Thinking of moving to Florida in the next year

We recently moved to Florida from north Georgia. My thoughts:

I loved north Georgia. We lived in Rome. Not stupid cold and not stupid hot. Cost of living was excellent. People were great for the most part. Had a great home with almost an acre in a subdivision in the woods.

Been in Fort Walton Beach Florida for one month. My thought is I wouldn't move to Florida and not live near the coast. We lived in Biloxi during Hurricane Katrina so I ain't scared of no hurricane !!

Everything in Fort Walton Beach (except gasoline) is more expensive here. We are currently house hunting and yes, insurance is brutal. In this area you figure around $2,000 a year for insurance on a home built after 2010. Then add $1,000 for every decade before. Even on a newer home, insurance wants see a new roof on the home or they ding you. Auto insurance is also much higher.

For home prices we're seeing 1/3 less home for the same price as a home in Georgia.

We just registered vehicles today. Roughly $400 to transfer and register each vehicle. In Georgia, a retired Veteran gets two vehicle registrations free! Not in Florida.

Sure, there's no state income tax but they more than make up for it in other ways.

BUT...I drive past bay water, or sound water, or Gulf water every single day. I love it.

I came down for a job. If I had a choice I would have stayed. If I liked warm (hot) and had a choice I would move to Arizona. Been there a number of times and the dry heat is awesome, it's just not a "pretty" place visually unless you're further north.

Good luck on your move. It's always exciting to me!