Not to be intruding, but being a life long boater of the Big Blue and AZ river area, I've always had a real desire to live in Florida with a dock just out my back door. Back in the late 60's I had a great buddy I grew up with move from the OC to Del Ray Beach. His family bought a home just off the ICW, my buddy worked at a local marina and commuted using his 17' Boston Whaler. When I'd visit we'd always take his ole man's motorsailer with the whaler in tow and head for Bimini or Grand Bahama Isl.

Moving towards my question, after Kenny D's post and numerous posts and pics from 314 Joey, you guys are killing me here !!! I checked out Isle of Capri using google aerials, also all the way up and down the gulf coast at least up towards Sanibel Island where my wife and I spent a week with a rental boat back in the early 90's.
So where should I be looking, keeping in mind I'm retired, my wife, although a bit younger won't need to work but may want to, she enjoys it, so I'm not looking for million dollar mansions. But more of a 1,500 sf or so 2 bdrm home on a canal let's say. I did notice some canal homes up the Cape Coral area that appear as if it might require all day to reach deep open water, strange.

Which areas should I be focusing on ?

Gulf side versus Atlantic ? I loved the Bahamas, but we really enjoyed scooting around the ICW on the gulf side, lots to explore there.
Kenny D, if I might ask, why Isle of Capri over let's say Marcos Island ? --- I'm just looking for general info, not trying to be snoopy, but obviously you wouldn't be investing this much into such an awesome home without doing so serious homework.

Can a person ENJOY Florida living year round ? We've only vacationed there Nov through Jan, staying on both coasts, Panama City and Key West, so we've traveled around it, just never lived there.

Is summer Floriday more like summer Havasu during the monsoons ?

I promise not to turn this into any kind of debate, hopefully others won't either, just seeking some insight only a local can provide

Kenny D -- seems your awesome new home is about the only one in the area built up to afford surge protection, preference or code ? Love your place and thanks to you now I'm losing what's left of my mind ---- at least my wife thinks so