Where to live Palm Springs or Ft lauderdale? Huricanes or earthquakes.

[rickx]

I have spent a lot of time in the past 5 years in the Ft Lauderdale area and like it very much. I have only had one 3 day weekend in Palm Springs and also like it very much. Living and vacationing are 2 very different things. Has anyone out there ever lived in both areas? They are both very different places with their own sets of pros and cons. obviously I will spend more time in each before I make a decision.

[+ Charlie]

I seriously explored both Ft. Lauderdale and Palm Springs when looking for a place to retire. At the time, real estate in both places was very similar; prices have gone down considerably in PS since then, but I suspect the same may have happened in FtL. FtL is much bigger in itself, and is part of a much bigger metro area, than PS, with all the plusses and minuses that go with both situations. Hurricanes strike south Florida with numbing regularity, whereas the PS area hasn't had a major earthquake in my lifetime; however, if it does come, it is likely to be a doozy. South Florida has more humidity and bugs, but you don't have to worry about a coyote carrying off your cat or puppy. I came to the desert thinking it would be better for my allergies, only to discover that I am allergic to all sorts of things that grow here (e.g., sagebrush! who would have guessed?). FtL has much worse traffic, but it does have a major airport, whereas PS has a lovely airport that is more user-friendly, but it doesn't have many direct flights to places you probably want to go.

 

California is a much more liberal state politically than Florida, but both have serious economic problems, and Florida has lower taxes. Gays are a sizeable minority group in FtL, but nothing like PS, where they are almost 40% of the city's population and dominate its politics. Any man without a wife is automatically assumed to be gay, and any two men together are assumed to be a couple; you never need to explain your relationship when shopping for a car or a mortgage, and the entire medical community takes your sex life for granted. Younger gay couples with children are practically the norm (the mayor of PS and his husband have lovely twins). The gay community in PS tends toward the senior citizen range; anyone under 40 here is likely to find plenty of older admirers. It helps to speak Spanish in both places, but you need Cubano dialect in FtL and Chicano in PS.

 

I hope this helps you make a decision.

[+ newatthis]

I've never lived in either, but have visited and have friends in both. I would add to Charlie's excellent summary the things that a metropolitan area provides (theatre, music, the general hustle and bustle) as a plus for Ft Lauderdale. I love the laid-back feeling and the dry(as opposed to oppressively humid) heat of PS, but after a couple of days there, I find myself tearing my hair out of my head trying to figure out what to do.

 

There seems to be a much, much larger selection of escorts in Ft Lauderdale, including lots of twinks, if that's what you're into.

[+ deej]

If you've been to Palm Springs during the "good" times of the year, make sure you spend a couple of weeks there during the dog days of summer as well. It may be a dry heat, but 120 degrees just isn't agreeable to everyone. Personally, I rather enjoy the heat (more so with each passing year!) but it's not for everyone.

[Steven_Draker]

East Coast vs. West Coast

 

Gays are a sizeable minority group in FtL, but nothing like PS ...

 

Another fact: the city of Wilton Manors is one of the gayest cities in the country. The gay population is estimated between 30 and 50% of the roughly 13 000 inhabitants. Both Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors are part of Broward County, which currently has a gay mayor, Ken Keechl.

 

If I had to chose I'd live part time in Fort Lauderdale and part time in Palm Springs to have the best of both worlds.

[JT Brooklyn]

Palm Springs has more of what you would call a "Mature" Gay Population! As was mentioned IF ya can't stand HEAT for any amount of time PS is not for you.

 

Not that FLA can be a lot of Fun during the Summer either.

[excelntsvc]

as a longtime resident of fort lauderdale, i can assure you that you need not speak Spanish, especially a "cubano dialect", to flourish in this region. Ft. Lauderdale is a culturally rich community with a population that includes many Latin and South American countries as well as residents from across Europe and Asia. Even Miami has moved past its earlier reputation for as "Cuban".

[edjames]

I'm not a big fan of either location, BUT if I had my choice I would chose FL. FL has NO state income tax and the cost of living is less than CA. CA has some of the highest taxes in the country and you'll be hit with some hefty property taxes, state taxes, and utility bills. Yes, PS is lovely, but not so much in summer when the temperatures soar in the 120's! FL, while hot and humid during the summer has a saying "it never hits a 100." Hurricanes are not the norm in FL. A major hurricanne has not hit the Tampa area in over 30 years. I had friends that chose PS over FL and regretted their decision within one year, put the PS house up for sale and moved to NO, until Katrina hit! Every area has it's pluses and minuses. The real estate market in FL is a buyers market and there are some great deals to be had down there, but don't expect them to be in South Beach.

 

ED

[Decatur Guy]

Excellent analysis by Charlie up above.

 

I went to Palm Springs a few years ago and LOVED it. That said, I wonder if you'd feel a bit isolated in the desert after awhile. But PS seemed very special to me. I've often fantasized about living there.

[Epigonos]

Let me start off with the fact that I'm a 70 year old native Californian. With that out of the way I have to say that I'm with the guys who would avoid California at all cost. Personally I hate heat and that includes both wet and dry. Believe me Palm Springs is an inferno in the summer. As to earthquakes they should be considered minor inconveniences – they simply are not a common occurrence.

 

The MAJOR problem with California right now is that it is a financial disaster. State income tax, local property tax and state and local sales taxes are already some of the highest in the nation. The state is facing a deficit somewhere in the neighborhood of 23+ billion dollars. We have a new Democratic Governor, Jerry Brown, and a Democratic majority in both houses of the State Legislature. The governor and legislature are committed to maintaining one of the most generous social welfare programs in the U.S. To balance the budget either major cuts are going to have to be made in programs or taxes are going to have to be increased significantly. To increase taxes in the legislature a 2/3 vote is required and even though the Democrats have a majority they DO NOT have a 2/3 majority and the Republicans have ALL signed a pledge refusing to increase taxes. Supposedly Brown is going to the public in June asking for tax increases by popular vote. He is going to spell out all the draconian cuts he will be forced in implement if the tax increases do not pass and thus hope to blackmail the public into voting YES. The choice appears to be higher taxes OR major cuts. Those cuts would certainly include major cuts in state funds available to counties and local municipalities. We are all expecting major cuts in funding for the maintenance of municipal infrastructure. Many of our city streets and local water systems are in terrible shape already and they are likely to get a whole lot worse in the future.