Is there something wrong with me? (Fort Lauderdale, Weston: travel, income, work)

[compelled to reply]

I like living in Broward County, and after seeing much of the country, I am usually happy to get home. Is there something wrong with me? With the "bad crime" (Below national average) and "Rude people" (like my friendly neighbors that say Hi to me and look out for me) and the "terrible traffic" (oooohhh, the bottleneck on 595 at University Drive on Friday at 5!!!!) and "third world invasions" (10 percent of Broward hispanics fell below poverty vs. a WHOPPING 11 percent of its overall population(compare to 13.3 percent of U.S),and if you want to see the demographics http://www.city-data.com/city/Weston-Florida.html of Browards most heavily Hispanic city, here you go!) . Maybe there is nothing wrong with me at all, so maybe I am just wearing rose colored glasses? Obviously it sucks, so I didn't put a "nothing, its great" option, so which do you think applies to me?

Oh, and in addition, I haven't considered GA, NC, or TN yet. Anything wrong with me on that?

[tallrick]

You're in a good place for now. Be glad and hope that it does not become like stereotypical South Florida!

[macguy]

Originally Posted by fort lauderdale

I like living in Broward County, and after seeing much of the country, I am usually happy to get home. Is there something wrong with me? With the "bad crime" (Below national average) and "Rude people" (like my friendly neighbors that say Hi to me and look out for me) and the "terrible traffic" (oooohhh, the bottleneck on 595 at University Drive on Friday at 5!!!!) and "third world invasions" (10 percent of Broward hispanics fell below poverty vs. a WHOPPING 11 percent of its overall population(compare to 13.3 percent of U.S),and if you want to see the demographics http://www.city-data.com/city/Weston-Florida.html of Browards most heavily Hispanic city, here you go!) . Maybe there is nothing wrong with me at all, so maybe I am just wearing rose colored glasses? Obviously it sucks, so I didn't put a "nothing, its great" option, so which do you think applies to me?

Oh, and in addition, I haven't considered GA, NC, or TN yet. Anything wrong with me on that?

You don't have any perspective yet. If you were here for say 20 years you would hate what you see. As it is, you don't know the difference so being maybe nicer then some other places you have experienced you like it. You don't have to hate it to see it's short comings though, just be honest and have some objectivity. Except for maybe the weather, there are so many other places superior it is hard to know where to start.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by macguy

You don't have any perspective yet. If you were here for say 20 years you would hate what you see. As it is, you don't know the difference so being maybe nicer then some other places you have experienced you like it. You don't have to hate it to not see it's short comings though, just be honest and have some objectivity. Except for maybe the weather, there are so many other places superior it is hard to know where to start.

As far as an urban/metropolitan area? I have been around the country, and although I haven't lived in them, I don't see too many differences. I actually see a lot of advantages here. The highway system moves quite freely compared to most areas, there isn't much of a humongous income gap between whites and other racial groups, which makes diversity an element that works here unlike any other place I have seen, it's suburbs are safe,clean, decent looking, its city is grimey with some nice parts here and there (like anywhere else). The main disadvantage I see here is cost of living and crappy education system. Sure, I didn't spend my entire life here, and I didn't see it 20 years ago when it was much, much smaller and less crowded, but the reality is, Broward County has merged into a metropolitan area of 5 million people, and Fort Lauderdale itself has formed as a distinctive metro area amongst the string of development known as Southeast Florida. As far as most metropolitan areas go, from what I have found, its not that bad. Was it nicer 20 years ago? You would be blind to say it wasn't. Is it hell now, since its all grown up? Absolutely not. I'm actually in to living in a larger area, and of course you have a much different perspective than I do because A. You live in the city, I live in an outer upscale suburb and B. I wasn't even born in the amount of time that you have lived here.

Are their nicer cities/metros? ABSOLUTELY!!!! San Diego, San Francisco, maybe Houston (if you like traffic) have impressed me far more, but our suburbs are still as nice as anywhere and have some advantages and not too many disadvantages that are unique to this area. I personally haven't met too many people who have moved here from elsewhere (including places like San Diego, etc) who find it so terrible. They actually seem to really like it.

Since I have seen some of the country, that's why I voted that I was wearing rose colored glasses, LOL!

Will I get tired of it after another 10 years?Probably,I'm into change, but we will see, but it probably has a lot to do with how our counties surrounding us are in 10 years. This county is built out, after all.

[compelled to reply]

Alright, so far, I think I'm just wearing rose colored glasses. Lets see if anyone can convince me otherwise or agrees.

[TriMT7]

Wearing rose colored glasses is no worse than the other side of the coin -- those posters who make it seem as though they live in the seventh circle of Hell. (You know who they are!)

What would we call those? People viewing the world through cracked or broken glasses?

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by TriMT7

What would we call those? People viewing the world through cracked or broken glasses?

Incompetent? Regardless, even though most of the facts are proving this to be quite good compared to much of the country, I still must be wearing rose colored glasses, because this is hell, and I am supposed to want to move to Atlanta or Johnson City, Tennessee, which are mutually exclusive with higher quality of life, no exceptions whatsoever.

Maybe when I traveled around over the years, I just didn't look hard enough. Is that possible? There is evidently SOMETHING wrong with me, or at least my perception.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by tallrick

You're in a good place for now. Be glad and hope that it does not become like stereotypical South Florida!

Wow Rick, if you say it's not too bad, I guess it really isn't!

[tallrick]

Originally Posted by fort lauderdale

Wow Rick, if you say it's not too bad, I guess it really isn't!

It's like a rotten apple, it does not all happen at once. While there is some rot or worms inside, other parts stay delicious, for a while. The eventuality is that it will succumb to decay, but if you are in a good spot enjoy it while it's still delicious!

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by tallrick

It's like a rotten apple, it does not all happen at once. While there is some rot or worms inside, other parts stay delicious, for a while. The eventuality is that it will succumb to decay, but if you are in a good spot enjoy it while it's still delicious!

You see, I DO agree with this!!! I know all good things must come to an end, but for now, gheez, its fine in this area for now! The bottom part of the apple is rotten, the center is overripe potentially having some of the sweetest meat,but it's still over-ripe, and the top third has inconsistencies between really sweet and really rotten, with worms crawling through the sweet parts.