It is never too late to do whatever the heck you want to do, Florida is the quintessential place where people come later in life to retire, last time I looked that only happens "later in life" so I don't really understand your concern. If anything, you will find tons of people that did what you are going to do so I say, what are you waiting for?

I just moved away from a area I lived 23 , years. But as another person said check it out for a minute. Florida is different depending on what part you are moving to , I lived on the pan handle and it was not a place I would recommend, many of the people I knew there now live in southern Florida. Depends on what type of environment you like . It’s the South , and I don’t mean to offend anyone but it was still segregated pretty good but that was back in the early 80’s .

An important consideration is how much you like change. I am happy living in a variety of settings and circumstances, but some people relocate and truly regret the move. Having family and friends about will help, but there is no guarantee.

The weather is much warmer in Florida than in Minnesota. Florida also does not have a state income tax. The only thing you have to worry about are hurricanes,

Where you live is your choice but I live as I do in Missouri because I have a $200 mortgage. If I move and increase that along with utilities, etc. and do not increase my income I am in trouble. This is how I look at it. Sometimes others do not understand that and they move to a high dollar area. At my work we are paid twice a month and Friday the assistant manager was showing off his bank account with $4.29 left in it. To live like that I might start thinking suicide.

I would never want to live in Florida. When I was there, for five months, I did not like the heat, the humidity, having to be suspicious of every body of fresh water, not being able to walk dogs on the beach...etc. And, of course, there is the politics. Although, I am sure there are pockets of sanity down there.

I am lucky I guess. I have visited every state; and, although there are states I really like, I didn't find anywhere I would rather live than Oregon. That said, I would prefer to live in a different county. I live in a pocket of conservatism in an otherwise liberal state.

Is it possible to go there for an extended visit to test the waters? Maybe, unlike me, you will love it. Or maybe you will realize that MN is a great place to live after all; or maybe you will want to give somewhere else a try. I guess you just won't know if you don't try.

I moved from England to Australia when I was 49. Just do it. You know if where you are is like an ill fitting shoe.

No point staying where it’s not working for you.

I just hit on the idea of listening to the local public radio station near a destination you are thinking about. KMUN is a great station in Astoria. Listen to the Ship Report on ITunes. kmun.org will also get you there.

I have no experience with any territory east of Colorado. I live in Astoria, Oregon, any further north and I am in the Columbia River or Washington. If I go further than ten miles west I am in the Pacific Ocean. Ninety miles to the east, by road, and I am in Portland, Oregon or Vancouver, Washington, depending on how one gets there. South is the coast highway and about three hundred miles of the greatest coast line in the US. If I were going to go somewhere else I would drive to Waterloo, Canada just to see the area and attend something at the Perimeter Institute. As a place to live I might get the chance to find out as I may be having to move. Perhaps a foreclosure is in my future, I find out Wednesday. I hear the weather reports and anything east of Portland, Oregon is out. I have lived in northern Montana, I have lived in snow and no more, too cold. I have lived in New Mexico, that was a long time ago, that could be interesting. Arizona and California along with Nevada are out as they are too hot. Idaho could be interesting but there are a lot of religious people there. I would like to work, but not for someone who is religious. Colorado could be interesting, I have been to Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder. Further east and the winds can get cold in winter and hot in summer. For me I guess I am where I want to be. Astoria is a great place, but it is not cheap to live here, there is a shortage of low cost housing, the medical servces are great, and it is in Oregon, one of the most liberal states in the Union. If one would want to get a small piece of land and get a tiny house or single or double wide, it is a good place. Liberal but there are red necks here, I guess they are everywhere. Seems I am trying to sell this place as a place to live, I love it but it does rain a lot, summers do not usually get above ninety degrees, in winter it can snow once or twice. One thing about this place. There is a lot of wildlife, between Astoria and Warrenton is a bay that is about two miles across. Both sides are open to hiking, this is an estuary for birds, every day I see Bald Eagles, more aquatic birds than I can count, Pelicans in the summer, Canada Geese, ducks, Giant Blue heron, green heron, and much more. I also have to warn you that if you are driving around on any road watch out for elk and deer. Deer will be in a group of less than four or five, I eat lunch some days with a herd of Elk that number about seventy five. This herd is one of about five in the immediate area.

I have not. I will let you know, though, my own experience with Minnesota. Minnesotans, specifically: they leave everyone in the dust when it comes to compassion. I know I am generalizing a lot here, but I have never met people from anywhere that were as kind and eager to be helpful as I did in the few months I spent in Minnesota. Southern hospitality is a super thin veneer in comparison. That might be something you could find useful to know if you're leaving MN for the south.

MN to FL will be a drastic change, climatologically ans sociologically. First, down to FLA is not very descriptive, one hell of a difference between say the forgotten coast and Miami. Like in TX, its a very red state with pockets of blue.

You will trade your winter 3-4 months, (6 if your way north MN), for a cooling bill which will be 6-8 month long Cost of standard items will vary, some will increase others will drop. Gas is likely to cost less on avg, and milk a lot more.

Either way your dropping one old lifestyle for the one you adopt there. So what do you like to do? Will you be able to do that there, if not is there something you CAN do there but not in MN? Like boating year round?

Are those viable trade offs for you?

Is there ANYTHING in MN you are not willing to lose?

Good luck with your decision tree, I have re-located oft in my life and was bi-coastal (east to west) for years.

Being a Florida native we tend to not wear a lot of clothes, shorts and T-shirts are common everywhere. We get the occasional hurricane but that's a two day event and then back to what passes for normal. Florida is also the right to work for less state, wages have not kept up with housing, food and fuel. I love living on the Space Coast but grew up in the interior. Come for a check out visit!

MOVE!

Well, I moved from Portugal to Ireland 15 years ago. So, it depends on what you want. If you think your relatives in Florida might be something that would make it easier, definitely you should consider as an option. If you move outside of the US, might be interesting for you, a challenge to adapt to a new culture, which might be very hard in the beginning but compensating afterwards.

it comes down to your reasons for moving.

I'm eyeing florida myself. I just visited ft myers /cape coral over christmas...for the first time. I didnt meet the people really, but those I did come across were calm and smiling...and the weather and views were idyllic. As a lifelong tennessean...I firmly believe the grey and 35 degree winters are killing me quicker than the stress of a move to a relaxing place could. Skin cancer is another story, but one just takes the best precautions one can.

You're never too old for big changes Embrace it. Jump in. Your longevity and brain power is likely to be boosted by all the new experience. I'll see you down there when it's feasible!

family is a biggie. i stay in San Diego because of family. otherwise i'd be elsewhere, specifically Colorado. don't rush into a move. visit to see if you like it. there is humidity in Florida.you don't find elsewhere