Excellent video. As a resident of Big Coppitt (mm10) I would like to give you my list. 1). Cost of housing down here. A single bedroom tiny apartment will cost $2000 a month. And if you are a service person you can never get ahead financially. People will rent a house and pack 4 or 5 people in it to share the rent. 2). Beaches. Most of the beaches down here consist of coral muck. If you are picturing Daytona beach like beaches they are few and far between. We boat out to sandbars mostly. 3). Homeless people in KW. Tons of them. And young homeless. I think they have the Jimmy Buffet ideal of Paradise and when they get here it aint so great if you are broke. 4). If you buy a home and leverage it through a bank you will most likely be mandated to have Wind, Flood and other coverages which can cost you 5 to 10 grand a year easily. 5). Contractors. Oh lordy IF they respond to a phone call be prepared for the worst. The work ethic down here is horrible in most cases. I'm sure there are exceptions but so far they have eluded me. Ok with that said we love it down here but after 8 months we need to get off the rock and head north. Do your research and have realistic expectations. Jimmy Buffet doesn't live here he just makes a living singing about "Paradise" and lives elsewhere.
When I was in the Coast Guard I was stationed at Islamorada back in the 1990's and loved it, went back last year and it has changed so much. Not all for the best.
I lived on Big Pine for many years went in May driving down the hwy it was a different experience it went from class to trash I was so embarrassed that it went down and BP looks like a prison island with that gaudy fencing for the deer which I hardly ever witnessed on on the hwy in 12 years
I owned KWST Paradise Productions in the 1990’s. I also worked for a non-profit and implemented child safety programs for the sheriff’s department from 1974 to 1994. Key West has taken on a new personality. Yes it is not affordable for most. Police officers seem to come and go. On the other hand I believe Key West firefighters 🚒 have a history of multi generational occupation. They are compounds of homes owned by families for 75 years or more. For them, their homes are paid for, and they can live comfortably. Lot of scams in shops on Duval St. I did ❤ my time there.
You forgot to mention the cost. My spouse and I went to Key West for our 25th wedding anniversary and absolutely fell in love with it. We're not big drinkers but we loved the history of the island, we went to all the museums and the Little White House. I can't think of a place with more breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, plus I'm a sucker for beaches and the ocean. Fortunately, I don't get seasick. We stayed at Edan House directly across from The Artists House and I highly recommend it. We would sit at the tiki bar in the back and talk to the bartender about what it's like to live in Key West. He told us it was too expensive for him and his girlfriend to live there--that they live on one of the other keys and commute every day. I flipped through the available real estate listings and unless you're earning a million dollars per year, you can't afford to live there. Most of the people who work there, live on another Key and a few live in Homestead which is the last town before you leave mainland Florida for the Keys. We're at the point of being retired so the only way we could afford to live there would be to live on a houseboat or find a place to park an RV/Tiny Home. Even the rent is outrageous. I could live with all the other negatives but not the enormous price tag.
I was stationed in KW when mike was starting his B+B, call it what you will. I can assure you it took a lot of bales of Marijuana to put that place together! It's no surprise that most of the businesses on Duval St. (and other streets in KW) got their cash by smuggling. The act itself goes back to the days of the Wreckers, Most smuggle and most look in the other direction. It IS KW, after all. I hope your "Historical tour" had the burial grounds in your sight seeing agenda. "You can't take it with you so spending it on grave markers" must have been the unofficial motto.
Definitely a wonderful place to visit. You are right about the expense of living there. No way even an upper middle class person could afford to live there.
Same thing has happened in St. Augustine - people who work in our restaurants etc. now can't afford to live here anymore. And the traffic has gotten horrendous the last several years.. One of the bummers about home prices and rents being high is that the "characters" which make a place unique have had to move out...
Back in the '90s, I lived in Big Pine while working at hospital on Stock Island, in Key West. I loved every minute of it. We had rented a house on a canal, so we had the boat parked out back. We made full use of it nearly every day. I still enjoy the occasional trip down to the Keys.
I owned a home on Cudjoe Key for 17 years. The mosquitoes were my big problem. Even during the day they were all over you. Everything else I was fine with but it is very transient if you find friends they could be gone in a month. Having your family there is a plus.
I spent a week on Sanibel. We “shelled the sea shells” there. It has the most shells on the beach 🎉ever! That beach has more shells than any other beach. They say it’s the trade winds that bring them to that area. I had so many I went for the micro mini shells, they are the tiny, perfect shells, just the little versions. I could pack more home to Oklahoma. I will say the “sand fleas” are rough there, make sure u pack the bug spray!
That is correct!. My parents moved down there, mom was in key west dad in venice. That was 1998, i bet i havent ben there 10 times. Cant stand the heat and stink. Michigan weather is great for me..
I’ll stay in Alaska forever but was just talking to my wife today about another Florida vacation this would be the right time of year to do it for us. Last time we went in June and the heat and humidity was almost too much.
@@Hapenparadise I doubt anyone would trade the keys for Alaska in the winter. Unless they really wanted to see the northern lights it just wouldn’t be worth it. LOL
I have visited the Keys many times and the only thing that was difficult for me was one you didn't mention. The mosquitoes. Most of the bars and restaurants are outdoors and the Black Salt Marsh Mosquitos would come out right after sunset. On the beach, it's not so bad but further inland they can be numerous and aggressive.
Yup. It's impossible to describe the bugs to someone that's never experienced it. That's why people don't wear cologne....at least at outside bars (a mistake a made ONCE when I first moved here). No-seums are something that only Satan himself could've created. Those did NOT come from God. The exist to do one thing....make our lives indescribably miserable. And, that's Florida, in general, not just the Keys. But, if it was dry, with no bugs, FL real-estate prices would be worse than CA's.
@@phillamoore157 go north if you think mosquitoes and noseeums are bad in Florida. You can't even open the door here in the fall without hundreds of noseeums getting in the house.
@@MrCoffeekelly Not sure how far north you're talking, but I grew up in Ohio, and vacation'd all over MO, MI. It could all be bad at certain times, certain places, but it was also nothing more than a bad inconvenience that could be solved with bug spray, and a camp fire. But, I've NEVER experienced anything like what I experienced down here. It was bad enough to where we almost cancelled the trip. I had a picture my wife took of what my back looked like for a really long time after that trip. I looked like I got attacked by nerve gas, and had those little scabs for weeks after I came home. The strange thing is that, depending on where you go it's a different bug having the same catastrophic effect. In central FL it's "love bugs", in lake county on the Harris Chain of lakes. I think just about any hot, humid, stagnant body of water, with no breeze, can be a potential apocalyptic disaster, and you have to choose where/when you go VERY wisely...or, choose clothing wisely. But, if you have to live with ANY-thing even REMOTELY comparable to what we experienced down here, I'd probably wind up moving. Something else I learned is that noseeums are a COMPLETELY different beast than mosquitos. In many cases, I never felt mosquito bites till the next day. Noseeums are just miserable, demons that feel like a needle poking you thousands of times all over your bod, at the same time. And, they dont' give a d*mn WHAT spray you have on, bare skin is fair game to those hateful little creatures. Anyway...I'm rambling. Hopefully, 2024 will be a better year for inconvenient pests! 👍
If you hate nature, the smell of the beautiful ocean, hate lizards and normal creatures just trying to survive, would rather have fires, tornados or floods and need to stay in a materialistic mode please stay home!! We locals love all that stuff and don't need haters.
Lived two years in key west and decided to move after Irma. Yes everything he mentioned is true. One thing he left out on a people note is that the keys, and especially key west, the people are extremely cliquish. You want notice it as a tourist but when you live there it’s quite apparent.
I used to live there and was married to a native conch. You are right it is very cliquish, but in fairness there are so many tourists that you have to have some boundaries. Also, there is a high Cuban ancestry there too that contributes to this sense of native identity. I loved living there but I’m not sure if I could handle the seasonal influx now, must be ten fold since I was there riding my bike after work to the beach for an afternoon swim & cocktail!
@@cgrape22 it was really nice in the “off” season. Or let’s say slower. You could actually have a nice dinner and drink with the wife without a bunch of cruise ship hood rats screaming up and down the street.
Now y’all know how us northerners here. Live northern lower MI. Memorial Day rolls around marking all the people coming to their summer homes cuz they can’t stand the summer heat. We wish they would stay home!!! Get that it’s important for tourism and business profits. But y’all are uppity AF. Stay home!!!
Lived in Florida since 1983 I’m from New England and I left for a few years but I came back because this is the greatest place to live and we have the best governor in the nation
It would be silly for me as an Arizonan to say I can't move to the Keys because of the sun! But the humidity is something I would have trouble with. I grew up with humidity in New Jersey summers and I can't even hack that anymore. Not to mention mosquitos! Lastly, I can't handle snakes and alligators.
If you live in Key West or an urban part of the Keys you don't have to worry about the snakes or gators. The mosquitos are no worst than South Jersey in the summer, just watch it at night. The humidity is bad from May - November (Hurricane Season) but I find thunderstorms and rain refreshing in South Florida. I would not live in the keys because its boring. I prefer Palm Beach County. But its fun to visit.
I've lived on Florida's west coast all year 'round for decades (minus military time) and trust me when I say, "anywhere in Florida will have high heat and super high humidity that's absolutely brutal from about mid-June through October!!!!!!
I live in SW Florida and many of us would love to move to Idaho...Montana...Colorado...just bored with the heat and the sun...the whole State is flat....flat....flat....gets old quickly...
We moved to Cocoa Beach three years ago and LOVE it! My assessment: Positives- We LOVE the little lizards, geckos, whatever they actually are!!! They are so cute! (We do not have the iguanas.) As a beach town, it is not as warm as inland, so the temperature is very comfortable. In three years, it has not been above 92°F. It rarely gets to 90°F. I lived in Alabama for 30 years. July and August were 90+ every day. Very few mosquitoes or flies!!!!! I am guessing the ocean breeze is hard to fly against. IDK why, but we love it!! You can have a meal outside and not see a fly! Cocoa Beach is a small town. I ride my bike to most things. In three years, I have put less than 10k miles on my car. Negative- Yes, the humidity is uncomfortable at times, but nothing is perfect. I can change my top four or five times a day in the summer, because it is so wet from sweat. I’ve never experienced this any place else, but I just bought light, inexpensive tops, and they get washed a bunch. 😂 RUST! Everything with any amount of metal rusts! I don’t care what the manufacturer says, it will rust very fast! Just plan on it. There are days you can see the salt spray in the air. In conclusion, we love it here, but we loved Alabama just as much the 30 years we lived there. Every place has its good and bad.
So far you make it sound great! I was born and raised in East, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific islands. From the early 1950's onward. I'm stuck between the two forks of the beautiful Shenandoah River, in the breathtaking Shenandoah Valley of Virginia! In the Black Bear Capital of Virginia!
I was stationed in Key West for two years so I have a little different perspective than most people about the keys. It's a great place to visit for a week or two in the winter but that is about the end of any good thing about the Keys. If you are not retired and even if you are, the rentals and purchase prices are about 3 times as expensive as the State I live in. That's saying a lot because I live in one of the most expensive States (Connecticut). Most people have to rent with 2 or 3 other people and plan on paying most of your wages to your landlord. The whole of the Keys are just one big tourist trap. plan on paying resort prices for every day prices. Then there are the tourists. Every two weeks a new crop visits. Don't forget the Cruise ships that dock and gorge their cargo of day trippers loose for the day. Thank god I was stationed there over 50 years ago when the Keys were "sleepytown". I went back in 1996 for a military reunion and hardly recognized the place! Still, everybody should visit the Island Chain for a week or two. It will make you appreciate your home base and you can say you visited the longest whorehouse, about 130 miles top to bottom. Most important, your happiest day will be the day you leave the Keys and head home!
Many tourist places are like that. What makes a place initially desirable ends up ruining them. I lived in Hawaii for about 4 year also in California, Nevada, Oregon Montana,Florida, Idaho and Tennessee. All those states have incredible spots in them but over time as they are discovered they become less desirable. It’s a shame really
@@TomBTerrific I hear you. The difference between the spots you lived in and KW is when on the Keys where are you going to go to escape? You're surrounded!
I went down there a few times in 71 and 72 to visit my older brother that was teaching sonar school. It was nice then and in base housing he was able to park his boat behind his house in the water. I grew up in Ct but moved out over 40 years ago.
I've lived in the south my entire life. Louisiana, Houston Tx., and Ft. Lauderdale 46 yrs now Nocatee, Ponte Vedra, Fl.Jacksonville area so I am use to it but we moved to the Jacksonville/ St. Augustine to escape the perpetual spring/summer. here are just too many bugs in the keys.
I lived on Duck Key back in the 70s and 80s..after many years, of Hurricanes (Andrew the worsel, Wild Tourists season every weekend, James Bond film makings crews , flood rains , fearless frozen iguanas, Cuban Crocodiles (not gators)in my fruit garden, Mosquito Season , and power outages ..we moved to Mid Florida... I used to see hundreds of Key Deer all about the Key. Wonderful creatures. Many would die from vehicles. I loved those years..good report...before internet...
For me, the major con for purchasing in Key West is the isolation. I like to travel and like variety. 3-4 hour (painful and frustrating, depending) drive to MIA or a limited selection of flights out of KW. Yes, I can get to O'Hare, DFW and Atlanta and anywhere from any of them, but it just adds time. Beautiful and I could just about afford what I'd want, yet......
Today, the Keys are a retail version of what folks romanticize. Depending on what you're going for, it's from OK to awesome. Been going to the Keys on and off for 30 years, from camping to time-shares, fall and spring. It's not what it was 30 years ago, the reef has been depleted and the water isn't as clear. Most of the iconic places are Corp owned and or have changed hands so many times, they are barely a shadow of what they once were, the Mom and Pop places are pretty much gone. The cost of everything is high and the US-1 is becoming a parking lot. That said, much is being rebuilt and looks good, however, with a notable price tag.
Northern Wisconsin here. I visited the Keys 20 years ago in February. Not my idea, but it was a job. 7 days of oddities. I was very very glad to leave. I am sure there are many people who love the area, obviously, but I just never even felt the urge even once to return. I mean, I personally didn't have a bad experience with anything but the snakes, frogs..oh man the frogs! Little ones, medium ones, big ones. Red frogs, green, purple, blue..hundreds of them..nope. not for me. I love the snow. I enjoy the cold. I love 4 seasons. In fact, its snowing here right now..
I’ve lived in key largo for almost 6 years now and I do a lot of commuting between here and marathon for my work. I’m shocked no one has mentioned the traffic being a negative. It can take up to a hour just going through islamorada.
Nice Vlog. Hoping to be a snowbird someday. So far we've only spent three weeks on Largo in December. A few days the humidity was heavy; can't imagine what it would be like in the summer. BTW, one of your "snakes" was actually a Golden Spotted Eel (we're divers). Blessings.
Was kinda shocked there was no mention of mosquitoes, was there and decided to go the distance of the keys made it as far as key largo and spent the night and was absolutely ate alive from the mosquitoes and while living in Cocoa beach was overrun by love bugs......enough Fla. for me
Mosquitoes are especially bad in the Keys because they lived near nuclear waste from an old nuclear sub that had a leak in the 70's. Key West skeeters have evolved to be 50% larger and to require more blood to survive. They themselves are NOT radioactive and they don't glow like some claim, but they are hard to kill.
I lived in Key West for 2 years and loved it. I used my bike 90% of the time to get around the key. Drove anytime I had to leave town. This was in 2012-2014, I never noticed any issues with homeless etc.
I have no intention of living there and building a home ever ,but I always thought it would be a fun vacation . from what you have said , basically confirms this lol . no where is perfect but I have grown accustomed to the polar opposite climate and I am land locked ( do not get me wrong there are rivers and lakes near by ) . I would feel like I was in a different country , just no passport needed .
Two things not on your list, and they can coexist, if you have little patience or are in a hurry, may not be for you, also the traffic, more than once I sat on Long Key bridge for hours because of an accident, so just realize schedules and appointments are made to be broken, and "keys time" is a real thing, if you enjoy the hustle and bustle of city life, you'll find yourself quickly frustrated with the pace of the locals...
I was a local years ago. We would move slowly 1) because we could 2) because we knew it pissed off tourists. Sometimes tourist would offer us a big tip to move faster. We took the money but still did our own thing. Locals need tourists but still hated them, if that makes sense.
GREAT , informative video. I had a LOT of great meals in Key West, too. Including a fantastic sandwich at Kelly McGillis' {from Top Gun fame} place (Kelly's Caribbean Bar, Grill & Brewery). By the way, Hawaii is the Southernmost part of the USA. The Keys are the most southern part of the Contiguous 48 states.
I spent a week at Bahia Honda State Park in 1974 and loved it. There were only about 20 “regular” homeless on Sunset Pier. One wore a flea collar. I loved the old homes with louvres on the ground floor windows. I believe “thinking fourth dimensionally” is good advice, and I have no desire to even visit the Key West of 2023
After vacationing there for many winter breaks and seriously thinking about getting a place there in retirement, the final straw that changed our minds was the homeless problems in Kew West. You can't go anywhere without the panhandling, begging, and the worse was people taking a dump in broad daylight on the sidewalk when you try to walk. The cops don't care and won't do anything. I'll go elsewhere.
I lived there for 8 months back in 1976. There were always bums there because it is warm all the time but there wasn't a lot of begging. Fortunately they weren't taking a dump on the sidewalks. The conchs are interesting...I think everybody was sleeping with somebody else's husband or wife.
Thanks for summing up so nicely. Islamorada has been a 14day vaca for years now and it’s been hard to beat. Many thanks to the local businesses that provide such an accommodating environment.❤
All I gotta' say. I was born and raised in Key Largo. Know the area like the back of my hand. Just be nice to it. Keep it alive as it is. So many corporations are flooding in and making it a second Miami and it sucks.
THAT'S MY OLD HOUSE! THAT'S CONCH KEY ! the white house to the right of the yellow house. I owned that house from 84 to 99 ! I was a commercial lobsterman and a professional scuba diver.
That's awesome. I'm originally from Florida but moved when I was about 18. Now I'm 40 and have a family. I've never been to the keys. What island is best? In my dream we are renting a house on the river with a dock so I can fish non stop lol. But we also want to charter a boat and go deap sea fishing. Thank you
I live next to MCAS Miramar. I don't think there's a more temperate place in the U.S. (Winter 57 F/Summer 72, no bugs, low humidity). The F-18's are a bit loud but I'll take it.
Indian Rocks Beach was just perfect for me. I lived in Florida for 25 years, and watched it change for the worse. Had to move out unfortunately but the change saved my old ass lol
The way to handle sea sickness it the prescription behind the ear patches. But the secret is to put them on 1 or 2 days before your sailing. I know thats not helpful with spontaneous events but it does help with planned events. It really really helps
Man I make pretty dang good money as a single guy and a couple years ago it really wasn't far fetched to move down there but now it's just out of hand. I hope one day the real estate goes back to 2019-2020 levels
I've lived in Key West for 37 years. It was great in the 80's, good in the 90's and thru about 2010. Then the oil spill and a couple bad storms and Yankees hit the island... Now if you are not ultra rich or your conch grandma left you a house, you can't live here. Besides, the reef is dead, the fishing is horrible and the water is full of fecal matter. Oh, and the healthcare is non-existent. So, sorry. You missed it.
I lived there in the early 2000's and left in 2008. You're absolutely right and while I still have fond memories, the last time I went there on vacation it wasn't the same.
I can't remember the name of the trailer park but you probably lived in the same one I did. I was there for five years and fortunately I sold my place in 2015. I feel sorry for the people that bought my place, they lost everything. I think it was mile marker 94.7 or there abouts.
Yeah….even the upper keys is that much. Hubs and I started going to st augustine as the prices were not worth it. Plus was not enjoying the vibe in key west.
Lived in the Keys for 5 years, Big Pine, Islamorada, Marathon, Key Largo. Hunted lobster, fished, partied, swam, worked, explored, had fun, had hard times too but I never saw an iguana maybe because we left in 2000. Just caught the last of the wildness. Houseboat Row had recently been removed, sadly. I wonder if the chickens are still at Blue Heaven in Key West; big money has destroyed so much of the character. The Key deer will always be there. Only saw one gator and that was at the "Hole", saw tons in the Everglades. Lived through Hurricane Georges, it was a mess for a long time. I certainly wouldn't even dream of buying property down there under any circumstance. Insurance is way too tricky, rules, regulations, laws are as well because only the filthy rich can afford it and they're so easy to exploit. It really was a highlight of my life to live down there, I'll have to admit, and the best was the pals, the buddies, the friends, the gatherings, and going to the Dry Tortugas!
I was there for awhile myself, just after Mariel ,met some of the Mel Fisher crew as they were still looking for the "Atocha" (Todays the day!),houseboat row still very much active and there. Im talking early 1980s. Had a friend,Bob Marks whose family owned a huge chunk of the east end of the island,near Stock Island. I can tell you were there and enjiyed it ,from your detailed description. I had a bit of culture shock,wasnt my ideal locale. Family was rooted though,I left. Oh yeah,I hung with the daughter of the family that owned/sold Sloppy Joes bar (she said,lol). Stacy,if you are out there...Peace.
I’ve lived in islamorada for a year now. I’m from Ohio. Do not miss the winter. In fact I look forward to it here. Life is good here. I’ll put up with the bugs and humidity. 😊
i was down there 2 years ago and loved it the heat and the sun dont bother me none cause im from the deep south. Im a sucker for the beaches and the ocean. Some of the people that live there whole life thought me and my brother was from there asked if we wanted to move here but we just dont have that kind of money to make the move there
Native Born Fla. You need LOTS of money. Well over $5,000.00. Look at the Florida Keys Craigslist, because you wont believe the rent costs there. Rent in the Keys is 3 times what you think high rent is. Also Savings, A way to bring in Income still as you move (it can be done) Im sober, not many men interested in that, But, it actually Helps :) Many people come to the Keys to party , but to stay you need a job that pays Very well.
I think you forgot that even on a nice bright sunny summer day don't go anywhere without your umbrella it will rain two three four times in that day well I did when I was living in Gainesville
I have lived in Key Largo since 2010 and I am more interested in the native plant and animal composition. I wish more people were here who cared to look up things in field guides and realize what special things we have. There are volunteer workdays for coastal cleanups, native tree planting and invasive plant removal and you can meet and network with really great people doing that. The animal issues are a source of friction, and some of the insect problems are tied to that. If you are more educated and emotionally mature about these issues, the Keys need you. Some will disagree.
I just came upon a video the other day about a flower that mosquitoes can't stand. I'll try and find it. Don't the iguanas eat bugs? So that's kinda a necessary evil I guess. I wonder how often they reproduce? Are they any good to eat? New Orleans plates up a very lean grass fed protein healthier than turkey chicken or pork. It's called Nutrina. It's a herbivore that eats only grass. "Muskrat." 😅 I've so much to learn. Real key lime pie in the keys is one for the bucket list. Peace...
What about a house boat? What has been the history/experience concerning someone retiring to the keys and living on a house boat? What's the viability of that idea?
@@classicsciencefictionhorro1665 But what is the general availability of a slip for a houseboat? IDK. That's why I'm asking. Are they scarce? I'm pretty confident you can't just drop anchor anywhere.
when i moved down here almost 30 years ago it rained every day at about 4pm. it was wonderful. it gave you a time to just stop for a bit and relax. stopped carrying an umbrella and got used to getting wet and just drying out. who cares about make up and frizzy hair, floridians do not. swimsuit covered by shorts and shirt was the norm. you never knew when you were just going to jump in water somewhere. this is all from a gal who gets far enough away from the ocean that i can't taste salt on my lips i feel weird. i finally bought some socks last year. my wardrobe of shoes consists of Teva's, even have a pair with metallic line for dress up. its so sad climate change and man has messed it up so bad.
Re the smells: beaches, inland waterways, etc have the smell of "brackish" water and it's not pleasant. There's a weird mix of salt & fresh water that never completely separates because of how close to sea level the land is, and sulphur in the "soil" along with some "fish mix" will make for an odor that maybe makes you want a Margarita.
I thought that I recognized you!! You were selling real estate up in Cour D' Alene, back in 2021! If I remember correctly, you grew up there! I tried to purchase a home, there, in 2021, and was BLOWN AWAY at how high the prices were escalating!! I offered $610,000 on a house, that went on the market for $429,000. I LOST!! The winning bid was $650,000! WAY TOO RICH FOR ME!! So I returned back to Carmel, California. Seeing you here, now allows me NOT to feel so bad! LOL!! I hope that you enjoy the life no matter where you are, my friend!! Take Care!
One road in and one road out. The perfect scenario to be locked in. I was stalled for more than an hour because of a dump truck with locked air brakes, very trivial indeed, so just think about anything serious like a hurricane blown bridge. Wow !!! You are now a prisoner. No food resupply, no fuel and so on and so forth. Hell in paradise.
True. If there is a fatality on the overseas highway, hopefully you can turn around before you're stuck there for hours. That happened to me once and had to call out of work.
We live in central FL as a native of Florida I can say I wouldn't want to live in the keys, it nice to go there now and then to fish in islamorada etc but traffic is horrendous because land is at a premium. We dont have the iguanas in central FL.
Retired? Medicare? Avoid HMO or PPO. One doctor and any specialist is an overnight trip. Half the population can't afford to ever have the stability of home ownership. Got 5 million saved it's a great alternative to big FL developments.
I worked at the Casa Marina Mariott in 1986 as a waiter and even back then, I had to room with three other guys because housing was so expensive. I can't imagine what it's like now. How do people in the service industry there afford housing? Do they commute from other keys?
In the early 2000's I intially lived with 3 other people until my boyfriend and I got a promotion and were able to find and absolute steal of "only" paying $1,500 a month on Stock Island. I don't even want to know how much the medium price for a one bedroom goes for now.
Do not move to the Florida Keys if you have COPD! The humidity will make it flare up miserably! You have to wear the most powerful SPF sunscreen ever even if you are in the shade. He's right about the iguanas! They suck! There are maybe around 2 beaches! That's it! If you are not into boating then just forget about it! The prices are sky high because we cater to tourists! Keep a full tank of gas because if there's an accident you may be stuck for awhile! Only one road called overseas hwy which goes north or south. The sunrises and sunsets are beautiful but I would pack up and move up to more north Florida like Sebastian. 👍 BTW. Watch out for Bull sharks! They're dangerous and very aggressive
Great video. We were there Christmas 2019 (just before COVID). My husband and I camped in RV park while my son and his wife stayed on Duval St. Had a blast, then came home and hubby came down with COVID before anybody knew what it was.
Don't forget traffic and idiots trying to go 80 in a 50 zone. There is nothing for kids to do in Key West but doesn't seem like the parents ever research and understand that. There are very few beaches in the Keys, yep they don't research that either. They don't seem to like the smell of rotting seaweed or sargassum. Did I mention traffic from all the tourist? If you buy a home and get it financed you MUST get home owners insurance, wind insurance and if you get wind you must get flood insurance. That runs apx $12000 a year to cover a $600,000 house(just the house value). Mosquitoes, No seeums, Palmetto bugs, iguanas, crocs if you live in the lower Keys and gators if you live in the upper Keys. Bad hospitals. We have tourist season and hurricane season and try to stay on the water and off the roads as much as possible.
Went there in February, sat in four hours of traffic to go 15 miles. One road in and out. Once there is phenomenal but couldn’t stay for more than a week or id be an alcoholic
Don't forget the largest demographic of the keys, the bugs... Scorpions, fire ants, venomous spiders, mosquitoes, cockroaches, ticks, fleas, sand fleas, ect... Oh, and don't dare touch any frogs...... Also, the gators are not a problem, you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone. it's the salt water Crocodiles you have to worry about.... if you have pets, or small children, don't let them play by the edge of any canals unsupervised.....
There are no saltwater crocodiles in Florida, they are American crocodiles. And there has never been a single recorded death from a crocodile in Florida.
Excellent video. As a resident of Big Coppitt (mm10) I would like to give you my list. 1). Cost of housing down here. A single bedroom tiny apartment will cost $2000 a month. And if you are a service person you can never get ahead financially. People will rent a house and pack 4 or 5 people in it to share the rent. 2). Beaches. Most of the beaches down here consist of coral muck. If you are picturing Daytona beach like beaches they are few and far between. We boat out to sandbars mostly. 3). Homeless people in KW. Tons of them. And young homeless. I think they have the Jimmy Buffet ideal of Paradise and when they get here it aint so great if you are broke. 4). If you buy a home and leverage it through a bank you will most likely be mandated to have Wind, Flood and other coverages which can cost you 5 to 10 grand a year easily. 5). Contractors. Oh lordy IF they respond to a phone call be prepared for the worst. The work ethic down here is horrible in most cases. I'm sure there are exceptions but so far they have eluded me. Ok with that said we love it down here but after 8 months we need to get off the rock and head north. Do your research and have realistic expectations. Jimmy Buffet doesn't live here he just makes a living singing about "Paradise" and lives elsewhere.
When I was in the Coast Guard I was stationed at Islamorada back in the 1990's and loved it, went back last year and it has changed so much. Not all for the best.
I lived on Big Pine for many years went in May driving down the hwy it was a different experience it went from class to trash I was so embarrassed that it went down and BP looks like a prison island with that gaudy fencing for the deer which I hardly ever witnessed on on the hwy in 12 years
I owned KWST Paradise Productions in the 1990’s. I also worked for a non-profit and implemented child safety programs for the sheriff’s department from 1974 to 1994. Key West has taken on a new personality. Yes it is not affordable for most. Police officers seem to come and go. On the other hand I believe Key West firefighters 🚒 have a history of multi generational occupation. They are compounds of homes owned by families for 75 years or more. For them, their homes are paid for, and they can live comfortably. Lot of scams in shops on Duval St. I did ❤ my time there.
You forgot to mention the cost. My spouse and I went to Key West for our 25th wedding anniversary and absolutely fell in love with it. We're not big drinkers but we loved the history of the island, we went to all the museums and the Little White House. I can't think of a place with more breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, plus I'm a sucker for beaches and the ocean. Fortunately, I don't get seasick. We stayed at Edan House directly across from The Artists House and I highly recommend it. We would sit at the tiki bar in the back and talk to the bartender about what it's like to live in Key West. He told us it was too expensive for him and his girlfriend to live there--that they live on one of the other keys and commute every day. I flipped through the available real estate listings and unless you're earning a million dollars per year, you can't afford to live there. Most of the people who work there, live on another Key and a few live in Homestead which is the last town before you leave mainland Florida for the Keys. We're at the point of being retired so the only way we could afford to live there would be to live on a houseboat or find a place to park an RV/Tiny Home. Even the rent is outrageous. I could live with all the other negatives but not the enormous price tag.
I remember paying ten dollars for four sticks of butter at Winn Dixie and that was back in 2010!
I was stationed in KW when mike was starting his B+B, call it what you will. I can assure you it took a lot of bales of Marijuana to put that place together! It's no surprise that most of the businesses on Duval St. (and other streets in KW) got their cash by smuggling. The act itself goes back to the days of the Wreckers, Most smuggle and most look in the other direction. It IS KW, after all. I hope your "Historical tour" had the burial grounds in your sight seeing agenda. "You can't take it with you so spending it on grave markers" must have been the unofficial motto.
Definitely a wonderful place to visit. You are right about the expense of living there. No way even an upper middle class person could afford to live there.
Same thing has happened in St. Augustine - people who work in our restaurants etc. now can't afford to live here anymore. And the traffic has gotten horrendous the last several years..
One of the bummers about home prices and rents being high is that the "characters" which make a place unique have had to move out...
Buy a sailboat
Back in the '90s, I lived in Big Pine while working at hospital on Stock Island, in Key West. I loved every minute of it. We had rented a house on a canal, so we had the boat parked out back. We made full use of it nearly every day. I still enjoy the occasional trip down to the Keys.
I owned a home on Cudjoe Key for 17 years. The mosquitoes were my big problem. Even during the day they were all over you. Everything else I was fine with but it is very transient if you find friends they could be gone in a month. Having your family there is a plus.
Lived there from 1973 to 1985. Loved every minute of our life and all the wonderful friends. My gripes….humidity, mosquitoes, hurricanes.
The "no see-ums" drove me off Sanibel Island, especially when the wind dies down.
I spent a week on Sanibel. We “shelled the sea shells” there. It has the most shells on the beach 🎉ever! That beach has more shells than any other beach. They say it’s the trade winds that bring them to that area. I had so many I went for the micro mini shells, they are the tiny, perfect shells, just the little versions. I could pack more home to Oklahoma. I will say the “sand fleas” are rough there, make sure u pack the bug spray!
@@jackiestowe6987 There IS a difference between "no see-ums" and sand fleas. . . . .
I know there is but they still bite u.
Heat and humidity in Florida is brutal. And it feels like you’re 10 inches from the sun.
That is correct!. My parents moved down there, mom was in key west dad in venice. That was 1998, i bet i havent ben there 10 times. Cant stand the heat and stink. Michigan weather is great for me..
Right 🤣🤣😂
I have lived in the keys for the last 50 years of my life, and will die down here.
I’ll stay in Alaska forever but was just talking to my wife today about another Florida vacation this would be the right time of year to do it for us. Last time we went in June and the heat and humidity was almost too much.
That's the spirit!👊😎✌️
@@GratefulEd907 get with him and switch houses for vacation ❣️😎🌴
@@Hapenparadise I doubt anyone would trade the keys for Alaska in the winter. Unless they really wanted to see the northern lights it just wouldn’t be worth it. LOL
I have visited the Keys many times and the only thing that was difficult for me was one you didn't mention. The mosquitoes. Most of the bars and restaurants are outdoors and the Black Salt Marsh Mosquitos would come out right after sunset. On the beach, it's not so bad but further inland they can be numerous and aggressive.
Both are terrible whenever you are near salt estuaries in Florida but bug repellent works
Yup. It's impossible to describe the bugs to someone that's never experienced it. That's why people don't wear cologne....at least at outside bars (a mistake a made ONCE when I first moved here). No-seums are something that only Satan himself could've created. Those did NOT come from God. The exist to do one thing....make our lives indescribably miserable. And, that's Florida, in general, not just the Keys. But, if it was dry, with no bugs, FL real-estate prices would be worse than CA's.
@@phillamoore157 go north if you think mosquitoes and noseeums are bad in Florida. You can't even open the door here in the fall without hundreds of noseeums getting in the house.
@@MrCoffeekelly Not sure how far north you're talking, but I grew up in Ohio, and vacation'd all over MO, MI. It could all be bad at certain times, certain places, but it was also nothing more than a bad inconvenience that could be solved with bug spray, and a camp fire. But, I've NEVER experienced anything like what I experienced down here. It was bad enough to where we almost cancelled the trip. I had a picture my wife took of what my back looked like for a really long time after that trip. I looked like I got attacked by nerve gas, and had those little scabs for weeks after I came home. The strange thing is that, depending on where you go it's a different bug having the same catastrophic effect. In central FL it's "love bugs", in lake county on the Harris Chain of lakes. I think just about any hot, humid, stagnant body of water, with no breeze, can be a potential apocalyptic disaster, and you have to choose where/when you go VERY wisely...or, choose clothing wisely. But, if you have to live with ANY-thing even REMOTELY comparable to what we experienced down here, I'd probably wind up moving. Something else I learned is that noseeums are a COMPLETELY different beast than mosquitos. In many cases, I never felt mosquito bites till the next day. Noseeums are just miserable, demons that feel like a needle poking you thousands of times all over your bod, at the same time. And, they dont' give a d*mn WHAT spray you have on, bare skin is fair game to those hateful little creatures. Anyway...I'm rambling. Hopefully, 2024 will be a better year for inconvenient pests! 👍
"Buying that 2nd home in the Keys"🤣😂
Me, living off oatmeal and beans for the last two weeks (and grateful).
Seriously.
You'll be healthy at least
😂😂😂😂
If you hate nature, the smell of the beautiful ocean, hate lizards and normal creatures just trying to survive, would rather have fires, tornados or floods and need to stay in a materialistic mode please stay home!! We locals love all that stuff and don't need haters.
It's a better place to visit if you're not rich.
Except friggin iguanas.
No, we haters think you need some diversity in your fairy tale world. We’re coming with our worst habits!
Or if you enjoy getting hypothermia in you family room! 😂 feel free to stay where you are !
The smell is not the beautiful ocean, it basically smells like swamp water.
Lived two years in key west and decided to move after Irma. Yes everything he mentioned is true. One thing he left out on a people note is that the keys, and especially key west, the people are extremely cliquish. You want notice it as a tourist but when you live there it’s quite apparent.
I used to live there and was married to a native conch. You are right it is very cliquish, but in fairness there are so many tourists that you have to have some boundaries. Also, there is a high Cuban ancestry there too that contributes to this sense of native identity. I loved living there but I’m not sure if I could handle the seasonal influx now, must be ten fold since I was there riding my bike after work to the beach for an afternoon swim & cocktail!
@@cgrape22 it was really nice in the “off” season. Or let’s say slower. You could actually have a nice dinner and drink with the wife without a bunch of cruise ship hood rats screaming up and down the street.
Now y’all know how us northerners here. Live northern lower MI. Memorial Day rolls around marking all the people coming to their summer homes cuz they can’t stand the summer heat. We wish they would stay home!!! Get that it’s important for tourism and business profits. But y’all are uppity AF. Stay home!!!
@@denisekerry4555😅
@@denisekerry4555 You are willing to chip in your share of the tourist season earnings to keep them away? And seeing taxes go up to compensate?
Sometimes it gets so humid here you have to jump in the pool to dry off.
Except the pools feel like your swimming in warm pee in the summer.
@@elizabethwitt2621 🎯
@@elizabethwitt2621 You need a chiller in yer pool in the summer.
Lived in Florida since 1983 I’m from New England and I left for a few years but I came back because this is the greatest place to live and we have the best governor in the nation
Who was the governor in the 1980's? The Keys were hippy haven in the '80s.
It would be silly for me as an Arizonan to say I can't move to the Keys because of the sun! But the humidity is something I would have trouble with. I grew up with humidity in New Jersey summers and I can't even hack that anymore. Not to mention mosquitos! Lastly, I can't handle snakes and alligators.
If you live in Key West or an urban part of the Keys you don't have to worry about the snakes or gators. The mosquitos are no worst than South Jersey in the summer, just watch it at night. The humidity is bad from May - November (Hurricane Season) but I find thunderstorms and rain refreshing in South Florida. I would not live in the keys because its boring. I prefer Palm Beach County. But its fun to visit.
Bahahawaha.
I've lived on Florida's west coast all year 'round for decades (minus military time) and trust me when I say, "anywhere in Florida will have high heat and super high humidity that's absolutely brutal from about mid-June through October!!!!!!
I’m a Floridian. Surprised you didn’t mention homeowner insurance.
Is it high?
@@classicsciencefictionhorro1665 Tripled in 3 years. It is INSANE!
Humidity is a deal breaker for me. Love Florida but can't handle more than a week of humidity
Amen. Im here,left KW but still in Fla. Spring,winter,fall is....great. Summers are BRUTAL. And I was born here....
I live in SW Florida and many of us would love to move to Idaho...Montana...Colorado...just bored with the heat and the sun...the whole State is flat....flat....flat....gets old quickly...
I live in Marathon for about three years. The constant wind started to get to me after a while, always seemed like it was blowing.
We moved to Cocoa Beach three years ago and LOVE it!
My assessment:
Positives-
We LOVE the little lizards, geckos, whatever they actually are!!! They are so cute! (We do not have the iguanas.)
As a beach town, it is not as warm as inland, so the temperature is very comfortable. In three years, it has not been above 92°F. It rarely gets to 90°F. I lived in Alabama for 30 years. July and August were 90+ every day.
Very few mosquitoes or flies!!!!! I am guessing the ocean breeze is hard to fly against. IDK why, but we love it!! You can have a meal outside and not see a fly!
Cocoa Beach is a small town. I ride my bike to most things. In three years, I have put less than 10k miles on my car.
Negative-
Yes, the humidity is uncomfortable at times, but nothing is perfect. I can change my top four or five times a day in the summer, because it is so wet from sweat. I’ve never experienced this any place else, but I just bought light, inexpensive tops, and they get washed a bunch. 😂
RUST! Everything with any amount of metal rusts! I don’t care what the manufacturer says, it will rust very fast! Just plan on it. There are days you can see the salt spray in the air.
In conclusion, we love it here, but we loved Alabama just as much the 30 years we lived there. Every place has its good and bad.
No flooding or storms? I would be so afraid of losing everything in a storm
You're right about humidity in the south in general. Way of life Baton Rouge, La. Lawd lawd! Nice video.
So far you make it sound great! I was born and raised in East, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific islands. From the early 1950's onward. I'm stuck between the two forks of the beautiful Shenandoah River, in the breathtaking Shenandoah Valley of Virginia! In the Black Bear Capital of Virginia!
I was stationed in Key West for two years so I have a little different perspective than most people about the keys. It's a great place to visit for a week or two in the winter but that is about the end of any good thing about the Keys. If you are not retired and even if you are, the rentals and purchase prices are about 3 times as expensive as the State I live in. That's saying a lot because I live in one of the most expensive States (Connecticut). Most people have to rent with 2 or 3 other people and plan on paying most of your wages to your landlord. The whole of the Keys are just one big tourist trap. plan on paying resort prices for every day prices. Then there are the tourists. Every two weeks a new crop visits. Don't forget the Cruise ships that dock and gorge their cargo of day trippers loose for the day. Thank god I was stationed there over 50 years ago when the Keys were "sleepytown". I went back in 1996 for a military reunion and hardly recognized the place! Still, everybody should visit the Island Chain for a week or two. It will make you appreciate your home base and you can say you visited the longest whorehouse, about 130 miles top to bottom. Most important, your happiest day will be the day you leave the Keys and head home!
We spent two winters, recently, in Key West. They have cut way back on the number of cruise ships that come in.
Longest whore house, that's one I'll need to remember for future use.
Many tourist places are like that. What makes a place initially desirable ends up ruining them. I lived in Hawaii for about 4 year also in California, Nevada, Oregon Montana,Florida, Idaho and Tennessee. All those states have incredible spots in them but over time as they are discovered they become less desirable. It’s a shame really
@@TomBTerrific I hear you. The difference between the spots you lived in and KW is when on the Keys where are you going to go to escape? You're surrounded!
I went down there a few times in 71 and 72 to visit my older brother that was teaching sonar school. It was nice then and in base housing he was able to park his boat behind his house in the water. I grew up in Ct but moved out over 40 years ago.
i grew up in key west during the 1970s-80s.was there when the cubans came over in the early 80s,wild times man.
👍 yes it was!
#1 negative should have been the cost of property insurance :)
Agree 💯% and flood insurance
I was waiting for that to be #1 as well.
And nowadays you have to get separate premium plans for wind, property, and flood. At that point, I'd rather self-insure.
I have had family in Sarasota since the 60’s! Great for a visit but not for year round living. 😉
Great video . I was down in the Keys July 2021 great time totally in love with the Keys .Can’t wait for next December 👍👍👍
I've lived in the south my entire life. Louisiana, Houston Tx., and Ft. Lauderdale 46 yrs now Nocatee, Ponte Vedra, Fl.Jacksonville area so I am use to it but we moved to the Jacksonville/ St. Augustine to escape the perpetual spring/summer. here are just too many bugs in the keys.
I lived on Duck Key back in the 70s and 80s..after many years, of Hurricanes (Andrew the worsel, Wild Tourists season every weekend, James Bond film makings crews , flood rains , fearless frozen iguanas, Cuban Crocodiles (not gators)in my fruit garden, Mosquito Season , and power outages ..we moved to Mid Florida... I used to see hundreds of Key Deer all about the Key. Wonderful creatures. Many would die from vehicles. I loved those years..good report...before internet...
Seems like a really nice community to be a part of, thanks for the info!
I enjoyed your video. The costs - and the crowds are negatives. Such a beautiful place though!
Where I live here is like Paradise Sunny 75 while whole county is 35up north I moved here I live it sunny sunshine 🌞 I'm off antidepressants
The heat/humidity combination can be deadly.
I grew up in S. Florida from 59 to 88.We then moved to N.Central Florida. Left there in 97. Headed West. Florida just got too crowded for us.
Too hot for me especially central FL.
For me, the major con for purchasing in Key West is the isolation. I like to travel and like variety. 3-4 hour (painful and frustrating, depending) drive to MIA or a limited selection of flights out of KW. Yes, I can get to O'Hare, DFW and Atlanta and anywhere from any of them, but it just adds time. Beautiful and I could just about afford what I'd want, yet......
Yes, island fever.
Today, the Keys are a retail version of what folks romanticize. Depending on what you're going for, it's from OK to awesome. Been going to the Keys on and off for 30 years, from camping to time-shares, fall and spring. It's not what it was 30 years ago, the reef has been depleted and the water isn't as clear. Most of the iconic places are Corp owned and or have changed hands so many times, they are barely a shadow of what they once were, the Mom and Pop places are pretty much gone. The cost of everything is high and the US-1 is becoming a parking lot. That said, much is being rebuilt and looks good, however, with a notable price tag.
I’m a northern girl, love snowstorms and fireplaces, wood smoke and hot chocolate. 😊
I bet you're a Payne to live with.
I’m a mountain mama too! I can’t stand humidity.
Northern Wisconsin here. I visited the Keys 20 years ago in February. Not my idea, but it was a job. 7 days of oddities. I was very very glad to leave. I am sure there are many people who love the area, obviously, but I just never even felt the urge even once to return. I mean, I personally didn't have a bad experience with anything but the snakes, frogs..oh man the frogs! Little ones, medium ones, big ones. Red frogs, green, purple, blue..hundreds of them..nope. not for me. I love the snow. I enjoy the cold. I love 4 seasons. In fact, its snowing here right now..
@Classic Science Fiction & Horror. I am sure a total Payne in the @$$ to live with during a blizzard when the hot chocolate, fire wood runs out.
I’ve lived in key largo for almost 6 years now and I do a lot of commuting between here and marathon for my work. I’m shocked no one has mentioned the traffic being a negative. It can take up to a hour just going through islamorada.
Seriously, it takes forever to get anywhere. How can you not mention that. It’s bearable for a one week vacation but to live there, no thanks.
appreciate the honesty - lots to consider- thanks
Nice Vlog.
Hoping to be a snowbird someday. So far we've only spent three weeks on Largo in December. A few days the humidity was heavy; can't imagine what it would be like in the summer.
BTW, one of your "snakes" was actually a Golden Spotted Eel (we're divers).
Blessings.
Orlando south is a flat, smelly swamp hell. The 2 weeks a year when the air is clear and humidity low it is pretty cool though.
Was kinda shocked there was no mention of mosquitoes, was there and decided to go the distance of the keys made it as far as key largo and spent the night and was absolutely ate alive from the mosquitoes and while living in Cocoa beach was overrun by love bugs......enough Fla. for me
The mosquitos in Cocoa Beach were so big they had ticks on them! Huge!! Lol
@@monsantofungaro5704 Lol I know your right
Mosquitoes are especially bad in the Keys because they lived near nuclear waste from an old nuclear sub that had a leak in the 70's. Key West skeeters have evolved to be 50% larger and to require more blood to survive. They themselves are NOT radioactive and they don't glow like some claim, but they are hard to kill.
I lived in Key West for 2 years and loved it. I used my bike 90% of the time to get around the key. Drove anytime I had to leave town. This was in 2012-2014, I never noticed any issues with homeless etc.
I do get seasick, but I LOVE the ocean and boating and dream of living by the sea where I can sail all the time
Owned a home on Big Pine for 20 years till the massive property tax reformation in 2008..ran many folks out of the keys.
What was the change?
I was one of them that left in 2008.
I have no intention of living there and building a home ever ,but I always thought it would be a fun vacation . from what you have said , basically confirms this lol . no where is perfect but I have grown accustomed to the polar opposite climate and I am land locked ( do not get me wrong there are rivers and lakes near by ) . I would feel like I was in a different country , just no passport needed .
Two things not on your list, and they can coexist, if you have little patience or are in a hurry, may not be for you, also the traffic, more than once I sat on Long Key bridge for hours because of an accident, so just realize schedules and appointments are made to be broken, and "keys time" is a real thing, if you enjoy the hustle and bustle of city life, you'll find yourself quickly frustrated with the pace of the locals...
@Chill Will I have learned that the hard way ,but definitely have some interesting stories.
I was a local years ago. We would move slowly 1) because we could 2) because we knew it pissed off tourists. Sometimes tourist would offer us a big tip to move faster. We took the money but still did our own thing. Locals need tourists but still hated them, if that makes sense.
GREAT , informative video. I had a LOT of great meals in Key West, too. Including a fantastic sandwich at Kelly McGillis' {from Top Gun fame} place (Kelly's Caribbean Bar, Grill & Brewery). By the way, Hawaii is the Southernmost part of the USA. The Keys are the most southern part of the Contiguous 48 states.
Guy, I consider myself a geography buff...but I did NOT realize that !! If that had been a Jeopardy question, I woulda missed it.
I spent a week at Bahia Honda State Park in 1974 and loved it.
There were only about 20 “regular” homeless on Sunset Pier. One wore a flea collar.
I loved the old homes with louvres on the ground floor windows.
I believe “thinking fourth dimensionally” is good advice, and I have no desire to even visit the Key West of 2023
I would also bring up the water quality is bad so drinking water will be purchased at the store.
Too crowded in the winter that's why I sold out and back to my Creek in North Florida .
After vacationing there for many winter breaks and seriously thinking about getting a place there in retirement, the final straw that changed our minds was the homeless problems in Kew West. You can't go anywhere without the panhandling, begging, and the worse was people taking a dump in broad daylight on the sidewalk when you try to walk. The cops don't care and won't do anything. I'll go elsewhere.
I lived there for 8 months back in 1976. There were always bums there because it is warm all the time but there wasn't a lot of begging. Fortunately they weren't taking a dump on the sidewalks. The conchs are interesting...I think everybody was sleeping with somebody else's husband or wife.
Sounds like San Fran
Are you serious!??? 😳😳😳
Key West is NOT “The Keys”! It is ONE Key.
Sounds just like San Diego.
Thanks for summing up so nicely. Islamorada has been a 14day vaca for years now and it’s been hard to beat. Many thanks to the local businesses that provide such an accommodating environment.❤
You keep supplying the money, they'll keep supplying an accommodating environment . . . .
All I gotta' say. I was born and raised in Key Largo. Know the area like the back of my hand.
Just be nice to it. Keep it alive as it is.
So many corporations are flooding in and making it a second Miami and it sucks.
I saw the movie. Wonder if gangsters still hide out there.
@@classicsciencefictionhorro1665 Never saw it. Never saw gangs, either.
1) Red tide
2) Red tide
3) Red tide
4) Key Deer speed zones
5) Red tide
6) Red tide
7) Red tide
8) Red tide
9) Expensive gas
THAT'S MY OLD HOUSE! THAT'S CONCH KEY ! the white house to the right of the yellow house. I owned that house from 84 to 99 ! I was a commercial lobsterman and a professional scuba diver.
That's awesome. I'm originally from Florida but moved when I was about 18. Now I'm 40 and have a family. I've never been to the keys. What island is best? In my dream we are renting a house on the river with a dock so I can fish non stop lol. But we also want to charter a boat and go deap sea fishing. Thank you
No see ums!! I spent 6 months at Key West...survived on Benedryl. LOVED our stay, but but allergy made it rough.
And the rust. Our vehicle started rusting out...even the refrigerator in the cabin was rusting.
I live next to MCAS Miramar. I don't think there's a more temperate place in the U.S. (Winter 57 F/Summer 72, no bugs, low humidity). The F-18's are a bit loud but I'll take it.
Indian Rocks Beach was just perfect for me. I lived in Florida for 25 years, and watched it change for the worse. Had to move out unfortunately but the change saved my old ass lol
Moved to Tavernier 3 years ago, and never ever looked back. I thrive here.
The way to handle sea sickness it the prescription behind the ear patches. But the secret is to put them on 1 or 2 days before your sailing. I know thats not helpful with spontaneous events but it does help with planned events. It really really helps
I'm from Brazil. I see this beaultiful place on the Netflix series Bloodline.
You left our perhaps the worst "problem" which is the traffic. At times it can be really frustrating.
Worst place to live for hurricanes. That road to get out is a mess. I was in hurricane Andrew. 250 Mike per hour tornados
Man I make pretty dang good money as a single guy and a couple years ago it really wasn't far fetched to move down there but now it's just out of hand. I hope one day the real estate goes back to 2019-2020 levels
Get a roommate or 2?
I've lived in Key West for 37 years.
It was great in the 80's, good in the 90's and thru about 2010. Then the oil spill and a couple bad storms and Yankees hit the island...
Now if you are not ultra rich or your conch grandma left you a house, you can't live here.
Besides, the reef is dead, the fishing is horrible and the water is full of fecal matter.
Oh, and the healthcare is non-existent.
So, sorry. You missed it.
I lived there in the early 2000's and left in 2008. You're absolutely right and while I still have fond memories, the last time I went there on vacation it wasn't the same.
Sad
I had a sweet little trailer in Islamorada. In 2017, Irma threw it into the ocean. All gone.
I can't remember the name of the trailer park but you probably lived in the same one I did. I was there for five years and fortunately I sold my place in 2015. I feel sorry for the people that bought my place, they lost everything. I think it was mile marker 94.7 or there abouts.
Just visiting has become too expensive. $175-225/night for a very basic room. Out of my league now. 😢
Yeah….even the upper keys is that much. Hubs and I started going to st augustine as the prices were not worth it. Plus was not enjoying the vibe in key west.
Great video that is informative and too the point, great job!
Lived in the Keys for 5 years, Big Pine, Islamorada, Marathon, Key Largo. Hunted lobster, fished, partied, swam, worked, explored, had fun, had hard times too but I never saw an iguana maybe because we left in 2000. Just caught the last of the wildness. Houseboat Row had recently been removed, sadly. I wonder if the chickens are still at Blue Heaven in Key West; big money has destroyed so much of the character. The Key deer will always be there. Only saw one gator and that was at the "Hole", saw tons in the Everglades.
Lived through Hurricane Georges, it was a mess for a long time.
I certainly wouldn't even dream of buying property down there under any circumstance. Insurance is way too tricky, rules, regulations, laws are as well because only the filthy rich can afford it and they're so easy to exploit. It really was a highlight of my life to live down there, I'll have to admit, and the best was the pals, the buddies, the friends, the gatherings, and going to the Dry Tortugas!
Yes the chickens are still at Blue Heaven… I ate there last night :)
I was there for awhile myself, just after Mariel ,met some of the Mel Fisher crew as they were still looking for the "Atocha" (Todays the day!),houseboat row still very much active and there. Im talking early 1980s. Had a friend,Bob Marks whose family owned a huge chunk of the east end of the island,near Stock Island. I can tell you were there and enjiyed it ,from your detailed description. I had a bit of culture shock,wasnt my ideal locale. Family was rooted though,I left. Oh yeah,I hung with the daughter of the family that owned/sold Sloppy Joes bar (she said,lol). Stacy,if you are out there...Peace.
Thanks, very informative! BUT... What about spiders...Lots, big, hairy, scary??? 😳
I lived in Lower Matecumbe Key and South Miami in the 70s..
Totally different world
👍
I’ve lived in islamorada for a year now. I’m from Ohio. Do not miss the winter. In fact I look forward to it here. Life is good here. I’ll put up with the bugs and humidity. 😊
i was down there 2 years ago and loved it the heat and the sun dont bother me none cause im from the deep south. Im a sucker for the beaches and the ocean. Some of the people that live there whole life thought me and my brother was from there asked if we wanted to move here but we just dont have that kind of money to make the move there
Native Born Fla. You need LOTS of money. Well over $5,000.00. Look at the Florida Keys Craigslist, because you wont believe the rent costs there. Rent in the Keys is 3 times what you think high rent is. Also Savings, A way to bring in Income still as you move (it can be done) Im sober, not many men interested in that, But, it actually Helps :) Many people come to the Keys to party , but to stay you need a job that pays Very well.
I think you forgot that even on a nice bright sunny summer day don't go anywhere without your umbrella it will rain two three four times in that day well I did when I was living in Gainesville
I lived onRamrod Key for 2 years, I had boats, living on open water, money, and vehicles…I was bored to tears.
I wasn't so much put off by the heat and humidity. I'm from the North West of England and out summers regularly hot 105f with 100% humidity.
The one thing I don't like is that there is not alot of public beach area in Key West.
I have lived in Key Largo since 2010 and I am more interested in the native plant and animal composition. I wish more people were here who cared to look up things in field guides and realize what special things we have. There are volunteer workdays for coastal cleanups, native tree planting and invasive plant removal and you can meet and network with really great people doing that. The animal issues are a source of friction, and some of the insect problems are tied to that. If you are more educated and emotionally mature about these issues, the Keys need you. Some will disagree.
I just came upon a video the other day about a flower that mosquitoes can't stand. I'll try and find it. Don't the iguanas eat bugs? So that's kinda a necessary evil I guess. I wonder how often they reproduce? Are they any good to eat? New Orleans plates up a very lean grass fed protein healthier than turkey chicken or pork. It's called Nutrina. It's a herbivore that eats only grass. "Muskrat." 😅 I've so much to learn.
Real key lime pie in the keys is one for the bucket list. Peace...
Yes, as others have said you left out the most important thing. Its crazy expensive. How could you leave that out?
If you come from money, you don't think about it. He obviously has money.
What about a house boat? What has been the history/experience concerning someone retiring to the keys and living on a house boat? What's the viability of that idea?
If you have a place to dock it, great.
@@classicsciencefictionhorro1665 But what is the general availability of a slip for a houseboat? IDK. That's why I'm asking. Are they scarce? I'm pretty confident you can't just drop anchor anywhere.
It's the land access,,you need,,Marathon has some affordable anchor spots
when i moved down here almost 30 years ago it rained every day at about 4pm. it was wonderful. it gave you a time to just stop for a bit and relax. stopped carrying an umbrella and got used to getting wet and just drying out. who cares about make up and frizzy hair, floridians do not. swimsuit covered by shorts and shirt was the norm. you never knew when you were just going to jump in water somewhere. this is all from a gal who gets far enough away from the ocean that i can't taste salt on my lips i feel weird. i finally bought some socks last year. my wardrobe of shoes consists of Teva's, even have a pair with metallic line for dress up. its so sad climate change and man has messed it up so bad.
There’s nothing like the water view though! Spectacular❣️
one word crocs i have seen plenty even in the state park next to the seven mile bridge
I got island fever after a week. No open fields or open areas.
Re the smells: beaches, inland waterways, etc have the smell of "brackish" water and it's not pleasant. There's a weird mix of salt & fresh water that never completely separates because of how close to sea level the land is, and sulphur in the "soil" along with some "fish mix" will make for an odor that maybe makes you want a Margarita.
We find that the humidity isn’t a whole lot different than the humidity around the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia.
I thought that I recognized you!! You were selling real estate up in Cour D' Alene, back in 2021! If I remember correctly, you grew up there! I tried to purchase a home, there, in 2021, and was BLOWN AWAY at how high the prices were escalating!! I offered $610,000 on a house, that went on the market for $429,000. I LOST!! The winning bid was $650,000! WAY TOO RICH FOR ME!! So I returned back to Carmel, California. Seeing you here, now allows me NOT to feel so bad! LOL!! I hope that you enjoy the life no matter where you are, my friend!! Take Care!
One road in and one road out. The perfect scenario to be locked in. I was stalled for more than an hour because of a dump truck with locked air brakes, very trivial indeed, so just think about anything serious like a hurricane blown bridge. Wow !!! You are now a prisoner. No food resupply, no fuel and so on and so forth. Hell in paradise.
True. If there is a fatality on the overseas highway, hopefully you can turn around before you're stuck there for hours. That happened to me once and had to call out of work.
FYI…for those who get seasick..try nibbling on a small piece of candied ginger!! It works brilkantly on nausea, and works quickly!!
We live in central FL as a native of Florida I can say I wouldn't want to live in the keys, it nice to go there now and then to fish in islamorada etc but traffic is horrendous because land is at a premium. We dont have the iguanas in central FL.
Retired? Medicare? Avoid HMO or PPO. One doctor and any specialist is an overnight trip. Half the population can't afford to ever have the stability of home ownership. Got 5 million saved it's a great alternative to big FL developments.
I worked at the Casa Marina Mariott in 1986 as a waiter and even back then, I had to room with three other guys because housing was so expensive. I can't imagine what it's like now. How do people in the service industry there afford housing? Do they commute from other keys?
no Miami if they work in the upper keys
In the early 2000's I intially lived with 3 other people until my boyfriend and I got a promotion and were able to find and absolute steal of "only" paying $1,500 a month on Stock Island.
I don't even want to know how much the medium price for a one bedroom goes for now.
Women, if attractive, have a side hustle of sex if they want. Men can also if gay. Straight men should bring money from home.
Do not move to the Florida Keys if you have COPD! The humidity will make it flare up miserably! You have to wear the most powerful SPF sunscreen ever even if you are in the shade. He's right about the iguanas! They suck! There are maybe around 2 beaches! That's it! If you are not into boating then just forget about it! The prices are sky high because we cater to tourists! Keep a full tank of gas because if there's an accident you may be stuck for awhile! Only one road called overseas hwy which goes north or south. The sunrises and sunsets are beautiful but I would pack up and move up to more north Florida like Sebastian. 👍 BTW. Watch out for Bull sharks! They're dangerous and very aggressive
Great video. We were there Christmas 2019 (just before COVID). My husband and I camped in RV park while my son and his wife stayed on Duval St. Had a blast, then came home and hubby came down with COVID before anybody knew what it was.
He might have had monkey pox. That was prevalent in the Keys.
Don't forget traffic and idiots trying to go 80 in a 50 zone. There is nothing for kids to do in Key West but doesn't seem like the parents ever research and understand that. There are very few beaches in the Keys, yep they don't research that either. They don't seem to like the smell of rotting seaweed or sargassum. Did I mention traffic from all the tourist? If you buy a home and get it financed you MUST get home owners insurance, wind insurance and if you get wind you must get flood insurance. That runs apx $12000 a year to cover a $600,000 house(just the house value). Mosquitoes, No seeums, Palmetto bugs, iguanas, crocs if you live in the lower Keys and gators if you live in the upper Keys.
Bad hospitals. We have tourist season and hurricane season and try to stay on the water and off the roads as much as possible.
Went there in February, sat in four hours of traffic to go 15 miles. One road in and out. Once there is phenomenal but couldn’t stay for more than a week or id be an alcoholic
Don't forget the largest demographic of the keys, the bugs... Scorpions, fire ants, venomous spiders, mosquitoes, cockroaches, ticks, fleas, sand fleas, ect... Oh, and don't dare touch any frogs...... Also, the gators are not a problem, you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone. it's the salt water Crocodiles you have to worry about.... if you have pets, or small children, don't let them play by the edge of any canals unsupervised.....
There are no saltwater crocodiles in Florida, they are American crocodiles. And there has never been a single recorded death from a crocodile in Florida.