[AAJ2006]

Hi all,

I currently live in Panama City, Florida. We moved here 15 months ago from Chambersburg, PA. Even though I was born and raised in the South, I feel like family life in general was better in PA. Seems like families spent more time together.

Anyone else have this same opinion? Thoughts?

[jambo101]

Hard to critique individual social dynamics but Florida does have a very transient population with every one coming from everywhere or people just down for vacation..You might have to be there a bit longer than a year and a half before longterm relationships become entrenched..

[FloridaKash]

My experience has been that no new town feels like home until you have been there 3 - 4 years. Typically, in that time frame you are able to establish some good friends that you have things in common with.

[Sunny-Days-in-Florida]

The OP mentioned families so it tells me they do not have any family members in the area.

Having just moved to Florida we are in constant contact with family members in Ohio.

We have a couple large groups of them who are coming down over the next few months and one family group is making plans to move here. We knew we would not be around family here so we had planned for them to visit whenever they wanted and had a place to stay.

Jambo is correct, the transient population seems like nothing ever stays the same so it is nothing like Pa or Oh, where you see people living in the same home for 25-30 years everywhere.

[beachmouse]

Florida's a big state, and I'd probably put Panama City pretty far down the family-friendly list even within the state of Florida.

[psulions2007]

PA is far superior to FL in this area... especially compared to a place like Panama City.

[justNancy]

The OP is asking a question that is very subjective. Also, you can't even compare one city in PA to another city in PA. It's a big state!

In general, Florida is more transient and has a much older population than most states. Many people who own homes in coastal areas only live in FL part of the year.

However, I think we've been losing our sense of community across the U.S. for a long time, and I'm not just talking about Florida.

[sheena12]

Both are rather large states! I think it's difficult to make a comparison. I have never been to Panama City, but I have heard quite a bit about it.
To mention a few areas in FL that I have visited (and in once case have relatives there) Boca Raton, St. Augustine and Orlando are nothing like each other - or like what I have heard about Panama City.

But in general, for the middle class at least, Florida tends to be very suburban with no down town or urban centers. So there is a lot of sprawl. I am originally from Long Island NY and there was very little community there either.Everything was spread out. We never spoke to our neighbors. Evey one entered their homes through the garage and no one walked - unless they had head phones and a pedometer on!

We moved to PA and we find it to be a lot more friendly! We have only been here since November and we have friends and so do our children. People really go out of there way to be friendly!
But we are thinking of getting a place somewhere in a warmer clime because the winter's can be brutal! But PA will always be our home base!

[justNancy]

Originally Posted by sheena12

But in general, for the middle class at least, Florida tends to be very suburban with no down town or urban centers. So there is a lot of sprawl.

So true. I often think of leaving, but I'm concerned about the cold weather. When I lived in NH, my aching body couldn't handle the winter months. There's always a way to meet people in Florida, however. You just need to try a little harder!

[sheena12]

Not a fan of cold weather either. My favorite scenario would be to spend the "worst" winter months -or most of them, in Florida or South Carolina. The worst months for me are January - through early March.
I enjoy December and the early gentle snowfalls and crisp air. I like a White Christmas.
But by February I have had it!

Spring and Autumn are beautiful in New England and PA. Summer is usually nice but this year it is way too hot.

Back to the topic - I think that there are aspects of the suburban lifestyle (as opposed to small town, city, or urban that tend to increase isolation - or at least the perception of it. I think this is true not only in Florida, but in many strictly suburban areas.

Homes in suburbia are generally built with prominent attached garages. Front porches are almost non -existant, and when they are suburbanites tend to use the back yard! There is no down town area.
Right now if I were to take a walk to Public Square, a small park in down town Wilkes-Barre, I would more than likely meet some one new or run into a friend or an acquaintance
We live in a front porch town where people walk their dogs at night, and often stop to chat.
Because our homes are closer we chat more and possibilities for interaction increase.

An example : around July 4th our neighbor noticed that we were having trouble starting our grill.
He tried to help us out but was unable.
The next day my son noticed that the grill looked different. Indeed our neighbor took it upon himself to repair it, purchase the part that was needed and clean it thoroughly! This was not an isolated experience! But we are just not used to such kindness.

Personally, I wish that I left Long Island earlier - but I am glad that I have an open invitation in Boca! .