Looking to get out of Florida

[Bears_Den]

This is my first summer being retired. As I get older my tolerance for heat, humidity and rain is getting less and less. Being outside is no fun from June to Oct. As a result, I'm either going to get a Part time job or volunteer so I can get out of the house. What I'd really like to do is find a place in north Georgia, North Carolina or northern part of South Carolina to escape the Florida summers. Now I know all these places get heat waves but they don't last 6 months like in Florida. Ideally, I'd like a waterfront campsite or a site in the mountains. I must say, I would not hesitate to move out of Florida but the DW is still working and we have grandkids locally. In others words, that won't happen. If you all can provide some ideas I can look on RvParkReviews.com and if they appeal to me, I would not hesitate to drive up and check them out. Thanks for the help and remember, there is no substitute for experience.

[pennysmom09]

Common sense seems to be, if you live in Florida you are cooped up in the summer, and if you live in the North, you are cooped up in the winter. I like having our home in the mid Atlantic, and our RV to go South. Then we can follow the temps we like!

[FloridaReLoaded]

Well it's still get way too cold for me up North in the winter!!! No way would I ever give up our Florida house for the single digit days of winter. Those days are gone for us. We do enjoy our cabin in NC during the summer. My body can tolerate the heat better than the bone hurting ice days of winter.

[WTP-GC]

travelnutz wrote:
...Also many elderly friends who had retired in Florida or Texas or the SW and they are so sick of the heat and want out! Constantly hear that being cooped up inside for 6 months each year with A/C blowing is not what they thought retirement would be like.

Most say it's much worse than having to have heat for 3-4 months as you can dress for the cold to be outside but can't undress enough outside for the constant sickening intense heat and humidity. Also that they are so tired of the tiny jammed together lot size living sites and the high prices for everything as they know the difference since they come back to the north to visit family etc almost every year and really dread going back to the southern heat and institutional type captive 6 months inside living.

7 of our friends have already moved completely back to our area alone now and several other family and friends are thinking seriously about doing so also and some have their homes for sale now! They say they want to enjoy their retirement years, not be imprisoned.

There's always going to be those people who feel this way, but its not the consensus among the elderly. My line of work is directly affected by the population trends in FL. It won't be long before Ocala, Leesburg, Belleview, and Wildwood all just merge together as one giant place that we'll refer to as "The Villages". These central FL retirement communities are growing faster than their infrastructure can handle. Some thought it might slow down once The Villages started reaching build-out capacity, but they just went and acquired more land. Problem solved 😉

I don't understand the comment about the "high prices for everything". Gas, groceries, retail...these things don't cost anymore in FL vs. other places. Real estate is highly regional and utilities are the same. The costs certainly vary by community, no doubt. But I pay less than $300 per month for my home utilities, phone, internet, and satellite TV, so I can't imagine its much different anywhere else.

[Community Alumni]

"They say they want to enjoy their retirement years, not be imprisoned."

The same could be said of areas with cold temps. I'd rather put up with heat during the summer than having to be locked up in my house during the cold and long winters in the northern states.

[Ivylog]

Check out the web site in my profile.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

It's a bit farther north but Crossville TN on the Cumberland Plateau has been cooler than the valley when we were there. You can check average temperatures online. We like Spring Lake RV Resort in Crossville. We also like Clemmons NC. Tanglewood Park RV Campground hires hosts: http://rvtanglewood.com/http://rvtanglewood.com/

[johnhicks]

You'll have to get above around 2000 feet. We just spent a week sweltering in Cleveland, Ga., at about 1200 feet.

At least in Florida near the coasts you get the afternoon sea breeze.

[coolmom42]

check out Mile High campground in North Carolina. Just google it. It's a private campground and they might need some help.

Also Balsam Mountain in Great Smokey Mountains NP is about 5000 feet. They might need a camp host.

You need elevation in the southeast to stay reasonably comfortable in the summer. We've had 10 days of 95-100 degrees here in TN, with relative humidity over 80 percent. No breeze to help things at all.

[travelnutz]

We have lots of family living in Florida who feel the same way the OP does. Many are moving back north now so they can be comfortable again. Also many elderly friends who had retired in Florida or Texas or the SW and they are so sick of the heat and want out! Constantly hear that being cooped up inside for 6 months each year with A/C blowing is not what they thought retirement would be like.

Most say it's much worse than having to have heat for 3-4 months as you can dress for the cold to be outside but can't undress enough outside for the constant sickening intense heat and humidity. Also that they are so tired of the tiny jammed together lot size living sites and the high prices for everything as they know the difference since they come back to the north to visit family etc almost every year and really dread going back to the southern heat and institutional type captive 6 months inside living.

7 of our friends have already moved completely back to our area alone now and several other family and friends are thinking seriously about doing so also and some have their homes for sale now! They say they want to enjoy their retirement years, not be imprisoned.

[agesilaus]

There is a workcamper forum here, I suggest you look there