Speak to me of Ocala

[SusanO]

I am in the south but not in Ocala. I love me a PubSub but I sure don’t buy my groceries there. Unless it is a BOGO on ice cream. Lord they are expensive! Same stuff as the local Walmart but a few bucks more expensive for everything. I would be bankrupt (OK my horses would be eating cheap hay) if I had only that choice for groceries.

I have a friend that bought a farm in Ocala during the early days of WEC. She is in that income tax bracket that does not compare grocery prices, unlike me. She also has a farm here with an indoor for the summer so she gets the best of both worlds. If you can snowbird financially Ocala probably would be great. Lots more dressage opportunities than Alabama, that is for sure.

[Laurierace]

I always say Ocala is Iowa with palm trees. It’s hot as balls in the summer and cold in the winter. Not as cold as Iowa but cold enough. WEC is gorgeous, truly a horse mecca but Ocala itself is pretty sparse as far as amenities go for people but it is probably about as nice as it gets for horses in Florida as you can find actual turnout in fields.
I am spoiled by the lifestyle in Wellington as there are countless great restaurants and things to do but it isn’t likely to help your looking for a lower cost of living

[StormyDay]

I’ve got property in Ocala so I’ve been there in all the times of the year taking care of it. Nothing like digging fence post holes in August. (I also lived in Miami and Ft Lauderdale so I am no stranger to the heat of Florida.)

The grocery store variety does leave something to be desired in the Ocala area. I actually think Publix has pretty good prices though? And, for some reason, prepared food is cheaper in the Ocala area than the mid Atlantic.

As far as horse keeping; hay is always going to be expensive when it has to be trucked in. It’s the trade off of not having winter; the cool season grasses won’t grow. However; the hay down there is some of the nicest hay I’ve ever seen. To the point I’ve contemplated hauling alfalfa back with me for my old guy with no teeth.
If you can purchase by the semi load you can save a lot of money on hay.

I don’t think anyone moves to Florida to save money though. Especially the Ocala area; too many tack stores to be saving money!

[bingbingbing]

Food prices increased everywhere. In FL there is (aside from Publix) Aldi, Walmart, Winn Dixie, Trader Joe’s and others to shop at. And I jump up and down like a happy Lab when I see the Kroger’s truck roll in; more because I didn’t need to leave me beautiful farm and see people.

@Laurierace

I always say Ocala is Iowa with palm trees.

That is SO far off. No comparison. I lived in Iowa. And now live in Ocala.
Weather, show venues and trainers, just to start.

[Laurierace]

I was referring specifically to the weather and how rural it is once you get a block outside of town. You don’t need to agree, just my opinion.

[bingbingbing]

@Laurierace

I was referring specifically to the weather and how rural it is once you get a block outside of town. You don’t need to agree, just my opinion.

I cannot agree. It’s not my opinion that the weather is very different from Ocala, FL
and Iowa.

The worst time to visit Iowa

November to February is the worst time to visit Iowa as the state lies in the grip of severe cold weather and extreme temperatures.
Cold waves from the Canadian north are common during the winter, with the lack of natural barriers to the polar winds in the form of high mountain ranges. Many towns accumulate snow in moderate amounts during the winter and days are rarely above freezing in the majority of Iowa. Winter is an off-season due to the lack of mountain slopes and the soft nature of the snow, which is not useful for exciting adventure activities.

[INoMrEd]

From what I have read it sounds awful, and I’m in Los Angeles!

[DLee1]

If I guessed I’d say your braider went up $5 due to pain and suffering from the now summer weather after reading these posts!
And I can’t say I’d blame her.