As you sit there mulling a retirement in the South, approximately 1,000 people are already on their way to Florida today with all their household belongings. Should you join them?

Like many baby boomers approaching retirement age and hunting for a warmer climate to call home in their golden years, I too am on the prowl for a new locale, though my target date is further down the road. My wife and I scouted cities and towns in Florida for a possible landing pad -- so I have some skin in the game.

But Florida isn't all about the beaches, Disney World and the massive retirement community known as The Villages. I interviewed experts and residents for tips on what you need to know about moving to Florida. So grab an OJ and dive on in. The water's warm, but...complex.

Florida Goes Boom(er)

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Expect lots of company if you retire to Florida. There are already more than 3.5 million Florida residents 65 and older, all looking over their shoulders at the newbies heading their way. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Florida's overall population was 18.8 million, including 3.3 million people 65 and older. By 2020, it's projected to grow to 21.5 million, with 4.5 million age 65 and older. And by 2030, Florida will have a population of 23.9 million, with 6 million of them age 65 and older -- nearly twice the size of the current senior population.

Depending on where you land, you may be surrounded by people who look like you: old. Okay, old-ish. That was my experience during a recent out-of-season vacation along Florida's Treasure Coast (Atlantic side). Restaurants, grocery stores, bars and more -- all filled