A few days before the inauguration of Donald Trump, RTL info decided to focus on Florida. The president-elect won more than 56% of the votes (6.1 million) in this state. It is therefore a strategic stronghold for Trump, who also has his main residence there, Mar-a-Lago.
With its 240 days of sunshine per year and average temperatures of 28°C, Florida is attracting more and more European retirees. Guy, a former Belgian manager, chose to settle down in Miami, in the popular Coconut Grove district, to enjoy a retirement under the palm trees.
“Brussels is my hometown, so I know it well, I really like living there, I always go there with great pleasure. But the climate is the climate. All the winter months are painful, and even until April, it’s the lack of light that affects us a lot”confie Guy.
Coconut Grove, known for its bohemian atmosphere and lush vegetation, appealed to this former manager. “We narrowed our choice to this neighborhood for the atmosphere and the vegetation. It’s the oldest neighborhood in Miami, it’s here that the city was born”he explains.
In his garden, bougainvillea, palm trees and tropical plants replace the traditional trees of Belgian gardens. “In Belgium, what would I have? An oak, an apple tree or a weeping willow”he jokes.
A retirement at a high price
But living in Florida comes at a cost. To enjoy a comfortable living environment, it is estimated that you need a pension of at least 4,000 euros per month. And housing prices, especially in Miami, are a real challenge.
“Rentals have become excessively expensive”notes Guy. Pointing to a house next to his, he specifies: “A house like that rents for $40,000 a month. And even a small house on the street is $10,000 a month.”
Despite the distance, Guy was able to recreate a community around him. “It always gives us pleasure to speak our mother tongue”says one of his friends. In Coconut Grove, there are many French speakers: Belgians, French, Swiss and Luxembourgers live there.
However, English is not always the most widely used language in this part of the state. “In the south of the city, the common language is Spanish”specifies Guy, who lives surrounded by Bolivian, Ecuadorian, Mexican and Brazilian neighbors.
A key political state
Florida, often considered a swing state, is divided between Democrats and Republicans. But Coconut Grove, where the retiree lives, remains a Democratic stronghold.
“The Grove is an eminently Democratic neighborhood, with an intellectual population: university professors, doctors, etc.”he emphasizes.
With 20% of the state’s population over the age of 65, Florida continues to attract retirees from around the world, attracted by its climate and quality of life.
Guy, for his part, does not regret this choice, which allowed him to combine the sun, nature and a rich cultural life, while remaining connected to his French-speaking roots.
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