[JoAnna1]

What are you from? We currently live in Wisconsin
Where in Florida are you moving? We have been looking at the Orlando area.
What attracts you to Florida? The weather! We are sick of snow and freezing weather for 9 months out of the year. And a lack of things to do around the area we live in.
What research did you do or have already done to pick your city or location? I have spent a lot of time on the internet, I check out the Orlando Sentinel online frequently.
Did you spend time in that town in person? Yes, my husband and I have both been to Orlando.
Did you communicate with people who live their personally? I have a friend who lived in Orlando for a number of years. I have also spoken with someone from the company where I have been hired about moving across country as well as the Orlando area.

JoAnna

[sunbabe13]

Originally Posted by Rachael84

A place is what you make it. The weather can only make you so depressed. There are other factors along with that. Sometimes running away from the problems and going somewhere very different will be the cure to your depression. Instead of saying Florida cures depression, maybe you can say just moving further away cures depression. I'm sure there are people who move from CA to NY and their depression is gone.

Rachael84, don't talk about something you don't know about. Weather can be a huge factor in one's mental state of mind. I know this because I suffer. Warm, sunny climates make an extreme difference in my state of mind (whether it is FLA or CA). I moved from Georgia to Washington state, about as far as you can move in the lower 48, and Seattle's weather is utterly freaking depressing, although it is a GREAT city. Needless to say I don't live there anymore, but there ARE people out here that are really affected by the weather.

[ncfamily4]

My family and I are relocating to Florida. We were looking in Palm Bay but a job may be leading us to Tampa. I am trying to find a smaller area outside of Tampa. I'm not familiar with this area at all and need some help. Within an hour of Tampa is fine. Any ideas please let me know.

Thanks
ncfamily4

[Beth Anthony]

Have you thought of Ocala, Florida as your destination in Florida? This is a great town and we have some very reasonable real estate, I know because I am a Realtor. We are centrally located and within 1 hr of Disney and beaches. There are a lot of retirement
communities that are very reasonable and offer lot of amenities to have fun. Mod Deleted

[Sunshine Chick]

Originally Posted by ncfamily4

My family and I are relocating to Florida. We were looking in Palm Bay but a job may be leading us to Tampa. I am trying to find a smaller area outside of Tampa. I'm not familiar with this area at all and need some help. Within an hour of Tampa is fine. Any ideas please let me know.

Thanks
ncfamily4

If your job takes you to Tampa there are some nice small communities north of Tampa you should look into.

Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Odessa, Dunedin, etc.

My advice is to rent for a while before you buy, if your job doesnt work out and you do not like the area you have 1 year to move and not be stuck.

[Plains2]

What are you from?

St. Louis originally, currently live in Overland Park, KS

Where in Florida are you moving?

Cooper City or Coral Springs, maybe parts of Davie

What attracts you to Florida?

The weather (no more snow & ice and dark dreary depressing winters!!!), the ocean/beach/lakes, activities/lifestyle, seafood, being around more Jewish communities, diversity, close to many cool cities & countries (Key West, Orlando, the Bahamas, etc.)

On a side note, I really don't think I will miss the change of seasons. I personally hate it when I see those fall leaves changing color and falling off the trees - it just means watch out - cold is coming!! And in MO/KS there isn't much of a change in seasons. It's pretty much bad winters and bad summers. And heat/humidity? We get plenty of that here...our friend from Miami didn't believe us about our heat/humidity until he was here one summer, and he believes us now!

What research did you do or have already done to pick your city or location?

My husband and I know a few people from there...my aunt & uncle live in West Palm Beach, my husband's fraternity brother lives down there, and a mutual friend we met in Kansas is from Miami.

[San72]

What are you from?
I'm from Brussels, Belgium
Where in Florida are you moving?
I moved to Apollo Beach, March '07.
What attracts you to Florida?
I came here in the first place for my husband (yes I can say I feel attracted to him. In general people are friendly and down to earth. Waking up almost every morning under a blue sky and the beautiful sunrise. The fact you can organize something outdoors without an umbrella - which in Belgium was almost impossible- , and even though when there is rain, it lasts only a couple minutes
What research did you do or have already done to pick your city or location?
My hubby lived here. He's born in CA, raised in WA, moved to FL at 12, lived in NM, CO, MI and came back to FL. I heard about Orlando and Miami and The Keys, but never heard of Tampa before I met my husband. Glad I discovered it!
Did you spend time in that town in person?
I came here a couple times before we got married. Twice I spent 3 months here.
Did you communicate with people who live their personally?
Yes, it is always good to hear different opinions. Everyone has their own view on things.

[FloridaGirl89]

Originally Posted by ncfamily4

My family and I are relocating to Florida. We were looking in Palm Bay but a job may be leading us to Tampa. I am trying to find a smaller area outside of Tampa. I'm not familiar with this area at all and need some help. Within an hour of Tampa is fine. Any ideas please let me know.

Thanks
ncfamily4

Ummm, why Palm Bay? I don't recomend it at all. I lived there for 17 years.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by San72

What are you from?
I'm from Brussels, Belgium
Where in Florida are you moving?
I moved to Apollo Beach, March '07.
What attracts you to Florida?
I came here in the first place for my husband (yes I can say I feel attracted to him. In general people are friendly and down to earth. Waking up almost every morning under a blue sky and the beautiful sunrise. The fact you can organize something outdoors without an umbrella - which in Belgium was almost impossible- , and even though when there is rain, it lasts only a couple minutes
What research did you do or have already done to pick your city or location?
My hubby lived here. He's born in CA, raised in WA, moved to FL at 12, lived in NM, CO, MI and came back to FL. I heard about Orlando and Miami and The Keys, but never heard of Tampa before I met my husband. Glad I discovered it!
Did you spend time in that town in person?
I came here a couple times before we got married. Twice I spent 3 months here.
Did you communicate with people who live their personally?
Yes, it is always good to hear different opinions. Everyone has their own view on things.

Hi there - my hubby grew up in Brugge - his family moved there when he was about 9 years old. He's always telling me about that rainy weather. Whenever it's overcast and sprinkling here, he says that this is a nice day in Belgium! lol

Anyway, I am a Florida native and love my state - and now hubby has been here longer than he's lived anywhere else, and he doesn't want to ever leave it either!

[TwoWheelRider]

Currently live in Olathe KS (approx 25 min south of Kansas City). Lived in a few other states and even PR and visited numerous other states/countries. The KS weather has both extremes of very Hot and bitterly Cold. Although the last few winters have not been bitterly cold as in sub zero. Some people don't mind the extremes but I hate it. Florida also gets hot and humid but I can live with that and besides it can get much hotter in KS in summer than Florida. People probably don't believe it unless they lived here just as Plains2 mentioned earlier. I have some friends that say they would never live in Florida and then others that would. It comes down to whatever floats your boat. There are problems everywhere whether it is with the local economy, education, crime etc. You just have to do your research and determine what you can and cannot live with.