Has anyone here lived in Key West?

" Unique" doesn't necessarily have a positive connotation.

12 years. Small cottage in Old Town near the cemetery and then New Town in a bigger house with own pool.

The weather is fantastic 10 months of the year. Nice restaurants, cycling-friendly, Amazon makes shopping easier, pretty laid back to a point.

But...wildly expensive, the bad hurricanes (Wilma and Irma) and the constant fear of the big one plus the long evacuations, and salt-water Conchs can be assholes. The cruise ship/tourism conveyor makes Old Town unpleasant much of the time except mid-summer when we have the island to ourselves. The charming retro airport was ruined by a boondoggle of unsafe architecture (with deaths in the constructions), and bigger planes brought bigger, more awful people. The two main gay bars - 801 and Bourbon St - are often taken over by straight tourists (nothing like the Copa before it burned down). And it's become Trumpier and more Flamingo Roadish corrupt. I sold and left for Europe.

I miss it and I'll go back to visit this winter. But you can do better island/beach/gay-friendly living in other places for less money.

Why are salt water conches assholes?

was just there and the whole vibe was very white trash and trumpy. i saw several assholes wearing “let’s go brandon” t-shirts. even a bartender at work in a bar (i walked right out). some douchebag kept yelling, “let’s go brandon” at the very nice restaurant we dined at on Sunday night. did not feel comfortable even holding my boyfriend’s hand on Duval Street. the drag bar was full of straight people (didn’t even bother). we had fun but i won’t go back.

r2 where can you do better for island/gay/beach life for less money?

Key West? If you want to live in a tourist town, sure, it's fine.

But the only thing to say about the rest of Florida is that there are too many horrible people and pythons and not enough hurricanes.

No, but I HAVE lived in Kanye West.

They seem to evacuate with every hurricane

A gay paradise!

I just got back from vacationing there. Everyone had "help wanted" signs in their shops but no one can afford to live in a one-bedroom apartment for $2,500/mo. (that was one ad I saw) when you are not earning a living wage.

It's fun. I go with my mother every couple of years. The beaches are beautiful.

^^^

R11 The beaches in Kew West proper suck. Only one crowded rocky sliver of sand.

I used to go for a week each winter until 2012, when many of the things R2 mentioned started to outweigh the positives for me. After a few years off, I returned in 2016 and it was worse than ever. R4 has confirmed my decision to never go back.

R13, I was hoping that R11 was kidding. There really aren’t any good beaches anywhere in the Keys. Go to Florida Gulf Coast for good beaches. I remember Key West of the 70’s to 90’s and think it is gone.

The cruise ships ruined Key West. I stopped visiting.

Key West sounds like it was once quaint and beautiful, but not anymore. As someone mentioned above, what is a nice gay-friendly island or beach town in the U.S. for a week in the winter? Is the Low Country nice? Are Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head too family oriented? Anywhere along the Gulf Coast that you’ve been that isn’t entirely teeming with bigots?

Everything is Key-lime flavored.. everything

Has anyone been to Dry Tortugas? I’d love to camp there.

Too hot too humid too many giant bugs

Interesting:

“Some residents use the term "Conch" (or, alternatively, "Saltwater Conch") to refer to a person born in Key West, while the term "Freshwater Conch" refers to a resident not born in Key West but who has lived in Key West for seven years or more.”

Imagine Key West being snobby.

[quote] I used to go for a week each winter until 2012, when many of the things [R2] mentioned started to outweigh the positives for me. After a few years off, I returned in 2016 and it was worse than ever. [R4] has confirmed my decision to never go back.

Confirmed by Florida Resident. It's nice for a single day's visit for old time's sake. The Gay is all but gone.

Do the male strippers there still show full dong?

I always considered retiring in Florida, maybe Key West--but there are way too many tourists and it's hot as hell.