Nice place to live if you're an elderly Republican
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12/29/2006
The Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda area is a fast-growing, pleasant place to live. It is well located between Sarasota and Ft. Myers on Florida's Gulf Coast. Demographically, the area is heavily populated by older people and is a popular retirement venue. Paradoxically however, there is virtually no public transportation available to serve an aging population that includes many elderly drivers who do not belong on the road.
Other drawbacks include comparatively low wages and a relatively high cost of living that tends to drive younger workers to other areas. Jobs are generally service and retail related, as there is no industry to speak of in Charlotte County. Consequently, the growth mentioned above is largely caused by a continuing influx of baby-boomers who migrate here for their retirement. For them, Charlotte County is a grand place to spend their "golden years."
It is nearly impossible for a young person on an entry-level income to find an affordable starter home or even an affordable apartment. For many retirees, that is just fine with them, as they tend to resent young people and snowbirds alike. Interestingly, many of the most vocal snowbird-haters were once snowbirds themselves who decided to move here and suddenly became "natives." They don't much care for real native Floridians either.
So, if you're a well-heeled retiree who can afford the property taxes and homeowners' insurance (premiums have more than doubled in the last year), come on down. You'll love it here. Assuming of course that you're a Republican like everybody else. Oh yeah, they don't like Democrats here either.
George | Punta Gorda, FL