How practical is Florida in the summer?

Im currently in Southern California and have tried places like San diego,temecula,nice beach areas like hermosa beach

I am finding tht California is overpopulated and bad air quality and want to go somewhere where there is less people

I was thinking palm coast,Fl as it's probably the best I felt for my autoimmune conditon only being outdoors or in the car

Still have some ptsd from mold.exposure at my section 8 apartment in Naples,FL where lease expires in January

It seems very challenging to find a safe/reasonably comfortable place

I tried my parents house in VA and couldn't tolerate the mold as well as a friend's in redonda beach,ca

It's going to be tough for me to tolerate living in buildings.Ive thought of looking to places to transfer the voucher when the lease is up in January and for the reason above I'm not sure about sect 8 housing.

What if I get an apartment in rural Alabama and the same thing that happened in Naples happens again

I tried blm land around sedona,Az and just feel out of breath at the higher altitude

Besides the southeast and maybe small towns in Mexico I'm not really sure where else to head as it's tough living off 900/month in disability and waking up to traffic noise which agitates my nervous system

Thank you guys and Gals

If you have any congenital health issues, as you are likely aware, Florida in summer is not likely an ideal place for you.
Unless you are in 100% climate-controlled areas with copious amounts of A/C and low humidity.

I need to head back up north in mid-April, as the humidity becomes almost unbearable as the years pile on!

Good luck on your decision...

If you love baking in the hot sun and almost 80 degrees at night.... come join us.

"What if I get an apartment in rural Alabama and the same thing that happened in Naples happens again"

I live in rural Alabama and I wouldn't recommend it for you with the sensitivities you listed - My sinus's are blocked solid half the time and my allergies are in overdrive during mold and pollen season, apartments are few and far in between too (I'm really rural). Not being Debbie Downer here, just a fact...

Good Luck!

Cheers

FL in summer is suicide. That said, I've survived 70 of them. If possible, flee north in spring and return in November.

Mold issues are going to happen in humid areas including the coastal areas. Or you can get them in dry areas in the summertime from swamp coolers that are not properly sanitized on a regular basis to kill mold spores. No doubt there are plenty of list on the internet for places suitable for outdoor living year around for someone with autoimmune issues.

Might slowly acclimate yourself to higher altitudes for the summer months, Davsey, so that you will eventually not be so short of breath at elevation.

I also live at or below sea level, but can handle the cooler elevations I love if I plan some time to adjust.

The upper peninsula of Michigan is pretty hospitable in the summer months, but the southeast is very hot and humid.

I know this wasn't in my van, but in 2018 we crossed from St Petes to Key West across the everglades. We left at 5:30 in the morning, and it was already 98F. Its a 3-4 hour trip across the one lonely highway, with not a single tree the entire trip. If it was not for the little tourist stop midway, we would of cooked on the full dresser cruiser style motorcycles we were on...that being said, when we got to Key West, we had to stay a full extra day just to rehydrate ourselves....it was no a fun trip, and I definitely wouldn't want to do it a second time. BTW, that $6 they charged us for a little ice cream bar was worth every penny!!!

We have these little critters called No-see-ums. So small they can fly thru regular screen. They will give you a whole new outlook on life. We do not camp in the forests in summer because of the heat, usually 100+ and ticks are everywhere. Gators in every freshwater lake and pond so forget about bathing or swimming, oh and the freshwater brain eating amiba that get in your ears, certain death. Very few places for disbursed camping, Ocala National Forest, but I would highly advise personal protection. No dispersed camping on beaches, some state parks. To get into the popular state parks on the water, Sebastian, Bahia Honda, Pennekamp booked a YEAR in advance. Everglades (Flamingo) NP best time is right after a big cold front blows thru in Jan or Fed. Any other time the skeeters will be so bad you won’t be able to get out of your truck. If you hit it right the place is a paradise. If you hit it wrong we just turn around and go home. Florida November thru March…..fantastic! Any other time….welcome to hell. We do all our camping in summer in the Smoky Mts. Pix was in camp in the shade.

FlipperFla said:

We have these little critters called No-see-ums. So small they can fly thru regular screen. They will give you a whole new outlook on life. We do not camp in the forests in summer because of the heat, usually 100+ and ticks are everywhere. Gators in every freshwater lake and pond so forget about bathing or swimming, oh and the freshwater brain eating amiba that get in your ears, certain death. Very few places for disbursed camping, Ocala National Forest, but I would highly advise personal protection. No dispersed camping on beaches, some state parks. To get into the popular state parks on the water, Sebastian, Bahia Honda, Pennekamp booked a YEAR in advance. Everglades (Flamingo) NP best time is right after a big cold front blows thru in Jan or Fed. Any other time the skeeters will be so bad you won’t be able to get out of your truck. If you hit it right the place is a paradise. If you hit it wrong we just turn around and go home. Florida November thru March…..fantastic! Any other time….welcome to hell. We do all our camping in summer in the Smoky Mts. Pix was in camp in the shade.

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Any suggestions on places to boondock between Naples and Sarasota? I'm in Portland now, AZ next door a few weeks then I wanna head east to visit my kid in Cape Coral around Christmas. I don't wanna park too close, his father likes to make my life difficult so like an hour ish in either detection from Cake Corral would be cool.

I'm already nervous about the bugs, I grew up around DC and I can't even handle that level of humidity anymore. I was in FL for like 2 days to attend a convention in Feb 2020 just before the world shut down and I remember it being kinda thick... My body isn't at all a fan of being at sea level although my heart and brain absolutely love being on a beach... Bittersweet

that420vanchick said:

Any suggestions on places to boondock between Naples and Sarasota? I'm in Portland now, AZ next door a few weeks then I wanna head east to visit my kid in Cape Coral around Christmas. I don't wanna park too close, his father likes to make my life difficult so like an hour ish in either detection from Cake Corral would be cool.

I'm already nervous about the bugs, I grew up around DC and I can't even handle that level of humidity anymore. I was in FL for like 2 days to attend a convention in Feb 2020 just before the world shut down and I remember it being kinda thick... My body isn't at all a fan of being at sea level although my heart and brain absolutely love being on a beach... Bittersweet

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There is no boondocking in that area. It is all private property. Ian trashed the whole SW Coast. There are no campgrounds, State Parks in that area open. Thousands of people have been displaced, their homes completely destroyed. If you don’t live there I suggest staying away. Anything along the St Johns River the whole way up thru the center of the state is still flooded and closed and debris is still everywhere. Now millions of mosquitos and contaminated water full of sewage that really stinks. Not a good time to visit Fl.

FlipperFla said:

There is no boondocking in that area. It is all private property. Ian trashed the whole SW Coast. There are no campgrounds, State Parks in that area open. Thousands of people have been displaced, their homes completely destroyed. If you don’t live there I suggest staying away. Anything along the St Johns River the whole way up thru the center of the state is still flooded and closed and debris is still everywhere. Now millions of mosquitos and contaminated water full of sewage that really stinks. Not a good time to visit Fl.

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I wasn't planning on heading that way until the end of December and yeah, Ian came in right over top of my kids neighborhood but they've recovered pretty much so far in their little area anyway. They were out of power for like 16 days or something

Ive been to Tomoka State Park... Colt Creek... and Ocala... the last location has the most Skeeters. Colt Creek has an equestrian trail and camping for horses, but separated by about a 1/4 mile. Tomoka is very sandy, but close to the Ocean. There is a place just east of Astor, but its small, and they have long term camping.

that420vanchick said:

Any suggestions on places to boondock between Naples and Sarasota? I'm in Portland now, AZ next door a few weeks then I wanna head east to visit my kid in Cape Coral around Christmas. I don't wanna park too close, his father likes to make my life difficult so like an hour ish in either detection from Cake Corral would be cool.

I'm already nervous about the bugs, I grew up around DC and I can't even handle that level of humidity anymore. I was in FL for like 2 days to attend a convention in Feb 2020 just before the world shut down and I remember it being kinda thick... My body isn't at all a fan of being at sea level although my heart and brain absolutely love being on a beach... Bittersw

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Water management districts, deep creek preserve is in that area. Reserve it as soon as you can. They are 7 day stays so you could do two reservations and relocate in between stays. We did a month in west florida last winter, the SWFWMD are super nice. Not sure what its like down there since Ian though. Myakka has a hike in camp.