Sarasota is really a fairly young town, particularly when you get away
from the filthy rich areas.
My wife has a number of relatives in that area, and we've visited. My
best memory is visiting her grandmother, who had a dozen or so
fruit-bearing citrus trees. Nothing beats picking fresh oranges in the am.
I just never "took" to the area. Too hot for me, and I didn't much like
the topography. When it comes to south Florida, I prefer Bal Harbour.
Just as hot, of course, and same flat land but...lots to do, restaurants
we like, uncrowded ocean beaches in front of the condos, easy fishing,
Carib/Latino culture, Ft. Lauderdale airport (cheap airfares from here,
convenient). I'm sure the other coast of florida offers a lot, too...