[StreetSmarts]

What "less hassles" does ATL have? Less crime? Less congestion/traffic? Better schools? Just curious.

[Enigma777]

Originally Posted by LDWPA

All joking, sort of, aside Florida is among the last states to begin economic recovery. You've still got overwhelming foreclosures to deal with. There just aren't many employers with quality jobs who'll want to relocate to such an unknown future. Why risk Florida when you can do Texas? Why risk hurricanes when Atlanta has a better educated workforce and less hassles? You just ain't got it going on down here anymore.

Why risk Florida when you can do Texas? Are you serious? Entirely different mindset. Texas is a country all its own and has absolutely nothing in common with Florida other than the Gulf.

As far as hurricanes, again, are you serious? Florida has had better weather and fewer natural disasters than a majority of the country for the last 10 years. No droughts, no blizzards, no mudslides or rockslides, no big storms, no forest fires, no earthquakes, no widespread tornadoes, no hailstorms, no frigid weather, no widespread or flash flooding, no disaster relief concerts. Also no mass shootings, bombings, explosions, or presidential memorial speeches for victims and families.

Florida is really not a place you come to for your career--it's more about the lifestyle and weather. I was a NYC workaholic but not here--I just put in my time at work and really enjoy going home and having free weekends. You can make money here if that is your goal, but it's not all that easy unless you are a doctor, lawyer or developer.

You can also get a decent education here if you are really motivated and motivate your kids. I have friends whose kids went to school here and then went to ivy league colleges. But the school system as a whole is not as good as some other parts of the country that devote more tax money to their school system and there are a lot of distractions for kids to avoid serious studying. Also noticed kids seem to grow up faster here. U of Fla is a good university and not real easy to get into without very good grades. Good law school, as well.

There are more foreclosures here, as well as California and Vegas. Mostly because of all the out-of-state investors and flippers who treated property in these states as if they were day traders in the stock market and over-inflated the property values.

Basically, Florida is what you make of it. There are different lifestyles and places to live for everyone. This is not a red or blue state--it is purple.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by LDWPA

You must be talking about the one Florida told me was made of gold? They tell me there's a fountain around here somewhere..

All joking, sort of, aside Florida is among the last states to begin economic recovery. You've still got overwhelming foreclosures to deal with. There just aren't many employers with quality jobs who'll want to relocate to such an unknown future. Why risk Florida when you can do Texas? Why risk hurricanes when Atlanta has a better educated workforce and less hassles? You just ain't got it going on down here anymore.

FL is no worse off than parts of CA, Vegas or Atlanta. Parts of CA are quite frankly worse. ever been to stockton or Oakland?

[LDWPA]

Originally Posted by Enigma777

Why risk Florida when you can do Texas? Are you serious? Entirely different mindset. Texas is a country all its own and has absolutely nothing in common with Florida other than the Gulf.

I'll say. One can make a lot of money there. It's not thought of as a laughing stock, or a basket case the way Florida is these days. Shoot even CA has turned it's corner. Florida? Well it's perhaps rounding the corner.. maybe.

[LDWPA]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

FL is no worse off than parts of CA, Vegas or Atlanta. Parts of CA are quite frankly worse. ever been to stockton or Oakland?

Who cares? Parts of Florida are better than Kabul too.

Lot's of areas in the USA are nicer to live than many places in Florida. On and on...

[LDWPA]

Originally Posted by ComSense

What "less hassles" does ATL have? Less crime? Less congestion/traffic? Better schools? Just curious.

Better infrastructure, educated populace, nicer suburbs, less sex offenders, less high school dropouts, better universities, better business community, international access.

North GA>FL pretty much in every way except weather and beaches. The business people know it hence Atlanta is Atlanta and Florida is, well, Florida.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by LDWPA

Who cares? Parts of Florida are better than Kabul too.

Lot's of areas in the USA are nicer to live than many places in Florida. On and on...

And parts of FL are great to live in compared to anywhere in the US.

Seriously, if FL makes you so unhappy, please leave. There are way too many people here as it is

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by LDWPA

You must be talking about the one Florida told me was made of gold? They tell me there's a fountain around here somewhere..

All joking, sort of, aside Florida is among the last states to begin economic recovery. You've still got overwhelming foreclosures to deal with. There just aren't many employers with quality jobs who'll want to relocate to such an unknown future. Why risk Florida when you can do Texas? Why risk hurricanes when Atlanta has a better educated workforce and less hassles? You just ain't got it going on down here anymore.

Umm..... Florida's unemployment rate is 7.0.

Georgia's is 8.7.


Georgia salaries are about average for the United States. Ranked about dead-middle. Nothing to write home about. A couple thousand more per year on average than Florida salaries. (24th v 30th).... which could easily be eaten up by income taxes.



Maybe if Florida did like Texas and built a resource-extraction economy, and maybe if Florida had unlimited land to sprawl out and build endless suburb after endless suburb things would not have gone crazy in real estate like they did here. But alas, every state is different.




Just give it up guy. If you don't have an in-demand skill in Florida, move to a state that demands whatever it is you do.

REALLY easy. We don't send marine biologists to Oklahoma, and we don't expect energy traders to find work in Jacksonville... go to Texas for that. (though Florida Power and Light DOES handsomely pay a bevy of energy traders at its Juno Beach location).




The hyperbole all around REALLY has to stop, however. Not everyone in Florida is working in a hotel for minimum wage.


I have friends and family working in Southern Florida in finance, law, insurance, medical, computer programming, electrician trades, retail management.... all the same jobs people have elsewhere in the country. I have a friend who was a hydrologist in the NE.... he moved down without a job, took him a year to find one in his field, but now works for the water management district making the same money he did up north. Oh, but now he has a single family house a mile from the ocean, in comparison to a condo up north.


BLS data is readily available to compare salaries across fields in a variety of states. For some occupations, Florida pays better than other popular states. For other occupations, Florida pays less. There is no "it's universally lower" or "universally higher."

Georgia - May 2012 OES State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates


Florida - May 2012 OES State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates



Sure, Florida typically is not a place where one works in the mail room and becomes the CEO after 30 years.... but honestly folks, that's not happening anymore, anywhere.

[beachmouse]

Originally Posted by LDWPA

Better infrastructure, educated populace, nicer suburbs, less sex offenders, less high school dropouts, better universities, better business community, international access.

North GA>FL pretty much in every way except weather and beaches. The business people know it hence Atlanta is Atlanta and Florida is, well, Florida.

And yet my part of Florida is filled with former Atlanta residents who consider the city to be a cesspit of humanity, and would do everything in their power to prevent ever having to live there again.

Every area has its pluses and minus and any number of reasons why it's a perfect or awful fit for a situation or scenario.

[Red3311]

no suprise to this post, the cheerleaders hate FACTS but Florida pays the 6th worst in average annual wages in the country, but the cost of lviing index is in the top 10...