Currently thinking of returning to Pensacola
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8/23/2014
I grew up in Pensacola then moved away to college then directly to the San Francisco Bay Area and have more or less lived in California ever since. But as retirement approaches, my wife and I are considering a move back. We even spent an afternoon last week with a real estate pro looking at typical properties while visiting family. We found we could BUY a very comfortable house in one of the best neighborhoods for HALF what our current rent (already a local bargain in Silicon Valley) is. Our pensions and social security will go a long way in Pensacola. No state income tax is another big draw.
First, the climate. People vary in their response to Pensacola's climate - some crave the mild winters and very warm summers, others find the heat and humidity during the long summers oppressive. If you're the latter, like me, there's usually air conditioning. Outdoor life can be constrained by miserable summers so many people only come out at night 4 or 5 months a year. Even the winters can feel colder than the thermometer reading due to the humidity in the air transferring heat away so effectively. A "dry cold" is more comfortable than a "wet cold." But there's a saying, "a cold winter is the best insecticide" which tells you something about the vermin problems.
I found I was well served in my public education (1956 to 1971) when I transferred from PJC to U. of Florida where my preparations for engineering school were superior to most of the students who entered UF as freshmen. Choose your local school district with care though - some are terrible.
While some call the politics "right wing," one could say that the area believes in limited government. Corruption is there but it need not touch one's life and the effects don't seem significant. I love reading the local paper on visits since following the shenanigans of the political class is a popular form of entertainment.
Yes, wages are low and professional opportunities few - my technical talents would have not found a rewarding outlet there. The smart, ambitious locals go into small business or get government jobs (or leave). Pirates used to infest the Gulf Coast - today we call them "lawyers" of which there seems a surplus.
Downtown has been GREATLY gentrified! I expect my wife will become involved in the art gallery scene there. There are many areas of high crime and low cultural expectations (ie slums.) You learn where they are and keep driving. Owning a gun is prudent. The Navy seems to have declined in local impact - the cosmopolitan military population was a great stimulus to the townies like me. Another plus is the nightlife - the tourist trade provides financial support but the locals make the most of it - there's a great blues scene for example.
Perfect places to live are unicorns. One must look at one's life course and balance the compromises. Pensacola has both pluses and minuses.
Joseph | San Jose, CA