My wife and I are planning on moving back to Florida in the next 6-12 months. We've lived in Clearwater/IRB for approx 3 years and are wanting to come back, buy a house (on the water) and settle down.

She can work in Pensacola, Clearwater, Tampa/St. Pete, Naples, West Palm, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami.

Any suggestions on these cities as far as the best boating? We primarily boat in the intracoastal and offshore when the waves are < 3' as we have a smaller (< 30') Baja. Our boating lifestyle consists of 1-2 hr "cruises", sand bar partying and bar hopping by boat. Never been on a Poker Run, etc... but would like to some day.

In Clearwater we loved going to Shephards, The Pub, Gators, Egmont Key, Shell Island, Fort Desoto, etc...

Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Thanks for the awesome forum!!

West coast I would go naples, east coast west palm. I like the west coast, but for me the work is just not there.

IMO Ft Lauderdale, no question. I know others will disagree, but for me it has everything. Easy cruise to Miami and Biscayne bay, also close to Delray and West Palm. Right in the middle more or less.

Haven't done much down there, but just spent a week in west palm. Great little spot there, peanut island. Here it's pretty popular. But if you move there stay east of 95......

I agree, but couldn't afford to be in the "Nice" area of lauderdale, so I went west and north a bit. Easy trailer or run anywhere from North Palm beach to the middle keys.

Thanks guys, I'll look around over in those areas. I've never been on the east coast, just the west side. We love the clear blue water and calm waves on the gulf side.

Her job would rather have her over in the West Palm/Miami area anyway. I just need to find something for me. ha

What type of work do you do?

I'm a Project Engineer/Manufacturing Engineer on the machining side of things.

My wife is a Private Banker/Financial Advisor.

There is work down here for that, may not be the pay you are used to, but the work is here.

I just interviewed at this place yesterday..........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnN-hm-nahI

And have an interview here today............

http://pointblankarmor.com/

Here is where I work now

http://biomet3i.com/

I am a quality assurance tech, and currently supervising a crew of 30, looking to get back to the technical side of things hands on.

In the Naples/Ft myers area you have Athrex and a few others. Maritime Engineering(Don) here on OSO knows that area better, and works in that field on the west coast.

http://www.arthrex.com/