[katienyc]

Hi We love Florida! My husband and I have friends in Lake Worth. We have been looking for a house there and with recent crime house robberies and car theft we are a little conserned. Does anyone know whats going on in LW?

Thanks katienyc

[Angelrocks]

I didn't get to read all of the posts, however, I read some of them.

Don't feel bad if your schools are overcrowded. When I was growing up in the 80/s they were overcrowded too! We had to go on double sessions. I went to school from 12-5.

I don't think anything has changed as far as that goes, but the gangs and teachers coming from other countries are a new one to me.

I went to Cooper City High School, Home of the Cowboys! I have no idea if they have any cowboys now, but back then it wasn't uncommon to see plenty of cowboys, cowfields, RED NECK FLAGS and AMERICANS. The only teacher I had that was from another country was my Spanish teacher. She was cool!


I think too many people are trying to make ends meet by working for somebody else.

Or, they are taking jobs that can get replaced by immigrants. You have to think outside the box.

Some of the best jobs don't even require a college degree.

ACE Personal Fitness Trainor easily gets $55 an hr. or more! You just like to have to exercise, eat very well and pass the test. I am telling you there are so many rich people down here. They love personal fitness trainers.

Another job that can pay into the 6 digits (if your really good) is a court reporter. With all the crime, bankruptcies and divorces down here...your going to pull in some big bucks. You can be a freelance court reporter or work for an agent.

You can sell on Ebay. You know how easy it is to sell on ebay? I tell ya, I have made more money on Ebay than I ever made, in the past, working for anybody. It's so stinkin easy. Trust me...I just taught myself html. How hard can that be? If I can do it, and I just graduated High School (with a college semester in business)....and some of you spend a small fortune on a college degree, then if you can't make it on Ebay, then I am either a genius or you didn't graduate from a college that gave you a good education. Html is not hard. Neither is photography. But, I do admit that I always had a great gift for sales. That was something...I could walk into any office and sell more than all the employees combined. Just a natural gift to BS anybody!! I always bonused! I seem to have a natural gift with graphic arts! Great combination for ebay!

What is hard?...negativity! You have to think outside the box. You have to come up with ideas that the rest of society hasn't. Think about it, you can take negative thoughts and act on them, or you can take positive thoughts and do something that will make your life better. I am in the same boat as everybody else. I have a home in South Florida, I have to deal with the same stuff etc., only difference is I have to think positively. Instead of even wasting my time working for somebody else, I decided to be my own boss. It's not hard. Trust me. The only thing that takes a real toll on your life is negativity. You can do it trust me. Just gotta stop thinking about working for corporate America (unless you have a really good job).


You have to be a pioneer and do things you've never done before. Anyway I hope that helps you and encourages you to think outside the box. There are still some pretty decent jobs that illegals just can't do. I never met one illegal that past the ACE fitness test. I don't know of any illegals that is a powerseller on Ebay. And I never met one that got into Court Reporting....you don't need a college degree for any of those jobs. I still think Real Estate or a Stock Broker is great if you have the gift to network with others. But do what you love...the money will follow.

[maggiekate]

Originally Posted by BarbieGirl

I have noticed a huge trend of Floridians that have lived in FL 5+ years are looking to leave. Where are all of you relocating to and why?

me, been here 8 years, and wish to move to Soddy Daisy.

[judijim]

Hi,
Read everyone's reply....they are all right on. Its very hard to keep up financially with all the taxes, insurances, etc. Live in Hernando Beach, a once-small community on the Gulf of Mexico. Been in Florida since 1974, came to this area 1985. It has exploded in population, traffic, etc. Looking for what we had when we first came here....quiet, waterfront, 12 miles to "town," etc. Looking at Soddy Daisy area. Going the end of July. Love it here....albeit a little hot and humid....but need to get hubby to retire....too stressed out with job. Money all tied up in house here. But, God has a plan and I'm going for it! Wish us luck!
judijim

[DanBev]

Originally Posted by froggie66

We are in our 40s with two kids (9 and 13) and have lived here in the Sarasota area for eleven years. We cannot wait to leave this state and move out west. We are going to CO.

When we came here the housing was affordable )we got a 3/2 on over an acre with a pool and about two miles from town, etc, for $137K. Now we couldn't touch that for almost a half mil.

Also, we are very outdoorsy types who LOVE camping, hiking, etc. It is too bloody hot in FL to camp anytime but the dead of winter (a joke in FL since the dead of winter is 75 degrees during the day and 50's at night, and only lasts couple weeks) and the topography is soooo flat and boring here that we have long ago lost interest in anything south of Ocala for camping and hiking.

Have I mentioned that you can't swim in the lakes and rivers because of the gators and cottonmouths?? The mosquitoes swarm. We cannot go into to any restaurants without being the youngest ones there (and we are in our 40's). THe drivers are all old and dangerous (trust me...I know MANY elderly folks who are driving who have serious memory problems and vision problems and they are STILL allowed to drive!!! THey cannot even open their car doors without two hands and all of their might and yet they drive big lincolns, buicks, caddies and mercedes!!!) I have witnessed MANY redlight and stop sign runners who missed them because their vision and reaction time are so poor.

ANd we all suffer from severe allergies because of the 12 month growing season. The kids are stuck inside all summer (9 months of the freakin year) because it is so oppressively hot and humid. Or else they come in from outside (after only ten minutes) so red in the face and exhausted from the heat that it threatens to cause heat exhaustion in their young bodies. The only respite is the beach, but we have red tide that keeps us away all summer and we HATE the beach, anyway.

Oh...I must stop. The negatives, for us, to living in FL are far too numerous. Our house cannot sell fast enough (oh...that's a whole other kettle of rotting fish...the major slump in the housing market caused by all the "flippers" who artificially drove up the cost of housing with all of their real estate "deals"....I HATE FLIPPERS!!! They have ruined the market for those of us in the middle class who actually have to live here!!!).

My advice, choose north florida, or anywhere else in the country. Stay away from SWFL, unless you love the above situations.

I apologize for the bitterness, but 11 years here have done this to me. Along with the direction that Sarasota seems intent to take. Wealthy-only need move here.

We lived in Denver,Conifer area for 20 good years.It has suffered from a mass migration.Over crowded and now pricey as well.One wonderful state then.Now hard to move around.

[carolac]

I just read with great interest a message from a senior member on another thread that stated some Florida cities in 2006 experienced a loss of a total of over 9,000 residents, but Florida, overall, gained over 97,000 new residents. I was really surprised.

Originally Posted by BarbieGirl

I have noticed a huge trend of Floridians that have lived in FL 5+ years are looking to leave. Where are all of you relocating to and why?

[tao]

Here's my story: I grew up in Miami Beach but lived in Copenhagen, Denmark during the summers. I went away to boarding school for high school, one just outside Baltimore, MD and one in Princeton, NJ. After school I lived in Miami for a couple of years then moved to Boulder, Colorado in my early twenties. Then I moved back to Miami for a few years. I needed a change so I moved to Atlanta and lived there for a year. Then I moved back to Miami again and lived there for a few more years. Then I lived in England for a while with my British husband. Then we moved to Miami. Now we're living in Port St. Lucie but we're selling our house and moving to Colorado. I've been moving around all my life. I keep ending up back in Florida but this time we're planning to stay in Colorado for a long time. My husband loves Florida but Colorado feels like home to him (where we're moving to reminds him of England but the weather is better plus there's the Rocky Mountains). I've missed Colorado all these years I've been away and now realize it was the best place I ever lived. We can't wait to move.

I will always love Florida though. Sure, there are bad things about it, just like there are bad things about any place but there are a lot of great things about it too. I'll definitely miss Florida. It's my home state and always will be.

[Fishouttawater]

2 years ago we decided to leave FL after 18 years on the west coast for most of the reasons already stated. We thought we did our research thoroughly & took off to live happily ever after in TN. Surprise - surprise !! The rent was not much less although we were in a more rural area and the wages were unbelievably low & jobs few. We found out that TN has a state minimum wage that was lower than federal minimum so that seemed to drive all the wages down & things just didn't seem to balance out there. Ultimatly we ended up in IL close to family. But after 2 years we are ready to go back to FL & have recently explored the East Coast . While shoveling out the snow & slipping around on the ice last winter we were thinking "Florida wasn't so bad after all." I think we were just weary of it & needed a change & perhaps others might consider that this may be whats happening with them also. Florida does have its faults but every place does.

[hollys0822]

Originally Posted by chocomom

Not saying you were at all!!! I like civil discourse because it opens our eyes to all sides of a debate and the issues at the core of it. But a state cannot survive on retirees alone. Childless singles play a great role in society (especially the tax money they contribute to the system), but they are not the backbone because they don't create resources in the form of children who for the most part become future taxpayers.

FL is not doing enough to help the middle class citizens WITH children. That is something that will, and is starting to, hamper economic growth. Businesses in South FL are complaining about a lack of employees and/or qualified employees. With affordable housing dwindling more and more everyday, they have just begun feel the pain.

Sunshine, beaches, and continually warm weather are great but don't pay bills. I would love to see a CURRENT study on how many people not only move into FL everyday, but how many are moving OUT.

I've been reading the threads about Florida cuz I would really love to move there with my family. But a lot of what is happening in Florida to the housing, jobs ect. are also happening in other states. In New Hampshire, MA I know for a fact. The housing prices and the property taxes have sky rocketed, the jobs don't pay well. Certaintly not even close to the cost of living. I believe that the min wage in NH is still $5.15. or $5.50 (could be wrong but I know it is low). (Boston does pay well but up goes the cost of housing). It is getting tough here as well. I also know that in Las Vegas the same thing is happening. I am sure other places as well that I am just not aware of.

Spent most of my life poor, finally reached middle class after years of hard work just to be pushed back into just about poor again. Sounds a lot like what is happening in Florida is happening in many places and seem to be more of a nationwide problem. Moving is always an option of course but these changes that everyone seems to be speaking of in Florida appears to be a sort of tidal wave over the country not knowing where it is going to hit next.

In MA health insurance is mandatory. If you don't have it at work, you HAVE to buy it through the state. Sorry, know it is a different subject but does anyone else see a problem with the government forcing you to buy health insurance??

Just wanted to let Florida know that us snowbirds are in the same boat.

[tallrick]

Interesting mention about court reporting, a friend of mine is a court reporter, and she was making almost 90K a year! Unfortunately she still was dissatisfied with the quality of life in Miami and moved to North Carolina. Still earns a good living though.