Florida Keys

[AspenRose]

Are the Keys a good place for a liberal to consider retirement?

How diverse is the area?

[ixion]

1. the keys has a wide mix of people...

from artists to fisherman. It's an interesting group, IMO. I lived in Key West for 4 years and loved it. I'll move back someday if I can ever afford. The cost of living is the largest hurdle to moving there. You need a source of income that is not tied to the local economy. If you don't have that, I'd consider somewhere else. Also, real estate is very expensive.

Just my two cents.

[RockaFowler]

2. It's beautiful, but . . .

Real Estate is expensive
Taxes are high
Insurance is almost impossible to get (and expensive)

Everything is a little higher to live there (gas, food, etc).

But the fishing is good and the drinks are cold. What more could you ask for??!?!?

[Loge23]

3. Still nice, but changing

The RE slump has been a silver lining of sorts for the Keys. During the boom, prices were skyrocketing and the place was becoming a multi-millionairies private playground.
One guy told me back then that "pretty soon the millionaires will be mowing the billionaires grass" - in reference to how the working class were being priced out of the Keys.
As far as the political layout, the Keys are not particularly diverse at all, with the small exception being Key West. The mid-upper Keys are probably prodominately to the right.