For three weeks in December 2005, we drove around state of Florida to have a feel of the real estate market. We saw the devastation brought by the hurricanes and got scared of the idea of ever buying a stick-built house in the state. If we ever buy one in the state, it has to be made in solid concrete (hollow blocks reinforced with rebars cemented together, perhaps) a little bit inland and away from the shores. It is also not good to build houses in sandspits and barrier islands which it seemed a lot of people did. We saw houses buried in sands. Inspite of the risks, for retirement, we still love the areas in Clearwater, Panama City, and Pensacola because the beaches are just so incredibly beautiful.