Over President’s Day weekend, we went down to Florida to visit my dad and stepmom (aka Poppy and Nonna), who just bought a house in Boca (sight unseen!) this past year. When we arrived, it was dark, but we were immediately impressed by their new abode. “Where did all this furniture come from??” Apparently, a lot of it came with the house. Even better was the impeccable landscaping (with outdoor lighting!) around the perfectly sized inground pool. “Who takes care of the property?” Apparently, it’s part of the maintenance fees. I can’t imagine what it would cost to do all that landscaping and maintain it at our house on Long Island. Plus, Poppy’s backyard will look equally as beautiful all year round! The weather that evening was an ideal 78°, the pool was heated and the kids immediately jumped in, even though it was 10pm. We ate sushi poolside and had some cocktails. This is the life, we joked.
Our group of friends has always said we are going to buy a bunch of land and all build houses on it so we can all be together. We don’t care where, here is freezing cold northeast Ohio or in the sunny south. All that we care about is being together. I truly hope this happens!!
Florida just passed “don’t say gay” law that targets lGBTQA kids. I won’t live in state that victimizes children by denying their rights to live their truth
We are desperate to get out of FL because of the politics. This state is becoming more and more extreme. Even though we live in Central FL, which is typically more blue, the extreme red is penetrating more and more. Not to mention, it is getting too hot. The fact that we have already had a 90° day in February is unbearable.
Everyone wants to come to Florida and I want to leave!! The politics are too much to handle.. the new don’t say gay bill has me sick and teachers are leaving left and right as they are told they can not teach certain things. So retiring in Florida will not be me! 😭😭
We are like you and are desperate to get out of FL because of the politics. This state is becoming more and more extreme. Even though we live in Central FL, which is typically more blue, the extreme red is penetrating more and more. Not to mention, it is getting too hot. The fact that we have already had a 90° day in February is unbearable.
Ok, totally agree about the magic of Boca (my parents are at a master planned community in FL Dec-Mar that is amazing for all these reasons) but you’ve just touched on another one of my nagging (maybe irrational, but there) fears about retirement. What if, when the kids leave the house, we haven’t found our “people” that will go to Boca (or equivalent) with us. After going through that weird rough patch in the 20s where our first batch of college/post college friends had started to dissipate from Chicago to other cities, and we lived in condos where we wouldn’t know our own next door neighbor, and only meet people through work, we felt sort of alone. And then we moved to the suburbs when our oldest was young and thought we’d instantly be frolicking in the yard with other parents but it was darn hard to meet and connect. Then, when they got to school, you are almost forced to spend hours with parents on sidelines or at pickups and drop offs… and finally, you have a chance to sort through and find a few of “your” people. But even then, it can be hard! Then… pandemic, George Floyd… Well. Let’s say maybe you get a good test of values and it can shuffle things up.
Our kids graduate high school in 10 years. Will everyone else have found “their people to retire to Boca” with, and we’re back to feeling like we felt when we’d be sort of lingering at the park in a new to us town with our 2 year old, craving connection with another new family in the area so we have someone to order pizza and drink wine at home with friends while we watch the kids play?
I know this is irrational fear, I’m sure we’ll meet new people in [Phoenix/Hilton Head/Naples/Boca] that we enjoy… but I feel like as you listed how you met all these new people in your new ‘hood, I noted that they were all surrounding your kids and their activities. I’m so nervous, that just as much as the 20s or newborn years where we felt sort of without our people, we’ll be stepping off the abyss alone again, with everyone already having their dance cards full.
Lol. Don’t think you’ll have a choice. Eventually all roads lead to Boca from NYC. My husband grew up in Belle Harbor, Rockaway and moved to Florida when he was 13 - not by choice Mond you and initially he wasn’t too happy. But now he hates going back to the city - I LOVE visiting NYC but then I’m the girl that grew up behind the iron curtain and could have never fathomed that one day I’d live in Boca amd be an American citizen.
P. S. I see a lot of comments about the politics in Florida - we are not all in agreement with what’s going on and I think you have issues no matter where you live. Believe me I’m not a fan of the current governor or his politics…
All I know is that I'm staying in California. I was born, raised and still live here. I'm used to it here. I could never live in Florida. Way too hot. 😄
My parents (late 50’s/early 60’s, Jews from NY & NJ) have a “winter house” in Palm Beach Gardens, in a golf community, and it is truly my “Happy Place”. At 33 years old, I’m counting down the days until I can retire down there 😂 I’m a stay at home mom, so I’m not exactly sure what constitutes retiring but I’m looking forward to it none the less!
We don't really know where it will be, but my friends and I have DEFINITELY talked about going in on a "compound" somewhere so we can all be together. Or each retiring to a different vacation home (beach, lake, city, mountains, etc.) and rotating houses together over the course of the year. Maybe one of us will win the lottery and we can pull it off!
We are headed 3 hours south to a much smaller midwestern city. Closer to family because the last 2 years showed us how much we need to give and receive support. It’s not where we dreamed of ending up, but it’s a blessing to have choices. We are going to build the affordable dream house and host family parties and build a great life for our next chapter. It’s not Boca, but it’s a fine alternative.
Well I live in FL but don’t hold that against me. New York is definitely better, my fav city. I loved the weather when I first came here, but now it’s too hot in the summer, and now with the way the world is now, it’s just different, and not in a good way to put it nicely. I love the shopping in Boca, and used to go to a lot of concerts there. One great thing about FL is all the different cities to go to, it’s huge. I don’t want to live in a retirement community. For some reason my brain just doesn’t get my age. I carry on like I’m my son’s age, and can’t imagine being an old person. So like Clint Eastwood said, (I read) I’m just not going to let the old in.
You know the estate in Toscany in Succession season 3? That! Friends and family visiting and my husband can finally have the vineyard he’s been dreaming off. And I can write by an open window overlooking the lavender fields. There’s an Italian chef in the kitchen and a lovely older couple minding the estate when we decide to take the helicopter to Milan. I really haven’t thought that much about it;-)
Same as with Boca - you need a pretty good retirement savings to make this happen, or it’s just a lot of bad plumbing and rotten grapes.
Believe me. If I could, I would. Like Jen below, my group of friends (mostly liberal adoptive Moms of kids from China) always say we are going to live in a commune someday. If anyone sees a cool property literally anywhere in the US or other countries, we post it to the group so everyone can OOH and AHH and give their opinion. Poppy and Nonna's house looked AMAZING!!
I'm 58. My adopted daughter is 22. Adopted from Hangzhou, China. I'm permanently disabled from a spinal cord injury with a host of other problems so I'm in a wheelchair. I will gladly move into a condo with my friends. You are welcome to join if it actually happens. <3
I’m all in!! I love the idea of living in community with all my favorite people. I hate the FL heat, but if there’s a pool nearby…I could bear it. And considering all the options. I think Boca is the obvious answer.
Our group of friends has always said we are going to buy a bunch of land and all build houses on it so we can all be together. We don’t care where, here is freezing cold northeast Ohio or in the sunny south. All that we care about is being together. I truly hope this happens!!
That sounds like a great plan!
My friends and I dream about this too! Definitely fueled by all those HGTV shows where the houses cost a small fraction of ours in CA!
Florida just passed “don’t say gay” law that targets lGBTQA kids. I won’t live in state that victimizes children by denying their rights to live their truth
Maybe I should have said- we should all retire together and dropped the Boca. That’s awful.
We are desperate to get out of FL because of the politics. This state is becoming more and more extreme. Even though we live in Central FL, which is typically more blue, the extreme red is penetrating more and more. Not to mention, it is getting too hot. The fact that we have already had a 90° day in February is unbearable.
Everyone wants to come to Florida and I want to leave!! The politics are too much to handle.. the new don’t say gay bill has me sick and teachers are leaving left and right as they are told they can not teach certain things. So retiring in Florida will not be me! 😭😭
We are like you and are desperate to get out of FL because of the politics. This state is becoming more and more extreme. Even though we live in Central FL, which is typically more blue, the extreme red is penetrating more and more. Not to mention, it is getting too hot. The fact that we have already had a 90° day in February is unbearable.
New Zealand. Let's all retire in Rotorua, with the boiling mud and hot pools, haha!
I like this idea!
I like this idea, too!!!
I’m in!
Ok, totally agree about the magic of Boca (my parents are at a master planned community in FL Dec-Mar that is amazing for all these reasons) but you’ve just touched on another one of my nagging (maybe irrational, but there) fears about retirement. What if, when the kids leave the house, we haven’t found our “people” that will go to Boca (or equivalent) with us. After going through that weird rough patch in the 20s where our first batch of college/post college friends had started to dissipate from Chicago to other cities, and we lived in condos where we wouldn’t know our own next door neighbor, and only meet people through work, we felt sort of alone. And then we moved to the suburbs when our oldest was young and thought we’d instantly be frolicking in the yard with other parents but it was darn hard to meet and connect. Then, when they got to school, you are almost forced to spend hours with parents on sidelines or at pickups and drop offs… and finally, you have a chance to sort through and find a few of “your” people. But even then, it can be hard! Then… pandemic, George Floyd… Well. Let’s say maybe you get a good test of values and it can shuffle things up.
Our kids graduate high school in 10 years. Will everyone else have found “their people to retire to Boca” with, and we’re back to feeling like we felt when we’d be sort of lingering at the park in a new to us town with our 2 year old, craving connection with another new family in the area so we have someone to order pizza and drink wine at home with friends while we watch the kids play?
I know this is irrational fear, I’m sure we’ll meet new people in [Phoenix/Hilton Head/Naples/Boca] that we enjoy… but I feel like as you listed how you met all these new people in your new ‘hood, I noted that they were all surrounding your kids and their activities. I’m so nervous, that just as much as the 20s or newborn years where we felt sort of without our people, we’ll be stepping off the abyss alone again, with everyone already having their dance cards full.
Lol. Don’t think you’ll have a choice. Eventually all roads lead to Boca from NYC. My husband grew up in Belle Harbor, Rockaway and moved to Florida when he was 13 - not by choice Mond you and initially he wasn’t too happy. But now he hates going back to the city - I LOVE visiting NYC but then I’m the girl that grew up behind the iron curtain and could have never fathomed that one day I’d live in Boca amd be an American citizen.
P. S. I see a lot of comments about the politics in Florida - we are not all in agreement with what’s going on and I think you have issues no matter where you live. Believe me I’m not a fan of the current governor or his politics…
I like to think more people like my dad retiring in Florida could help sway the politics. It didn’t used to be nearly as red!
Yes, please! 💕
All I know is that I'm staying in California. I was born, raised and still live here. I'm used to it here. I could never live in Florida. Way too hot. 😄
I love the red wood forest!
I'd prefer California please! It has beaches, mountains, ski resorts, and it's never too hot here!!!
My parents (late 50’s/early 60’s, Jews from NY & NJ) have a “winter house” in Palm Beach Gardens, in a golf community, and it is truly my “Happy Place”. At 33 years old, I’m counting down the days until I can retire down there 😂 I’m a stay at home mom, so I’m not exactly sure what constitutes retiring but I’m looking forward to it none the less!
We don't really know where it will be, but my friends and I have DEFINITELY talked about going in on a "compound" somewhere so we can all be together. Or each retiring to a different vacation home (beach, lake, city, mountains, etc.) and rotating houses together over the course of the year. Maybe one of us will win the lottery and we can pull it off!
I love the idea of migrating around seasonally.
We are headed 3 hours south to a much smaller midwestern city. Closer to family because the last 2 years showed us how much we need to give and receive support. It’s not where we dreamed of ending up, but it’s a blessing to have choices. We are going to build the affordable dream house and host family parties and build a great life for our next chapter. It’s not Boca, but it’s a fine alternative.
Well I live in FL but don’t hold that against me. New York is definitely better, my fav city. I loved the weather when I first came here, but now it’s too hot in the summer, and now with the way the world is now, it’s just different, and not in a good way to put it nicely. I love the shopping in Boca, and used to go to a lot of concerts there. One great thing about FL is all the different cities to go to, it’s huge. I don’t want to live in a retirement community. For some reason my brain just doesn’t get my age. I carry on like I’m my son’s age, and can’t imagine being an old person. So like Clint Eastwood said, (I read) I’m just not going to let the old in.
My husband and I retired to Naples, Florida.
We love it here. He fishes, plays, tennis, and pickleball, some golf, and boating.
I am an Artist/Quilter and am a designer as well.
I am a cousin of Toby Wiles
You know the estate in Toscany in Succession season 3? That! Friends and family visiting and my husband can finally have the vineyard he’s been dreaming off. And I can write by an open window overlooking the lavender fields. There’s an Italian chef in the kitchen and a lovely older couple minding the estate when we decide to take the helicopter to Milan. I really haven’t thought that much about it;-)
Same as with Boca - you need a pretty good retirement savings to make this happen, or it’s just a lot of bad plumbing and rotten grapes.
Succession villa with helicopter more my style as well. Please teleport me these.
Believe me. If I could, I would. Like Jen below, my group of friends (mostly liberal adoptive Moms of kids from China) always say we are going to live in a commune someday. If anyone sees a cool property literally anywhere in the US or other countries, we post it to the group so everyone can OOH and AHH and give their opinion. Poppy and Nonna's house looked AMAZING!!
Count me in on your community. - - Single adoptive mom in CA (probably closer to retirement though than you and your friends)
I'm 58. My adopted daughter is 22. Adopted from Hangzhou, China. I'm permanently disabled from a spinal cord injury with a host of other problems so I'm in a wheelchair. I will gladly move into a condo with my friends. You are welcome to join if it actually happens. <3
I’m all in!! I love the idea of living in community with all my favorite people. I hate the FL heat, but if there’s a pool nearby…I could bear it. And considering all the options. I think Boca is the obvious answer.