[perdition79]

Here in Florida, I think we're almost at "peak" conditions. Wages are really low here, averaging around $32k a year, and have not matched the skyrocketing prices of real estate. (A $55k house ten years ago now costs over $200k.) In addition, many families have adjustable rate mortgages, have two new cars, and are close to their limits on credit cards.

I can see the death of the state's tourism industry beginning already: Universal Studios is advertising a free rental car with the booking of a multi-day family resort package. Hotels are lowering their rates to fill rooms. Many tourist traps are advertising to in-state customers just as rabidly as they used to court the Canadian and European tourists!

I don't want to try to speculate on specific timeframes, but given the weakness of our wages, the lack of arable land, and the fragility of our vital industry -- tourism, Florida is doomed. This place will be a wasteland soon enough, only able to produce phosphate-based fertilizer (almost entirely for export), citrus fruit, sugar cane, and high-margin seasonal crops like strawberries. With the lack of office jobs, our suburbs will become deserted, our cities will empty quickly.

The saving grace of Florida, as it relates to adapting to PO, will be its easy access to seafood: mullet, tarpon, catfish, grouper, and even shark and shrimp are abundant local food products that are easy to harvest, clean and cook. In a few hours time, most people can catch enough fish to feed their families for a week (especially by casting a net at night!) PO will see many Floridians fishing for survival, just like the natives did centuries ago.