I heard back from Sansone today with their load calculation. They are saying my total cooling BTU requirement is calculated at 22,984 BTU; but my sensible requirement is 20,394 BTU. A 2-speed 2 ton unit will not provide enough sensible BTUs (around 16K); and a 3 ton will be too much (around 25K) which is over the +15% max parameter. So based on this, that is why they are saying I need a 2.5 ton unit to be sized correctly. The ONLY one they stock is the CA16NA030 (builder model) with the FV4-002 would be priced around $4000. For them to order the 24ABC630 is $600 extra and the 24ACC630 is $1000 extra, saying that it is not recommend. They also said 'for as much as we'd like to sell you a more expensive 2-stage system, your sensible BTU will be under at the 2 ton and over at the 3 ton'. Later today I had another dealer come out (Island Air). I didn't show them the cooling figures I got from Sansone. This other dealer (which is also rated high on Angie's List) said that they could get me the 24ABC630 with FV4-002 for the same $4000 price that Sansone wants for the builder's CA16 model, and the 24ACC630 is $300 more. Then they said as far as a 2 stage 24ACB736 + FV4-002, that I would need the 3 ton, as it would operate at the lower stage (2.5 ton) most of the time and only go to the higher 3 ton stage some in the summer, but only for a short period. It's price at $4600 (same as Sansone, but Sansone says its not the right size). Also, the 5-stage 24AVA936 + FE4-002 would also be at the 3 ton, but with since it has 5 stages, would step down to 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1 ton depending on what is needed. Their pricing it was $5800, again same as Sansone. So at this point I'm not sure which system or dealer to go with.... Sansone (that did the Load Cal) is saying I need 20,394 Sensible BTUs, and the only way to get that is with a 2.5 ton. But the only one they stock is the CA16 builders that I don't want, and their prices for the 24ACC/ABC are way too much. The other dealer (Island Air) doesn't sell the CA16, and the price for their 24ACC/ABC is better than Sansone. But they are also saying that I would be fine with the 2-stage 24ACB736, 24ANB136, or 5-stage 24VNA936, since they would be operating at the lower stage most of time, but at least offer extra cooling BTUs at the higher stage when needed.

Lovin' your wardrobe! As for the 'fancier places? That animal print jacket, with a silk tank top & dressy slacks in the taupe/tan color in the jacket, along with black strappy sandals & bold, gold jewelry-classy!!! The secret in March is to 'layer' so you can take off what you don't need-pending the weather.Capris, a short sleeved or sleeveless top, a jacket or sweater & you're golden. Have fun!!

I'm not very good at landscaping, but I just wanted to warn you not to plant Queen or Washingtonia palms. Landscapers will try to sell you queen palms, but JUST SAY NO! First off, they are messy, dropping dead limbs and seeds everywhere, which come up all over the place and secondly, they grow so tall that you have to hire someone with a boom to trim them, and then they usually do it wrong. Washingtonias don't drop their leaves, and they just hang there like a dead brown skirt. Ugly. Coconut palms are pretty, but they're not very cold hardy, which is why you don't see many north of 10b. Plus, they drop coconuts everywhere and if you have anything growing under them, it gets crushed. Unfortunately, there isn't much in FL that doesn't take maintenance and isn't going to make some kind of mess. get too big or spread into areas where you don't want it. Choose carefully, and research before you put anything in. Make sure to make note of the mature size of the plant to make sure it won't outgrow the space. You said you like the Pampas grass, so I guess you know that once it gets large, you have to cut it back every year with a chainsaw. There are large native grasses that are much easier to care for, like Fakkahatchee grass. Just be sure to cut off the seed heads before it spreads all over your yard. I will suggest a Jatropha tree or bush (two different species). They are not messy and bloom all year. Their only problem is that they can die back in a freeze, but they come right back up from the roots and grow like mad.

It's funny because I live "outdoors" a lot more when I go down to Florida than I do up North - because of the giant lanai! I can spend all day outside by the pool. Up North the mosquitoes just keep me miserable almost all hours of the day. My inlaws live in an HOA (golf community) and I'm sure they must spray because the bugs really aren't bad outside at all. Not sure about the pesticide implications for human health. I only visited Sarasota once in the summer (July) and yes it was hot, but AC everywhere, gorgeous beach weather and cooling rains every afternoon were nice for me. It was maybe 95-100 highs but it was mid-80s the whole time I was down just now in February anyway! Up in Nova Scotia it only gets that hot for a week or two in the summer, but few people have AC so it ends up being a lot more unbearable. At your price you might be able to get a canal-side home if you want to be near the water. I'd love that, but of course with it comes flooding consideration. My inlaws happily come home in April: they prefer the snowbird life.