Nice weather but often hostile environment
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7/21/2013
The Sarasota-Bradenton area might be right for you if you’re from the Northeast. I’m from the Midwest and I’ve lived here two years. Except for Latinos, the vast majority of the population is from New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, or some other northeastern state. Considering Florida is geographically part of the South, the demographics are here are nothing but weird. My experience has been that people here are often rude and antisocial, although you will hear the word “socialize” a lot for some reason. I have a foreign language degree, and I have been to nearly a dozen different countries. People in Sarasota are definitely not nice.
There are many ex-military people here, or recent veterans and military retirees. Many of them have no concept of civilian law and therefore no qualms about breaking it. So don’t be surprised if you meet with massive privacy invasion, slander, or even stalking by former soldiers and sailors. All this should come as no surprise considering that the military has a history of prisoner torture and a current epidemic of crimes against women in the military. This is obviously condoned or even encouraged. Florida has a high crime rate compared to other states.
Healthcare is mediocre at best. There is only one major hospital. Doctors and other healthcare people can be surprisingly rude for no reason at all.
Sam | Gulf Gate Estates, FL