TAX COLLECTOR - SOCIAL SECURITY and ICE CREAM

Raspberry Cheesecake Dipped in Chocolate

If you are a “northerner” the Tax Collector is known as the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicle).  There is a real good reason Florida calls it the “tax collector” because they collect every tax you can think of at this place, all under one roof.  Think of it as one stop shopping.

·       Driver license

·       Vehicle and vessel registration

·       Property taxes

·       Hunting and fishing license

·       Business taxes

·       CWL

You are going to need more than just your piggy bank

if you are planning on becoming a Florida resident.  Check out the county website and you will find all the required documents that you need to have with you when you register your vehicles and apply for your driver’s license.  One thing they fail to tell you…you must have with you every vehicle you own and plan to register with you at the tax collector.  They will physically walk out the door and look at the VIN of your car.  So if you have more than one vehicle, be prepared to get all of them there or you will be making more than one trip (we had to leave and come back with both vehicles).  To make a long story short our final bill was just shy of $1000.00!  The good news is they give you a driver’s license that does not expire for nine years (a scary thought in some cases).  You can also pay for two years on your plates.  Florida does not have state income tax (yeah) so I guess they must collect your money somehow.  Romans 13: 6-7 does say; This is why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.  Give everything what you owe him:  If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue then revenue:  if respect, then respect; if honor then honor.  Jesus also said; “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s. (Matthew 22: 15-22). 

ICE CREAM

Now that you made it past the tax collector what better way to swallow that bitter pill then with ICE CREAM!!

Right on Bayshore between the “2”- 41’s is the best ice cream, at the best price; Twistee Treat!  Two double dipped cones covered in chocolate for $7.06. We all scream for ice cream.  They have countless flavors to choose from including soft and hard ice cream.  I had a raspberry cheesecake dipped in chocolate, YUM!

  

IN REGARDS TO SOCIAL SECURITY

We were given some good advice and I am so thankful we listened.  Make an appointment before you go.  Because if you think the lines are long at the DMV…pulling into the parking lot at Social Security we were fortunate to find one spot way out yonder in the back.  When we walked through the door there were a minimum of one hundred people maybe more.  Head straight to the registration station and sign in.  Turn up your hearing aid because you may just miss your name and number being called.  We made a 9:30am appointment and to our surprise they were on time and it took less than thirty minutes for Dan to sign up for social security.  The gentleman who helped us was very knowledgeable and polite.  He answered all of our questions.

Now for the rest of the story, get out and enjoy some of that Florida sunshine and follow it up by an evening out in beautiful downtown Fort Myers for a most romantic sunset.  Life is good…livin the salt life…

GOOD BYE MICHIGAN - HELLO SUMMER 24x7

August of 2015 we sold our beautiful lake front home in Plainwell, MI. 

Living on adrenaline is what I would say transpired over the next eight weeks.  We accepted an offer on our house and the buyers wanted to close within seven days and that is exactly what happened.  Fortunately we were smart enough to ask for thirty days to move out.  So how does one rid themselves of thirty seven years of stuff in order to move across the country?  Well some stuff was sold, however the bulk of it was given away.  Not knowing what size our next home would be we decided; if it did not fit in an 8X8X16 foot pod we were not taking it.  So we handed the keys over to the new owners on September 2^nd went to our daughters for the night and headed out via plane on September 3^rd to find our new home and start…living the salt life.

I thought I had done my homework over the last few years knowing this was the adventure we were aiming for; but as Gomer Pile would say; surprise, surprise, surprise!!

Dan wanted a house and I wanted a condo and with that in mind we looked at both options.

~LEARNING CURVE~

• ·       If you are thinking condo and you have a furry friend you have just cut out about 85% of the available condos in your price range.  We decided we could not possible part with Teak so I did not succumb to temptation and even peek at condos where pets were the forbidden “fruit”.
• ·       If you are looking for a condo all HOA’s are not alike and be sure you check out how much money they have in their reserves or you be surprised when special assessments hit your door or they raise your HOA fees.
• ·       If SW Florida is your chosen destination…living in Cape Coral is going to cost you $2.00 to cross the bridge every time you go home (leaving home you have a get out of jail free card).  By the way no one we encounter during our real estate search bother to tell us that.
• ·       If you are a boater and you buy on one of those wonderful channels…to get out to the Calossahatchee and the gulf you may have locks to go through.  By the way no one we encounter during our real estate search bother to tell us that.
• ·       Living on Sanibel Island and crossing over the bridge will cost you $6.00 every time you want to go home (leaving home you have a get out of jail free card).  By the way no one we encounter during our real estate search bother to tell us that either.

Thankfully the Lord had our back and we did not buy in either of those locations even though we looked at several properties for sell in Cape Coral. 

• ·       If you are a northern and you heard cost of living is cheaper in Florida, anywhere near the coast it is much higher.  So, be prepared grocery shopping will send shock waves though you as well as dining out.  Fear not I have found some good dining out secrets I will share soon.

Twin Full Lobster with fries & coleslaw $19.00

FleeMasters Flee Market Fort Myers

Coupon BO/O 50% off

Parrot Key Fort Myers Beach

I really am not a Debbie Downer and we love our new Floridian lifestyle; hang tight cause awesome adventures are soon to be shared.

Proverbs 24:3  By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

LIVING THE SALT LIFE

I have had some encouragement from others to share our adventures of "living the salt life".  We moved to SW Florida to call it home one year ago.  It truly has been a great adventure.

I have not blogged in a long time but I am beginning to believe now is the time to pick up where I left off , with a twist...the salt life.

More to come in a few days!!