[novanative75]

Originally Posted by JJJNEY

Hello Novanative75, you are right you are intitled to your own opinion. But i do sincerely think you don't realize what you have. Yes I realize there may be some communities within unincorporated collier county that are less desirable, but realisticly to you have to drive by there everyday or at all for that matter. What I am saying is that in Naples you have luxury of going out to local places and admiring the beauty around you nice clean landscaped streets etc. the little things we take for granted thinking "this is just how it is everywhere" but it is not. Like I said before take a look for yourself. You might want to start out somewhere close for example instead of taking I-75 consider driving north on 41 towards Ftmyers as you start to leave collier county you can see the drastic difference between counties;that is just the tip of the iceburg.Now head out to the other coast and you will know what I mean. If you THINK Collier County PS are poor wait till you see what the rest of Florida has to offer. I hope I did not offend you in anyway, I just truly believe you have no idea how good we have it here.

Like I said, I am sure there are worse places, no question. BUT, for me, this is awful. I am not one who cares about landscaped streets, and for that matter, because of the constant construction with the roads, the ones I travel on look more like Beruit than anything else, no beauty in dirt and construction! I travel down 951, Vanderbilt, Immokalee Roads, all major roads, all full of construction, and have been since I moved 1 1/2 years ago I have not seen anything else, and not at all appealing to look at. Sure, if I spent all my time on 5th Avenue it would be nice but some of us work and have families and can not do that all day! I do not care to go to the beach every weekend. I am a working middle class citizen who wants a good life and to be happy.
I grew up in Virginia, talk about being able to drive around and look at the beauty, trees changing colors in the fall, beautiful mountains, wildlife, breath-taking. Here, a few beaches and palm trees, only so much one can take. Each to his own, the so-called beauty of Naples is not enough to counteract the life that so many middle class citizens are longing for here. Sure, if I was a snowbird, coming down to live for the winter in my multi-million dollar home, eating on 5th Avenue every night and playing golf and heading to the spa every other day, great life but to raise a family, there are better places and better schools.
I have heard nothing good about Florida schools overall and have seen nothing since I have been here to counteract what I have heard. I am headed out of Florida altogether when we can. The Florida lifestyle is not for me, for sure.
You didn't offend me but you don't know me so you don't know what is a good life or not to me. It is all relative, for sure. For someone immigrating from a dirt floored shack in Mexico, a trailer park here is luxury. It is all relative. I have lived places that are more family oriented and I have worked in school systems that are more appealing for me to send my kids to, all relative. I know there is better out there, so why not strive for that betterness for my family?

[JJJNEY]

Hello CJ, I had read about your fustration in trying to sell your home. I am from Naples and am basicly in the same boat. We are looking for a place to move to we visited PSL and was not very impressed it could be we were not in the right place. It is hard to drive around when you don't were you are going! Well I was curious to know if you sold your home and were you moved to.

[JJJNEY]

Originally Posted by novanative75

Like I said, I am sure there are worse places, no question. BUT, for me, this is awful. I am not one who cares about landscaped streets, and for that matter, because of the constant construction with the roads, the ones I travel on look more like Beruit than anything else, no beauty in dirt and construction! I travel down 951, Vanderbilt, Immokalee Roads, all major roads, all full of construction, and have been since I moved 1 1/2 years ago I have not seen anything else, and not at all appealing to look at. Sure, if I spent all my time on 5th Avenue it would be nice but some of us work and have families and can not do that all day! I do not care to go to the beach every weekend. I am a working middle class citizen who wants a good life and to be happy.
I grew up in Virginia, talk about being able to drive around and look at the beauty, trees changing colors in the fall, beautiful mountains, wildlife, breath-taking. Here, a few beaches and palm trees, only so much one can take. Each to his own, the so-called beauty of Naples is not enough to counteract the life that so many middle class citizens are longing for here. Sure, if I was a snowbird, coming down to live for the winter in my multi-million dollar home, eating on 5th Avenue every night and playing golf and heading to the spa every other day, great life but to raise a family, there are better places and better schools.
I have heard nothing good about Florida schools overall and have seen nothing since I have been here to counteract what I have heard. I am headed out of Florida altogether when we can. The Florida lifestyle is not for me, for sure.
You didn't offend me but you don't know me so you don't know what is a good life or not to me. It is all relative, for sure. For someone immigrating from a dirt floored shack in Mexico, a trailer park here is luxury. It is all relative. I have lived places that are more family oriented and I have worked in school systems that are more appealing for me to send my kids to, all relative. I know there is better out there, so why not strive for that betterness for my family?

I suppose when you compare Naples to other states you might have a point although I think there is less crime to worry about here. however I am speaking of other cities within Florida. It truly is difficult to find a decent place to live. I am sorry that you hate it here. I hope you find a place where you and your family will be happy.On the flip side as I mentioned before we will be moving from Naples but are unsure where to go. We visited PSL and that was not nice at all in most places. We have never lived upnorth and quite frankly we are afraid of the move. I am really afraid of the thought of driving in the snow! also I always assume there is more violence upnorth (gangs). If you can I would love to hear your opinion on this matter and your experience upnorth.

[JJJNEY]

Originally Posted by ryansidlo

My wife and I are tired of the Ft. Lauderdale scene, and are thinking of moving to either Port St. Lucie or Naples. We don't have kids, but will soon enough. We both work in fairly flexible jobs that I'm sure either location will provide enough work for us to survive.

But if you live or have lived in either of these two areas, please post your experiences with each respectively. Whether it be a negative or positive experience, I would love to hear them all. Thanks in advance

Have you moved yet?

[JJJNEY]

Originally Posted by RMD3819

I live in Naples. What questions do you have?

If you had to move from Naples where would you move to?

[RMD3819]

Originally Posted by JJJNEY

If you had to move from Naples where would you move to?

I assume you mean within Florida. I would move to the panhandle or a rural county in North/central Florida.

I have lived in Boca Raton, Key West (briefly), Spring Hill and Tampa. I liked Tampa the best. If the circumstances were right I might consider Tampa again--but my wife doesn't like Tampa so that is out.

I can retire in 2011 and can't wait to get out of Naples. I've been here since 1986. The crowds, cost of living, perpetual road construction have taken a toll on me. I also can't stand the heat like I used to.

[JJJNEY]

Originally Posted by RMD3819

I assume you mean within Florida. I would move to the panhandle or a rural county in North/central Florida.

I have lived in Boca Raton, Key West (briefly), Spring Hill and Tampa. I liked Tampa the best. If the circumstances were right I might consider Tampa again--but my wife doesn't like Tampa so that is out.

I can retire in 2011 and can't wait to get out of Naples. I've been here since 1986. The crowds, cost of living, perpetual road construction have taken a toll on me. I also can't stand the heat like I used to.

My problem is we need to upsize and in order to do so we would need to move out of Naples. Despite some of the negative things I have read in forums I like Naples. I think it is clean and the people are pretty much pleasant I don't know why some people feel that folks are not nice around here I even read one that said there is a lot of poverty in Naples (get real). Anyway, to make a long story short we visited PSL and it was nothing like Naples at all it was depressing now we don't know what to do or were to go. I have been to Tampa only briefly when we take our children to BushGardens, never really gone into the neighborhoods. We have never been to the panhandle is it nice?

[novanative75]

Originally Posted by JJJNEY

I think it is clean and the people are pretty much pleasant I don't know why some people feel that folks are not nice around here I even read one that said there is a lot of poverty in Naples (get real).

That was me! I am real, real as they come! AGAIN, do we live in Compton, New Jersey, no, BUT there are a lot of families, immigrant and otherwise, that are living in what I would consider poverty around here. Is it more than other places, maybe not but my point is that people come to Naples and think, 'Oooooh, rich, fancy Naples with all the wealth and pretty people and fancy cars.' Sure, there is that (mostly from December-April) but there are a lot of people that most would consider poor here as well.
Have you spent time in the schools here? I work with 70-80% poverty amongst students in my school everyday. I also spent time working at the Boys and Girls Club here and we are talking 700-800 students (only from a select group of schools) that qualified for free tuition there because of imcomes. I was the one who looked over the tax returns to verify income.
AGAIN, I am not saying Naples is overrun with poverty but 100% of the people that I have spoken with were shocked by the amount when they arrived here to live.
Now, of course, if you live in Pelican Bay and only spend your time on the golf course or en route to 5th Avenue for your afternoon martini, you might not see it. But, if you take time to look around, it is there.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by JJJNEY

My problem is we need to upsize and in order to do so we would need to move out of Naples. Despite some of the negative things I have read in forums I like Naples. I think it is clean and the people are pretty much pleasant I don't know why some people feel that folks are not nice around here I even read one that said there is a lot of poverty in Naples (get real). Anyway, to make a long story short we visited PSL and it was nothing like Naples at all it was depressing now we don't know what to do or were to go. I have been to Tampa only briefly when we take our children to BushGardens, never really gone into the neighborhoods. We have never been to the panhandle is it nice?

Just a question: Why Port Saint Lucie? I grew up in Port Saint Lucie, and have seen a ridiculous amount of growth and change. When you visited, where exactly did you go? Port Saint Lucie is about as bland middle class as they come, and for many, it's exactly what they're looking for. There are, however, new and different housing and neighborhood options in the city that weren't there just 5 years ago.

The city is HUGE, however, land wise, and sprawls over 80 square miles.

Tradition, for example, is a nice new development and community in Western PSL, close to the highway and businesses. Saint Lucie West has become the "hub" of commercial development, but its losing its "upscale" feel because "normal" businesses are moving in.

If you want to live closer to the beach, there is East Lake Village in Eastern Port Saint Lucie, and all around the city there are normal 3/2/2 homes by the boatload. It's a place where many can go and afford a decent home on a decent lot. Port Saint Lucie has no pretense.

It's not the most exciting place to live, but that probably helps explain its low crime.


The treasure coast, however, is not all Port Saint Lucie. There's Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hobe Sound to the South and Vero Beach and Melbourne to the North. There's also good options in Northern Palm Beach County, such as Jupiter and Tequesta.


The panhandle is nice, but again, we're talking major boredom and disconnectedness in many parts. The state capital, for example, is a great place to raise a family, but you'll drive 2.5 hours to get to a major airport (Jacksonville).

[JJJNEY]

Originally Posted by TriMT7

Just a question: Why Port Saint Lucie? I grew up in Port Saint Lucie, and have seen a ridiculous amount of growth and change. When you visited, where exactly did you go? Port Saint Lucie is about as bland middle class as they come, and for many, it's exactly what they're looking for. There are, however, new and different housing and neighborhood options in the city that weren't there just 5 years ago.

The city is HUGE, however, land wise, and sprawls over 80 square miles.

Tradition, for example, is a nice new development and community in Western PSL, close to the highway and businesses. Saint Lucie West has become the "hub" of commercial development, but its losing its "upscale" feel because "normal" businesses are moving in.

If you want to live closer to the beach, there is East Lake Village in Eastern Port Saint Lucie, and all around the city there are normal 3/2/2 homes by the boatload. It's a place where many can go and afford a decent home on a decent lot. Port Saint Lucie has no pretense.

It's not the most exciting place to live, but that probably helps explain its low crime.


The treasure coast, however, is not all Port Saint Lucie. There's Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hobe Sound to the South and Vero Beach and Melbourne to the North. There's also good options in Northern Palm Beach County, such as Jupiter and Tequesta.


The panhandle is nice, but again, we're talking major boredom and disconnectedness in many parts. The state capital, for example, is a great place to raise a family, but you'll drive 2.5 hours to get to a major airport (Jacksonville).

it doesn't have to be PSL this just so happen to be a place we heard was clean, nice to raise children and yet homes are still affordable. When you get there however it doesn't compare to Naples. I am looking into Tradition we will stop by on our next visit. Maybe we will look into Jupiter. I am open to any suggestions