La Lluvia EluZIHva

Be careful for what you wish for. I'm in Atlantic Beach outside of Jacksonville Florida where my wife grew up. The locals here lament that there is no more summer offseason. Every day, there are more tax refugees coming from places like New York and New Jersey. Housing prices have doubled here in the last five years, meaning it's tough to be a tradesperson, live at the beach and surf when the waves are good.

Yes, I'm an unrepentant former Floridian thankful for living there during Florida's better days before much of the state got ruined by developers and the onslaught of snowbirds moving there. I can empathize with what the locals feel. But at least there are alternative industries for them to work in, so they don't have to depend on tourism. A lesson learned in the 60's and 70's in the Sarasota-Bradenton area back when I lived there. Unfortunately, in all of Florida's city and county governments it appears their councilpersons have never met a developer whose money they didn't like. Now most all the coastal communities have to put up with overcrowded roadways year round. It was great back in the 70's!