Read about a variety of topics and get links to interesting or important websites.

Four Chambers of Commerce in the Area

Local Government Information

Schools and Hospitals

Homeowners Insurance

Are you happy with your Energy Bill?

Deck the Halls with LEDs

Fun Places, Restaurants, and Furniture Stores

Florida Facts

Relocation Information

Survival Tips

More Information about other Creature and the Weather

Sunbathing

Local Government Information

Local Government Information

Useful government information for Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte County.

Here you will find more information about the local governments and tax collector. You can also check the current weather conditions to see if you could live in Florida. More..

Schools and Hospitals

Fun Places, Restaurants, and Furniture Stores

Read more details about fun places, Movie theater, places of interest, and restaurants. There are over 100 restaurants in Sarasota alone. There is no need to go to bed hungry. However, our list is far from being complete. This is only a small number of what you can expect, but maybe something you can use to start exploring. Ask your friends or neighbors also which restaurants they like. But if you are adventurous, and you were at least adventurous enough to do the move to Florida, you might want to explore some restaurants yourself. Trust your taste buds! The will guide you through the process. More...

Florida Facts

Facts and stories about the Sunshine State. Some people just love "boring" numbers.

What is all the hype about Florida? In the early stages, Florida was recognized as a mosquito infested "redneck paradise." Okay, that was a long time ago. But there are still some pockets in Florida, where you will find that "Old Florida."

In the course of time, Florida became known as a tourist trap and retirement heaven...and a place where alligators were watching rocket launches. Now Florida has passed New York as the nation's third largest state and it is getting more sophisticated. More...

Relocation Information

Relocation Information

Help me relocate to Florida! A move to another state - or even another country - is a significant step. You are not just changing a location, you are changing your lifestyle, your entire life. You will have new neighbors, you will meet new friends.

Therefore, a lot of consideration and preparation is necessary if you want to make that step. But on the other hand, the right moves can also set you free from problems like high living expenses, a dead job market or just a case of location-based boredom. However, there is no doubt that it will come with significant changes. More...

Survival Tips

Survival Tips

How to survive in Paradise Part One: Stingrays and Sharks.

The beauty of Florida is that you still live right smack in the middle of nature. Well, in Miami or Tampa you might have to drive a few miles, but after a few minutes, you will meet mother nature, too.

So, what does that mean? While swimming in the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico, you will be sharing the water with other creatures as well. Most "creatures of the sea" are harmless. You may not even notice that they are "watching you." Therefore, we have not a single recorded Grouper or Redfish attack.

Sharks do "attack" swimmers occasionally, but the chance of getting attacked is entirely overrated. To get stung by a stingray or by a jellyfish is more real, although you can always minimize the risk. If you know a little bit about those creatures, you will get along with them. More...

More Information about other Creature and the Weather

More information about weather and creatures

How to survive in Paradise Part Two: Alligators, Red Tide, and Bad Weather.

Alligators are part of the equation in Florida. When there is a waterhole or canal, be prepared that there will most likely be a gator hanging out. Nobody, except some drunken young kids, would jump into a body of water he doesn't know, and nobody would 'tease" a gator, no matter what the size. They can be fast, they can jump, and they can....bite or kill.

Fortunately, there was a negligible number of fatal accidents with gators within the last 50 years. The vast majority of those accidents could have been avoided by "activating the human brain" before doing stupid things.

Red Tide is something you can not avoid. Once in a while, it is just there. For whatever reason, the population of Karenia Brevis, a singled celled dinoflagellate, "explodes". They produce a very potent neurotoxin which kills fish, birds, and even large mammals. The neurotoxin and the stinky carcasses make a real mess. You can only wait until this is over.

Bad weather can happen in Florida, too. In the summertime, you will see thunderstorms almost every day. After 30 minutes, the show is usually over. But beware of lightning strikes. You have a greater chance of getting struck by lightning than getting eaten by a shark or alligator.

Sunbathing

Sunbathing Tips

How to survive in Paradise Part Three: Everybody wants a "little" suntan.

On a bright summer day, your skin is dealing with a UV index of 10+, which is extremely high. It takes only 15 minutes of sun exposure without protection (between 11 and 2 PM), and the skin is already turning red. A tan is usually bad news for your skin. Tanning is in fashion. But ask your dermatologist:" Pale is the new tan." More...

Need someone watching your home?

Home Watch Service. We keep an eye on your Property while you are gone.

Not everybody wants to stay in Florida all year round. Family, friends or a cooler summer are some of the reasons why not every homeowner wants to stay 365 days per year. However, not everybody feels comfortable leaving home for an extended period without supervision. New home monitoring technology has become very affordable and helped a lot. But many times a real person could prevent costly damage. For example, a small wet spot on the ceiling is hardly visible on one of those little cameras. When it is visible on camera, it is most likely already a major problem. More...

More information

Read about a variety of topics and get links to interesting or important websites.

Four Chambers of Commerce in the Area

Useful government information for Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte County.

Schools and Hospitals

Read more about Schools and Hospitals.

Homeowners Insurance

What homeowners need to know about homeowners insurance!

You are not Happy with your Energy Bill?

Fun Places, Restaurants, and Furniture Stores

Florida Facts

Relocation Information

Survival Tips

More information about weather and creatures

Sunbathing Tips

Need someone watching your home?

Home Watch Service. We keep an eye on your Property while you are gone.

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