Sarasota, Florida
-
2/3/2009
Except for seven years of college and grad school, I've lived in Sarasota my entire life (I'm 50), so I've experienced this area through several age brackets.
The weather and beaches are extremely good here. I believe Sarasota has great health care for a small city and it is known as a center for the arts. Retirees of means love it here.
The economy, though, depends heavily upon tourism and real estate development/construction. The latter is flat now in Feb, 2009 and tourism revenue appears to be down compared to past years. This makes it tough on blue-collar workers and those with high school (and less) educations. Working wages tend to be lower here. The old saw is that part of your com,pensation is paid in sunshine.
Retirees and professionals who move to Sarasota will love it. blue collar workers will find keen competition for jobs and probably lower wages than they would find up north.
Ed | Osprey, FL