[aaronda]

My husband and I are considering Lakeland. I lived there for a few years as a child. My parents moved alot and I have fond memories of Lakeland. I went to school at Carlton Palmore Elem and also Scott Lake Elementary. The neighborhoods we lived in were nice and we never experienced any "negative" events while living there. This was 25 years ago!!! We are in our late 30's and we currently live in northern California. The weather here is cold...not what you would expect from California. My husband was born and raised here and would very much like to live somewhere more tropical climated. We are going to Florida in September for a week vacation and have set aside a day to drive to Lakeland and just check things out. Our biggest fear is we would be giving up everything we have worked for and built here in Ca. Selling everything and moving across the US to an unknown territory. California is expensive, just a moderate home here (needing TLC and only 1100 square feet is 250k+. We have done well but we are ready for a change. I work in a small rural hospital in the office, cash depost accounting billing that sort of thing. My husband is in the timber industry but has alot of construction skills. We earn approx 80k combined here, how does that compare there? Are jobs good there? We have health insurance through his work and it is free. This is also a consideration for us to give up. It is a scary thing to do and we would be stuck if it didnt work out! We also noticed on a website that the crime in Lakeland is higher than that of NYC!!! How could that be? Would appreciate any input whatsoever...tough decision to make based on childhood memories of bliss..ha

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by aaronda

My husband and I are considering Lakeland. I lived there for a few years as a child. My parents moved alot and I have fond memories of Lakeland. I went to school at Carlton Palmore Elem and also Scott Lake Elementary. The neighborhoods we lived in were nice and we never experienced any "negative" events while living there. This was 25 years ago!!! We are in our late 30's and we currently live in northern California. The weather here is cold...not what you would expect from California. My husband was born and raised here and would very much like to live somewhere more tropical climated. We are going to Florida in September for a week vacation and have set aside a day to drive to Lakeland and just check things out. Our biggest fear is we would be giving up everything we have worked for and built here in Ca. Selling everything and moving across the US to an unknown territory. California is expensive, just a moderate home here (needing TLC and only 1100 square feet is 250k+. We have done well but we are ready for a change. I work in a small rural hospital in the office, cash depost accounting billing that sort of thing. My husband is in the timber industry but has alot of construction skills. We earn approx 80k combined here, how does that compare there? Are jobs good there? We have health insurance through his work and it is free. This is also a consideration for us to give up. It is a scary thing to do and we would be stuck if it didnt work out! We also noticed on a website that the crime in Lakeland is higher than that of NYC!!! How could that be? Would appreciate any input whatsoever...tough decision to make based on childhood memories of bliss..ha

Hi there! I am a Florida native who has live in or visited several areas of my home state. My hubby and I visited beautiful Lakeland a couple months ago and FELL IN LOVE! We just yesterday closed on a vintage bungalow in a historic neighborhood for WELL under $200,000!

There is too much good to tell you about in one post - if you click on my username (gypsychic) look up all the posts I have made about Lakeland. Or you might have to use the search feature at the type and type in "Lakeland".

You will be pleasantly surprised at how clean and beautiful this town is - they have spent the last two decades polishing up their downtown. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to send me a PM, I am always happy to share anything I can. By the way, there is a good economy here, and it is also easy to commute to Tampa or Orlando if need be. Your $$$$ will go VERY far here!

As to that "crime website" - all I can do is roll my eyes at that one. Lakeland is a very safe city - I have checked the crime map for weeks. Nothing but little vehicle burglaries in the bad part of town for the most part. The police will tell you that the crimes are being committed by the same 4% of people in that area. Believe me, you CANNOT go by those crime statistics!

[aaronda]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Hi there! I am a Florida native who has live in or visited several areas of my home state. My hubby and I visited beautiful Lakeland a couple months ago and FELL IN LOVE! We just yesterday closed on a vintage bungalow in a historic neighborhood for WELL under $200,000!

There is too much good to tell you about in one post - if you click on my username (gypsychic) look up all the posts I have made about Lakeland. Or you might have to use the search feature at the type and type in "Lakeland".

You will be pleasantly surprised at how clean and beautiful this town is - they have spent the last two decades polishing up their downtown. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to send me a PM, I am always happy to share anything I can. By the way, there is a good economy here, and it is also easy to commute to Tampa or Orlando if need be. Your $$$$ will go VERY far here!

As to that "crime website" - all I can do is roll my eyes at that one. Lakeland is a very safe city - I have checked the crime map for weeks. Nothing but little vehicle burglaries in the bad part of town for the most part. The police will tell you that the crimes are being committed by the same 4% of people in that area. Believe me, you CANNOT go by those crime statistics!

I did read the different posts where you refer to Lakeland. You are a Lakeland freak!!! lol...I love to hear positive things about it, I am really leaning towards moving there, I will at least be there on vacation in Sept. I am so looking forward to seeing some of my old homes. I remember a nice place to eat there called the Sea Wolf?? It was out in the center of a shopping mall with a "Food World" it was new at the time and I remember being facinated by the globe...anyway is that restaurant still there? The guy that owned it had a beautiful tudor style home on the corner, we would drive past it around a lake (seemed like a college?) There was an alligator we called blinky who would make an appearance and sunbathe out in the middle of the lake. I guess that must of been 1976/1977. I just cant wait to go back and see everything. I remember eating at a place jimbo bbq??? They used to serve this big bowl of pickles before the meal, my father loved that place...I wonder if any of these things are still around???

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by aaronda

I did read the different posts where you refer to Lakeland. You are a Lakeland freak!!! lol...I love to hear positive things about it, I am really leaning towards moving there, I will at least be there on vacation in Sept. I am so looking forward to seeing some of my old homes. I remember a nice place to eat there called the Sea Wolf?? It was out in the center of a shopping mall with a "Food World" it was new at the time and I remember being facinated by the globe...anyway is that restaurant still there? The guy that owned it had a beautiful tudor style home on the corner, we would drive past it around a lake (seemed like a college?) There was an alligator we called blinky who would make an appearance and sunbathe out in the middle of the lake. I guess that must of been 1976/1977. I just cant wait to go back and see everything. I remember eating at a place jimbo bbq??? They used to serve this big bowl of pickles before the meal, my father loved that place...I wonder if any of these things are still around???

The "Sea Wolf" in Tampa used to be one of my favorite restaurants in the 1970's I guess he had more than one. Anyway, I don't know the story, but he turned out to be a crook (lol) and those places closed. However, there are MANY restaurants and businesses in Lakeland that have been there for DECADES and are going strong! Great sense of community there, which is a big part of why I love it. Also, wait until you see Lake Mirror downtown - they have restored the promenade, and the Hollis Gardens and everything they have there now will knock your socks off. Seriously, this will be a supercharged Lakeland from what you remember.

Hope you enjoy your upcoming visit there!

[Lee Rudolph]

I lived in Lakeland Fl for 4-6 months in 1973. Aside from the "lovebugs", and all kinds of little insects that bite like crazy, it was a great place. My favorite memory was watching the giant one-eyed alligator, Blinky, stroll through the middle of town like he owned the place.....for all I know he did. If you have pictures of Blinky, I sure would like to see him again. I was too young, broke and stupid at the time to take pictures of the friendly beast. But it was sure fun to watch Blinky walk the streets and send ladies and little kids running and screaming as if the old gator was a real danger. If you have photos that you can scan and email to me I would be grateful. Send then to: leearudolph@gmail.com

[Spiritled]

Are there any Italian areas in Lakeland? I am in a small city in KY. I grew up in Michigan and an Italian neighborhood with Italian groceries. My family is looking to move to Lakeland. Let me know.

[Spiritled]

Are there any Italian neighborhoods in Lakeland? I live in a small KY town, but our family may be moving to Lakeland. My family lived in an Italian neighborhood outside of Detroit with Italian groceries and I loved it. I want some of that back!

[markhunt]

Originally Posted by Spiritled

Are there any Italian neighborhoods in Lakeland? I live in a small KY town, but our family may be moving to Lakeland. My family lived in an Italian neighborhood outside of Detroit with Italian groceries and I loved it. I want some of that back!

I doubt it. In fact I doubt if there are any in florida at all.

Then again I'm comparing it to what I experienced as italian areas in CT, like East Haven.

EDIT:

Well according to Wiki there are some in Florida. I can't comment on how accurate it is since I've never been to these neighborhoods.

Broward County, Florida
Coral Gables, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami Beach, Florida (South Beach)
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Pompano Beach, Florida

List of Italian American neighborhoods - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Spiritled]

Originally Posted by markhunt

I doubt it. In fact I doubt if there are any in florida at all.

Then again I'm comparing it to what I experienced as italian areas in CT, like East Haven.

EDIT:

Well according to Wiki there are some in Florida. I can't comment on how accurate it is since I've never been to these neighborhoods.

Broward County, Florida
Coral Gables, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami Beach, Florida (South Beach)
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Pompano Beach, Florida

List of Italian American neighborhoods - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks for the response. We visited Tampa in June and found a great Italian Grocery. I just like those Italian areas because I know the culture and Italian's take great pride in their homes! At least all my family and friends did. They lived in small clusters in Dearborn, etc. That area has become a more middle eastern culture in the last 15 years. Most of my family--now younger-- have moved to north to newer updated neighborhoods.

I have visited and went on business training to Danbury, CT and know a few small areas there too. Anyway, if we move to Lakeland, I would love to have that kind of culture/atmosphere again.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Spiritled

Thanks for the response. We visited Tampa in June and found a great Italian Grocery. I just like those Italian areas because I know the culture and Italian's take great pride in their homes! At least all my family and friends did. They lived in small clusters in Dearborn, etc. That area has become a more middle eastern culture in the last 15 years. Most of my family--now younger-- have moved to north to newer updated neighborhoods.

I have visited and went on business training to Danbury, CT and know a few small areas there too. Anyway, if we move to Lakeland, I would love to have that kind of culture/atmosphere again.

There are some Italians in Lakeland, but no "villages" so to speak. I grew up in Tampa, in an area which was and still is inhabited by Spanish and Italian families. These days, it seems like more neighborhoods are becoming "homogenized."

Good luck!