FL to CO in 2 weeks...best decision we have made! (Colorado Springs: new home, neighborhood)

[otowi]

No, all homes are not on large lots in Monument, but some in the Tri-Lakes area in general area. Yes, you could stop there, but for what are you looking on your stops?

[1duder]

I live near Pensacola and generally like the area. I do not know anyone there and have lived there 20 years. If I didn't go and meet my neighbors myself I would not know who they are. That bugs me a little, I like to talk to people and be a helpful neighbor. There are no jobs here, stagnate or just dead. We have 5 or 6 bases but see very few jobs and never get any calls for interviews. I suspect I need to know someone or get very very lucky. I have been unemployed a year now and I'm on my way back to Afghanistan. Oh how I miss the rocket fairy!

[Peoepep]

It's amazing I see this thread..

So we moved to Tampa from Colorado. Big mistake. I've lived in many places, for work or other, and I must say I enjoyed Florida the least. The old saying that its a good place to vacation but a terrible place to live was very true for us.

I wouldn't recommend Florida to anyone, except an avid diver or fisherman. There are just better places to live quite frankly than Florida these days.

[Harlin]

Just moved here a month ago from Atlanta area. I could see why a NYer might love Atlanta or Florida but I love it here :-) So far so good. People and climate here are fantastic :-)

[DazedandAmused]

It must be a sign that I saw this thread.

I have a family (wife + 4 kids) and we are originally from California, but currently been living in Augusta, GA (I'm in the Army). I have to say as much as we have tried, the people here are just terrible, with similar experiences in Florida when we've traveled there. Being from California, I was expecting 'southern hospitality' and charm, but have seen quite the opposite.

So now that I'm getting out, we've been investigating where to move to as a family, and although I had narrowed it down to Arizona at first, Colorado Springs caught my eye and now I've been 100% dead-set on making that our future home.

Until recently. I've had a few Army buddies try to talk me into going to Tampa. At first it seemed like something I could look at because we love the beach. But since that day I have heard nothing but negative things about the place, and then I open this forum and see this thread. Now I'm even more set on Colorado Springs. In fact, my wife is flying out there in a few weeks, and her mother is going to meet her there and spend a few days exploring, taking pictures, talking to real estate places, and getting a feel of it.

Its either Colorado Springs or Oahu, HI. And I feel pretty solid about Colorado Springs right now. I hear nothing but great things.

[Mike from back east]

Great climate here but no ocean.

Affordable here as opposed to many places, including much of FL, and the first 3 posts of this thread tell quite a tale about costs. Not sure if the cost of living in HI is doable for most of us.

Are you retiring after a career in the Army or just exiting the Army? Lots of retired USA/USAF here, good PXs and commissaries. Fair amount of job opportunities here for military retirees.

[DazedandAmused]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

Great climate here but no ocean.

Affordable here as opposed to many places, including much of FL, and the first 3 posts of this thread tell quite a tale about costs. Not sure if the cost of living in HI is doable for most of us.

Are you retiring after a career in the Army or just exiting the Army? Lots of retired USA/USAF here, good PXs and commissaries. Fair amount of job opportunities here for military retirees.

Hey Mike yeah just getting out. Did my 5 years and a deployment, and going to CTU to study Cybercrime Investigation. So finding a job is important but Im mostly going to ride my 911 GI Bill benefits and focus on graduating. Hopefully I'll be able to find something.

[Sonic_Spork]

Don't forget that (although we're dealing with sequester at the moment--it won't last forever!) this area has a lot of civilians working on the bases and in defense related jobs here in the Springs. As a veteran, you'd get the preferential hiring for those jobs. If you have or can get a security clearance, so much the better.

I heard through the grapevine (my old man) that sequester is supposed to be over in Sept. Anyone know more about that?

I dunno...my story might not be typical or a good indicator of much, but I'm thriving here in the Springs. My family is making more money than ever and our dollars go far. I have other friends and acquaintances who do well here too. Everyone I know in Florida is struggling it seems. I know full well that there are plenty of wealthy folks in FL and plenty of poor here in the Springs but one's personal view is skewed by what one encounters...

And over the years I've heard enough stories...from a kid being tossed out of school for a 2 inch plastic GI Joe gun accidentally carried in his pocket to school, to the bathsalts zombie guy...and then I'm like "where did that happen...oh yeah. Florida. Explains a lot." It's not exactly fair I suppose. But the news doesn't make FL look that good.

But I flew down last year to see some friends and hit a couple concerts and I had a blast. Ybor city in Tampa is fun. Again it's that "cool place to visit, but I'll never wanna live there" deal.

[DazedandAmused]

I'm looking at flights at the end of this month, thinking about coming down. But I dont know a single person and Ill have to fly into denver. bleh

[beezle1]

If you fly into Denver, you can drive down the E470 tollroad, get off on Parker Rd, and head south, which turns into Highway 83, and comes all the way into Colorado Springs. Pretty drive and avoids the interstate.