We moved out of Florida,

[blueknight73]

My wife and I sold our place in SWFL and moved full time to WNC. We couldn't stand the political environment DeSatan has created. At least, that was the final straw. Two hurricanes in 5 years also contributed to our decision. A Latino man I know who has a very successful landscape company just called me and said he is leaving now too. I'm sure he and his crew are undocumented which never mattered to us. I told him to come to N.C. We are begging for workers here. I hope all the undocument workers leave! Florida would be shut down in a week

[FakeNoose]

1. Congratulations, and best wishes to you and Mrs. Knight

Last edited Fri Jul 7, 2023, 01:17 PM - Edit history (1)

Out of curiosity, are you near Asheville?

I've never been there myself, but my uncle and his family lived there for almost 10 years while my cousins were growing up. My uncle always raved about Asheville. Eventually his career path took him to the West Coast and he's retired now. I regret that I never went to visit while he was living in North Carolina.

[blueknight73]

4. Yes!

about 35 miles NW of Asheville. A little town called Burnsville which is pretty liberal. Even a couple of churches in our little town have pride flags flying!

[blm]

14. ✌🏽✌🏽

There’s a few of us south of Asheville, too. 🤓

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

30. Or just on the West side of the mountains in TN too!

[Marius25]

2. Aren't you concerned about North Carolina though?

Republicans have a super majority legislature and are passing the same laws. And the Lt. Governor is an authoritarian nutjob.

[blueknight73]

3. Yes , somewhat

But I consider NC more of a purple state, we do have some great young democrats and Roy Cooper

[MOMFUDSKI]

5. Good move.

I am ready to go also. My biggest reason is the property insurance. Our condo monthly fee went up $185/mo. It is all pure insurance. The Lee County hurricane last summer caught my attention. Biggest concern is the insurance companies will just fold up and, in effect, you really don’t have insurance at all. A condo fee of $699/mo is going to make it more difficult to sell now. I would go back to Milwaukee, my hometown, but I don’t know if my husband is up for that. Thought of buying a trailer to keep FL residency for tax purposes and to spend winters here.

[blueknight73]

6. I understand

And forgot to mention the insurance as well. Ours went from 1300 a year to 2850 with no claims and this was BEFORE the hurricane. We also thought about getting a nice trailer inland but decided we didn’t want to deal with the hassle. We too were in Lee county.

[Deuxcents]

51. I've been in Lee county since '94

Grew up in Dade county as my grandparents came in the 20’s and I’m tossing around the idea of moving, too. Recently, three friends and their spouses have put their homes up for sale and one couple has sold and purchased a home in NE Georgia. One couple looking into Portugal and my other friends are trying to come to a compromise but they’re leaving , too. They are long time residents and their reasons are all of the above posters’ concerns. My family is here and my father’s family in east Texas so..wherever I go, it’ll be on my own at 76. Good thing I’m adventurous but I want to make a good decision, not one just because my friends are. Best wishes to all of you and I’ll be interested in your thoughts when you get settle in. Safe travels

[obamanut2012]

7. We moved to NORCAL

We are both in higher ed. EVERYTHING here is cheaper, except for gas, and some stuff is A LOT cheaper. We are both clearing 1-1.5k more every month, too, even with the dreaded CA taxes. Car insurance is 47% cheaper, and property insurance same. We are LGBT and in higher ed, and feel so much sdafer and more appreciated.

WNC is great! I lived near Boone for a few years. Boone and Durhan ftw.

[blueknight73]

8. Happy for you!

I hope you guys enjoy your time in NORCAL! I love that area and California in general. Our daughter and her family live in San Jose.

[obamanut2012]

13. We are further north, but love it!

So much to do, too. We had our first heat wave last Friday through Sunday, and our coworkers were stunned we were okay. Now, is 105 hot? Hell yes. But when you have 23% humidity along with it, it is totes okay. After the high heat/high humidity of FL, it is a cakewalk.

[calimary]

22. So are we. Part of my heart still belongs to California.

But farther north turns out to be not only better but more practical in several ways.

[lambchopp59]

56. So I've discovered!

I can mostly retire here just on my social security!! So I am, till winter. Probably back to the bay area or Sac for a gig then.

[calimary]

65. I kinda relish the cold weather and snow.

I’m weird that way. And not only that, but the actual seasons up here (!), including the fall leaf colors (!) and spring bulbs ‘n’ blooms and other plantings that you never get to enjoy down south (!) - all of that seriously appeals to me!

[lambchopp59]

58. San Jose is the odd-out of CA places work has never sent me.

Not far away in Palo Alto a couple years but never SJ.
I can't resist:
https://music.

&feature=share

[lambchopp59]

59. I just retired, exploring

Finding Colusa/Yuba very do-able!!

[lambchopp59]

63. I just retired, exploring

Finding Colusa/Yuba very do-able!!

[LunaSea]

9. Welcome

to the neighborhood!

[AntivaxHunters]

10. So basically you went from a fascist state of the KKK

To the fascist state of white power skins?

Come west, we have weed, mushrooms, Medicaid, & incredibly awesome scenery here in Colorado ❤️

[yardwork]

16. Unfair to NC! We're getting there and we need more Dem voters.

We have deep blue cities, a Democratic governor who can't run again, and our work cut out for us.

We are willing.

[Sky Jewels]

17. I've spent a lot of time in Colorado (relatives migrated there).

There are some spectacular landscapes. But ... your weather! I've never experienced such harsh and radically changing weather in my life! 80 degrees one day and snow the next?! So bizarre! And unbelievably intense mountain thunderstorms that seem like the end of the world is nigh. Personally, I can't stand being landlocked like that and I don't like the high elevation (makes me feel like a piece of tired, dried-out leather), but I can see why a lot of people enjoy Colorado. And it's been great to see it transform politically over the 35 years I've been visiting that state. Oh, and Red Rocks kicks ass! Best concert venue evah!

[AllaN01Bear]

31. in ca . live in a mostly red district , but there are huge streaks of us here .

if u dont know somone , dont talk religion or politics , they make strange bedfellows.

[blueknight73]

44. LOL

Boebert is from Colorado, every state has some undesirables

[Rebl2]

53. Yes they do

I am in MO. We have two, unfortunately. At least our representative in the House is a democrat.

[AntivaxHunters]

57. Colorado is one of the most progressive states in the country

Democrats have all 3 branches of government here.
We have the first gay marriied governor in history.
Voters here legalized weed through a ballot initiative.
We just did the same with mushrooms.

It's a whole other world here compared to red states & we may even say some blue states as well. Hi New York.

1 person like Boebert isn't the makeup of an entire state. Let's be honest. There's no comparison between Colorado & North Carolina when it comes to policy. None. It's day & night.

[CanonRay]

11. Good decision and good luck

I was last in Florida in about 1985 and have no plans to ever go back again.

[AllaN01Bear]

32. friend who is in her 70s lived in florida as a little girl. hated it then.

[peggysue2]

12. We left Tennessee because of a similar rise in extremism

Of course, DeSantis takes the medal in publicly exposing the dark heart of Republican ideology. However, Tennessee is merrily trotting to the same tune.

The political climate wasn't the only reason we moved; our grand baby and sons were at the top of the list. But the sharp U-turn the state had made definitely figured into the decision to pack it up and head home, the MidAtlantic.

Now that we're finally settled into a permanent home, I'm very glad we did.

[yardwork]

15. Welcome to NC!

We need all the Democrats we can get!

[blueknight73]

19. Thank You!

Glad to be here!

[Oppaloopa]

18. I live in this hell.They just announce on the news that soon Florida will be to hot to raise

b strawberries our largest crop Time for us to leave too.

[catbyte]

20. Well, if NC gets too intolerable, come to Michigan.

The winters haven't been too bad the last few years and it's tapped to be a climate haven when the crap really hits the fan.

[mercuryblues]

60. checking on something and actually living there are 2 different things

Beach erosion. It is also against the law to consider climate change when issuing permits to buid.


?c=16x9&q=h_720,w_1280,c_fill/f_webp

[mercuryblues]

62. Oh, well then I hear they have a lot of

bee farms there

https://www.mannlakeltd.com/extracting-bottling/

https://carolinabeefarm.com/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=8

[onethatcares]

21. we've been in Florida since 1977

central west coast, St Petersburg, I think about leaving but I don't know how to handle the snow or cold in N.C. Do you have any tips on that and what is the comparison for heating/air conditioning? I'm too old to shovel snow or to chop fire wood. Is heating oil the preferred method? I'm just trying to balance out a move at our ages.

We also have 2 vehicles that have to be registered and I don't know if NC has a new wheels on the road tax along with auto inspections every 6 months

Plus our doctors here are used to us and we are used to them. Medical availability ranks as another item. State income tax is another

I, myself, have to ask these questions because my wife likes the beaches, the heat and our house here. Do you know of any place to do a comparison of states less political affiliation?

Thanks

[mnhtnbb]

24. There are quite a few comparison web sites

and https://www.nerdwallet.com/cost-of-living-calculator

Is one of the most recommended.

I've been living in NC for 23 years, all in the Research Triangle area. Currently, I'm in a new housing development in Durham, but I've also lived in Chapel Hill and downtown Raleigh.

The beaches are wonderful here. Very little snow, but it does happen occasionally. Not enough to shovel. The gulf current flows this way, so the ocean water is quite warm late spring through mid fall. We do get our share of hurricanes, but nothing like what has hit Florida the last few years.

The political climate is concerning. I had hoped that when Obama took NC in his first election, we'd see that continue. Obviously, it didn't. I keep hoping that the growth here will bring more liberal folks, but it has yet to become evident. The Triangle area is heavily Democratic and there is excellent health care.

Come to NC and help turn us blue!

[JanMichael]

38. We are in middle of NC and for the first time in 20 years no snow. None.

I imagine that will be the case going forward now. Maybe one minor snow fall a season. I imagine the year round utility rates are about the same or less than FPL.

Auto inspections are once per year. There are beaches here as well. The state is about as purple as any state could be. Rural areas ruby red (with the exception of Chatham); Urban area bright blue. But is trending more to the left overall (not counting party traitors and redistricting).

[Evolve Dammit]

23. Takes courage to "pull up stakes". Best wishes. I won't even be visiting relatives anymore. Most are

cra cra anyhow....

[Hortensis]

25. I recently used a NYT tool to see how the 1000 voters

who are assessed to live closest to us voted.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/04/30/opinion/politics/bubble-politics.html

No surprise that here in rural No. GA it says 12% voted Democratic. I don't feel a need to question that.

What surprised me is that, at our winter fishing place in central, rather rural FL, 54% of the closest 1000 supposedly voted Democratic; voter registrations for the closest towns (one mostly retiree/vacationer the other old settler/working families) show 60+% Republican. If this is correct, where are these people? There are new subdivisions dotting the marsh-lake wilderness here and there, including retirement. Did one draw people who don't want The Villages?

Btw, for a "19E" address in Burnsville, NC, the NYT tool said 40% voted Democratic, which I'd be thrilled with in No. GA. Whatever the number really is, liberals have a presence there. Here, we find each other.

[not fooled]

28. Thanks for posting that link

I knew it--my current neighborhood (dumbass SW AZ) is 80% GQPee-"You live in a republican bubble."

Thank god I'm moving.

[Hortensis]

33. :) Enjoy your next community. When we get to FL again,

I'm going to be looking for those other Democratic voters. Maybe there's an HOA that screens out people with tRump stickers on their boats and cars.

[SharonClark]

35. I live in a Democratic Bubble in a red state.

Thanks for posting the link.

[The Jungle 1]

26. Florida is a good place to rent your housing...

and buy cheap furniture.
Florida already has a severe labor shortage. The undocumented are leaving in droves.

[MOMFUDSKI]

29. The rents are WAY UP now

in Florida. Of course, they are that way everywhere.

[The Jungle 1]

49. Yea but when the wind blow the house down you walk away.

Oh sorry no rent payment this month.

[joet67]

27. We did the same a year ago

[AllaN01Bear]

34. they put the pistol to their foot by chasing undocumented out.

whos going to plant their crops , dig ditches and other jobs that most whites wont even touch. hope u find happiness

[Warpy]

36. Some peoplel will always think Florida is where good people go when they die

and that the madness of De Satan will end when he leaves office.

It won't. Florida has always been nuts, it's just more obvious some times than others. It has always been a boom and bust real estate state, so congrats on getting out now.

You might want to queue up "Cracker Crazy," one of the best docs I've ever seen about Florida.

I've been a close Florida watcher since I was born there over 70 years ago, my parents leaving when I was a baby. They went back frequently with me in tow and eventually retired there. My dad loved it. My mother despised it with a purple passion.

[Poiuyt]

37. This post distresses me

We love Florida and had hoped to retire there. But I just can't see moving into that political climate. For crying out loud, being "woke" is a good thing! Why outlaw it?

[onethatcares]

39. we, the Democrats, are woke

and we understand what the term means and accept it.

I think it's the media and the f'ing billionaires that push the stupid side of the argument.

I just heard nothing but republican bullshit from the "anchor" on spectrum about how tfg adn ronduhsantis are neck and neck for the soul of our country.

Not a word about how the BBB act is helping us all.

The deck is stacked, that's all I can see.

[MOMFUDSKI]

40. You are so right about the

Spectrum channel here. VERY righty and I only tune in on the nines to see the weather report. The whole state has been dipped in red bullshit.

[GP6971]

42. Welcome to DU!

[NowISeetheLight]

43. WNC is Nice

When I lived in Greenville, SC I had to run up to the VA Hospital in Asheville every few weeks. I loved it there. Bought a yearly pass to the Biltmore and would always visit monthly.

If you're into cars there is a huge Mustang show in Maggie Valley late every year. Maggie Valley is awesome. There is this great Christmas store there. Next door is this little hole in the wall Mexican restaurant. Run down looking but awesome food. The big Harrahs Casino in Cherokee (west of Asheville) is great (but a scary drive).

[blueknight73]

45. Maggie valley

Is awesome! We looked at a couple houses there but the sellers wouldn't budge on their prices

[Iris]

52. Just had dinner today in Maggie Valley!

On my way back from a job interview. Considering a move from GA to NC

[akbacchus_BC]

46. Congratulations and best wishes to you and your family as you start a new life in NC. nt

[blueknight73]

47. Very kind,

Thank you

[Blue Owl]

48. K&R

[lostnfound]

50. Your votes will be appreciated here

We are purple, especially in statewide races.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

54. This already happened in Texas

Now when you need workers you have to hire some redneck white guy who wants twice the money to do a lousy job. Strong sense of entitlement.

[Fresh Water Falling]

66. Congrats on your Escape

I hope you haven't brought any items purchased or picked up in Florida with you, as the evil is infectious!