As retirement approaches, there's a good chance you have Florida on your mind — conjuring dreams of warmer temperatures and a lost shaker of salt. After all, it’s the quintessential post-working world existence — so we're told. But is it right for you?
Before you take the Florida plunge, let us offer some earnest advice: Try before you buy. Spend some serious leisure time in the Sunshine State. Just be sure to skip the hotel and instead rent an Airbnb in a residential area you’re interested in, or park your shiny new RV in an RV-friendly place in Florida. Introduce yourself to the neighbors, shop and dine locally, and observe the rhythms of life. Stay a few days — or, better yet, a few weeks — and, as the realities of Florida living sink in, you might not like what you see.
