Question about Florida

Hi Everyone,

I could really use some advice.

My husband and I would like to relocate from Wisconsin to Florida in 2014. Last month we visited the Venice, Florida area and when we drove north to Sarasota I found my breathing ability became more and more difficult. I was having a mild asthma attack which wouldn't let up.

A few days later I went to Urgent Care and I was put on several medications including one for the inflammation in my nose and Predisone for the inflammation in my chest. I heard it could have been the red tide that was affecting me. I was told it affects a lot of people who live near the coast in that area. But I think because I felt great in Venice for several days and when we drove north to Sarasota where I instantly became more and more ill--that it was the car pollution. I do have multiple chemical sensitivity. I am very sensitive to air pollution.

My big question is since the Venice area is out of the picture, we'll be coming down to West Palm Beach to test that area out. Since I also have fibromyalgia along with allergies and asthma and also sensitivity to severe cold and possibly severe hot, can I ask those of you who are familiar with Florida what month we should take our trip to Florida to test if it would be a good fit for me?

I spoke to a few people in Florida who said that March is a bad time for allergies, so would March be the best time? Do you think it would be hot and humid enough in March to test how the heat and humidity would affect me? When we were in Venice last month the temperature did reach 87 degrees but I realize the humidity was not nearly as high as it would be in the summer.

Thanks!

Hi Lanie,

Thanks for your reply. We were also looking into possibly checking out the St. Augustine area but I was concerned about the air pollution from Jacksonville.

Are you in the St. Augustine area? Do they have good hospital facilities and such so a person wouldn't have to go to Jacksonville?

Thanks!

Lanie,

Thanks for making that clear. I shouldn't post when it's near my bedtime.

Interesting about Memphis. I'm glad you don't have allergies.

If your allergies are really bad, then you might consider parts of Arizona. It's hotter there but it's a dry heat.

Thanks, Alcie, for your advice. My husband and I would like to relocate fairly close to the ocean. We both love the water and it has always seemed that my allergies and asthma do better when I'm near water. We will be looking for a cement block house with hurricane windows or shutters. I tried allergy shots years ago and they didn't work for me. I'm glad they work for you.

Lanie, thanks for the suggestion of Arizona. I think I would miss the green and the water. It's something to be considered.

Thanks, FlaCracker for your reply and for the information about the Jacksonville/St. Augustine area. I prefer the east coast of Florida too. I visited the West Palm Beach area back in 2006 and 2007. I loved it. But it was during January both years so it wasn't a good test for my allergies and my asthma. FlaCracker, do you think the humidity and heat are much higher in later spring or summer? We're hoping to come down in March and that might not be a good test for me to see how I deal with the heat and humidity. Is there much pollenating going on in the summer to check my allergies?

Thanks again!

Thanks, Michelle, for all the information.

That's something to keep in mind about the high humidity beginning in June. Maybe we'll wait till then. I imagine you didn't have air conditioning when you had to take all those showers? Michelle, if a person was sensitive (having asthma issues from the heat) to the heat and humidity, would staying in their air conditioned house during the hottest part of the day help a lot?

I've heard about the alligators near lakes and ponds, that's so different from up here. We've been checking for sinkhole areas online. We definitely wouldn't want to invest in a house that could have that issue.

Have you been to Jacksonville, Michelle? According to some websites, they have a particle pollution issue. I definitely wouldn't want to be near a lot of industry and a lot of traffic with my multiple chemical sensitivity issues and asthma.

One thing we're checking on too is whether a property is considered a high flood risk. That would probably give us a higher flood insurance cost and the area might have standing water which could give me more of a mold issue to contend with.

Michelle, did you use to live in southeast Florida? Were there any other negatives about living there other than the pollen? Can I ask what area you live in now? There is less pollinating going on in your area? Is that because there's more trees than flowers?

I imagine you're enjoying 70 degree type weather there. It's under 0 degrees right now, we'll probably have a high of 15 degrees.

Thanks again!

Thanks, FlaCracker, for your reply.

I hope you'll get to move back to Florida soon. My husband and I would like to move to one of those retirement communities. Have you ever visited one? Are you considering moving to one?
We are hoping to stay at one when we visit next Spring to see what it would be like.

FlaCracker, is it possible you might not have had good windows or a good central air unit to deal with the summertime heat and humidity?

Interesting to hear that Savannah, Georgia has paper mills. I always wanted to see it, I love history and lovely areas, but now I don't think I'll go there due to the paper mills. Wisconsin has an area in the northeast called paper valley, a place I've been to but don't care to return to. Does Jacksonville seem fairly free of industry and pollution? I would love to see St. Augustine.

It's unfortunate about all those insurance policies you had to get. Thanks for the warning. There's a lot we have to look into before we make the big move.

We like slower paced too. We're thinking about north of West Palm Beach. Did you live there growing up? If so what were the pluses and minuses?

Eighty-four degrees, wow, that's so much nicer than 0 degrees.

I like how you think. There are pros and cons where ever you live. But due to my asthma, allergies, and MCS I have to be especially careful about where we choose to live.

I'll look forward to hearing from you when you can. I very much appreciate all of the information you're sharing with me.