Possible move from SoCal to Melbourne Florida

[Randown]

Back in the '60-80s Calfornia was a great place to live.  But now between the state politics, cost of living and population, those days are over.   I had an ex-Navy buddy who lived in Jacksonville,Fl. who said the best time to be in Florida is March & October, the times Daytona has there bike weeks.   If you have never experienced summer heat/humidity you are in for a

Calif. has earthquakes - Fl. has hurricanes & sinkholes

CA ranks #8 in the nation as far as having the least tax burden BUT ranks #33 if you figure in cost of living SO if you own your home outright COL is a non-issue.

If you're active, like good weather, want to be near major markets, upwardly mobile - SoCal is tough to beat.

If you're disabled or spend a lot of time indoors, on a thin retirement income, then yep, maybe it's time to cash out & move to Oregon (certainly NOT AZ) 

[cee2cee]

CA ranks #8 in the nation as far as having the least tax burden BUT ranks #33 if you figure in cost of living SO if you own your home outright COL is a non-issue.

If you're active, like good weather, want to be near major markets, upwardly mobile - SoCal is tough to beat.

If you're disabled or spend a lot of time indoors, on a thin retirement income, then yep, maybe it's time to cash out & move to Oregon (certainly NOT AZ) 

You forgot to mention that California is ranked #1 with the highest sales tax. 

[Kent in Upstate NY]

Cali's sales taxes vary with the county. I never thought it too high.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Uhhh, Father, check out this map..

 

[blackcat]

All the best if you move there Father. It seems there may be a reasonable balance of pro's and cons.

Dan, IMO there are no Pro's. 

At best there is 6 months of riding weather on mediocre roads. And there is 50+ or - miles of riding to get to those "good"stretches of roads. Sure, you can ride when it's blazing hot and the humidity is stupid, but after awhile it becomes a question of why bother when the roads suck?

[oldbike54]

Uhhh, Father, check out this map..

 

 Oh hell , that's funny 

 Dusty

[Randown]

You forgot to mention that California is ranked #1 with the highest sales tax.

Didn't forget but to be more clear... CA has the 8th lowest effective total state & local tax rate on a median income. Includes sales & excise tax. AZ is #15, not bad & a fine state to visit. 

Rankings & methodology...
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-states-to-be-a-taxpayer/2416/

[DanD]

The best thing to do is spend a few weeks down there in mid summer. Then you'll realize why the Snowbirds only come down for the coldest months. We lived in Sarasota for 15 years couldn't wait to get back to the mountains. Living in SoCal you're probably used to the traffic and waiting in line for everything.

Good luck.

Dean

+1

I spent 20 years in the Clearwater/Tampa/Hernando area. Hernando and Citrus counties have the best riding areas but curves are few and far between. Ozello road is good but nothing compared to SW OH/KY/WV mini mountains. There are some cool sites tho. The ride out to Cedar Key is flat and straight but it's also gorgeous. 7 mile bridge in the Keys is also cool. But as far as riding 'fun' roads go that's not really happening. I used to have other riders tell me about good on/off ramps. That's how seriously void Florida is of 'fun' riding.  The conveyance to own in FL is a boat. There are so many bodies of water to explore I really wished I'd had gotten one while I was there.

North east GA however has the weather (at least for 10 months) and the roads. 

[pete roper]

Jon, I can't really say anything constructive as I've only been to Florida once and know little about it but I hope the move goes well if you do.

Try getting hold of Gary, HDGoose as was, I believe he's in Florida now/again. He'd be a good source for the 'Good Oil'. I believe he had a heart attack recently though? Hope he's OK, He's been quiet of late.

Pete

[Red Dog]

+1

I spent 20 years in the Clearwater/Tampa/Hernando area. Hernando and Citrus counties have the best riding areas but curves are few and far between. Ozello road is good but nothing compared to SW OH/KY/WV mini mountains. There are some cool sites tho. The ride out to Cedar Key is flat and straight but it's also gorgeous. 7 mile bridge in the Keys is also cool. But as far as riding 'fun' roads go that's not really happening. I used to have other riders tell me about good on/off ramps. That's how seriously void Florida is of 'fun' riding.  The conveyance to own in FL is a boat. There are so many bodies of water to explore I really wished I'd had gotten one while I was there.

North east GA however has the weather (at least for 10 months) and the roads. 

I'll say it again: If you ride the same old roads you see the same old stuff. 
Only those who are not afraid of getting lost will find "the fun roads".
Sunday I put just under 300 miles on Florida fun roads at speeds running from 75 to 90 mph average & thru some awesome curves.
I crossed over both I75 & I10 but never touched a wheel to a ramp.
Videos will be posted as soon as I figure out youtube should be in the next couple of days.
I think I'll title it: "Florida Curves Dispelling the Myth"

[Shorty]

Here ya go, crackers: Turned up on my FB page:   Calling all road trip fans! Serge’s 2016 Outlaw Fest!
Join hundreds of friends this Saturday in the badlands of Central Florida at Herb’s Limestone Country Club (not really a country club) for a full day of mayhem, featuring Peter Gallagher and the Outlaws of Florida Folk, including Raiford Starke, the J.D. Lewis Band, The Florida Boys, Rita Youngman, with special appearance by Everglades photographer Lucky Cole and his gals, noon to 4 p.m. or later if it's still rockin' ...
From the legendary Mr. Gallagher: “Join national author Tim Dorsey for his newest annual Serge event to celebrate the publication of his latest Florida novel, Coconut Cowboy. Booze, bikers, bikinis, barbecue, ballads and books make for a great day of music and fun in this iconic outback oasis way out here in Middle of Nowhere, Florida USA, smack dab in the town of Limestone (population: 11 ever since Curtis and Ingrid moved away). There will be a raffle, book-signin', hoopin' and hollerin' on a perfectly flamboyant fall Florida flatwoods day.”
Herb’s Limestone web site: http://herbslimestonecountryclub.com/

[pete roper]

Here ya go, crackers: Turned up on my FB page:   Calling all road trip fans! Serge�s 2016 Outlaw Fest!
Join hundreds of friends this Saturday in the badlands of Central Florida at Herb�s Limestone Country Club (not really a country club) for a full day of mayhem, featuring Peter Gallagher and the Outlaws of Florida Folk, including Raiford Starke, the J.D. Lewis Band, The Florida Boys, Rita Youngman, with special appearance by Everglades photographer Lucky Cole and his gals, noon to 4 p.m. or later if it's still rockin' ...
From the legendary Mr. Gallagher: �Join national author Tim Dorsey for his newest annual Serge event to celebrate the publication of his latest Florida novel, Coconut Cowboy. Booze, bikers, bikinis, barbecue, ballads and books make for a great day of music and fun in this iconic outback oasis way out here in Middle of Nowhere, Florida USA, smack dab in the town of Limestone (population: 11 ever since Curtis and Ingrid moved away). There will be a raffle, book-signin', hoopin' and hollerin' on a perfectly flamboyant fall Florida flatwoods day.�
Herb�s Limestone web site: http://herbslimestonecountryclub.com/

I have to say that for me that would be a cataclysmic black hole of awful, but each to their own.....

[DanD]

Jon, I can't really say anything constructive as I've only been to Florida once and know little about it but I hope the move goes well if you do.

Try getting hold of Gary, HDGoose as was, I believe he's in Florida now/again. He'd be a good source for the 'Good Oil'. I believe he had a heart attack recently though? Hope he's OK, He's been quiet of late.

Pete

[DanD]

I'll say it again: If you ride the same old roads you see the same old stuff. 
Only those who are not afraid of getting lost will find "the fun roads".
Sunday I put just under 300 miles on Florida fun roads at speeds running from 75 to 90 mph average & thru some awesome curves.
I crossed over both I75 & I10 but never touched a wheel to a ramp.
Videos will be posted as soon as I figure out youtube should be in the next couple of days.
I think I'll title it: "Florida Curves Dispelling the Myth"

I'm seriously not considering anything I'm going through at 75-90 MPH a curve. That's an on ramp... 

[Shorty]

I have to say that for me that would be a cataclysmic black hole of awful, but each to their own.....

Tim Dorsey is a Florida author who started as a police reporter . He has seen it all. His main characters are Serge Storms, a serial killer with a social conscience, and Coleman, his hopeless stoner sidekick. http://timdorsey.com/tour.html  I love his books. They take you to historical places in Florida, and some of the unique and forgotten small towns. He has book tours like anyone else, but a couple times a years , he has events with bands, food and a little booze as well.  I'm sure someone with a rubber chicken on his bike could escape mostly unmolested, er unharmed...  Try one of his books if you get a chance.