What is it like to live in Fort Myers? (Fort Myers Beach: insurance, job market)

[Berteau]

I'm from the midwest where it's gloomy and cold 1/4 of the year and vacationed to Fort Myers recently. I was blown away by the nice warm January weather. It's literally depressing in the midwest this time of the year. While in Ft Myers I had fantasies about quitting my job, moving close to the beach, and getting a job as a bartender.

I was wondering what the day to day life is like down there. What type of community is it? Is Fort Myers mostly retirees and tourists? Are locals to themselves? Does it have a big city feel, suburban, or a small down feel? Are people generally happy there? Is it boring at all? Do people move out often?

[logybogy]

I'd say it is awesome if you have a lot of money and a struggle if you don't like pretty much anywhere else in the country now. Before you get too invested in your Florida dream, research the local job market in your field or investigate if you can bring your current income remotely.

[chiluvr1228]

Our beautiful January weather morphs into hot, humid and sticky around April or May. It gets earlier every year. You will have your a/c running while making Thanksgiving dinner and decorating your Christmas tree. Then we have hurricanes; the last bad one in September of 2022. Some people still have blue tarps on their roofs. Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel were heavily damaged.

People that don't live here assume we spend a lot of time at the beach. We don't. The traffic to get there is awful, the cost to park is outrageous and the water isn't crystal clear like the east coast because of the frequent releases from Lake Okeechobee. The pay is a joke, housing has become unattainable for many and forget your homeowner's insurance rates.

I would consider Northern Florida if I was going to pick anywhere. At least they have seasons and the closest beach is much nice than here in Lee County.

So many people dream about how wonderful it would be to live in Florida. Very few realize that dream.