Living in The Florida Keys

[Sandy Loam]

Actually, Key West already has a bunch of cruise ships stopping there. The route I am most familiar with is: Fort Lauderdale (departure), then Key West, then Cozumel, then Cancun --- or perhaps just stopping in Cozumel with another form of transport to Cancun.

There are other routes too. Apparently the cruise ship companies have found a way to integrate Key West into some of their Caribbean Cruises.

It's very touristy around the port area, Mallory Square and upper Duval Street. The rest of the island is not as uber-touristy. Obviously, the most charming parts are those which have the fewest tourists.

[Walt]

I lived right on the water front in Key West for 13 months -- courtesy of Uncle Sam -- 45 years ago, while serving my last tour of duty in the U.S. Navy. My ship was tied up right where the cruise ships tie up now. Even 45 years ago I thought Key West was too commercialized, but it must be more so now. But that being said, I enjoyed my 13 months there.

[IHB1979]

I have a good friend that was born and raised in Islamorada. Spending time with her, her family and friends over the years I do believe that "island fever" really does exist. With that being said, I would move to that area of the Key's in a heartbeat if the opportunity presented itself.

[waykoolplantz]

re: cabin fever. You dont move to the keys to be busy...you move to be not busy

[Alicehunter2000]

Ran the idea of moving to one of the lesser known Keys past my wife about a month ago....for retirement.....no resistance to the idea....hmm....guess to watch this seed grow will have to fertilize and water it with some vacations down there.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

While "Island Fever" exists in the Keys, it is easily alleviated with a few hours drive up to Florida mainland.

The real problem there is the "manana" attitude. There are a lot of pluses and minuses to this. Laid back, easy going attitude versus never getting projects done on time, missed appointments and so on. There are a lot of million dollar homes close to fisherman shacks too. Kind of identity crisis whether the Keys want to be a rich man's exclusive retreat or an "every-man's escape" from the rat race.

[Sandy Loam]

It seems to vary from island to island down there. Some islands have almost no construction on them. Others have fancy homes or hotels. Others yet have those tiny "manufactured homes" (almost like a trailer) built row on row along canals, each with a small boat anchored to the micro-backyard beside a coconut tree. The latter areas were probably quite inexpensive in the 1970s, but have probably become expensive now based on ocean access.

There is also the problem in Key West of catching "Keys Disease." That is another name for alcoholism. I don't understand why so many people turn into alcoholics when they move to Key West, but it's apparently a big problem there, or so I am told.

[DoomsDave]

It seems to vary from island to island down there. Some islands have almost no construction on them. Others have fancy homes or hotels. Others yet have those tiny "manufactured homes" (almost like a trailer) built row on row along canals, each with a small boat anchored to the micro-backyard beside a coconut tree. The latter areas were probably quite inexpensive in the 1970s, but have probably become expensive now based on ocean access.

There is also the problem in Key West of catching "Keys Disease." That is another name for alcoholism. I don't understand why so many people turn into alcoholics when they move to Key West, but it's apparently a big problem there, or so I am told.

I don't think Keys Disease is so much a matter of alchoholism as the "sufferer" just gets so laid back that people expecting a more aggressive attitude (including, perhaps, the sufferer) get pissed or worried.

http://lynncrawfordsays.blogspot.com/2012/02/keys-disease-defined.html