[LushTrees]

My daughters were aged 1 and 3. Having to put on snowsuits, mittens, hats, scarves, and then struggling with my own frozen fingers to get their car seats securely buckled over all that bulk -- just to go out for a quart of milk! Connecticut winters just seemed like too much of a hassle...

When hubby got a job offer in Florida, we grabbed the opportunity.

It was actually wonderful (certainly, from a mother's point of view!) for quite a few years. Year round, I was able to wear the little tikes out after full mornings at the beach and/or pool. The sun/water/surf guaranteed that afterwards this mom's little darlings would snooze away the afternoon until dinnertime.

When school commenced, the early morning ritual was easy: modest shorts and tees. Until that point, I was sure that Florida was the best (read: simplest?) place to raise the little ones.

Then came the day when my older (at that time, 2nd grade) daughter came home from school with a note from her teacher: "Please give me a call with regard to you're [sic] daughter." Don't get me wrong: I appreciate communication from teachers, but something happens to the openness of my mind when preparing myself to listen to a teacher who is grammatically challenged.

Oh, that was just the beginning of the revelation of Florida's sub-par educational system. To be fair, there are many great teachers out there, but Florida doesn't seem fond of overly smart educators; after all, they might make the elected school administrators look like jerks...

Both my husband and I were college graduates who never thought twice about our kids going to college -- I mean, it was just a natural thing to do; just like moving on to brush to teeth after having grown some. But let me tell you, this is not the mindset that Florida schools help to echo. The Florida public school system sends a message (and I don't know if this is wittingly or unwittingly) that if you can just manage to graduate highschool, then you've done way more than your part. (Ugh!)

In any event, my kids did manage to graduate from Florida high schools and move on to higher education elsewhere. (And, frankly, at this point, my daughters are free and capable of writing their own recollections/opinions.)

So now that I don't have to worry about bundling babies and toddlers in gobs of clothing just to go out for a quart of milk, I can tell you that I honestly think I made what was an entirely selfish decision on my part to leave the northeast and move to Florida. After all, I thoroughly admit that I left the northeast because it was just too darn cumbersome to dress/undress my babies for even the most minor of outside errands.

And so here I am, still in Florida today. And I hate Florida with every fiber of my being. Nothing ever changes. Can it snow in Connecticut in July? NO. Has is ever snowed in New Jersey in August? NO. Can it be 90 degrees in Florida in Dec, Jan, Feb? YES. In Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul? YES. In Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov? YES.

Things CHANGE in other places!!! Things never change in Florida. Florida is the perpetual coffin/gravesite. Too much sunshine makes a desert. There is no hope of rebirth after death; no variety of color, or even smells! It always smells like a swamp! It's reptilian and primitive.

Florida is a place I will soon say good-bye to, and never, EVER, will set foot in again. I recommend it only to those who are so disengaged and lazy and for whom watching others mowing their lawns makes them feel powerful.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by LushTrees

Things CHANGE in other places!!! Things never change in Florida. Florida is the perpetual coffin/gravesite. Too much sunshine makes a desert. There is no hope of rebirth after death; no variety of color, or even smells! It always smells like a swamp! It's reptilian and primitive.

. Seriously, go to Orlando or Fort Lauderdale. Places change so fast it's scary, both the right way and the wrong way.

Florida is a place I will soon say good-bye to, and never, EVER, will set foot in again. I recommend it only to those who are so disengaged and lazy and for whom watching others mowing their lawns makes them feel powerful.

This may sound borderline offensive, but you don't really sound like your so far above your described analogy.

[sunrico90]

Originally Posted by LushTrees

My daughters were aged 1 and 3. Having to put on snowsuits, mittens, hats, scarves, and then struggling with my own frozen fingers to get their car seats securely buckled over all that bulk -- just to go out for a quart of milk! Connecticut winters just seemed like too much of a hassle...

When hubby got a job offer in Florida, we grabbed the opportunity.

It was actually wonderful (certainly, from a mother's point of view!) for quite a few years. Year round, I was able to wear the little tikes out after full mornings at the beach and/or pool. The sun/water/surf guaranteed that afterwards this mom's little darlings would snooze away the afternoon until dinnertime.

When school commenced, the early morning ritual was easy: modest shorts and tees. Until that point, I was sure that Florida was the best (read: simplest?) place to raise the little ones.

Then came the day when my older (at that time, 2nd grade) daughter came home from school with a note from her teacher: "Please give me a call with regard to you're [sic] daughter." Don't get me wrong: I appreciate communication from teachers, but something happens to the openness of my mind when preparing myself to listen to a teacher who is grammatically challenged.

Oh, that was just the beginning of the revelation of Florida's sub-par educational system. To be fair, there are many great teachers out there, but Florida doesn't seem fond of overly smart educators; after all, they might make the elected school administrators look like jerks...

Both my husband and I were college graduates who never thought twice about our kids going to college -- I mean, it was just a natural thing to do; just like moving on to brush to teeth after having grown some. But let me tell you, this is not the mindset that Florida schools help to echo. The Florida public school system sends a message (and I don't know if this is wittingly or unwittingly) that if you can just manage to graduate highschool, then you've done way more than your part. (Ugh!)

In any event, my kids did manage to graduate from Florida high schools and move on to higher education elsewhere. (And, frankly, at this point, my daughters are free and capable of writing their own recollections/opinions.)

So now that I don't have to worry about bundling babies and toddlers in gobs of clothing just to go out for a quart of milk, I can tell you that I honestly think I made what was an entirely selfish decision on my part to leave the northeast and move to Florida. After all, I thoroughly admit that I left the northeast because it was just too darn cumbersome to dress/undress my babies for even the most minor of outside errands.

And so here I am, still in Florida today. And I hate Florida with every fiber of my being. Nothing ever changes. Can it snow in Connecticut in July? NO. Has is ever snowed in New Jersey in August? NO. Can it be 90 degrees in Florida in Dec, Jan, Feb? YES. In Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul? YES. In Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov? YES.

Things CHANGE in other places!!! Things never change in Florida. Florida is the perpetual coffin/gravesite. Too much sunshine makes a desert. There is no hope of rebirth after death; no variety of color, or even smells! It always smells like a swamp! It's reptilian and primitive.

Florida is a place I will soon say good-bye to, and never, EVER, will set foot in again. I recommend it only to those who are so disengaged and lazy and for whom watching others mowing their lawns makes them feel powerful.

If you stayed 20 years, what are you positive memories? Got to have some?

[macguy]

Originally Posted by LushTrees

My daughters were aged 1 and 3. Having to put on snowsuits, mittens, hats, scarves, and then struggling with my own frozen fingers to get their car seats securely buckled over all that bulk -- just to go out for a quart of milk! Connecticut winters just seemed like too much of a hassle...

When hubby got a job offer in Florida, we grabbed the opportunity.

It was actually wonderful (certainly, from a mother's point of view!) for quite a few years. Year round, I was able to wear the little tikes out after full mornings at the beach and/or pool. The sun/water/surf guaranteed that afterwards this mom's little darlings would snooze away the afternoon until dinnertime.

When school commenced, the early morning ritual was easy: modest shorts and tees. Until that point, I was sure that Florida was the best (read: simplest?) place to raise the little ones.

Then came the day when my older (at that time, 2nd grade) daughter came home from school with a note from her teacher: "Please give me a call with regard to you're [sic] daughter." Don't get me wrong: I appreciate communication from teachers, but something happens to the openness of my mind when preparing myself to listen to a teacher who is grammatically challenged.

Oh, that was just the beginning of the revelation of Florida's sub-par educational system. To be fair, there are many great teachers out there, but Florida doesn't seem fond of overly smart educators; after all, they might make the elected school administrators look like jerks...

Both my husband and I were college graduates who never thought twice about our kids going to college -- I mean, it was just a natural thing to do; just like moving on to brush to teeth after having grown some. But let me tell you, this is not the mindset that Florida schools help to echo. The Florida public school system sends a message (and I don't know if this is wittingly or unwittingly) that if you can just manage to graduate highschool, then you've done way more than your part. (Ugh!)

In any event, my kids did manage to graduate from Florida high schools and move on to higher education elsewhere. (And, frankly, at this point, my daughters are free and capable of writing their own recollections/opinions.)

So now that I don't have to worry about bundling babies and toddlers in gobs of clothing just to go out for a quart of milk, I can tell you that I honestly think I made what was an entirely selfish decision on my part to leave the northeast and move to Florida. After all, I thoroughly admit that I left the northeast because it was just too darn cumbersome to dress/undress my babies for even the most minor of outside errands.

And so here I am, still in Florida today. And I hate Florida with every fiber of my being. Nothing ever changes. Can it snow in Connecticut in July? NO. Has is ever snowed in New Jersey in August? NO. Can it be 90 degrees in Florida in Dec, Jan, Feb? YES. In Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul? YES. In Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov? YES.

Things CHANGE in other places!!! Things never change in Florida. Florida is the perpetual coffin/gravesite. Too much sunshine makes a desert. There is no hope of rebirth after death; no variety of color, or even smells! It always smells like a swamp! It's reptilian and primitive.

Florida is a place I will soon say good-bye to, and never, EVER, will set foot in again. I recommend it only to those who are so disengaged and lazy and for whom watching others mowing their lawns makes them feel powerful.

It took you 20 years to figure out you didn't like it here? There is also the the "Road not taken" that always lingers. You don't know that coming to Florida may not have been the best thing that ever happened to you. Anything we do in life is just another step and the values are never known. You are just ready to make a change and it will be a positive one. Why, because every change or thing we do is positive.

One of your children may have met their spouse here if they are married or going to get married. Your grandchildren that result would never exist, or not as they are. Life doesn't work when you look at it with regrets, because you have no way of knowing. Life just happens regardless of our decisions and the good or bad of it we will never know.

Never look back with regrets because the best and worst were both there waiting for you as you passed through, you just can't tell them apart at the time. I can easily look back at what I thought at the time were the worst days of my life and see how they were in fact the impetus for the best. That's just how life works. get on with life and don't look back.

[LushTrees]

Originally Posted by sunrico90

If you stayed 20 years, what are you positive memories? Got to have some?

Thanks for asking; and sure, I have some positive memories! Like I stated, 'couldn't have asked for a better place to raise little ones! Lack of bundling in clothing, taking them to the beach, at least three times a week when they were toddlers; the other two/four days wearing out their energies in the pool (PLEASE NOTE: never leave children unattended near water if they haven't had certified swimming lessons!).

Sorry if I fell short of making it clear that when the kids were young, I thought it was really much easier -- both for them and for me -- to be in the more "temperate" climate of Florida.

What I went on to say was that I didn't like Florida's educational system. And also ended up not liking the lack of that thing that seems to turn much of humanity on:

That variety is the spice is of life... and Florida doesn't have enough variety... for someone like me. That's all. Hope that helps to explain. Thanks for asking...

[Hero]

Holy smokes the end caught me off guard!!!

But then again, I can see myself feeling the way you do after 20 years in one place.

I hope your next home is better and more exciting!

[LushTrees]

Originally Posted by macguy

It took you 20 years to figure out you didn't like it here?

Yeah, I guess it did. Although I kind of began to know it at least 10 years ago. But this is where my children grew up, and I wasn't going to uproot them, just because I began to realize this place was not for "me." It was THEIR place. It was THEIR home-town. I wasn't about to up-root them because *I* didn't like it.


There is also the the "Road not taken" that always lingers. You don't know that coming to Florida may not have been the best thing that ever happened to you. Anything we do in life is just another step and the values are never known. You are just ready to make a change and it will be a positive one. Why, because every change or thing we do is positive.


That's a very uplifting idea. Thank you for conveying that. I appreciate it!


One of your children may have met their spouse here if they are married or going to get married. Your grandchildren that result would never exist, or not as they are. Life doesn't work when you look at it with regrets, because you have no way of knowing. Life just happens regardless of our decisions and the good or bad of it we will never know.


Again, thanks for those sentiments!



Never look back with regrets because the best and worst were both there waiting for you as you passed through, you just can't tell them apart at the time. I can easily look back at what I thought at the time were the worst days of my life and see how they were in fact the impetus for the best. That's just how life works. get on with life and don't look back.

Perfect. Just what I needed to hear! I take it you're speaking from experience, and it's good know that's a philosophy that works!

Best,
T.

[MrTudo]

Have a nice trip to wherever it is your going, surely you'll find your own paradise soon! Bye bye!

[CJFlorida]

Another case of to each their own. We did our 30 years up north.

My uncle up in PA has been tracking the rainy, cloudy, cold days the past 2 months. It has been sunny for most of the daytime hours THREE days in the past 2 months. They have already had snow and ice. It has been cold and gray for 2 months, and winter does not even start until next Saturday!!! As I type this he says another storm blew in last night, shook the windows all night, cold and pouring rain...and it is still doing that this morning. Day and day after week after month of cold, gray, dreary, no leaves, no flowers, no sun....unreal. And that is central PA....I can't imagine the horror of further north like NH, Maine, Vermont.

I personally experienced freezing weather when we lived up north some time during Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, April, and even early May.

Honestly....I would live in a cardboard box and educate my kids on the streets before I would spend another day up north. We have been here 6 years and Florida is total paradise to us, warts and all, we cherish every single second here.

The original post uses analogies of coffins, graves or whatever. Hmmm, isn't all that associated with cold, dreary, gray...like up north 6 months a year? Too much sunshine makes a desert? No, desert locale makes a desert. Florida is rich in foliage, lakes, rivers, coast line. Florida is considered tropical...which is the exact opposite of a desert! (My kids learned that in the Florida school system by the way.)

As passionately as the OP hates Florida with every fiber of her being....I hate cold, gray dreary weather that much or more. By the way, I see one of the hot items for Christmas this year are 'happy lights'. These are bright lights that simulate sunshine, designed to brighten the mood of people in the winter. They come in all sizes and are selling more and more every year.

Interesting, people up north buying sunlight simulators.....

[INeedAChange]

This is so true--16 years ago on this date, in your former state of residence, a Semi was supposed to skid on black ice and flip over on top of your car at 11:23 PM . But because you moved to Fla. 20 years ago, you're still alive.

Originally Posted by macguy

It took you 20 years to figure out you didn't like it here? There is also the the "Road not taken" that always lingers. You don't know that coming to Florida may not have been the best thing that ever happened to you. Anything we do in life is just another step and the values are never known. You are just ready to make a change and it will be a positive one. Why, because every change or thing we do is positive.

One of your children may have met their spouse here if they are married or going to get married. Your grandchildren that result would never exist, or not as they are. Life doesn't work when you look at it with regrets, because you have no way of knowing. Life just happens regardless of our decisions and the good or bad of it we will never know.

Never look back with regrets because the best and worst were both there waiting for you as you passed through, you just can't tell them apart at the time. I can easily look back at what I thought at the time were the worst days of my life and see how they were in fact the impetus for the best. That's just how life works. get on with life and don't look back.