What better place to retire to than where the proverbial Fountain of Youth was originally searched for and supposedly discovered by Juan Ponce de Leon?   You want active – I think central Florida may just be the most active place you can be with Disney World, Cypress Gardens, Sea World, etc., and, after all, Jerry Seinfeld’s “parents” loved it didn’t they?  Their neighbors were certainly busy at least….

Florida is believed to have been about 300 feet lower than it is now with over twice its land space and was inhabited by over 100 different tribes of Indians.  None of them spoke the same language so it was easy for an outsider to claim it and try to organize it.  Ponce de Leon claimed it for Spain and named it La Pascua Florida, which means flowery Easter, but later the country traded it to Britain in exchange for control of Havana, Cuba.  The U.S. took control of the area in 1819 and it became a state in 1845.

During the late 19^th century Florida became a tourist destination as the railroad expanded into the area to handle all the imports.  The first theme parks emerged inth century it became a major hub for the U.S. Armed Forces and by the early 60’s the Space Race was in full swing.  To date, all manned orbital U.S. spaceflights have been launched from Kennedy Space Center.

Florida’s populations are continuously changing.  It was transformed by the advent of air conditioning and the Interstate.  The Cuban Revolution of 1959 led to a large influx of Cuban immigration.  The state’s climate has led to it becoming a haven for retirees.   The average temperature in summer is 81 and in winter it is 53 in the northern part of the state and 69 in the lower portion. 

Although the state is 22^nd in total area it is 4th in the U.S. for population with over 17 million persons.  With no state income tax, only five states have a lower combined tax burden.  Their economy is based largely on tourism, as over 57 billion a year is spent there per year from over 76 million tourists.  The space industry adds another 4.5 billion, with the economy rounding out with software companies, biotech industries and university research.  Agriculture is also a large contributor to the economy with over 75% of the U.S. oranges being harvested there.  The state is also aggressively pursuing the TV and film industries. Politically, the state is dichotomous in that most of its registered voters are registered as Democrats but the government is Republican controlled.  It is speculated that the state will be a major battlefield for the 2008 Presidential election as 27 electoral votes are at stake.  Let’s hope the hanging chad issue is gone.

Recreationally, Florida has more golf courses than any other state.  The state has 11,000 miles of rivers and streams and 663 miles of beaches.  You can find every major sport there and the extreme fans to go with it.  As a Broncos fan, I will say nothing further…(Ed. Note:  it’s fun to be an editor as I get to throw those things in!

I encourage you to check out this retirement mecca.  K.C. Wilson represents three different communities that you can read about below and she would be happy to answer any questions about life in central Florida.  Keep sending me your questions and comments.  I respond to all of them personally sometimes later than sooner!  We continue to strive to make this an informative site for you.  Next month look for our new quarterly special on international living with a focus on retirement in Mexico and our regular monthly edition with a focus on Texas.  If there is something you’d especially like to know about either, let me know.