backs. Not true Floridians, Yankees that move to Florida and get half way back to the north by coming here for play houses. I am cozy, low overhead, and stay out playing off trail in the forests to avoid em all. Between them and Meadows/Cawthorn fools, the woods aren’t salvation.
My fellow Dendrology prof, would take 20-25 Dendro students to the Keys and Everglades every spring break for 15 days as an elective science class for plant and animal ID. I had to stay and cover his classes here while they went, the trio spilled into Summer Classes and the end of spring semester. So I missed out on the trip all those years. They all loved it. Most never left their Home Counties. Great experience. They got a little Buffett vibe there, though most never heard of him😊
Just younguns!

[shrike3]

33. I was there in the '80s. Like you said, fun little town.

Lots of goofy people that wouldn't fit in anywhere else. Thanks for the heads-up. I too would like to preserve my memories.

[BlackSkimmer]

37. Chickens are all over Key West, but I'd guess you ate at Blue Heaven.

Great restaurant.

I love the Keys and lived there for 25 years. Key West has definitely gone downhill, but there’s a lot to see on the other Keys.

No Name Pub on No Name Key is a great bar. And the Key deer roam all around there.

[Thtwudbeme]

72. That was it! Thank you- wow

that is a 3 decade or so old memory!

Isn't it funny that what I consider "downhill" is "upscale" to so many people? I think "upscale" has its place...but, I wish the "upscale" would leave "our" little funky artsy places alone.

Asheville NC is the same way now- it makes me want to cry. I lived communally up there a long time ago. All the neat artists and stuff are gone.

[BlackSkimmer]

94. Yep, you are so right.

I used to love Asheville too. Boone and Blowing Rock were ruined years ago.

Hot Springs (NC) is really a great place still. I hope it doesn’t get ruined too.

[Thtwudbeme]

95. We have a place up at Sugar

Ski season is horrible- the roads were not designed to deal with that traffic and the owners of the ski lodge will not put in parking at the bottom of the mountain and run buses back and forth. One evening in February, we couldn't get off the mountain to get something to eat at a restaurant.

[BlackSkimmer]

97. I thought about going skiing up there last winter.

Spent many wonderful winters skiing Sugar, but yeah, I heard about the insane people/ traffic messes and just stayed home. Damn shame.

How fantastic to have a place up there though! I lived in Boone and thereabouts for 10 years, loved it! We used to complain about the Florida drivers lol, then I moved to Florida. Go figure. Back in NC now. Hell, I was in Boone when you had to it to Blowing Rock for beer!

[snowybirdie]

2. Damn

We'll miss you.

[hlthe2b]

4. I have no desire either. hell, I'd visit the GA coast or Gulf states, including MS and AL before FL

I know Palm Beach is supposedly still a rational haven, but probably not for long.

Texas gives me pause too.

[JI7]

8. Texas has some very liberal areas where the views of people would be similar to those

of any major liberal city along with it's own unique culture of that area so I think it would be worth seeing .

[hlthe2b]

13. Yes, and I've spent plenty of time there and will again when rational TX government returns.

Spent tons of time in all the border towns, in Austin, Brownsville, and in all the major cities... But I want nothing to do with enabling (financially) Abbott and that corrupt-as-hell team he has assembled.

[Freddie]

26. Palm Beach is still ok

My son and family live in Boynton which isn’t far. He’s a true blue liberal (we raised him well) but is stuck there as he and his wife both have good jobs. He prefers to focus on national politics as he considers Florida hopeless.
Their wedding was at a Vrbo house in Jupiter, Dec 2020 in the middle of the “stolen election” BS. Was a great venue except for the house next door utterly festooned in TFG signs and banners.

[Emile]

6. My mother lived in Miami and died of cancer in 1976. 1976 was

the last time I set foot in Florida and I'm in no hurry to go back!

[Stuart G]

10. Anything can happen. Sometimes a good thing can happen...one example:

.....Did this country elect an Afro-American as President of the U.S.?.....

....When I was in college, many years ago, I thought that was totally ...'IMPOSSIBLE"...end of post...

[sop]

12. I'm confident many Floridians are quite pleased fewer people will be coming here.

[mitch96]

16. +1, among us long time locals the mantra is "come visit, spend your money, now leave"...nt

[niyad]

19. A local bumper sticker, "welcome to colorado. now go home."

[tanyev]

14. If you live near the Florida coast, this could be a good opportunity to sell your house

to a RWNJ who doesn't believe in climate change.

[BlueBloodedAmerican]

15. Florida is the most politically miserable state I've ever lived in (and that includes TX).

The summer heat and humidity in FL has damned near killed me. However, I have fallen in love with the incredible flora and fauna which is second to none. We have camped in 20 of the spectacular state parks and I’m still blown away by the scenery and wildlife. So there’s that.

[niyad]

20. Welcome to our DU family.

[BlueBloodedAmerican]

29. Thanks! Glad to be involved here.

[JCMach1]

27. I can't because I knew that nature growing up. It's also shattered

Beyond recognition

[BlackSkimmer]

39. Yes, I left in 2010, but spent years scuba diving, kayaking, swimming, exploring, camping, you name

it. No place like it and I had a blast!

As the other posters have commented, no one minds if someone says they’re not coming to visit lol.

[calimary]

55. At some point, if the climate crisis projections are to be believed,

A lot of Florida just won’t be much of an issue anymore.

[AmBlue]

18. You don't have to come here

But please toss a few coins to Charlie Crist if you can. Some of us pissed off Floridians have decided to help get rid of the fascist pig in our Governor's office!!

[jimfields33]

23. I'm voting Nikki freid myself

She just won statewide election a few years ago. She’s our best chance.

[AmBlue]

63. I like Nikki too

It's almost a toss-up for me. Charlie gets my vote because I think he can speak to the ex-Republicans like himself who cannot stomach the current GQP. Also, as a Republican Governor, Charlie did the right thing and stood with the League of Women Voters and other non-partisan groups (and against members of the R party in this state) when we lobbied to get rid of the touchscreen voting machines. He also agreed with restoration of voting rights for ex-felons who had done their time.

I will be forever grateful for his courage and conviction to do the right things for Floridians. He's evolved and I believe he is a committed Democrat who loves this state. He's also a nice guy from my hometown of St. Petersburg who I run into in the grocery store sometimes!!

[Joinfortmill]

45. Nothing against Charlie, but I wish someone new and fresh would run.

Ah, Nikkie Fried. I'll check her out.

[Ferrets are Cool]

24. I don't know man. If you are going to limit your travel based on politics, you are

gonna have to X out about half the US.

[Atticus]

25. Exactly. nt

[MOMFUDSKI]

75. So true.

I live in Florida and just go about my biz and all is fine. Stand up for my rights when I must. Try to make the 'others' think when the opportunity presents itself. Why hide in the closet when life is to be LIVED? Come on you guys.

[dawg]

28. Florida is purple and can turn.

I know it has been trending against us lately, and is now redder than Georgia in some ways, but it certainly isn't the reddest of states.

If we can find a way to make inroads into the Cuban-American community, we have a real shot at flipping the state.

[Joinfortmill]

43. Yup. Lot of old mid-western Republicans living in FL. But Dems are growing.

[jimfields33]

67. The Democratic Party in Florida is growing?

https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/data-statistics/voter-registration-statistics/voter-registration-reports/voter-registration-by-party-affiliation/


Growing? First time in decades that republicans took over the top spot in registration. Looks like the Democratic Party lost registered voters.

Where did you get the info that the Democratic Party was growing? I wish.

[ancianita]

46. +1

[CaptainTruth]

49. Yep, I'm not giving up & running away because the task is hard...

... I'm devoting more effort & determination to the task.

[CrackityJones75]

31. Have family in Venice. Love it.

Florida is not a republican done deal. It will never be totally red.

[Joinfortmill]

42. I'm a NH girl who has lived in FL and SC for the last decade. Lots of Dems in the South, folks.

Getting more, not less, would be better.

[roamer65]

32. You should see it before it's under 200 ft of seawater.

Definitely do NOT buy property down there.

Only rent.

The Great Florida Property Crash is only a few years away.

[Emile]

47. They should carry 100 feet of rope in the case of a sink hole swallows them!

[roamer65]

52. +1000

LOL.

[Emile]

61. When the water turns red and dead fish are floating, probably a

good time to avoid the water. The visitors going to Florida's west coast or also known as the Redneck Rivera should be warned about the red tide.

[LakeArenal]

57. My thoughts and prayer exactly.

Soon they will be swimming with the fishes.

[csziggy]

64. I own a property in Florida but it is high ground

If the sea levels go up as predicted, I will own an off shore island. The ridge at the top of my property is at 209 feet above sea level. By then, though I won't be around. I figure I have at most 20-30 years left and the most dire predictions don't put sea level rise to come that soon.

[roamer65]

70. A private island!

🤑🤑🤑🤑

[EX500rider]

83. 200 ft?

In 1995 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a report which contained various projections of the sea level change by the year 2100. They estimate that the sea will rise 50 centimeters (20 inches) with the lowest estimates at 15 centimeters (6 inches) and the highest at 95 centimeters (37 inches). The rise will come from thermal expansion of the ocean and from melting glaciers and ice sheets. Twenty inches is no small amount -- it could have a big effect on coastal cities, especially during storms.

[roamer65]

86. When we melt it all...70 meters (230 ft)

…and we will melt it all.

[EX500rider]

89. Have seen zero projections of all of Antarctica melting, that's where 70% of the water is.

And 200ft would effect a lot more then just Fla.

And Fla does have land over 200ft so those maps that show all of Fla under water are off:

What are the top 10 highest points in Florida?
List of Florida's highest points
Point Elevation (ft) Geographic Coordinates
Britton Hill 345 feet (105 m) 30°59?18?N 86°16?55?W
Oak Hill 331 30°41?46?N 85°27?51?W
High Hill 323 30°43?53?N 85°29?07?W
Falling Waters Hill 318 30°43?53?N 85°32?06?W

[roamer65]

90. If we get to the late Cretaceous levels of 1200-1500 ppm it will happen.

During that time, most of the ice was gone.

[Lil Liberal Laura]

35. You're Sane

Personally, getting attacked by naked men on Bath Salts has never appealed to me.

[FailureToCommunicate]

38. We had a restful vacay in Ft. Myers Beach, spent our $ on local merchants and restaurants, then...

left.

This was several years ago (before Covid of course).

Might be a while before we return.

Too bad, because all the hard working hotel, and restaurant, and shop people we encountered were beyond gracious.

[catbyte]

40. In my early 20s, a friend and I were discussing our life goals. As a joke, I said that one of

them was to die without ever having been to Florida. Well, I'm going to be 67 in 4 days and that's one goal I've managed to achieve.

I would like to see manatees in person, but it's not worth going to Florida. I'll stick to humpback whales on Maui.

[Joinfortmill]

41. I hear you, but there are quite a few Democrats in FL and other southern states... Hope

we can spead them around even more.

[appalachiablue]

54. ++ There are indeed Democrats in the South, seriously

[PortTack]

44. Same! Used to go to any area between Jacksonville and St Augustine right on the beach

Quiet, private, nice beach…but not going until things change in FL. Right now, to me it seems they are lost!

[New Haven]

48. Obama won Florida----

--

and I think that the Mouse is at work behind the scenes. In Texas it's "Don't Mess With Texas" ---and in Florida it's Don't Piss Off the Mouse" America loves Disney. A few years ago the Southern Baptist Convention put a ban for their members on Disney because of their recognition of gay marriage. It didn't work. And there is a large group of wealthy conservatives that will be losing money on their Disney stock. The MOUSE will roar especially when the impact of the tax consequences hit the community. The same legal position that DeSantis is taking on Disney could be applied to the Ave Maria conservative Catholic community in Collier County

[appalachiablue]

62. Yes, Florida went for Obama, thanks

[kimbutgar]

50. Ditto will never set foot in Florida again

Will never take a cruise that leaves or ends in Florida.
If I see the seller on eBay is based in Florida will not buy the item.

Desatan is evil and a menace to our country and democracy.

[EX500rider]

84. "If I see the seller on eBay is based in Florida will not buy the item."

So a DU person selling on Ebay who lives in Fla would be a no sell? Seems silly to me, any other States you won't buy from Democrats?

[kimbutgar]

88. I also don't buy from Texas either.

And I try to only buy from blue states.

[EX500rider]

91. I am sure Democratic voters trying to make a living in those States really appreciate that.

You do realize there are Democratic & Republican voters in every State?
So buying from a GOP'er in a blue State is somehow better then buying from a Dem in a red state?

[In It to Win It]

51. Well, we're trying

[Poiuyt]

56. There's nowhere else in the continental U.S. that has the same tropical feel as Florida

My wife and I need to escape the Wisconsin winters, so we drive down to Sanibel Island for a couple of weeks. That place has a wonderful "old Florida" feel to it that we like. I know the political feelings of that area, but we just avoid those kinds of conversations.

If there was somewhere else that had the same feel as Florida and is warm in February, we would check it out.

[roamer65]

71. Too bad we wouldn't normalize with Cuba.

[Poiuyt]

79. I've always wanted to go to one of those nightclubs like they had there in the 40s

We would sit at little round tables listening to some dance band. I, of course, would be wearing a white dinner jacket.

[roamer65]

80. +1000

I would go just to say I’ve been there.

[Raftergirl]

58. I have no choice

my 93yr old mom lives in south Florida.

But I don’t spend much at all when I am there, so at least not contributing to the the state’s economy. I sit at her pool all day and read.

Eventually I will inherit her condo and it will go on the market asap.

I will never go back after that.

There are many Caribbean islands and Hawaii to go to get out of the cold.

[helpisontheway]

60. Will not ban Florida due to Disney/Universal however I'm so glad

we did not move there. We almost moved there when my husband retired from the military so that his pay would not be taxed (mainly because Virginia taxes the hell out of us..So even though financially it might be better for us to live in Florida I’m glad we did not do it. I could not live in a state with that many assholes. Virginia is not bright blue but is better than Florida politically.

[Hotler]

65. Comedian Patton Oswalt on Florida....

&t=18s

[jmowreader]

66. There are only two things that would get me to Florida

Going to a race at Daytona, and eating at the rib joint Iron Maiden’s drummer owns. If they were still launching Space Shuttles that might also be pretty cool. The rest of the state holds no interest to me. Even if the state was bright blue I wouldn’t want to go.

[llmart]

78. They still have launches at KSC.

I can't avoid going to Florida altogether since my son lives there. However, I haven't been since Covid. He's a NASA engineer working on the Artemis program - next trip to the moon and tells me it may happen in September. I would go for that.

[EX500rider]

82. Seems strange to me

When I want to go snow skiing I don't think about or care who the governor is in the state I pick. I am just visiting.

As to dangerous, Fla is ranked 27th in homicides by State, firmly Democratic Wash DC is #1 with almost 5 times the murder rate of Fla.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_intentional_homicide_rate

[HAB911]

85. I'm with you

but I live here.

I feel that way about Texas.

[Fla_Democrat]

92. We will miss you.

[vercetti2021]

93. I'll never visit any red state

Sucks I live in the one competing against Florida for who's most fascist

[Vinca]

96. You definitely have to take personal safety into account when you travel these days and

Florida - to me - is in the category of crazy ass, gunhumper states. Too bad, really. I have fond memories of tanning my once halfway decent body on the sands at Daytona. Come to think of it, I'm so old I can remember when it was almost the law you retired to Florida when you hit a certain age. No more. Then again, even up north the crazies are rearing their evil heads. Some idiot in my state has proposed all children be given "age appropriate" firearms training. Wish I could afford to buy my own island somewhere.