patrick.net

Plus Florida has no state income tax and property taxes are low... New York not so much.

I have a theory about the virus spread or lack thereof.
I was in California until late December and the place was almost locked down.
Now in Florida it’s not.
I believe that crowded expensive housing is the difference; housing is vastly cheaper in Florida and less dense.
I know people making $13/hour who have a place to themselves in Florida; in Santa Cruz County they’re all crammed together, especially in Watsonville, where coincidentally the numbers are worse than in Santa Cruz.

Even the homeless in Santa Cruz don’t share their tents usually.

Florida is a tax refuge; that’s why I came down here. I’m not crazy; it’s not very scenic, not very interesting, and has inferior weather compared to California. Its appeal is really the beach and scuba diving and fishing.

Interesting factoid; women from Colombia are known to come visit with tourist visas hoping to snag a guy so they can stay here. They sign up on dating websites here and go hunting.

I met one (not online) and she tried her level best with me. Of course I wiggled out of the tender trap.

Fuck NY. The Verrazzano Bridge toll all by itself is reason enough to stay the fuck away.
I remember when it as $17 (one way), but that changed to $19 (one way), and now is $9.50 each way.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/19/nyregion/verrazano-bridge-toll.html
‘Outrageous’ $17 Toll to Cross the Verrazano Vexes Drivers

zzyzzx says

Fuck NY. The Verrazzano Bridge toll all by itself is reason enough to stay the fuck away.
I remember when it as $17 (one way), but that changed to $19 (one way), and now is $9.50 each way.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/19/nyregion/verrazano-bridge-toll.html
‘Outrageous’ $17 Toll to Cross the Verrazano Vexes Drivers

I remember the first time I got nailed on that bridge. I was only 2 years into my license and figured it couldn't be much based on the turnpike tolls in NJ. I went through it and was like "JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!". You want to hear a funny story. My mom keeps flying from NJ to Florida. Her airfair was less than the gas/tolls/parking to get into NYC. It's less than the train to get there as well. Fucking clown world.

theoakman says

Her airfair was less than the gas/tolls/parking to get into NYC.

Airfare has been dirty cheap the last few months, hell the last 9 months. If you're looking to book something, I'd be looking. I think Covid ends soon and the cheap fares disappear come summer. Fuck tolls though. Used to spend about $8 a day commuting to Chicago. Only positive is the roads were top notch and snow removal was phenomenal. So kind of worth it.

If you like the Caribbean/Mexico, I'd check it out now even with the Covid test restrictions coming back (most resorts pay for it now and ;) ;) will come back negative). Canada basically shut down travel in and out of the country via any means. $2k/pp upon return to Canada to quarantine in hotels. Snowbirds from CAN are roughly 15-20% of the warm weather tourism industry down there. Cancellations are pouring in. If you are flexible you might be able to grab some massive deals between now and the end of April. Not sure about the West coast Baja Sur area that is easier for you CA guys. Get the deals now though. Cheap Covid travel is ending soon. Remember Euros can't get to the Caribbean either without jumping through massive hurdles (3 covid tests and quarantine hotel stays in many places).

WookieMan says

Remember Euros can't get to the Caribbean either without jumping through massive hurdles (3 covid tests and quarantine hotel stays in many places).

French can't get there at all - borders closed.