[Petertherock]

Florida is no different than anywhere else in the country. There are good places to live and bad places to live. There are places in Portland Maine I wouldn't go into in the day time without 5 armed cops with me and there are places like the town where I live where you could leave all your doors unlocked all night and be safe. The church I go to doesn't have any locks on the doors.

There are bad aspects to the weather no matter where you are at just as there are good aspects. Florida is hot, humid, and has lots of bugs in the summer but you can get the same heat and humidity in the northeast in the summer although it's short lived and only lasts a few weeks. But in Florida you don't have to deal with the -20 temps in the winter time causing everything from dead batteries in your car to frozen pipes in your home causing water damage when they burst.

Sure, Florida has hurricanes and tornadoes but every state in the country can have tornadoes (although they are more rare in the northeast but they do happen) You can read about the F-4 Memorial Day Tornado in Great Barrington, MA that killed a couple people several years ago. We also have major snow storms and Nor'Easter's here in the northeast. We had one storm this spring that did more damage than most hurricanes. We had sustained winds of 70MPH and gusts over 90MPH. Not to mention it started as snow and ended as about 5-7 inches of rain. I was on the fire dept. and we were out for almost a week straight running call after call because of the storm.

I lived in North Adams all my life up until the year 2000 and never have I saw a more depressed area for employment opportunities. If you consider $7-$8/hour a good living then North Adams is the place for you. The store fronts are empty on Main Street. Even the local dominos pizza closed!! So if you want to get a pizza delivered to you then don't move to North Adams!!

MassMoCA has helped the area a little bit but the only thing that has done is caused property costs to go way out of site, bringing in these whacked out "artists," and caused an even more sharp division of poor and rich. When I left in 2000 I was paying a little over $500 a month for a "luxury" apartment with a pool and garage. It was a great apartment and heat and hot water was included. Now the same apartment goes for $800. Still cheap compared to Maine but considering therre is nothing to do and no work in the area it's high priced.

I will take the hot summers to get rid of the snow shovels and heavy winter coats. I also will take paying less in car repair costs and less wear and tear on the car because of all the pot holes you drive into in the winter/spring.

And it does stay cool into June and even into July this year. It seemed like all June long it was mostly in the 60s and damp with lots of rain. July wasn't much better...cool and wet most of July. Finally toward the end of July into August we got about a week of summer weather and not it's getting cool again...it's only going to be in the 60s this weekend and the rest of the week is only in the 70s. Not bad weather but I like my summer heat.

I do want to say, it's not all bad in the northeast. It's a very beautiful area. Especially in the fall when the leaves change. You get about a month of perfect weather with warm days and cool nights but the winters are long and cold and hard to deal with.

[121804]

Originally Posted by Floridabound09

Why don't people like it? Only the ones who cannot see past there nose don't like it.

People don't HAVE to like it here. It is not a regulation though some appear very intent on it. You don't live here yet. You've vacationed here a lot, but you don't live here. There is a difference. And you know what, you probably will like it. Good for YOUR family & best of luck. We know many people who are here & want to make it work, but circumstances are forcing them out. Most people we know who are ok here have grown children or no children or are retireed. I highly doubt people move here hoping NOT to like it.

But this is crappy place to raise a family for OUR family [I am specifically speaking of SW FL ] for a list of reasons ranging from corrupt school systems that alter test scores, endless rows of empty condos & empty homes that litter the area, lack of any PROFESSIONAL growth & relentless heat & humidity [ok, come Dec-Feb it will be great weather wise here]. We are a younger family who are adament about education, cultural activies, & the four seasons--something that does not exist is this area. The beach only cuts it so many times.

We are here only due to job circumstances & thankfully our children are not subject to going to school here. We were aware of all of this prior to moving here but the reality really sets in when one is here 24/7 with responsibilities.

We are moving back to my home state & a state most probably would not want to move to. But that is where our family support is & where we can live & be ok paying taxes & a mortgage b/c we are getting what we pay for there, unlike here. I would never be like "You don't like this place!!! Can't you see the awesomeness of it? Can't you? Can't you? No, you have to see it! Look, it's great!" Someone wants to move b/c they don't like it? Fine. It's their life & their choices.

But it's funny how those who are so passionate about the place get so upset that anyone dare not care for it & same can be said for those who don't care for it.

But no one has to like the area of Florida they reside in or have visited.

[athorson710]

121804 - What city do you live in?

[Granny Sue]

I have no problem with someone not liking Florida but when statements start with or contains:
"Florida Sucks".....that's not a help to anyone....it's not even an opinion, it's a statement. And a statement I find untrue by the way.

How about...Florida didn't work out for me because......I couldn't find a decent job.....didn't find the housing I needed.....couldn't afford the insurance....etc....didn't like the goverment?

For me Florida does NOT suck....I found my niche here and happen to be very happy...it's been my home for 25 years. When it ceases to be my home for whatever reason and am asked....I will state the reason without the need to bash the entire State.

Bashing any State just because YOU don't like it is childish, self-centered and irresponsible. It doesn't help anyone.

[mustgetoutofflorida]

Originally Posted by captnemo62

I have no problem with someone not liking Florida but when statements start with or contains:
"Florida Sucks".....that's not a help to anyone....it's not even an opinion, it's a statement. And a statement I find untrue by the way.

How about...Florida didn't work out for me because......I couldn't find a decent job.....didn't find the housing I needed.....couldn't afford the insurance....etc....didn't like the goverment?

For me Florida does NOT suck....I found my niche here and happen to be very happy...it's been my home for 25 years. When it ceases to be my home for whatever reason and am asked....I will state the reason without the need to bash the entire State.

Bashing any State just because YOU don't like it is childish, self-centered and irresponsible. It doesn't help anyone.

I have yet to see a post that states I hate Florida...period. Maybe that is all you see. Childish self centered irresponsible
hmmm I think it is more like freedom of speech. The freedom to speak your mind, I hate chocolate ice cream, is that childish?
I love how people who find there "niche" become when for some horrible reason (health, loss of employment, etc) causes them no longer to be able to afford a home with a pool, their boat, frequenting their favorite watering hole, etc. How about in 20 years when it is time to retire and cannot afford food because of meds, or your $500 mortgage has doubled because of taxes and insurance? Too many people look at the present but not the future.
The job market.........horrible
Cost of living........horrible
Housing..........horrible
Some people may find jobs here, but are they being paid anywhere near what they should.....NOPE
Anyone who says the job market is fine because they have a job is just sadly ignorant, lose that job and tell us how great it is.
I do not think most people realize just what a huge trickle down effect a bad housing market has on the economy.

[Granny Sue]

"I have yet to see a post that states I hate Florida...period. Maybe that is all you see. Childish self centered irresponsible
hmmm I think it is more like freedom of speech. The freedom to speak your mind, I hate chocolate ice cream, is that childish?
I love how people who find there "niche" become when for some horrible reason (health, loss of employment, etc) causes them no longer to be able to afford a home with a pool, their boat, frequenting their favorite watering hole, etc. How about in 20 years when it is time to retire and cannot afford food because of meds, or your $500 mortgage has doubled because of taxes and insurance? Too many people look at the present but not the future.
The job market.........horrible
Cost of living........horrible
Housing..........horrible
Some people may find jobs here, but are they being paid anywhere near what they should.....NOPE
Anyone who says the job market is fine because they have a job is just sadly ignorant, lose that job and tell us how great it is.
I do not think most people realize just what a huge trickle down effect a bad housing market has on the economy."

Who said I was talking about you?? But here ya go......
So you don't like chocolate ice cream..that's an opinion. So not childish or self-center. If you would have said that chocolate ice cream sucks, you would have been stating it as fact and expecting everyone to follow along...that's self-centered and childish. Do you see the difference?
You have no way of knowing what my current financial situation is but let me cue you in a little....I have a great job with great job security, even a nice pension with 10 years to go...I started at the bottom and worked my way up. I have been working at any job I could get since the 2nd day I moved here.
I bought my house when the market was low and didn't get caught up in the housing boom craziness, so therefor didn't lose my tax advantage. I also am very much aware of the state of economy and have taken every precaution I can to make sure my family and I can ride it thru. Am I rich? No. Do I have a college education? Yes but not working in that field. Do I have to have fancy toys and a great big house....no. I live within my means.
I sat back and watched my parents have to work long past their retirement ages and planned accordingly so that didn't happen to me.
All I am saying is that every situation is different and not everyone has to have the same opinion....Life would be very boring if that was the case.

[Kelley959]

Originally Posted by floridamove2

Florida is the place to make easy money ! Smart people come here and leave any thinking up north. Its too easy.

Now that is a total lie. I make less here in Florida than in Arkansas. No joke. We've seen at least 5 families leave here in the last two months, most going back to where they came from. Property taxes...Florida RAPES you on those. So there's not payroll tax...they get it out of you. . Columbia County has a 23...23! percent tax rate and the town of Lake City is crap. Wifey and I hope this job in Missouri comes through and we leave this pit.

[FoRuMRideR420]

FLORIDA SUCKS period
nice place to come on vacation but....
what sucks is people, jobs, weather ,its to flat biggest hill is mound of trash, traffic ,crime

some people love it here my parents are example but not for me

just waiting on my lease to end and c-ya LATER back to the mountains

[mustgetoutofflorida]

Originally Posted by captnemo62

I have yet to see a post that states I hate Florida...period. Maybe that is all you see. Childish self centered irresponsible
hmmm I think it is more like freedom of speech. The freedom to speak your mind, I hate chocolate ice cream, is that childish?
I love how people who find there "niche" become when for some horrible reason (health, loss of employment, etc) causes them no longer to be able to afford a home with a pool, their boat, frequenting their favorite watering hole, etc. How about in 20 years when it is time to retire and cannot afford food because of meds, or your $500 mortgage has doubled because of taxes and insurance? Too many people look at the present but not the future.
The job market.........horrible
Cost of living........horrible
Housing..........horrible
Some people may find jobs here, but are they being paid anywhere near what they should.....NOPE
Anyone who says the job market is fine because they have a job is just sadly ignorant, lose that job and tell us how great it is.
I do not think most people realize just what a huge trickle down effect a bad housing market has on the economy.

Who said I was talking about you?? But here ya go......
So you don't like chocolate ice cream..that's an opinion. So not childish or self-center. If you would have said that chocolate ice cream sucks, you would have been stating it as fact and expecting everyone to follow along...that's self-centered and childish. Do you see the difference?
You have no way of knowing what my current financial situation is but let me cue you in a little....I have a great job with great job security, even a nice pension with 10 years to go...I started at the bottom and worked my way up. I have been working at any job I could get since the 2nd day I moved here.
I bought my house when the market was low and didn't get caught up in the housing boom craziness, so therefor didn't lose my tax advantage. I also am very much aware of the state of economy and have taken every precaution I can to make sure my family and I can ride it thru. Am I rich? No. Do I have a college education? Yes but not working in that field. Do I have to have fancy toys and a great big house....no. I live within my means.
I sat back and watched my parents have to work long past their retirement ages and planned accordingly so that didn't happen to me.
All I am saying is that every situation is different and not everyone has to have the same opinion....Life would be very boring if that was the case.

Great job security......no such thing, even if you owned the company. Ever hear of Enron???????
What if your great company decided to move to say New Hampshire, would you go or stay in this great state?
Since I love adages, here goes...............Nothing is certain but death and taxes.
If you got laid off tomorrow and could not find a job for a year and only able to collect unemployment for 4 months at half what you were making would you love everything still? If you fell ill and could no longer work. Anything can happen in this life. I am not in a financial bind, not my motivation for leaving but I can empathize with those who have. Those of you who love Florida cannot see why people don't......we don't have intentions to hate it, we just don't. My reasoning to hate it, too a$$ backwards for me. (I could state the reasons, it would take days and most have already been mentioned in this post and others)

Hey all......chocolate icecream sucks but chubby hubby is much better. ooooops it's the child in me oh and my right as a natural born American citizen.

Hey best adage.............ignorance is bliss. Job security....even if you had tenure in a school here, I would still say your job is not secure enough, Florida building schools for enrollments that are decreasing, although likely not to happen.
Just think anyone who thinks they are set in their life and nothing can happen are sadly misinformed.

[Granny Sue]

Originally Posted by mustgetoutofflorida

Great job security......no such thing, even if you owned the company. Ever hear of Enron???????
What if your great company decided to move to say New Hampshire, would you go or stay in this great state?
Since I love adages, here goes...............Nothing is certain but death and taxes.
If you got laid off tomorrow and could not find a job for a year and only able to collect unemployment for 4 months at half what you were making would you love everything still? If you fell ill and could no longer work. Anything can happen in this life. I am not in a financial bind, not my motivation for leaving but I can empathize with those who have. Those of you who love Florida cannot see why people don't......we don't have intentions to hate it, we just don't. My reasoning to hate it, too a$$ backwards for me. (I could state the reasons, it would take days and most have already been mentioned in this post and others)

Hey all......chocolate icecream sucks but chubby hubby is much better. ooooops it's the child in me oh and my right as a natural born American citizen.

Hey best adage.............ignorance is bliss. Job security....even if you had tenure in a school here, I would still say your job is not secure enough, Florida building schools for enrollments that are decreasing, although likely not to happen.
Just think anyone who thinks they are set in their life and nothing can happen are sadly misinformed.

Did you not read the part about not being blind to the economy and taking the proper precautions? It's called being prepared for a disaster. You only read the parts that you thought you could twist around to your benefit.

So what if you don't like Florida? I never once said you needed to, but why on earth you feel the need to put down the people that do like it here, you know the part about being "sadly informed"?

Now, if since you insist on being petty and silly, I like chocolate ice cream, so it doesn't suck and you didn't tell the truth. I've never had the chubby hubby so I don't have an OPINION on that.

I'm done.