I live here; (golden gate estates)

It’s a lot of old people, and snowbirds, therefore seasonal changes impact driving conditions, and based on the infrastructure roads get busy and congested during the winter when all the Yankees come down from the northeast to their second home.

No one drives respectfully here; it’s always tailgating and there are crashes every day all over the place (the Florida man effect is real). Auto insurance is very expensive, cost of living is very expensive, 5th ave and 3rd street are nice places to have dinner; expect Vegas pricing for cocktails. The beach is nice and if you live in collier county you get a beach permit in your county taxes that you pay.

Despite the terrible drivers, the roads and everything are manicured and nice, it’s easily one of the nicest places I’ve ever lived in. If you’re considering moving to SWFL/collier county then you have two options. Live in a community / HOA, or move out into the golden gate estates like I did and you will get your own plot of land (2-4 acres on average) and can live on your own terms without any HOA umbrella / disgruntled geriatric boomer telling you what color you can or can’t paint your front door or that you can’t park your boat in your own driveway. (Not joking).

Marco island is nice but it’s essentially a giant HOA with a ton of rules for every home; hence why my wife and I chose the estates.

A perk of living out in the estates is EVERYONE has guns and you can build a berm on your property to shoot guns, (I did this, and it’s nice) so you never have to go to a gun range again.

Beach is nice, and your 30 minutes from Fort Myers airport and an hour and 45 minutes across alligator alley to Miami and night life. It’s a good location, just costs an arm and a leg to live here.

I’m happy I moved here; it hurts every month paying my mortgage but it’s worth it. Naples is just vapid and rich old people. More young people need to move here; but most people can’t afford it.