[kimmieyky]

Reading all of the posts - I am thinking deeply about the biggest dream I have in my life. I am 40. My children are grown (almost), and I am beginning a new job monday that will allow me to transfer to FL when I am ready.

My parents moved down in 2004, just before the big Hurricane push. They live in Sebring and came through okay. I just came back from a visit with them on Monday - the first time I had seen them since 2004 when they moved. It is hard being an only child, an almost empty nester, and having Fibromyalgia on top of that that KY weather makes extremely worse. I have felt physically well 2 times in 2 years - both while in Florida.

After reading all of the posts, knowing about the insurance and taxes (Dad keeps me informed), experiencing firsthand the elderly who should not be driving, the Spanish Language that does make me crazy - although I know they work hard....I cannot help but wonder if this is how the American Indians felt when we ALL first came over on the Mayflower and after.

I know that is somewhat of an exaggeration, but my husband is American Indian, and his family history is devastating. But - I am so torn. I love the weather, the beach, the sand, you name it, I love it.

I truly think that as diverse as each of us are - to each his own - it is such a personal thing to find a place top call home. I have lived in Kentucky all my life. The land is beautiful, but the summers are humid and so hot you cannot stay out long, the bug bites and sinus allergies are around all year (the winter brings a slight respite, but then you FREEZE) - so I guess it is all in what you truly want.

I believe if all of us would simply respect each other, not feel that some are more entitled than others (you know what I mean), and all try to bring back the southern hospitality we are supposed to be famous for - it would fall back into place.

And...I do know one thing - I hate to say this - but it does seem the 'snowbirds' are so rude , I would almost rather spend time trying to understand spanish with a smile on the persons face.

Oh well - nothing and nobody is perfect - except Heaven!

KimmieyKY

[bamboosmom]

They come down here and think that they should be first everywhere.
They yell at the people who work in the stores and restaurants.
Pushy pushy people, I say. The majority of snowbirds where I live are from Michigan. They don't have much of a sense of humor either.
Ugh!

[verobeach]

I don't like it either but I have to say that if it wasn't for the snowbirds pumping their money into our economy we'd be in even tougher shape down here in Florida. Here in Vero Beach, during the summer months, the stores don't even bother to stock the shelves for the local people. Yet in November, suddenly the shelves are overflowing. This applies to Publix, TJMaxx, as well as the independent shops. So I just suck it up and deal with them.

[Halfback]

Sold my house in Odessa , Florida!
Of course it went under contract just before I got a Job here that I really like .
So I will be living inTennessee on monday. Just another new adventure!
I heard the man I bought my mountain property has land for sale on the Swaunee River in Fl , so I may still buy a little sunshine to return to when i visit family here.
good bye warm sunshine hello cold winter !

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by macguy

A lot of other states are more diverse then Florida and not like living on an island. They have spread out populations. I read I believe that 90% of Florida's residents live on 10% or 15% of the land. Florida isn't really that crowded just everybody want to live in the same places.

This reminds me of two things you should look at when choosing a relocation destination town -

1. How many people live on how many square miles of land (on the City-Data page for each town). Compare it to where you live now for perspective.

2. Does the population swell (tourists) at certain times of the year? Some lovely little towns of 5,000 or less more than quadruple their size during tourist season and those tourist numbers aren't in the population figures.

Even if you have lots of property, it's not going to mean much if you have to sit in traffic.

Does anyone know if the percent of car accidents is higher in tourist towns? I'm thinking if you have a lot of people driving in unfamiliar territoty, it might mean more accidents. High accident rates in a town might mean higher insurance rates.

[karenbarbara627]

I'm a Florida resident, living in Lakeland, Polk County, and I'm thinking of moving on in a few years, possibly further north in Florida, maybe Georgia; still very much in the thinking-about-it stage. I rent, but will be wanting to buy a house within the next few years, and I don't want to keeping moving around, so the higher property rates and taxes and insurance, are getting me really nervous. My mother, who is 71, lives with me, and she's not a big fan of the heat. I'm going to be adopting school-aged children, so the schools are going to be more important than they are now to me, and from where I'm sitting now - they aren't too wonderful. As much as I like the area, these things are worrying me. In truth, I'm also worried about me [a caucasian] becoming the minority, and that seems to be the way things are working out in Florida, slowly but surely. And I'm not a bigot, so don't even go there. I don't mind a mix, but like most people, I don't want to be an 'only'.

Since it's been mentioned a few times in this thread, I did have my thoughts about the Spanish-language thing. It bothers me, has bothered me for awhile as matter of principle, not because I don't like Hispanic people or don't think that it's a great thing to know another language or think they shouldn't have an opportunity here, but because if they -anyone, no matter what original nationality- are living here, they should be learning to speak English, which is the national language here. It seems many of those with a Hispanic heritage are just not bothering, partially because of the communities they settle in, which have similiar backgrounds, but because we make it easy for them. Everything is printed in English and Spanish, and many of the things you phone in are English and Spanish. I work in a call center environment, and I've actually had Spanish-speaking people get mad at me for not speaking Spanish! I'm sorry, but when people came here from Europe in the early parts of the last century, they learned English, period. My ancestors from Germany, France, and Austria learned English when they came here. Aside from the fact that if you're living here and enjoying American benefits, you should learn the language, as I would if I was living in another country, but the amount of money we spend on all the bi-lingual everything would definitely make a big difference spent elsewhere. End of vent on the anonymous internet. Sorry this is so long.

[TalmudRabbi]

No one should be intimidated by another language use- that's seems silly and a bit insecure in the scheme of things. Please keep in mind that 'America' (the continent and the US) was not settled by English speaking peoples at all, so historically it seems quite natural for inhabitants would (or perhaps even SHOULD) speak another language besides English. Again, you should review your own history...do names such as Hernando DeSoto, Vespucci, Louis the fourteenth, Geronimo, Cortez, or Kunte Kente ring any bells in your memory bank ? I hope so ! most did not speak a word of English.

If that does not remind you of our true national history, I would kindly suggest your taking out a map and looking at the names of rivers, other bodies of water (such as lakes, rivers), bridges, states, tribal areas, monuments and the like !

More importantly, have you ever wondered why we, in an alleged advanced nation and culture can actually graduate with a college and/or graduate degree, and not be REQUIRED to master and speak another world language besides English ?

I must say as well that many, if not most of my Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and German speaking associates and friends, speak MORE than a singular language, so who is the better for it ? Being monolingual doesn't seem like something to boast about. I would encourage all parents of young or younger children to resist the Anglo-ethnocentric 'urge' to continue to cripple their own children by not INSISTING that a new generation of American citizens are better equipped to communicate globally- that's what other nations have been doing for years. It seems clear to me and others like me that the United States is changing, so is mobility, so is the rest of God's earth and His children. Mastery of language enhances understanding, it does not impede it.

We all should get busy, and very quickly. "Ostrich-like" thinking and behavior seems to be steeped in ignorance and false pride...both of which are curable!

SHALOM!

[karenbarbara627]

Originally Posted by TalmudRabbi

No one should be intimidated by another language use- that's seems silly and a bit insecure in the scheme of things. Please keep in mind that 'America' (the continent and the US) was not settled by English speaking peoples at all, so historically it seems quite natural for inhabitants would (or perhaps even SHOULD) speak another language besides English. Again, you should review your own history...do names such as Hernando DeSoto, Vespucci, Louis the fourteenth, Geronimo, Cortez, or Kunte Kente ring any bells in your memory bank ? I hope so ! most did not speak a word of English.

If that does not remind you of our true national history, I would kindly suggest your taking out a map and looking at the names of rivers, other bodies of water (such as lakes, rivers), bridges, states, tribal areas, monuments and the like !

More importantly, have you ever wondered why we, in an alleged advanced nation and culture can actually graduate with a college and/or graduate degree, and not be REQUIRED to master and speak another world language besides English ?

I must say as well that many, if not most of my Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and German speaking associates and friends, speak MORE than a singular language, so who is the better for it ? Being monolingual doesn't seem like something to boast about. I would encourage all parents of young or younger children to resist the Anglo-ethnocentric 'urge' to continue to cripple their own children by not INSISTING that a new generation of American citizens are better equipped to communicate globally- that's what other nations have been doing for years. It seems clear to me and others like me that the United States is changing, so is mobility, so is the rest of God's earth and His children. Mastery of language enhances understanding, it does not impede it.

We all should get busy, and very quickly. "Ostrich-like" thinking and behavior seems to be steeped in ignorance and false pride...both of which are curable!

SHALOM!

Apparently you didn't understand me. I am not intimidated by others speaking another language, I am irritated that some Spanish-speaking people are not apparently feeling any urgency to learn our language after they take up residency here, as, I stated previously, I would be expected to do if I moved to another country where English wasn't the primary language spoken, if I wanted to live there successfully and able to communicate with my fellow residents. I am also indignant about the amount of money being used to print, record, communicate pretty much everything in Spanish instead of just English, which would be better spent, perhaps on English classes. Or the homeless, or keeping programs going for handicapped, or for our seniors.

I'm also neither an ostrich nor ignorant.

While 'historically', this country - the United States, which is after all what we're discussing here, not Canada, Mexico or South America - may have been settled by others several hundreds of years ago that spoke several languages other than English [yes, I went to school, and did pretty well there, so I am quite aware of our history], for last couple of hundred, our common, primary language in this country has been English. If everyone was to speak any language they chose we'd have Babel, and that wouldn't do anyone any good, now would it?

And quite frankly, if we're going to print or offer everything in Spanish, why should we stop there? To be fair, shouldn't everything be offered in French, Chinese, Haitian? Yes, or not at all, which is another reason to welcome people who want to make a home here, and assist them with learning our language as quickly as possible, rather than catering to one group.

Also, you must have missed the part of my post that noted that I it's a great thing to know another language, and I do. I marvel at the people I know that speak English, but also know Spanish, French, or Italian. Most countries have one primary language, and here, in the United States, that would be English. I don't see why anyone should have to learn a different language in their own country, but I firmly believe if you choose to live in a place that speaks a language other than your own, then you need to learn it.

[ready2move]

[quote=karenbarbara627;167526]Apparently you didn't understand me. I am not intimidated by others speaking another language, I am irritated that some Spanish-speaking people are not apparently feeling any urgency to learn our language after they take up residency here, as, I stated previously, I would be expected to do if I moved to another country where English wasn't the primary language spoken, if I wanted to live there successfully and able to communicate with my fellow residents. I am also indignant about the amount of money being used to print, record, communicate pretty much everything in Spanish instead of just English, which would be better spent, perhaps on English classes. Or the homeless, or keeping programs going for handicapped, or for our seniors.

well said and my thoughts exactly!

[jedwardjos]

Back to "lawn guy land"