Do most residents leave in the summer?

**wrobert** · 12-12-2007, 10:58 PM

In some parts of Florida the permanent residents tend to leave from around March until September, I am assuming because of the crowds and heat. Is this something that happens in SoWal? All I ever see is a significant increase in people but never really know who lives here versus somewhere else. And I promise to try to go a few days before starting another thread.

**elgordoboy** · 12-12-2007, 11:10 PM

Crank 'em out. I haven't got the $ to leave for months at a time. Or the freedom to earn it from just anywhere.

**ckhagen** · 12-12-2007, 11:35 PM

Hm, well... I wouldn't say we have a whole lot of residents who leave during the summer.
I think that's probably more indicative of the southern portion of the state because of the high number of retirees. We pick up snowbirds through the off-season and then they leave, but I don't feel like we lose residents through the summer so much as the snowbirds go "home".

**SWGB** · 12-12-2007, 11:41 PM

Wouldn't that be fun! Alas that's when the old job really roars into high gear. Seems like most people stay here year round.

**GoodWitch58** · 12-13-2007, 05:28 AM

Originally Posted by WaltonGOP

In some parts of Florida the permanent residents tend to leave from around March until September, I am assuming because of the crowds and heat. Is this something that happens in SoWal? All I ever see is a significant increase in people but never really know who lives here versus somewhere else. And I promise to try to go a few days before starting another thread.

How long have you lived in DFS?

**wrobert** · 12-13-2007, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by goodwitch58

How long have you lived in DFS?

I moved here in August of 1979, just in time to finish high school.

**JustaLocal** · 12-13-2007, 07:31 AM

Whenever I leave, it is to travel not because of the influx of tourists. I tend to travel more in the winter to escape the cold weather. I like our summer weather and summer tourists.

**ShallowsNole** · 12-13-2007, 09:25 AM

We do have a few, but they are few, who take extended vacations to Maine and other less hot and humid climates during the summer. I also have a couple of folks who move out for the summer if they can book enough rentals. So it does happen, but not very much.

**DuneAHH** · 12-13-2007, 09:33 AM

I "move away" from the 30-A frenzy & stay home ... just north of Hwy 98.

**SWGB** · 12-13-2007, 09:54 AM

Oh I did forget about our "side trips", but those generally occur when the entire population of sowal leaves.

**wrobert** · 12-13-2007, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by ShallowsNole

We do have a few, but they are few, who take extended vacations to Maine and other less hot and humid climates during the summer. I also have a couple of folks who move out for the summer if they can book enough rentals. So it does happen, but not very much.

Thanks. I am exploring reasons for why so many people down there do not participate in the election primaries. In the more central and southern counties it seems to be that many are out of the area. They have had good luck increasing participation by launching absentee ballot initiatives in Feb and March. But what I am hearing here is that this would probably not make that much of a difference. I guess people here are just much happier with the current elected officials and see little need for change.

**scooterbug44** · 12-13-2007, 11:20 AM

I can't participate in the primaries because I am registered as an independent.

I do love having the extended time frame for voting though. Makes it much easier to fit it into the schedule and I end up voting much more often. (Of course it helps that the voting area is next to the library so I just stop in whenever I see the sign out.)

**ShallowsNole** · 12-13-2007, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by WaltonGOP

Thanks. I am exploring reasons for why so many people down there do not participate in the election primaries. In the more central and southern counties it seems to be that many are out of the area. They have had good luck increasing participation by launching absentee ballot initiatives in Feb and March. But what I am hearing here is that this would probably not make that much of a difference. I guess people here are just much happier with the current elected officials and see little need for change.

You forget that Miramar Beach + absentee ballots swung a certain local race back to the incumbent in the last election.

**JustaLocal** · 12-13-2007, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by WaltonGOP

Thanks. I am exploring reasons for why so many people down there do not participate in the election primaries. In the more central and southern counties it seems to be that many are out of the area. They have had good luck increasing participation by launching absentee ballot initiatives in Feb and March. But what I am hearing here is that this would probably not make that much of a difference. I guess people here are just much happier with the current elected officials and see little need for change.

I've only missed one election since moving from Okaloosa to Walton County. Last time, almost everyone I voted for lost. It is still amazing to me.

**wrobert** · 12-13-2007, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by scooterbug44

I can't participate in the primaries because I am registered as an independent.

I do love having the extended time frame for voting though. Makes it much easier to fit it into the schedule and I end up voting much more often. (Of course it helps that the voting area is next to the library so I just stop in whenever I see the sign out.)

School board elections are in the primaries usually and are open to everyone. There are also universal primaries if no opposing party is running for a particular office, so there are quite a few times everyone can participate.

**wrobert** · 12-13-2007, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by ShallowsNole

You forget that Miramar Beach + absentee ballots swung a certain local race back to the incumbent in the last election.

Wasn't that a general election? I know Jones was losing on the north side of the bay several years ago until Miramar came in and put him in the lead by several hundred votes. The last time I believe he was pretty much winning in the south until the north put Barnhill back in. If not then it was really close until the end.

One year I remember that Walker and Beasley were the only two Republicans that were winning north of the bay, then the south vote put them in office.

It is really interesting to take a look at the precinct by precinct breakdown of how elections go in this county.

**scooterbug44** · 12-13-2007, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by WaltonGOP

School board elections are in the primaries usually and are open to everyone. There are also universal primaries if no opposing party is running for a particular office, so there are quite a few times everyone can participate.

Yep, as a former Chicago girl - I was raised to vote early and often! Whenever I CAN vote, I do!

**DuneAHH** · 12-13-2007, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by scooterbug44

I can't participate in the primaries because I am registered as an independent.

I used to be registered independent...but then I changed to a major party registration so I could participate more fully in the primaries. It doesn't really matter how you're registered for the ultimate election.

Register w/ the party you "most nearly" align with if you want to be a
"potential supporter"...
.
.
OR
.
.
Register w/ the party you "least" align with if you want your primary vote to be a "detractor".

**Smiling JOe** · 12-13-2007, 01:57 PM

I agree with the other posters. I know only a few locals who head back to their second homes up north. I have seen a small trend of those people changing their second home from being here at the beach, to what used to be their primary residence up north. They used to come to the beach only for the 3-4 months of winter, and now they stay here for 8-9 months and head north for the heat of the summer.

**ShallowsNole** · 12-13-2007, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by WaltonGOP

Wasn't that a general election? I know Jones was losing on the north side of the bay several years ago until Miramar came in and put him in the lead by several hundred votes. The last time I believe he was pretty much winning in the south until the north put Barnhill back in. If not then it was really close until the end.

One year I remember that Walker and Beasley were the only two Republicans that were winning north of the bay, then the south vote put them in office.

It is really interesting to take a look at the precinct by precinct breakdown of how elections go in this county.

Yes, it was a general election. But not one of the ones you mentioned.

**SWGB** · 12-13-2007, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by WaltonGOP

Thanks. I am exploring reasons for why so many people down there do not participate in the election primaries. In the more central and southern counties it seems to be that many are out of the area. They have had good luck increasing participation by launching absentee ballot initiatives in Feb and March. But what I am hearing here is that this would probably not make that much of a difference. I guess people here are just much happier with the current elected officials and see little need for change.

Me personally, I just go to Christian International as little as possible.

**ShallowsNole** · 12-14-2007, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by sowalgayboi

Me personally, I just go to Christian International as little as possible.

Don't have to. Just drop by the Annex and early-vote. Very convenient. Of course, that's easy for me to say.

**SWGB** · 12-14-2007, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by ShallowsNole

Don't have to. Just drop by the Annex and early-vote. Very convenient. Of course, that's easy for me to say.

That's true, haven't voted since I left Bay County so I wasn't sure if there was early voting, but that is definitely the way to go.

**wrobert** · 12-14-2007, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by sowalgayboi

That's true, haven't voted since I left Bay County so I wasn't sure if there was early voting, but that is definitely the way to go.

You can also call the Supverisor of Elections, 892-8112 and get them to drop you an absentee in the mail. Fill it out and either mail it back or drop it off at the south Walton annex.