This is why this forum is invaluable.  I asked a question, and in a few hours I have 25 responses filled with great information, including, "permission" to move to Florida. 

WillsC...
If, and when I make the move, my fig trees are coming with me, and so will my plant collection.  I will share whatever I have, including some Bronx strains of whatever.  I love my figs, but I like making new friends even more.  I have friends in Palm City, near Stuart, that want me to spend time down there.  When the time is right, I might make the move.

padsfan...
Thank-you for your generous offer of cuttings, and for the varietal recommendation.  My searching is to be continued....that's half the fun.

Danny K...
Zone-9 humidity might be worse than NYC humidity....but, I bet the NYC Summer stench beats anything that Texas can offer.  Take a rush hour ride on any NYC subway, and then get stuck in one of the many overheated tunnels.  Breathe deeply and smell the B-O, curry, stale doughnuts, cheap perfumes, hair pomade, urine, mothballs, and God knows what else. Ummm.  But even if the aroma of Texas approaches that special NYC stink...the prospect of finding more work is promising.  The economy sucks, and will continue to get even worse up in these parts.  So...maybe one day.

To all:  Thanks for the very helpful information.  Much obliged.

Frank

Frank,

It wasn't permission, it was conditional permission:)    Think of it this way.......down south you basically get double the growing season as up north.  We have been here 8 years now and I still can't use to how fast things grow.  I was worried about the heat and humidity when we moved here from PA....you get use to the humidity.  Summers are sticky but it is still better than being trapped inside for months on end from lake effect snows and brutal cold.

: ) 

Sounds like a place I'd like to be right now, conditional, or, not.   Another freezing day in New York City, with no end in sight.  A true Zone-7...which is unusual for my area.  We are usually in the mid 30s - low 40s...not great, but not bad either.  Who needs this Canadian air?

It's the lenght of your growing season that really has me juiced.  Sounds great to me right now...suffering, as I am, from "cabin fever".

Frank