Moving to Warm Weather Climate for Winter
- Thread starter SUP3RNOVA
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Funny enough, I moved from Vancouver to the south of Spain 4 1/2 years ago to work in the online gaming sector in Gibraltar.
We get around 300 days of sunshine per year and there are about 50 golf courses within an hour's drive of here. It rains a bit in the winter, and there is an occasional storm, but for the most part it's sunny and warm.
It seems like it shares some of the same pros and cons as Antigua.
Cons.
Some things are expensive.
Power and internet can be a problem sometimes.
There's quite a bit of theft.
Some of the Spanish close to Gib don't like expats all that much.
Driving here can be dangerous.
It's a bit culturally removed from the rest of the world if you like diversity in restaurants or like live bands, shows, etc. Fortunately London is just 2 1/2 hours away by plane.
Education at the expensive international schools sucks. It's better to get the kids into the local schools.
Pros.
There are lots of beaches.
We are about 40 minutes from Tarifa, the wind surfing capital of Europe.
Booze is ridiculously cheap in Gibraltar. £4.49 for a large bottle of Smirnoff. Or about $6.50 usd. Cigarettes are about £1.50 a pack.
The weather.
There are loads of great festivals and parties.
The young Spanish women can be devastatingly hot.
We get around 300 days of sunshine per year and there are about 50 golf courses within an hour's drive of here. It rains a bit in the winter, and there is an occasional storm, but for the most part it's sunny and warm.
It seems like it shares some of the same pros and cons as Antigua.
Cons.
Some things are expensive.
Power and internet can be a problem sometimes.
There's quite a bit of theft.
Some of the Spanish close to Gib don't like expats all that much.
Driving here can be dangerous.
It's a bit culturally removed from the rest of the world if you like diversity in restaurants or like live bands, shows, etc. Fortunately London is just 2 1/2 hours away by plane.
Education at the expensive international schools sucks. It's better to get the kids into the local schools.
Pros.
There are lots of beaches.
We are about 40 minutes from Tarifa, the wind surfing capital of Europe.
Booze is ridiculously cheap in Gibraltar. £4.49 for a large bottle of Smirnoff. Or about $6.50 usd. Cigarettes are about £1.50 a pack.
The weather.
There are loads of great festivals and parties.
The young Spanish women can be devastatingly hot.
I don't really want to move outside the US, but I'm likin' some of the ideas so far.
San Diego is awesome from what I hear, and this thread just confirms it more I guess. I was liking the thought of Florida because it's warm and there's no state income tax, but Nicky ripped it to shit and has me second guessing about looking into that.
San Diego is awesome from what I hear, and this thread just confirms it more I guess. I was liking the thought of Florida because it's warm and there's no state income tax, but Nicky ripped it to shit and has me second guessing about looking into that.
I *almost* moved to Boca Raton back in 2004. As in- pointed my truck there, arrived at an apartment, had a lease, etc. Stayed there three days and hated it. It was muggy, buggy, everyone was plastic (even moreso than CA, if you can believe that) a HUGE hurricane was inbound and (I was under 25) my car insurance TRIPLED after I moved outside the DC metro area. (Even living IN San Francisco it only doubled).
So I pointed the car back up the Everglades Parkway or whatever it's called, pouring down rain coming after me from this hurricane, then drove cross country to find a place to live. I went up 10 till New Orleans, up 20, then across the ass end of Texas to get to 40. Drove 40 across the Sierra Nevadas and down into LA. Spent some time there, in San Diego and finally went back up I-5 and settled in The Bay.
I love California, but the income tax is exhorbinant and the people are, well, pretty pretentious. As a fellow East Coaster, I think the hardest thing to get used to was *how laid back* everyone was about everything. At first it was the greatest respite in the world, but it started to wear on me after a while. Everything was slow, no one seemed particularly motivated about anyone or anything outside of themselves, and I was tired of working for a boss that came in at 10, left at 3 and expecting me to do everything.
You're self employed. Maybe it'll be different. I lasted in CA about a year- then headed back to the East Coast before traveling abroad extensively for a year and a half or so.
In another year or two from now I hope to be wintering in Costa Rica or on the Pacific Coast of Mexico (La Ticla, specifically)... since I like to surf and can't be bothered with the high cost of living in California or the faux plastic people in Boca.
So I pointed the car back up the Everglades Parkway or whatever it's called, pouring down rain coming after me from this hurricane, then drove cross country to find a place to live. I went up 10 till New Orleans, up 20, then across the ass end of Texas to get to 40. Drove 40 across the Sierra Nevadas and down into LA. Spent some time there, in San Diego and finally went back up I-5 and settled in The Bay.
I love California, but the income tax is exhorbinant and the people are, well, pretty pretentious. As a fellow East Coaster, I think the hardest thing to get used to was *how laid back* everyone was about everything. At first it was the greatest respite in the world, but it started to wear on me after a while. Everything was slow, no one seemed particularly motivated about anyone or anything outside of themselves, and I was tired of working for a boss that came in at 10, left at 3 and expecting me to do everything.
You're self employed. Maybe it'll be different. I lasted in CA about a year- then headed back to the East Coast before traveling abroad extensively for a year and a half or so.
In another year or two from now I hope to be wintering in Costa Rica or on the Pacific Coast of Mexico (La Ticla, specifically)... since I like to surf and can't be bothered with the high cost of living in California or the faux plastic people in Boca.
My home town and just got back from spending the holidays there. So damn beautiful, was 60-80 every day over Christmas- New Year's break.
Only thing is average intelligence of people compared to New England or NYC isn't so hot (if you're looking for workers and stuff).
AZ (Phoenix) and Vegas are shitholes. You don't want to go there. SD > FL for sure. Hawaii isn't a bad idea though. I could definitely live there half the year.
You'd be taking advice from a dude that wears a Viking hat and posts about his crepe eating experiences on Twitter. I'm just sayin'.
There's a lot more to Florida than just Miami & Co. I personally like Tampa/Sarasota. Seems like there's fewer old people and a more laid back feel than the Atlantic side.
But that being said, there is a a LOT of "southern US" -- everything from Sandy Eggo to Chaleston, SC. You can have the cacti of Arizona/New Mexico to the beaches all over the place. You're a fat-dollar super affiliate, right? Travel some and see what you like.
Well I never spent a lot of time in San Diego, but...
I work with a guy who used to be a cop there. He says that crime and so on is getting to be extremely high out there, especially because of the huge influx of immigrants from south of the border.
Taxes are also something to be aware of.
Parts of Texas are supposed to be pretty cool and for sure parts of Florida. Just don't have much experience with Florida besides travelling down there every now and then.
I work with a guy who used to be a cop there. He says that crime and so on is getting to be extremely high out there, especially because of the huge influx of immigrants from south of the border.
Taxes are also something to be aware of.
Parts of Texas are supposed to be pretty cool and for sure parts of Florida. Just don't have much experience with Florida besides travelling down there every now and then.
san diego my friend! Motive Interactive and Ads4Dough both call it home! Sunny all the time, cold is around 56 and that is our winter.
I moved to Arizona a couple of months ago from New England and have enjoyed it thus far. Winters are certainly more mild here - I was able to lay out by the pool the past few days while it was snowing back home. Would certainly recommend staying in Scottsdale though as, um, demographics seem to range pretty widely depending on which town you're in. I will be visiting San Diego soon and have heard very good things although I think it's still a little cold during the Winter. Have been to Vegas several times, will be going again in a couple of weeks and it's always a good time. Again, it doesn't seem to be all that warm during the Winter, though certainly more so than back East. I wouldn't be able to stay in Vegas for too long anyway. My bank account and my liver would both suffer far too much. Not a fan of Florida. Anyhow, good luck with whatever you choose!
I like Scottsdale too. The arts, the red rocks, and the food. There is a large population of retirees though.
Welcome to Wickedfire Genevieve
Welcome to Wickedfire Genevieve
Austin. Hands down.
I'm surprised it hasn't come up - no earthquakes, no hurricanes, inexpensive housing, plenty of culture, reasonably mild weather, etc, etc, etc...
I'm surprised it hasn't come up - no earthquakes, no hurricanes, inexpensive housing, plenty of culture, reasonably mild weather, etc, etc, etc...
HarveyJ
He is - THE CACTUS!
Buy a coastal island, and actually make a real life uber camp!
Tire swings, concentration, computer sessions, skirmish, big ovens, snappy uniforms on all the councilors that shout at everyone in German, Zyclon B...
Wait, what were we talking about again?
Tire swings, concentration, computer sessions, skirmish, big ovens, snappy uniforms on all the councilors that shout at everyone in German, Zyclon B...
Wait, what were we talking about again?
110 in the shade isn't mild. But places like twin falls in the greenbelt make it tolerable.
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