10 Reasons Living in Sarasota is Easier

Every time I return to Sarasota, FL, from a trip "up north", I appreciate how much easier it is to be living in Sarasota:

1. For basic shopping needs, it's only a 10 minute walk from my house. By car, I can find every kind of daily or special shopping I need within a 5-15 minute drive from my neighborhood. For example, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Earth Origins, Richard's Natural Foods, Joann Fabrics, Michael's Crafts, Walmart, Target, Ross Stores, Bed Bath & Beyond, Marshall's, T.J. Maxx, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, Macy's, Petco, Petsmart, Office Max, Pier 1 Imports, and numerous Publix supermarkets, CVS and Walgreen stores. . . all within 10-15 minutes. That's it. Up north, it seems any shopping expedition takes 20 - 45 minutes in the car . . . to each store. For fresh produce, prepared foods, plants, and artisan wares, Sarasota boasts 4 weekly farmers markets. For more elaborate shopping goals, the University Town Center is a huge new upscale shopping mall 20 minutes away, in Lakewood Ranch.
2. For live music, there are more musicians and venues here than one can count. To see the extent of this, check out gotonight.com, which lists most of them.
3. If Sarasota is your primary residence, you can request a Homestead Exemption, which deducts $50,000 from the taxable value of your house, as well as limiting by 3%/year the amount your property taxes can increase. There's also a further exemption for seniors 65 and older with limited income, as well as exemptions for widowed, disabled, blind, and veterans. For more info: Sarasota County Property Appraiser
4. This is obvious but bears repeating: NO SNOW!
5. Small but efficient Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is 20 minutes away, an easy, no-highway drive. 
6. It's only 15 minutes to 2 different world-class beaches, and another 15 minutes to beautiful and tranquil Anna Maria Island, with several more gorgeous beaches.
7. For culture -- theater, outdoor arts and craft festivals, special events and celebrations -- it's hard to beat Sarasota's ongoing roster of fun, people-filled activities. Herald Tribune Ticket
8. For a wide choice of various types of neighborhoods and lifestyle options, Sarasota is truly a community of neighborhoods. What I really like is that I can "hide out" in the peaceful quiet of my neighborhood, yet have easy access to busier districts with restaurants, nightlife, parks and events.
9. Sarasota creates--and maintains--beautiful parks, from extensive multi-acre environments, to dog parks, to vest-pocket parks carved into unexpected spots. 
10. All of the above is available within Sarasota. No need to ever get on a highway if you don't want to drive fast or far.

I'm sure there are more examples . . . and I'll add them as I think of them!