I mentioned allergies (I know you hadn't) because that is by and far the NUMBER ONE complaint of people who either have lived here for a number of years or who have just moved here. If they did a survey of antihistimine and steroid usage for the treatment of allergies in the USA, I am certain FL would rank #1 easily. And it seems to go on forever, every year, as things bloom, blossom and blow around in waves. When one thing finishes (pine pollen) another starts (oak pollen) and then the rains start (mold, etc) and other trees start throwing pollen out. Its not jincapacitating AFFLICTION for many folks here. My daughter and I are both affected, my husband is not. Let me see if I can put this in some sort of "realtime" perspective for you. Some of you may be able to relate to this, some probably won't. I am a distance runner for laffs grins and exercise. I have been for years, I started when we lived in California in the 1980's. My husband is a marathoner, he's originally from Dallas which is way hotter than Florida in summer. California had almost perfect outdoor exercise weather, warm not hot, dry dry dry. Until now my top distance has been the half marathon (13.1 miles). I am training for my first marathon, at the age of 48, which will be the Outer Banks in NC in early November. I am running 35-45 miles a week, outdoors (no treadmill training). On August 3rd I went out for a 16 mile training run. It was in the mid-70's when I started my run at 7:30 AM. My pre-run weight was 127 pounds. I was foolish and only took 8 oz of water with me to start because I was in a rush to beat the heat. I also forgot my Powergel. I had to stop at the grocery store at mile 13 and refill my water bottle. This was at about 9:15 AM At mile 13 1/2 I developed the early signs of heat prostration (visual disturbances, paresthesias (needles and pins, crawly sensation) in my arms and legs, buzzing fingers and hands, nausea, shortness of breath, sweat cessation followed by uncontrollable sweating). I didn't have my phone (stupid me). I was 2 1/2 miles from home and I started to walk. At about 3/4-1/2 mile from my house I couldn't walk anymore. I knew I was going to pass out. So I sat down by the side of the road and hoped someone would happen by to aid me. I was in luck and a member of the Florida Cycle Club who had been out on a 50 mile ride came by and saw I was in distress. He had an extra Sport Gel and a phone. He tried to call my husband but we couldn't get him so he called his wife. She came in an SUV with 24 oz of water and took me home. After cooling down in a cool tub and rehydration with over 64 oz of fluids, a banana, and a bagel, my weight was still only 122 lbs. Still a full FIVE POUNDS down from my pre-run weight. Which means I was probably somewhere around 115-116 lbs at the height of my distress from sweat loss, and had not had a molecule of salt left in my body. I felt terrible all that day and half the next. You may say, "Wow what a story!" but my point is...you don't have to be out running 16 miles in FL to have the same thing happen to you at any time in summer. People who work outdoors are ALWAYS in danger of heat prostration or heat stroke here...the phone guys, cable installers, roofers and other construction workers, lawn crews....the freaking Florida Gator football team at practise...those people have to work out in the heat and its dangerous. THAT'S how serious the heat issue can be here. We do have heat pumps, since our house is a little over 4000 sq ft we have 2, one for each end of the house. My electric bill for cooling is only under $200 a month in early Spring...February and March. From April through November-December it can be anywhere from $250-550 a month. Like I said, this is not the climate for someone who is looking to relocate for ANY kind of health issue unless you are planning to sit inside most of the time. I wish you luck though...if I had been lucky enough to actually get to Costa Rica, I would have NEVER in a million years come back to the US.

I gardened for many years in Charleston County SC Zone 8...By mid July tomatoes were done for because of the heat and humidity. Commercial growers usually shipped their tomatoes north from late May until early July. That is until most closed shop and sold to real estate developers. Some backyard gardeners start a Fall crop in early August. There have been seasons where I harvested tomatoes until Christmas..... Spend my Summers in the NC mountains where my garden starts later but usually get vegetables into early October.

Thanks to both of you for the note, I'm doing well. The storm was pretty intense, but wasn't quite as bad as I expected. I think winds were 60 to 70 mph, weather people warned of up to 100+, and I didn't get to spend as much time readying the shadehouse as I needed. I have lots of debris down from my many live oaks, plants actually rode it out fairly well. So a big, gigantic clean-up necessary but could have been much worse. I appreciate your concern, thank you my friends, Russ

Fort myers is more like a 10a zonewise maybe zone 9b if you are more inland. I am just a tad north of there. You do have to worry about freezes but not often. The plants like tropicals can not take a dip below 32° and can die if the temp holds long. You start to collect old blankets and sheets for that eventuality. When it threatens to dip below 36° my yard becomes mounds of faded floral sheets and pilly blankets and even in a pinch thread bare towels gets wrapped around sheltered container plants. as for veggies...i have no idea what a cold weather veggie is cause i am a florida native and have always known florida fruits and veggies. The main growing season is in the fall and winter and you might get one more crop in the early spring to early summer depending what you grow..i grow bell peppers and green onions and herbs and of course citrus. i failed at cucumbers tho my dad grew them wonderfully. the summers are hot. I try not to garden in july and august because it is so hot...the yard fends for itself with a mow when needed and a little water if the afternoon thundershower fails to show.