Frank and I frequently discuss the pros and cons of purchasing real estate in traditional retirement communities throughout the United States.  Without tooting our own horns, we have to say that we believe we have found the perfect retirement paradise in Central Florida.  We live in Cape Canaveral on Florida's East Coast in Brevard County.  Before selecting this spot for retirement, we investigated many other areas of Florida.  Our conclusion was that for our money, our area has everything--except overcrowding.

We live in an 1800 sq. ft. condo on a six acre lake (with catch and release fishing) on the beach.  We have a gated walkway to our own private beach just across the street from our condo.  Meanwhile, we are 45 minutes from Orlando International Airport, which we drive to often to pick-up our families and friends from the Northeast.  At the same time, we are just 50 minutes from all of Orlando's many attractions (Disney, Seaworld, Universal Studios, Conference Centers, Concert Halls, Art Exhibits, etc.)

This fall we purchased a 20ft Regal Deck Boat and took advantage of the many marinas in our area.  We enjoy "valet" boating by calling the marina just 1 hr before our scheduled boating trip.  When we arrive, our boat is in the water--ready to go.  When we are finished, we walk away and the boat is cleaned and serviced before being stored until our next trip.

From our area, we have direct access to both the Banana and Indian Rivers.  We love seeing manatee and dophins on every trip.  As previous city slickers, we have not learned the art of fishing yet, but we do cast our lines into the water and pray that nothing ugly takes the bait.  On the beach, Frank always casts a pole in the ocean because he was told that if you sit on the beach doing nothing, you are a bum.  If you have a fishing pole, you are a fisherman.

This past Saturday, we had the pleasure of viewing a shuttle lauch on the Banana River near Kennedy Space Center.  As we joined a flotilla of hundreds of other boats proudly waving the American flag and cheering and blowing their horns, we felt certain that we made the right choice for retirement. 

Central Florida is the state's last, best-kept secret.  It is beautiful, affordable, and much less crowded and populated than the West Coast.  We highly recommend it to anyone seeking to begin a new stage of life in paradise. Visit us at fpmproperties.com anytime for more info.