[LouisianaNative92]

I am a 19 year old male from Louisiana. I just lost my job due to the business shutting down and now I have nothing here. Louisiana is in it's death throes. I do have 10,000 dollars that I inherited, and it's been sitting in my savings. My parents say they'll help any way they can.


I was seriously considering going to Key West to try to make a go of it. I know Florida's economy is not the best either, but I think I could make something of myself in Key West. It's way bigger than the town I live now, and I've even called a few businesses there and several have said they need help. And eventually I think I could open my own business of some sort or make money some way. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make it.



Am I making a big mistake?

[jambo101]

Key West is a tiny island devoted almost entirely to the tourist trade.Its also a very expensive place to live,
I think your options for employment would be greatly increased in the Miami or the Tampa/St Pete area.

[newguy101]

Originally Posted by LouisianaNative92

I am a 19 year old male from Louisiana. I just lost my job due to the business shutting down and now I have nothing here. Louisiana is in it's death throes. I do have 10,000 dollars that I inherited, and it's been sitting in my savings. My parents say they'll help any way they can.


I was seriously considering going to Key West to try to make a go of it. I know Florida's economy is not the best either, but I think I could make something of myself in Key West. It's way bigger than the town I live now, and I've even called a few businesses there and several have said they need help. And eventually I think I could open my own business of some sort or make money some way. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make it.



Am I making a big mistake?

given your age i would really reconsider spending the money you inherited trying to make a go of it in KW, you can go thru that pretty quick. better places in florida to make it. get a job lined up first and keep your money as back-up... you will find a lot of new friends that will help you spend it, any way you do be carefull and good luck

[90sman]

I'm also 19 and live in KW but honestly, no KW isn't a good place to live. Jobs are scarce, the cost of living is high and there isn't much for 19 year olds to do here.

As for starting up a business in KW, that would be a very difficult task to do. Everything's expensive (taxes, insurance, utilities, rent etc), plus the city govt has strict rules and regulations regarding businesses. A lot of businesses here open up but then close in six months or so. I wish the city govt would lighten up on the rules, maybe we could actually be a business friendly city. That's why we don't have any Walmarts, Olive Gardens, Best Buys, or malls.

I was born and raised here. I'm also a fourth generation "conch" but I plan on relocating to either Tampa or Tallahassee within a couple years. I certainly don't want to raise my future family here when I have kids.

Key West isn't the happy paradise people make it out to be. We have a problem with homeless people- they're everywhere. Beaches here often close down due to sanitary issues (probably due to the homeless polluting the beaches), the cost of living is very high, we're lacking in medical services that other cities have so people often have to go to Miami for medical care, we only have one highway to the mainland, KW isn't much of a family or child friendly city anymore, many areas look dirty and grimy, we have the highest rate of binge drinking in the state, our county has the second highest % of divorced people in the country and the list goes on.

Sadly, the city is centered around tourism, partying, getting wasted and other inappropriate things. So, the children here become exposed to these things and it's not healthy for them. Many long time residents have told me that KW has gone downhill in the past 40 years, more so than the country.

Key West would be a great place to live if you got rid of all the tourists, the bars, T shirt shops, "adult entertainment" and we had another highway to the mainland.

[newguy101]

well put,90sman.

[Star Fisher]

Don't all of you know that there wouldn't be a Key West without tourists!! There is nothing wrong with tourist. They're always happy to be on vacation (maybe because they are drunk) and they spend their money with benefits everyone that lives here. I would never live anywhere else!! Of course, I'm not 19 years old (may have been dangerous for me at that age), but a 37 yr. old wife & mother of two boys. I would never raise my children anywhere else. If you think there is too much crime around here than you've never lived in a major city anywhere in this country. I feel much more safe here than in any city I've ever lived in. I love my ONE HUMAN FAMILY!!