[GuatMommy2Be]

We're from PA... and looking to move somewhere warm all year long. Now that M is home, staying in all winter is just not going to fly.

I also would like to live by a beach (1hr drive max) .... Suggestions?

[maccafan]

You're describing Southern California! Although I don't know if you're interested in moving across the country and paying still-too-high home prices!

[lou0728]

GIRL!!!! Are you kidding me??? Do you NOT remember the wonderful descriptions of Southern Alabama. I live 45 minutes from beautiful Orange Beach, AL..... Come on down to visit, and see how you like it......

[Dawnb93]

Well, I live in southeastern Louisiana. It's warm/hot most of the year down here and we're about 45 minutes from the Gulfport, MS beaches. Temps here can reach over 100 in the summer and as low as 30-32 F in the dead of winter. But we have been known to wear shorts at Christmas and on my birthday in January. The housing market where we live (about 45 minutes north of New Orleans) is okay, but it's next to impossible to get affordable insurance if you live south of Interstate 12. The crime isn't bad where we are and the public schools are good over here on the northshore (of Lake Pontchartrain). However, it's not for everyone. But if you're willing to run from hurricanes about once or twice every few years and you don't mind a 45-75 minute commute to work in New Orleans (where most of the jobs are), it's okay. Honestly, it's home to us, but if our friends and family weren't here, we'd move to the Houston area. Or if my dream of winning the lottery came true, I'd move to Hawaii where we went on our honeymoon! Good luck!

dawn

[sferrick]

I'm with you...especially after this last winter, I am from Michigan! but jobs and family keep us here. Best of success, there are so many wonderful places to live in this country. Susie

[cjrogers]

Well, if you have a ton of money, So Cal is what you are describing. You can also move to South Florida. Other than that, the Gulf States or Arizona.

We moved from Chicago to North Texas in 2004 -- In December and January we will have some days that are 30 and 40 degreess ( note the word "some".) And when it snows, it melts by noon because it is 60 degrees by end of day.

It is very warm here. Summers last from April to November. Then cool / mild weather from mid December through March. But trust me, Cool, mild weather, is usualy in the 50s and 60s. If you are golfers you will love the weather here.

The job market rocks. And most people are translplants from up North. I rarely meet native texas where we live.

The only downfall is that the beach is more like 4.5 hours away... it would be a weekend trip for you. But check out Dallas Fort Worth. The job market is stable, but the housing market, like everywhere else, is a mess. But you can get a mcmansion for under 250K. Housing is cheap, one of the least expensive places in the US.

And note, once a Texan, always a Texan. As a liberal Chicagoan, I moved here thinking that I would hate it. I LOVE IT. I would never move back

Good luck.

[annaguat]

Southern California

Do you want me to post last yrs pictures the day before Christmas on the beach?

OK posted them. All kids got in the water too and swam.

Anna

[lyssie]

((((Oh Anna!!!! you have me convinced! I am still working on coming! ))))

We have also decided to relocate to warmer weather! It snowed too many times this winter and is still chilly even in the sunshine! (we're in Utah) and yes, the whole family wants to live close enough to make day trrips to the beach. It is a BIG deal to move the whole family...but, being able to be outside most of the time....makes it worth the trouble! Texas comes in second to Southern Cal, For beaches I would go south to Houston or look in to San Antonio.

Originally Posted by annaguat

Southern California

Do you want me to post last yrs pictures the day before Christmas on the beach?

OK posted them. All kids got in the water too and swam.

Anna

[Leebert2]

Come on down to So Cal! I have always loved it here!

[TyAva]

Christmas on the beach - I'm sold!!!

[LisaLuka]

If you still want to see the seasons change--but only for a short time--and have warmer weather most of the time AND live near beaches, I suggest you also consider North Carolina and South Carolina.

I would miss the cooler weather if I never had it. But I don't want nearly as much of it as we have right now. So I'm considering the Carolinas and Florida.

[crhrjp]

We live now in Nashville, but I (DH) am from southern Ca while my spouse is from Orlando. The summers in the South and Florida are miserable due to heat and humidity. Severe weather and hurricanes can be very annoying as well.

I love the weather in SoCal. Due to lack of humidity 90-100 degrees is quite bearable unlike here in Nashville. My parents live in OC and their air conditioner (heating and cooling) is broken and hasn't worked for 15 years. The climate is so temperate that they've never bothered to get it fixed.They open the windows at night during the summer and close drapes during the heat of the day. Occasionially in winter, they'll use the fireplace. This past summer in Nashville (which had record consecutive days of 100 degress temperatures), we had $500 a month electricity bills.

Of course you have to look at housing costs and job oppurtunities. California and Florida are being hit by the housing bubble popping. Some are saying that price will still drop another 20-25%, ie 40-50% from their peaks of 2005. Lots of jobs in SoCal and Fla were/are based on the real estate economy (ie RE agents, brokers, construction, etc) and thus the overall employment picture may be worse than most places. I would imagine depending on job skills, there are oppurtunities, however. All state goverment jobs are getting nailed by the drop in property taxes.

Sould you relocate, I would rent awhile and let home prices continue to drop.

The beaches of Socal are much colder than Flordia and not as abundant. But SoCal has mountains...yes real mountains with snow. Last February we went snowboarding 90 minutes from my parents house.

[mcburg]

I understand how you feel exactly, I grew up in PA and could not stand the winters anymore. I have been a Georgia girl now for 10 years and in a few months I will be a Florida beach Girl. We found a house on the west side of Jax and will be 1/2hr from Jax beach, 1hr from St Augustine and to our enjoyment 2.5hrs from DISNEY!!! I say take a vacation and check out the area's and see what you like. You are welcome to visit us in GA and in a few months in FL.

[newnan]

I have lived in Georgia my whole life always close to Atlanta, my husband is from Miami, Florida and lived in Florida much of his childhood, most of his family still live there but the one place I love is Savannah, Georgia, really no place else like it, but with that said the humidity in Georgia and Florida is horrible in the summer, so if you can deal with that you would love it, but if not So. California is a place I would check into...

[AngelQT]

Southern Ca - Northern Ca... or BOTH!~

I was raised in Nor Cal, moved to TX 3 years ago, and am now back in NorCal.

Texas was fine if you like HEAT and HUMMITITY. And the way the weather changes..... OMG... One day is is 80 degress, out the next it is snowing! AND THE WEATHER MAN... It must be a LOTTORY for them... Cause they were never right!

Then in TX you have the Tornado Watches, oh wait the Warnings... Oh wait, they are watches again...

LOL... Just kidding... I think I was just there at the wrong time... 3 YEARS~! hahaha...

Had to go home... Had to come back to CA... Yes, short and roller skating on Christmas Day is what we love to do~

HUGS