Welcome to Gaia! ::

This is one of those things that will probably come to naught, but after six years in the Great White North (aka New England), my husband is wanting to head back down South. Apparently he has had enough of the snow, and ice......

Before Sept 11th, 2001, we lived in Tampa FL (practically next door to St Pete). Soon after said date, we moved up north due to economic issues and health issues. The state of MA has a great health system up here, but has the high cost of living to go with it. FL doesn't have that great a health system (compared to Boston) but since we moved up to MA, we had to go on disabilty..me due to severe depressive episodes and a seizure condition, and having two bad knees...and him due to problems related to his club foot (hard for him to walk due to the pain, and the recent Achelles tendon operation has not relived the pain) Personally, and I told hubby this, I feel like it's going to take a year to plan to move down there, (doing it properly and not pell mell with stops at relatives/friends home and/or homeless shelters) I mean, we have to save up the money for the move (we have furniture now that I am NOT willing to leave behind, even for a cross country trip, and our six year old baby cat, which I am NOT willing to leave behind either). Even if we wind up not moving, would be nice to have the cash.

Having said all this, can anyone tell me what it's like to get around down there? Is it still like living in another country (compared to GA and MA, it is smile ? How is the cost of living down there? Anyone got orange or lemon trees in their back yard? And the weather?

And is it practical to even consider such a move on a fixed income? I am thinking when the time comes, to rent a UHaul and get a friend (or my brother) up here to help drive it down. (I don't drive due to the seizure condition. I may have to learn just for this move though...in which case, we are sticking to the side roads!)