[kenokween]

Wow you are about as negative to Florida as I am with PA! Can we be friends? LOL

Originally Posted by NoMoreSpidersAntsDrinkers

________________________
SW Florida (why I hate it):
I 've only lived here for about 3 & 1/2 months, but I can't take another day of it.

1)-- I can't handle these 3 & 1/2 inch spiders and all the rest of the nasty spider types overtaking the inside of my house and the oustide of my house, Me and my pets feel like prisoners from it, literally. This also includes the huge 'Fire Ant' hills that I can't get to slow down in my yard.

2)-- The most favorite and popular activity around here: are bars, drinking every day, and staying indoors bored to death.

3)-- The fact that I can not take care of or grow a veggie garden well because they will get destroyed by either super high winds (from almost every day, nasty storms), or super heavy downpours of rain, threats of hail, excessive nonstop population of 'plant eating' bugs.

4)-- Excessive amount of black wasps, that continuously live near the underside of your roof.

5)-- Barely no forests or woods to walk through, and what trees there are around and near here is impossible to even walk through, (a horrible thing for a nature lover that tremendously loved trail walks).
Barely 'no' parks. And you can't take your dog anywhere (parks and other places do not allow dogs).
You have to cross a bridge, after a hurried and crazy drive to get to one, and have to pay $4.00 - $6.00 every time you cross over one, just so you can get to a beach.

6)-- No where outdoors to go to and hang out at in relaxation for the nature lover.

7)-- The fires that get created around here and surrounding areas due to lightening or irresponsible smokers or the dry weather is excessive, ... for a few days I could'nt even breath well and that fire was many many miles away.

8)-- People don't have any fun outdoors (every one is either in bars drinking, out sea fishing, or stuck in their houses). ... You can't do bonfires and you always have to watch your surroundings and where you are stepping or walking (because something might get ya on the ground. Example: variety of huge spiders, fire ants, snakes, excessive amount of mosquitos, etc).

9)-- No lakes to fish at, and if you find one, you cant keep the fish because they are polluted with lawn and insect chemicals.
And also you might get attacked by an alligator if your too close to a lake.

10)-- Your dog hates Florida as much as you do, he is afraid to walk on the grass outdoors (hmmm, could this be due to the excessive and beautiful biting insect problem?), and find he rarely takes the time to go to the bathroom often because of it.

11)-- Expect to be taking your dog or cat to the vets often to 'try' to keep the nasty and strong Flea problem half under control.

12)-- Expect to hire some one to head to your house to bring in your plants into your porch or house (ones that need at least 4 hours of sunlight) while you are at work during the hours that the nasty storms come through every day, otherwise your plants (that need to be outdoors and need sun) will get destroyed during those storms when you are at work.

13)-- Own a large Pick up truck with a nice cap on it? ...Alot of the houses have garages that aren't made high enough so that you can fit your truck with your nice cap into that garage.

14)-- Your neighbors don't come around and be neighborly, they are pretty much non existed except for when you hear fighting or yelling going on outside.

15)-- You will see vehicles breaking down and left on the side of the roads. You will see alot of wierd sports cars with loud, pounding, wall shaking music driving by. You will see lots of disrespect and rushiness
with the drivers.

16)-- The teenagers who have lived here for quite awhile, think they are the hottest sh*t around and would not hesitate to beat the living crap out of you.

17)-- High theft rate.

18)-- Moderately high rape rate.

19)-- Need to get something fixed, repaired, built? ... You'll need to have that same thing done 3 times by who ever you called, before it is repaired, fixed or built to correctly.

20)-- All stores or indoor places to go to (which aren't many), close by 9:00 pm!!

21)-- The person at the gas station will make fun of you if you screw up on pumping your own gas, and after you tell them you are from New Jersey and that you never have to pump your own sh*t there, they will argue with you and say "you should know how to pump your own gas, parts of New Jersey pump their own gas!"...
Wow the intelligence and respect here (In New Jersey you "DO NOT" pump your own gas).

22)-- It is ugly here, not just boring. ... Barely no trees, passible forests, or barely no parks.

23)-- Watch out when you go to one of the numerous bars or pubs, pray that the evening you are there that there wont be a gun shooting.

24)-- Find a park or dock by the ocean that you want to visit and hang at? ... You wont be able to remain there for more than 10 - 15 minutes from the high humidity mixed with the hot temperature.

25)-- Plan to get caught in downpour and lightening storms often. If you get caught in one when driving home from work or what ever, you "won't be able to see anything" while you are driving.

26)-- Oh if you find some where to hike and you don't run across a poisoness snake or huge nasty spider, be sure to not run into a large female 'wild boar' or large pig who has babies with her (you can imagine what you'd be in for). (Do you own a rifle?).

27)-- Your neighbor might just be one of those who's hobbies are drinking at the numerous bars, and stays home almost every day, and on occassion comes out to fight with his girlfriend/wife to tell her he's going to kick the living sh*t out of her, all the while she is being calm and talking nicely.

28)-- Coming to SW Florida?... Good luck, and hope you have 'better luck'.
_______________________

[JMadison]

Is anywhere safe in Florida? Hmm... as someone born in Palm Beach County and spent the majority of my life there, yes there are. They're easy to find. Just look for the rich gated communities or places with demograpics similar to Tequesta, LOL!

Sadly, the truth is there are two (or maybe three) "Floridas". The Florida of the wealthy, and everyone else. Or perhaps, "Florida of the Wealthy", "Florida of those who service the wealthy" and "Crime and Drugs Florida".

Bottom line, to live somewhere nice in Florida is like a lot of sunbelt locations. Expect to pay a lot for "nice".

[JMadison]

Originally Posted by sunrico90

I need to ask the ones that say that Florida is not safe.

Questions: How many times has someone broke in your home?

How many people kill in your block?

How many rapes with 5 miles?

How many times was your car stolen?

Now I live in Northwest Florida, town of Navarre for 8 years and have not had a problem. I lived in Satellite Beach for 4 years and did leave the door open and nothing ever happen (off base housing). Moved to Homestead and this was a bit strange town, but Hurricane Andrew got me a one way ticket to San Antonio Tx.

Florida is a safe state, all depend on your location within a town/city. Nothing different from NYC, Atlanta, Chicago, San Antonio, Vegas or LA. Crime is found in the whole country, but my fellow members need to answer my questions. Can something happen to YOU? YES, what are your chances, depend on your location, due your research and evaluate your options. Waiting on your replies....

I had a home newly built in Royal Palm Beach in 1994. That house was broken into 5 times. Stupidly I didn't consider how close it was to Riviera Beach.

As you say, location is everything. Problem is, like many sunbelt locations, "Nice" and "Affordable" don't know each other.

[JMadison]

Originally Posted by sunrico90

I have not received a reply to my questions. We can criticize but we can’t answer the questions

Well, let's see... My home was broken into 5 times. A good friend's at least once (Royal Palm Beach and Lake Worth respectively). 1 Car broken into. My classmate Barry Grunow was shot dead while working as a teacher in the Lake Worth school district. You saw that one on TV a few years back.

Basically in Palm Beach County, the closer you get to West Palm or Riviera Beach, with some notable spots in south country around Boynton and Boca, the more of a problem you have.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by JMadison

I had a home newly built in Royal Palm Beach in 1994. That house was broken into 5 times.

Five times? Sounds more like your lack of responsibility as a homeowner than the city's fault. By the second break-in you should consider ways to deter burglars from entering your home, burglars specifically target homes that are easier to break into than other surrounding ones. There is no Utopian land that is free from burglars, absolutely none. If most of the homes in your neighborhood have burglar bars on them then that's obviously a sign that you should leave the area and some neighborhoods are worse than others but not a single neighborhood is spared from the risk of burglary.

[Suncoast Guy]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

Five times? Sounds more like your lack of responsibility as a homeowner than the city's fault. By the second break-in you should consider ways to deter burglars from entering your home, burglars specifically target homes that are easier to break into than other surrounding ones. There is no Utopian land that is free from burglars, absolutely none. If most of the homes in your neighborhood have burglar bars on them then that's obviously a sign that you should leave the area and some neighborhoods are worse than others but not a single neighborhood is spared from the risk of burglary.

I agree. I think I would have taken security measures after the 1st break-in, like getting multiple locks or getting Brinks Security Systems or something. I would have NEVER let my house be broken into 5 times without a fight. "Sounds more like your lack of responsibility as a homeowner than the city's fault." That is 100% correct.

[pink80]

Lake Mary is so safe I think in a few years this place is going to be booming with people relocating to the area. It's very homey feeling!!!

[crayfish]

Originally Posted by tascha

hello Iam from Nebraska and I was thinking about moving to florida with my family. Could you tell me the best places to live that are affordabe.

I also live in Nebraska and would like to live in Florida. Unfortunately, and I could be wrong, but it seems like the less expensive areas have a lot of crime and would be areas that you would want to avoid. I have been doing a lot of research on house prices and crime rates for Florida's cities, and it always seem to be this way.

[Trina42]

Originally Posted by redsynner

Is there a community for a couple looking to rent a home, NOT BUY ONE, to enjoy the sun and snow-free winter while living on a modest salary and be able to not hear their neighbors blasting bass-based noise or beer bottles breaking with profanities shouted?

Lived here most of my life from Jax to Miami, from Ft Meyers to Ft Walton Beach, and I like it here.

But the answer to your question is, "There used to be, but not any more"...

Perhaps South Carolina?

[mquintana]

Brandon, Riverview, Valrico, and Fishhawk. All of these areas are suburbs of Tampa. Great place for families.