StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,665 
Location: Ohio
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Post by StephDRebel on Jun 4, 2015 3:46:38 GMT
We're tossing around some places and considering trying a new area- it would be great for my business and the kids would be excited about the possibility. They've been thinking about moving for about a year now.
We're considering somewhere with a not so harsh winter, closer to the beach would be amazing (we're 14 hours now) and we travel a lot so somewhere with places to go within around 3 hours or so is important. All of my babies are in high school this year, so decent schools are a must. Private schools or homeschooling isn't completely out of the picture but the youngest will absolutely need a baseball program.
We're open to just about anywhere at this point, but I would like to stay within a 12-15 hour or so distance from the Washington DC area because my mom is there and her health isn't the best (we're around 9 hours away now so the distance isn't a crazy huge deal)
Suggestions? Input? advice?
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Post by Outspoken on Jun 4, 2015 4:02:53 GMT
Northeast Florida - Jacksonville, St. Johns, St. Augustine, Palm Coast
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 15, 2024 3:53:48 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2015 4:08:32 GMT
Going with the Northeast FL area...adding Amelia Island. (easy peasy access to I-95...know nothing of schools though)
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 15, 2024 3:53:48 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2015 5:21:07 GMT
I've lived in NY practically my whole life, so I KNOW I'm not the right one to answer this, but maybe it will give you an entirely different view. DH (we're not even married 5 years yet!) has wanted to retire in FL his whole life. Suddenly he got a bite on his co-op in NJ, and we were forced with making a quick choice. On paper, FL sounded great: warm weather, toes in the sand, no snow, slower pace............... Fine. We came down here to check it out. We stopped in SC for 10 days to check it out there first, and it didn't "click" with us, so we continued driving south. DH has a niece down here, who BEGGED us to come see her, and we did. She showed us an area that was about 1/2 hour from her (she lived in Spring Hill, and we looked in New Port Richey). It seemed to meet all of our requirements: inexpensive living (we chose apartment life, in case we hated it), accessible roads, some stores/restaurants we were familiar with + some family. Fine. We stayed with his niece for another 10 days to get used to it.
Fast forward to us driving down here (with our 2 kittens), moving in. Within the first 2 weeks, I realized it was a HUGE mistake. I missed my entire family in NY. I missed my friends. DH missed his friends and family. We figured we'd fly up there and they'd come visit, except that we couldn't get ANYONE to come and visit this side of the State (the Gulf side/the non-Disney side). In the 4 years we've been here, I had 1 sister visit and DH had his son visit. That's it!
Besides that, I instantly disliked the beaches. They were unlike any beaches I've experienced. So, we kept driving further south to "nicer" beaches, except that I still didn't like them at all! I felt like I didn't fit in. We had a falling out with DH's niece, so we don't have family here. We really haven't made friends (just a few and they're snowbirds). It's not full of old people like I imagined. It's full of extreme poverty, crime, horrible lack of gov't aid, terrible education (or so I've heard), stores and restaurants that close up early (I'm used to NY--things open 24 hours/day!!!). My medical care here has been so horrendous. I did meet 1 surgeon who is excellent, but it took me 18 months to find him! I could start lawsuits on the negligence of medical care, but I'm sure they're all worth nothing anyway.
You get bitten by bugs you never even see. I have fireant scars. I've NEVER had a scar from a bug. EVER! I've encountered snakes, alligators, cockroaches (they call them palmettos)... The weather is freakin' hot and humid most of the year. There is NO breeze. I thought I could take the heat, since the summers in NY were sometimes in the high 90's, but here with the humidity, it feels like it's 120. Just getting to your car feels like you've walked thru a desert. Getting into your boiling hot car is also fun. You learn not to touch the seatbelt or anything metal! I've been in the E.R. many times from dehydration (and I'm an avid water drinker--it's ALL I drink!!). This heat/humidity just zaps you. Allergies and sinus issues are multiplied by 100 (no idea why, since I really don't even see folliage). Everything is different: grass is more like what we called "crabgrass"; it's thick and high and not comfortable to walk on. There's no change of landscape with the seasons. I could go on and on........... There was a Top 10 list of things that Floridians DON'T tell you about FL but it's the truth. I wish I would have seen it before we decided on living here. If I could find it, I'll link it!
We got sidetracked, but we intend on moving back up to NY next year. I now have my 2 (adult) children living with us, and I LOVE having them here, but it still doesn't take away the fact that this is not the place for me. AT ALL!!!
I hope you think about your move 1,000 times and ask tons of questions. It really depends on what you want, on what you'd be willing to put up with, and about what it the most important to you. I've learned that good healthcare is now #1 in our case. Good luck with your decision!
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Post by ceepea on Jun 4, 2015 5:56:27 GMT
On the other hand, lol, I lived in NY for 24 years before moving down here to Spring Hill. We are on the Gulf Shore. Our area of SH is beautiful, and funny enough, we are surrounded by NY'rs.
I kind of cringed when the above poster mentioned New Port Richey. To me, Port Richey and then New Port Richey, would not have been an option. It seems to me, not as nice, like the above poster stated.
It is hot. It is, after all, Florida. Central air takes care of that. The bugs are huge, but so are some of them that are found in the mountains. Fire ant bites are horrible but I haven't been bitten by one in years, and it did not leave a scar. My 18 year old has never been bitten. We enjoy seeing the other "wild life". Oh, and we do not have very many mosquitoes. The mosquitoes in NY were horrible.
We like the beaches here. They are always on the list of top beaches in the US. We have a nice breeze in our neighborhood, but our friends live just a couple miles away and their neighborhood is like dead air. So I know what she means about that.
We have an International Baccalaureate High School, Technical High School and Private school. We are also less than 3 hours from all the major attractions and too many lesser known ones to mention. We are actually right next to Weeki Wachee Springs that is a natural spring beach and water park. My kids had annual passes forever there because it is so close.
We have a very small family, so we do not really have the problem of missing anyone. I have had so many people come down and stay with us, because at some point, every one's little kids want to see Mickey.
Land is inexpensive and to have a brand new house built here is very affordable. That is just my opinion though. Only you know what you can afford.
We have had excellent medical care here. Both of my parents required a ton of medical care at the end of their life and the doctors, specialists, and surgeons were all amazing. They do have a lot of practice with elder care down here though, lol.
Research all of your options and good luck with your choice!
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,331
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Post by amom23 on Jun 4, 2015 10:59:49 GMT
I have family in the Orlando area which is ok, but DH and I love to spend time every winter in the West Palm Beach/Jupiter area. That part of FL has really clicked with us and we've talked about spending our winter's down there when we retire.
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gsquaredmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,078
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Jun 4, 2015 11:06:49 GMT
I cannot contribute to the Florida info, but if your mother's health is already bad and you may need to help her or get there quickly on short notice, I would look closer to your mom.
When my dad was declining over several years and passing away, it was nice that we were 40 minutes away. Now my mom is declining and we are heading there more often again.
I do not know if this is a factor for you, but just in case you need to think about it, I wanted to toss that out there.
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Post by M on Jun 4, 2015 11:19:59 GMT
We in live in Southwest Florida. I have lived here all of my adult life. My particular area has grown substantially. Random notes:
1 - Everyone here is from somewhere else. You are bound to run into someone who lived in your hometown, or knows where it is, regardless of how small it is.
2 - We have snowbirds. LOTS of them. Mostly from Canada and the Northeast. They come in November and leave by May 1. Traffic gets HORRIBLE. Having dinner at a restaurant takes twice as long as it should because of the lines. That myth about all old people eating at 4 pm? It is not true during season. They eat at 4, they eat at 5, they eat at 6....etc.
3 - It gets HOT here in the summer. Hot like you don't even know hot. 10 degrees hotter than the surface of the sun hot. And it is not that "dry heat" like they tell you it is in Arizona. It is freaking HOT.
4 - We have bugs. They are big and they are weird.
5 - There are LOTS of things to do in a couple hours' drive in any direction. Never a shortage of day trips or weekend getaways.
6 - There is no state income tax!
7 - The beach is nice, but it seems after the first year, the novelty kind of wears off.
8 - Always have an umbrella - sudden downpours are common, but extended periods of rain? Not so much.
9 - You can always get a job doing something. It might not be what you want, but there is no shortage of employment.
10 - If you are shopping at a store that is not a chain, and it opens at 10, that might mean 10:10. It might be 10:20. Or, sometimes, it might just be closed for vacation. Also, if a restaurant or car wash closes for "remodeling" the likelihood of it reopening is not good. It is some kind of unwritten code or something.
11- There are TONS of festivals, tastes of the town, etc.
Forgot to add: We have an IB High school as well, and the top rated JROTC program in the nation is in our district. We have school choice which is a kind of weird thing, where all of the kids in one neighborhood could go to different schools if they so chose. Our high schools have academies -- depending on where you go to school you can come out of high school with your Firefighting I certificate, vet tech or CNA certificate, or several other things -- or even your Associates Degree using Dual Enrollment, which is available at no cost. Kids also have to take at least 1 online class to graduate. There are tons of courses they can take online at Florida Virtual School.
That is what I have off the top of my head. It's not a bad place to live...just...different!
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Post by anxiousmom on Jun 4, 2015 12:10:54 GMT
Florida is REALLY big, deceptively so. Because of it's history and size, there are very distinct personalities between some of the areas and you really can't describe it until you get there to get a feel for it. I am a multigenerational Floridian, with experience in a different areas. I will say that North Florida is my favorite, but that is probably because I grew up there. I live in Central Florida now. I think that I have disagreed with @bergdorfblonde before about the characterization of my beloved state (  ) but really every one has their own experiences. I suspect that she would have been happier in south Florida that has a more cosmopolitan and international feel than New Port Richie- which is pretty small and quiet. Our medical care can be great, several of my friends are physicians and the were educated and trained all over the country, and the University of Florida has a top rank medical school that churns out some pretty spectacular physicians and researchers in the area of medicine. Like every where though, there are good apples and bad apples and you can get either one. Depending on which side of the state you are on, the beaches are like night and day. If you are used to the east coast beaches, the gulf side may really surprise you. Most often there are hardly any waves, the water is warm, the sand is very fine. The east coast is cooler, way more wavy and the beaches are wide. It is a personal preference for sure, and I am convinced that this is a top 10 thing that needs to be discussed in pre-marital counseling. People are pretty opinionated about what they prefer. I am a beach girl-I go as often as I can. I prefer the west coast. I hate the east coast. I will go, but I will only grudingly enjoy it. Housing costs really depend on where you are. Big cities have big city prices. Smaller cities can be very reasonable. Where I am is pretty decent. The state as a whole has a rotten reputation for it's education, but as the parent of a kid who has already graduated and one still in it, school is what you put into it. No more, no less. And in some ways, I thinks the schools get a bad rap. I have a kid who is currently enrolled in dual enrollment and AP classes. The AP curriculm is standard nationwide and my so is not only able to keep up, make A's in the classes, but score 4's and 5's on the exams. Both of my children have scored well on national, standardized tests. That wouldn't happen if the schools were *that* bad. Again, it's what you as the parent put into it. I won't disagree entirely about the poverty. We are not, on the whole, a wealthy state. But it isn't everyone and there are amazingly vibrant and healthy communities. I think it is like everywhere, some places are more affluent than others. As for the snakes...they leave you alone if you leave them alone. I have lived in this house for almost 20 years and have only seen two snakes in my yard in that whole time. We used to see them when we were kids playing in the woods, but in my yard no. Alligators are damn near everywhere. Again, stay away from them, they stay away from you. Mosquitoes-it depends on where you are. If you are in a community that regularly sprays, then they aren't bad. If you are in a marshy area where they don't spray? You won't like it. As for the roaches? I got nothing. I hate the fuckers. |
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jun 4, 2015 12:21:25 GMT
I grew up in Florida (from about age 3 to 6th grade) and lived in three distinct areas of the state in that time: Pierson (a tiny town near Daytona), Fort Walton Beach (on the panhandle), and Cocoa (east coast). I can't agree more with anxiousmom that they each have distinct personalities. If I ever had to move back to Florida, I'd head to the northeast area -- Amelia Island/Jacksonville specifically. |
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Post by Kelpea on Jun 4, 2015 12:25:52 GMT
There's pros and cons to the different parts of Florida in general. I was born and lived as a child in Miami. That being said, it's much too big for me to consider for retirement, and it's so damn HOT! I don't care how old you are; it's just too much heat and humidity for me.
My parents ended up in the NE corner of the state several decades ago and we all fell in love with it. St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Palm Coast and Flagler Beach are, in my opinion, the best part of the state. You will have a bit of a winter in that area (it snowed once on the beach on Christmas Day when we were visiting), and your summers, while harsh, aren't as unbearable as the southern part of the state.
I also like, further down the "Gold Coast," the older towns that align US 1. They represent the beauty of Old Florida; that is, the areas are rich in history!
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Post by pierkiss on Jun 4, 2015 12:26:40 GMT
We lived in Tallahassee for about 5 years for grad school and work. We were about 1.5-2 hrs away from St George Island, which was a lovely little beach town. I loved that it was basically summer year round! But it is HUMID!!! once your body adjusts to that its ok, but that adjustment period is gross. You sweat all the time, and your skin WAY overproduces on the oil. There's only like 2 weeks of winter, in Feb, where it might get down to 30 degrees.  . There was a quick little thunderstorm everyday at 2:00 that would last for maybe 10 minutes. There were good parts and bad parts of town in Tally. We lived in a not so good part. The elementary schools in our part were shitty. We know, because we used to work in them as behavior analysts. If you move there you'll want to move out to the Killarn area (spelling might be wrong, it's been a long time). Nice schools, nice people, cute houses. Whatever you do, do NOT move to Gadsden. It's horrible. I used to work over there to, and the poverty is very sad.  Beware of the Palmetto bugs. Giant cockroaches. They will fly at you if you puss them off, and they may not die the first time you try and smash them. And there is not a whole lot you can do to keep them out of your house. They WILL get in, no matter where you live, how much you bleach the floors, and how much the exterminator sprays around your house. Lizards are all over the place. I miss the little lizards that used to live in my hibiscus plants. |
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Post by Meri-Lyn on Jun 4, 2015 12:41:05 GMT
(how did I know Bergdorf was going to come on here and spread her usual "FLORIDA SUCKS" tirade?) First, of all, the Gulf beaches are amazing. I have friends/family in Long Island. I've been to the beach there. The sand is gritty and the water is cold. Completely opposite here. Soft sand, gentle waves (you can get a little more wave action if you to the East coast), warm waters, and the ability to go almost year round. (We live about 45-60 mins away.) I live in the Tampa Bay area. I admit, I'm not a fan of Florida schools in general, but they aren't too bad in Hillsborough. I've seen a lot worse in other parts of the state, even just to the north of here.) And baseball is HUGE. My nephew's played little league, and I have a lot of baseball mom friends, and it is a big deal here. And it's all year long here (if he's a pitcher, watch out he doesn't overplay.) You won't have an issue there. I've lived in Florida pretty much my whole life, so the heat doesn't bother me. Yeah, you'll get some oppressive days in the 90's or above in the middle of summer, but you'll enjoy when it's 60's or 70's in the winter (although we've gotten in the 30's a few times, but those are few and far between, thank goodness.) We get some mosquitoes (they like my blood), usually after a big rain, but I've never had a huge issue with them. Just spray and used citronella. Most of us have screen enclosures for being outside. Roaches, yeah, we got them. Don't know what to tell you about that. I think, though the older the house/neighborhood, the more you might see. We spray pretty good too, and that keeps them at bay. We have a few gators in our pond, but they typically don't cause a nuisance. But we have lots of deer and other wildlife running around, too. The housing market here has been bouncing back pretty good. I think this is one of the more affordable areas in the state, but of course, areas vary. There's some tech jobs, but there are also a lot of low paying service jobs, too. But again, it's not the market it was 7 or 8 years ago, so that's rebounding, too. I haven't had any issues with healthcare, DH and I both work for places that have good healthcare coverage (he has Humana, I have UHC), and haven't had too much trouble finding care. Sadly, I've had a few friends/family members who have cancer in recent years (cost of getting old, I guess ), but they have not said anything negative about the care we've received. We have a top rated cancer center (Moffitt and MD Anderson has a branch in Orlando. Oh, and Mayo out of Jacksonville), and a huge teaching hospital nearby. And yes, Shands is less than 2 hours away, as Anxiousmom mentioned, and it is top-notch. If you have any specific questions, or questions about the area, feel free to pm me, and I'll try and answer. |
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Post by dockmaster on Jun 4, 2015 12:55:25 GMT
So I live in GA 3 miles from the FL/GA line north of Jacksonville FL. We spend a lot of time in FL as the beach in Fernandina is the closest and I love the beach. Where I am at in GA is a big military community - big as in the Navy is the largest employer, the town is small. Anyway a lot of the military here choose to live in FL because of the no tax thing.
The schools in Nassau County are pretty good from what I understand. Duvall County can be hit or miss. Duvall is Jacksonville, FL. Although Jacksonville is a huge place and there are several counties that are considered part of the Greater Jacksonville area.
As mentioned earlier there is a lot to do within a couple of hours from anywhere in FL it just depends on what you are after.
Finding good medical care has not been an issue here. The military takes care of me and mine, but when my mom lived here we had no problems getting the care she needed.
Is it hot. Yes. Do we have bugs and snakes. Yes. We also have central air and exterminators. We use our air like people up north use their heat. Personally I would rather go to the beach or pool to cool off everyday than shovel snow. Dealt with the snow growing up in MI NO THANKS.
DH is retiring from the military in 2 years and we are looking at moving to the Cape Canaveral area where he does. We like the area and he has a job opportunity down there.
We have stayed in this area for the last 15 years because it has been a good fit for us. We like it. DH is from PA and I from MI. We will not willing live up north ever again. We might visit but only in the summer.
One thing being a military wife taught me is that you blossom where you are planted. I suggest you do some research and them visit the area. If you decide to come visit north east FL let me know and we will meet up.
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caro
Drama Llama
Refupea 1130
Posts: 5,222
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Post by caro on Jun 4, 2015 12:59:19 GMT
After reading this thread.........I got nothing.
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Deleted
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May 15, 2024 3:53:48 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2015 13:24:59 GMT
I'm so sick of the Florida bashing but a certain person. I live in Clearwater and love it. I'm close to Tampa, Orlando and not too far from Miami. Tons to do, see and experience. The beaches are gorgeous (top rated year after year so who knows what BB is looking for), the people are friendly and I have gotten great healthcare. I have a rare disease and have no issues finding competent doctors and specialists.
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teddyw
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,841
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Post by teddyw on Jun 4, 2015 14:01:35 GMT
We moved to St.Augustine which is 39 miles south of Jacksonville from Columbus,Oh for DH's work 6 years ago. We stayed 4 years & have moved back to Columbus.
The schools in St.John's county were ranked #1 then. I don't know about now. When we came back I was told they were a year behind in English class. I don't know. My youngest has struggled with math ever since even with year round tutoring. She may have been even if we stayed.
Sports are very accessible. Plus they are year round. My kids took up surfing too which you can't do here.
We happened to move into a neighborhood that was predominantly people from Princeton,NJ. They came with a financial co-the name is escaping me. So they all knew each other there & here. They didn't need friends & made that perfectly clear. PLus other groups also were pretty exclusionary. There's a lot of military & they stick together. The different Hispanic groups don't care for each other. I was told over & over by Cubans they are not Hispanic. After going to the gym daily for 2 years I finally made friends.
It was 12 miles from the beach which doesn't sound far. When you are lugging stuff to the beach it's longer than you want. If you really want to live at the beach then move closer. Our neighborhood had a pool but I highly suggest your own. Limited hours, no privacy but someone else does maintain it.
Disney & other parks are about 2 hours away. We took advantage of that & bought season passes. The outlets in Orlando are very good.
There's also a lot of different places to visit on the week-ends. Miami & the Keys, the gulf coast & the Panhandle. We did a lot of that.
Alligators are not a big issue. Most places hire someone to move them when they get big. Our yard was full of pygmy rattlesnakes. So no going barefoot. No running into the woods.
I like the gulf coast beaches better. Sand is nicer, more calm. In a perfect world I could live 50/50 here & there.
My kids had no trouble making friends. My youngest loved it there. My middle dd was bullied pretty significantly. The attitude was "they're just being funny" by parents & the school. Native Floridians tease you for being Yankees. If I think of things I'll update. I'm out of time. |
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Post by houston249 on Jun 4, 2015 14:03:09 GMT
I have lived in Florida, in more than one place. Orlando, gosh, Disney and Universal-annual passes! I love me some Disney. Harry Potter? I miss you. Something that hasn't been mentioned? Traffic. Traffic is horrendous in Orlando. If you commute to the coast for work or live on the coast and commute to Orlando. Check the sun's direction. It raises and sets directly on I-4 right when everyone is coming to and from work. Because florida has no mountains or hills the sun is DIRECTLY in your eyes during that time of day. Not bad things if you know about it first so you have the option of living somewhere the sun is not directly in your eyes every day. I strongly suggest renting the first year to figure out where the best place to live in relation to your job, so your commute is tolerable or dare I say it? Pleasant? Job are easy to find, but most of them are minumum wage. You can find a decent job, but it can take a lot of time. We left Florida because of a better job offer. But that does not mean you can't find a decent job in florida. The cost of living is a bit lower, but you NEED a car. Forget about public transport, it sucks and walking? Ha ha ha ha, yeah after a week in the humid summer you will fantisize about selling your kids for a beater car with a/c. Oh and home owners insurance? In certain areas it is crazy high. Crazy high!!!! A trailer? (there are nice trailer parks in florida) every year you get dropped and you find a new company. It is not a terrible thing, just annoying. It always tickled me when people would talk about insurance companies and rates. Info would fly back and forth like gold rush info. Dont let this scare you away, just check the rates before you buy. Sometimes even one street over will lower your rate by a 1000 a year. You just need to prepare, don't assume, call the insurance company before you buy! That and check if your in a flood zone. Dont let this scare you off! Medical is not bad. Best GP doctor we ever had practices in Florida. Jacksonville is top notch for childrens cancer and many other specialized problems. You dont pick a hospital there, ALL of them banded together. Nemours and wolfsons even have a bridge between them they are separate medical facilities and you would never know it going back and forth between appointments. Schools? The rating system is smoke and mirrors. Ask the percentage of graduates that go on to finish a four year school. Some school districts offer full vocational training. So your kid can graduate with all AP classes fully ready to go to college AND be fully certified in a vocation such as Ac/Havc. Your kid can run her own fortune 500 company AND fill in for the guy that called in sick. Beat that! This is county to county. Not all districts do this. If you want more details of the Orlando or Jacksonville area, ask and i will tell you everything. Like, where the best gator i ever ate was served. Bugs and how to deal with them and even what certain parts of town are really like. Even where i would have lived in florida if I had to do it over again. i can even hook you up with a resturant that you can drive your boat to, dock it, eat a good meal, gas up and drive your boat home. If you dont have a boat you can still drive there like i had to do and fantisize about owning a boat while you eat a great meal.  |
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Post by beachbum on Jun 4, 2015 14:19:39 GMT
I live in SW Florida, in Lee County and love it. The beaches are beautiful, there is always something to do - loads of festivals and shows of all kinds. Yes, it's warm, and sometimes downright hot, but that's one reason we moved here. Where we live (Cape Coral) there are more canals than anywhere else in the US, so you get air movement over the water and it's usually cooler. Don't know anyone? There's probably a new resident club or something like that to join and meet new people. From what I've heard from people I've met the schools are pretty good around here - there's a new STEM magnet school and the high school has won several awards lately, and there is a charter school, too - lots of choice. We get loads of snowbirds, but they are what keeps a lot of the businesses going, so we deal with them! Come down, look around, check out different parts of the state - it can change totally in 50 miles. I would not want to live in Central Florida, I'm too much of a beach bum, but that's just me. There's something wonderful about this state.
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Post by shannoots on Jun 4, 2015 14:32:44 GMT
My brother lives in Fort Myers. I can tell you a couple of cons...
1) The traffic is horrible during high season. We were there during spring break and it took forever to get from one place to another, even if we were just "running" to the store for something. Never a quick trip.
2) The beach/ocean...I think this can go either way. My brother's ex has lived in Florida her whole life and she still likes the beach. My brother, on the other hand, does not like it. We go on a cruise every year as a family and he has no interest in going to the beach. Living close has taken away the excitement of it.
I will add the my BFF lives in Jacksonville and loves it. She used to live in St. Augustine and loved that as well.
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Post by walkerdill on Jun 4, 2015 14:35:33 GMT
I can't believe there are other people from Spring Hill on here!
I love that I'm 40 mins from Tampa and 90 mins from Orlando. So your close enough to do stuff in the city but don't have to live the city life & traffic. The beaches in this town suck but you head in any direction & there are bigger nicer beaches.
In all honesty the past 10 years Spring Hill has gotten built up and there are a lot more people & with that comes more crime. I feel like there is the good side (more East) and the bad side would be closer to Hudson/Port Richey.
Were right near the Springs and can swim pretty much year round. If you like fishing/boating its perfect.
If your not an outdoorsy person then Florida isn't for you because it is like a sauna all but 1 month out of the year.
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Post by threegirls on Jun 4, 2015 15:45:01 GMT
@bergdorfblonde your post reminds me so much of a former neighbor of mine. He moved to Orlando after he retired to help his mom. He had planned to move to Arizona after she passed away. Unfortunately, he passed before she did. Every Christmas he would send us a card with a two page, single spaced letter about how much he hated Florida. He hated the bugs, heat, humidity, lack of good medical care and especially the traffic. Also, he was a friendly person but never really made any friends in FL.
On the flip side a good friend of ours moved to Jacksonville and he loves it.
I don't have any opinion because I've never lived there.
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Post by sarahyoo72 on Jun 4, 2015 17:15:42 GMT
Another Jacksonville resident here. Big military community here too, the transient nature would be a plus side for your business I would think.
We live south of the 295, in Clay County, and the schools are good here - better than Duval County, but not as high ranking as St John's County. We live about 40 minutes from the beach.
The one thing I will say about Jacksonville is that it is very spread out. Downtown to the beaches is easily 45 minute drive, as it is from my neighbourhood to both of those places.
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Deleted
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May 15, 2024 3:53:48 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2015 17:20:56 GMT
*Sigh* Once again I apologize for being brutally honest about the place I've been living in for four years. These are MY opinions, and it's great to hear a few, so the OP could sift thru them and come to her own conclusions. If you were born here, you're used to the heat and humidity; I am not. What i find to be boring might be just in MY area, but it sucks. Overall, you can't take away the stats about the State that are true, and I've just about had it with gov't stupidity here. As far as medical care goes, I'm glad that anxiousmom and a few other people are happy with it. I suppose if you don't have any unusual medical issues, it could seem fine. FOR ME, taking 18 mos to be properly diagnosed, was unacceptable and legally negligent on their part. Having to FIGHT for my rights, when I felt like I was dying, was a horrible thing to live through. I just want to finish up, medically, save some $$ and move back to a State that *I* am comfortable with. As far as the Pea saying that NY (or LI) had icky beaches, I have no clue what that means. The sand is akin to sand from Toys R Us!! It's peaceful and gorgeous. While I fully admit that I moved to the wrong side of the State for me, the beaches here are NOT for me. I like crashing waves, quiet, peacefully people on the beach (have to say that I miss bumping into famous people at our beach in the Hamptons!). I don't like seeing tons of little fish at the waters edge, or tons of seawood. I'm sick of seeing pregnant teens smoking while standing in the water, with a 1/2 attempt at watching their 4 toddlers. It's awful, IMO. But, alas, I apologize to the people born and bred here. I understand how you'd protect your homeland. IT'S NOT FOR ME, and I wish I knew what I know now!! Going into closeby Manhattan to see the lighting of "the" tree, was pretty cool. Concerts in Central Park? Pretty cool. Being able to go to the Met and so many amazing museums? Amazing. Having Broadway closeby? Amazing. Having MSG closeby? Important!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There's no other concert like the ones in MSG. I digress. I'm summizing that the particular town and where I live in this town, is one of the worst in FL, unfortunately. No one told us that. Heck, even our 'famous' Joe moved out of FL because he wanted to make it in his career, and he knew that living in FL wouldn't do anything for his career! He always told me privately that it was "dead" here and it was for "old people" (where I am isn't specifically for old people). He's 1 of the few who told me the truth. If you're okay with extreme heat temps and humidity that makes you sweat and feel sticky and filthy all of the time, then you could prob cut it here. If you could take tons of bugs and bugbites, then this might be okay for you. If you could take the fact that they STILL have the mosquito/bug trucks that dispense huge clouds of bug killer (like they did in the 60's, until we all realized how unhealthy and dangerous it was!!!), then this might be the place for you. If you're okay with your child not knowing what a dozen is (most of them don't!!), then this might be the place for you. I DO know that there are some spots in FL that I might find okay, but even then, I'd only wish to be here for a week; no longer!!! It's not for me. If you ask me the pros and cons of LI and NY, I'd be equally brutally honest with you; same as living in Hoboken, NJ (but that was only for 4 years). I speak the truth, from MY perspective. I'm sorry if it hurts some people who were born here or who LOVE it here. It's just NOT for me. (I'm allowed to have freedom of speech, last time I checked, and I can say all of this based on MY specific opinion. Doesn't mean the OP will find it to be just as I did; she might LOVE it. It all depends on the person's requirements and what they can accept!) One more thing: I know that job-searching is extremely heart-wrenching in most States, but right here, where we are, is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to get even a part time job, and even then, they only pay $7/hr. At this rate, my kids will never be able to move out and into their own homes! ETA: The OP said, "but I would like to stay within a 12-15 hour or so distance from the Washington DC area because my mom is there and her health isn't the best (we're around 9 hours away now so the distance isn't a crazy huge deal)" so it really rules out most of FL anyway! But, Steph, if you're still doing the adult-toy thing, that would make it here. Unfortunately it's a different ballgame. Those stores are filled with creepy people, "adult" rooms with live "dancers", etc........... Very creepy!!! Besides that, so many of them (and strip places) are right next to daycare facilities! LOL. |
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LeaP
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,939
Location: Los Angeles, CA where 405 meets 101
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Post by LeaP on Jun 4, 2015 17:38:28 GMT
I lived in Florida just south of Miami for one year. It is a beautiful state with fantastic food and lots of things to do. The Everglades, the Keys, Disneyworld, NASA and lots more. The scenery is magnificent. The plants you see in offices are trees down there. I loved all the Cuban food and my dad's three cousins & families live down there so it was great to get to know them. I really want to take my kids there for visit.
It wasn't for me for several reasons. I like a winter season, there winter is some of the most fantastic summer weather you could imagine, but it is not cold. No mountains and the water at the beach is warm. The biggest reason is that I'm a little weird and did not find a social circle there which is probably why I fit right in in California.
I would suggest you visit a few place suggested in the posts above and see how you feel. You might try Airbnb so you can see what houses are like there. Most pools are screened in because of the bugs.
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mallie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,253
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Post by mallie on Jun 4, 2015 17:55:54 GMT
You are wise to do research. I've found that in today's world, it's the people who don't do research that end up unhappy when they move.
Have you googled "best places in live in Florida" and similar searches? That will give you some ideas -- and read the comments sections, because those will often be a bigger help than the actual article. Of course, asking people here and on other message boards is super helpful as long as you understand where they are coming from. Have you tried disboards.com ? Their Community section often has people asking the same question you did abovut moving to FL, so if you do a search, you should find threads with answers.
One thing we've done the last few times we've traveled to the areas we are looking at for our next move, is to stay at least one night in each place. That night, we do the things we would like to do in the evening if we lived there. (We crossed one place off the list because their downtown area basically rolled up the sidewalks by 6pm.) We also visit potential neighborhoods at night. During the day, we check out proximity to amenities, potential neighborhoods, and get out and walk in those neighborhoods. We have had illuminating conversations with people just by getting out and walking. We also make it a point to go into locally owned stores and chat up the clerks/owners and ask their opinions. Our prime consideration in talking to people is to find out how likely it is that newcomers to town are welcome and if it's possible to make friends (since it's not possible here, we don't want to deal with that again). Doing this on-the-ground reconnaissance has allowed us to cross off places that we thought we'd like and bump up places that we thought "meh, we'll check it out, but..."
Especially when you are moving to a different climate, it's helpful to drive/walk neighborhoods to see what kind of place you'd like to live in terms of home/neighborhood style. For example, one area we thought we'd love, we ended up disliking because there was hardly a tree to be seen for blocks and blocks -- it looked bleak even though the houses were nice. Another area we thought we'd be "meh" on, but was en route to another area, we stopped for lunch, thought the downtown was cute, got out and walked around and met so many friendly people who encouraged us to move there, that it's now on or near the top of our draft list. We have relatives who urged us to move to the town in FL where they live and based on their descriptions, we thought we would love it and I couldn't wait to get out of there -- so much cookie cutter sameness, I thought I was going to break out in hives. They obviously love it, though. We realized that their idea of a "great" neighborhood and "cute" boutiques and "great" restaurants is very different from ours.
So, basically, what I'm saying is there is no substitute for checking out a place yourself.
Good luck!
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Deleted
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May 15, 2024 3:53:48 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2015 18:03:32 GMT
*Sigh* Once again I apologize for being brutally honest about the place I've been living in for four years. These are MY opinions, and it's great to hear a few, so the OP could sift thru them and come to her own conclusions. If you were born here, you're used to the heat and humidity; I am not. What i find to be boring might be just in MY area, but it sucks. Overall, you can't take away the stats about the State that are true, and I've just about had it with gov't stupidity here. As far as medical care goes, I'm glad that anxiousmom and a few other people are happy with it. I suppose if you don't have any unusual medical issues, it could seem fine. FOR ME, taking 18 mos to be properly diagnosed, was unacceptable and legally negligent on their part. Having to FIGHT for my rights, when I felt like I was dying, was a horrible thing to live through. I just want to finish up, medically, save some $$ and move back to a State that *I* am comfortable with. As far as the Pea saying that NY (or LI) had icky beaches, I have no clue what that means. The sand is akin to sand from Toys R Us!! It's peaceful and gorgeous. While I fully admit that I moved to the wrong side of the State for me, the beaches here are NOT for me. I like crashing waves, quiet, peacefully people on the beach (have to say that I miss bumping into famous people at our beach in the Hamptons!). I don't like seeing tons of little fish at the waters edge, or tons of seawood. I'm sick of seeing pregnant teens smoking while standing in the water, with a 1/2 attempt at watching their 4 toddlers. It's awful, IMO. But, alas, I apologize to the people born and bred here. I understand how you'd protect your homeland. IT'S NOT FOR ME, and I wish I knew what I know now!! Going into closeby Manhattan to see the lighting of "the" tree, was pretty cool. Concerts in Central Park? Pretty cool. Being able to go to the Met and so many amazing museums? Amazing. Having Broadway closeby? Amazing. Having MSG closeby? Important!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There's no other concert like the ones in MSG. I digress. I'm summizing that the particular town and where I live in this town, is one of the worst in FL, unfortunately. No one told us that. Heck, even our 'famous' Joe moved out of FL because he wanted to make it in his career, and he knew that living in FL wouldn't do anything for his career! He always told me privately that it was "dead" here and it was for "old people" (where I am isn't specifically for old people). He's 1 of the few who told me the truth. If you're okay with extreme heat temps and humidity that makes you sweat and feel sticky and filthy all of the time, then you could prob cut it here. If you could take tons of bugs and bugbites, then this might be okay for you. If you could take the fact that they STILL have the mosquito/bug trucks that dispense huge clouds of bug killer (like they did in the 60's, until we all realized how unhealthy and dangerous it was!!!), then this might be the place for you. If you're okay with your child not knowing what a dozen is (most of them don't!!), then this might be the place for you. I DO know that there are some spots in FL that I might find okay, but even then, I'd only wish to be here for a week; no longer!!! It's not for me. If you ask me the pros and cons of LI and NY, I'd be equally brutally honest with you; same as living in Hoboken, NJ (but that was only for 4 years). I speak the truth, from MY perspective. I'm sorry if it hurts some people who were born here or who LOVE it here. It's just NOT for me. (I'm allowed to have freedom of speech, last time I checked, and I can say all of this based on MY specific opinion. Doesn't mean the OP will find it to be just as I did; she might LOVE it. It all depends on the person's requirements and what they can accept!) One more thing: I know that job-searching is extremely heart-wrenching in most States, but right here, where we are, is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to get even a part time job, and even then, they only pay $7/hr. At this rate, my kids will never be able to move out and into their own homes! ETA: The OP said, "but I would like to stay within a 12-15 hour or so distance from the Washington DC area because my mom is there and her health isn't the best (we're around 9 hours away now so the distance isn't a crazy huge deal)" so it really rules out most of FL anyway! But, Steph, if you're still doing the adult-toy thing, that would make it here. Unfortunately it's a different ballgame. Those stores are filled with creepy people, "adult" rooms with live "dancers", etc........... Very creepy!!! Besides that, so many of them (and strip places) are right next to daycare facilities! LOL. You are just a miserable person. I live 30 mins from you and it is NOTHING like you claim. Part time job work for HSN at home in your pjs and make much more than minimum wage. Look you don't have to like it but a lot of this is just outright lies. I have a very rare disease that many doctors have never treated and have amazing care. Including climb go mayo with my doctor for consultations with specialists. Concerts at Amalie Arena and the Straz are great too. |
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Deleted
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May 15, 2024 3:53:48 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2015 18:11:17 GMT
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2015 18:16:17 GMT
I specifically said you can have whatever opinion you want. So I am not doing what you claimed. But there are huge lies in some of your claims. |
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Deleted
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May 15, 2024 3:53:48 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2015 18:22:47 GMT
Again, those are YOUR views and they're MINE. Mine are experiences I've directly had with medical care here, with Medicare with the government, with our senators, etc.............. Yours might be different; who knows! I'm only speaking for ME. (end of subject!) The OP knows all she has to know now about FL.
P.S.: Scrap: I DO appreciate your past input on medical issues (a while back!!) and you suggested different towns/places to go. You were right. Nowhere in this vicinity, is there decent healthcare. I had to travel to Tampa (an hour in traffic), but that's where my surgeon is, the hospitals I now use, and a team of doctors I have. So, we DID chose the wrong place to live!
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) but really every one has their own experiences. I suspect that she would have been happier in south Florida that has a more cosmopolitan and international feel than New Port Richie- which is pretty small and quiet.
. There was a quick little thunderstorm everyday at 2:00 that would last for maybe 10 minutes. 
