If I couldn't/didn't live in sowal, my second choice would be. . .

[GoodWitch58]

There are so many wonderful places...I would love to find the weather of San Diego, the energy of South Walton, and the rocky coast of Maine/Calif/Oregon...all in the same place somewhere.

 

[Miss Critter]

I'm sorry Miss Critter, I should stick with the thread's theme. I would love to live somewhere warm and exotic, near water, where there is a variety of cultures, good eating places, and not expensive, where I could have privacy, and also interact with people.
I received word that my fairy godmother was detained due to driving behind a group of cyclists on 30A.

No apology necessary, BH. Just adding to the richness of the thread.

The million dollar question, of course, is to find/name the actual place you described. An exotic, culturally-diverse, affordable sowal. Hmmmmm

 

[CPort]

Miss Critter - what an interesting topic!

I have several second choices, many in Italy or France, but realistically I would LOVE to live in Fernandina Beach or some small town or out of the way place on the water - near Jacksonville, Florida (NOT Jax Beach - don't care much for it). Jax area is surrounded by much natural beauty, swamps, rivers, preserve, etc. The beach does not rival ours but the other natural resources definitely do. Fernandina Beach is my favorite place to visit in Florida and its filled with young families and surrounded with so much history. Downtown is wonderful and I've never had so much good food in many casual/cool restaurants in one little place. everytime we go we discover a more and more good food. Italian, French, Japanese, Spanish, Seafood (tons of real seafood shacks), etc. one of the best and most beautiful state parks - Fort Clinch - in the heart of Fernandina Beach.. You will find a lot of southern culture in NE Florida - and lots of Georgia folks. all good peeps. Visiting the big city of Jax is fun when you want to go to a play or museum, or just explore.

My other second choice is somewhere near Apalachicola on the river or bay - an out of the way spot - not sure exactly where. The Forgotten Coast is filled with natural beauty and still has much old charm. Excellent restaurants, and many seafood shacks (we just don't have 'em around here like that).. You will find mostly locals living in and around the area - lots of fishermen, etc. Shopping and art galleries galore in apalach keep things interesting.

Both areas are in North Florida are similar to SoWal with just the right amount of change in seasons throughout the year - but still maintaining a nice temperate climate (avg high temps range from 62 to 90).

there are other areas around the country such as Maine, lots of places in California, Ann Arbor (Paula - I've always heard this is a wonderful place to live) and several others... I would LOVE to explore but for now I would prefer to stay in Florida - and mostly in SoWal!

I love that area too /I spent several warm winter days there Jan.08.
My cousin lives on the st johns river in an historical part of Jacksonville. I've always enjoyed my visits there. The actual beach isn't the same as sowal,but love the area in general.
Sowal is my first pick overall overall. If it weren't for my grandkids right down the road , I love to move to the beach or the Pt Washington area. I used to look at lots in that area, they were selling for about 8k each back then. also, wanted to teach at the school down there,went so far as to go in and talk with the principal once in the summer of 92.Never followed up on it. I had teenagers at home then who weren't leaving their school or friends. Oh well.

 

[Beauty hunter]

No apology necessary, BH. Just adding to the richness of the thread.

The million dollar question, of course, is to find/name the actual place you described. An exotic, culturally-diverse, affordable sowal. Hmmmmm

True True Miss Challenger
And so we shall!!!
I love adventures!!!
Off to surf the net

 

[Miss Critter]

True True Miss Challenger
And so we shall!!!
I love adventures!!!
Off to surf the net

Cowabunga!

 

[Bobby J]

Nosara, CR. Easy pick for me so far and think one day I will make it happen.... Its like 30A, 30 years ago. No rules and people just play better. The waves are perfect and the schools are top notch. The pace is slower and a day can last a week.... Pura Vida
The season is 8 months!

 

[kitlit]

Toots, when you move to Fernandina, I wanna be your neighbor to the north! I would dearly love, if I ever decide to leave here, to go back to St. Mary's, GA (or the surrounding area) on the southernmost tip of Georgia, right across the Florida border. I grew up there (from 5 yo to 13) and still have many, many friends in the area.

Downtown has a little waterfront harbor, where you can catch a ferry out to Cumberland Island (where there are wild horses running free, and a beautiful beach with sanddollars and starfish all over the place and scenic paths through the woods and historic mansions...), and it's small town, but it's big enough to have a real, honest-to-gawd high school marching band that actually dresses up and participates in all of the community parades (I love parades, but we just don't have enough music in 'em down here!)... lots of beautiful, old moss-hung oaks, and quaint little cottages... and lots of bridges over gorgeous marsh... Of course, there's a Navy base right down the street, and a lot of turnover, so not all of the area is as picturesque, but I love, love, love it there!

 

[grammyc]

Sante Fe - for the scenery and wide open spaces, or Maine, near the coast, for the seafood, scenery and architecture. (Although I'm not sure I could tolerate the cold at either location.) St. John would be a serious contender, same atmosphere as Destin, no state income tax and you can see the ocean from all the way up the mountain side.

But do you think you can DRIVE on that mtn. ? Tried to several times on several islands(they're all the same--INSANE!) and that is why I'm still in Fairhope, Al. near the water on the coast. Otherwise, yeah, St. Johns would be my second choice too!

 

[Miss Critter]

Kitlit, St. Mary's looks beautiful!

 

[Bob]

I've never been, but when I was a young teenager I saw pictures and fel in love. I have some friends of some friends who live there that have offered there house if I can ever get the money together to make the trip. If you've been, pass on the information of what to do and where to go. Almost went a couple years ago but checked into airfare and...:shock:, but that is why I work.

met a neighbor at the post office who is moving there. if you love the outdoors, it's paradise. you must go.