[02blackgt]

I am not from Ohio, but I am from Michigan and much like yourself moved down to Florida. First off, vacationing in Florida and living in Florida are no-where near the same. Just like I did, I am assuming you have this picture of paradise where your sitting on beach under palm trees just beyond happy everyday. While there is a time and place for this, and I still do this, once your down here 6 months the whole excitement wheres off. You will quickly discover through a mix of horrible traffic and working full time that unless you live right on the ocean, you will likely not spend more than maybe one day a week there realistically. Secondly, you came down in October which is in my opinion the best month of the year weather wise. Come down in late July and see if you like that b/c in all seriousness from late May - early Sept this is what you will feel nearly every single day.

Secondly, I used to live in a nice all white suburb outside Detroit much like yourself outside Columbus. Well Florida works a bit different from the north, while there are still tons of nice relatively safe areas, crime is much more spread out here. Florida is nothing demographic wise like the northern cities, so you can forget about finding something just like home, for the most part it doesn't exist.

Do not move here and expect the weather and beaches to be your solution to a happy life b/c it will not happen. I am not saying don't move to Florida, I am just saying don't do it under the thought its going to make your life one big vacation b/c you will be disappointed. When you move somewhere new across the county away from everything and everyone you have ever known, once the whole "OMG im in Florida!!!" phase wears off and real life sets in, most people, including myself were in for a surprise. Personally I love it here now. It took a lot of time to get used to culturally, but it gets better everyday. I live 3 miles from the ocean, and after a year I might go once a week tops. I am finally making some friends and life is getting better, but I did go through a long period of being very lonely.

[tamisop]

BuhByeOhio did you ever move? My husband I are thinking about it as well.