[ConeyIsBabe]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Down here in beautiful Lakeland, FL it is overcast and about mid-70's temp. I am sitting on my porch in a sleeveless top, smelling all the delicious citrus blossoms and azaleas fragrance that are wafting through the air - citrus blossoms have to be the most heavenly smelling flowers in the world - I always look forward to this time of year, just for that. It is also one of the many reasons I could never really leave Florida.

To all of you hoping to return soon, I wish you Godspeed!

~gypsy~

gypsychic:
I finally got my "Lakeland" map from AAA and am surprised to see how large the area is. As a first-time tourist, it would take me FOREVER to drive around and inspect the different neighborhoods. Could you tell me which are the best areas, so I could direct my interests there (looking for a rental home, to start). My definition of the "best" is a neighborhood where I can safely walk around at night, if I should choose to do so, where there are great restaurants and stores. Thanks for any responses.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by ConeyIsBabe

gypsychic:
I finally got my "Lakeland" map from AAA and am surprised to see how large the area is. As a first-time tourist, it would take me FOREVER to drive around and inspect the different neighborhoods. Could you tell me which are the best areas, so I could direct my interests there (looking for a rental home, to start). My definition of the "best" is a neighborhood where I can safely walk around at night, if I should choose to do so, where there are great restaurants and stores. Thanks for any responses.

What type of living do you prefer - urban or suburban? This is a pretty safe town overall, just stay out of the area just north of downtown near the hospital (which expands a little east and west) When you get here you will see what I mean. Anywhere in the central core is pretty nice. I live in the central core, south of downtown, right off the main drag (Florida Ave.) I am close to everything - Publix, restaurants, Lake Hollingsworth Park. We walk around at night - very quiet here, even downtown.

Another nice area is near our Lakeside Village - open air shopping mall like an alternate downtown - it's fabulous. But the rentals around there will be pricier.

If you look at your map, the boundaries I would give would be Main St. to the North, Harden Blvd/Sikes to the west, Lakeland Higlands or Bartow Road on the East, Polk Parkway to the South. These are very loose boundaries now, and mostly defines the core area. If you want more suburban living, Lakeland really has some great subdivisions - check out "Christina" area to the south, Oakbridge is right near the Lakeside Village Mall on Harden which I mentioned before. Many nice places off Lakeland Highlands as well. Also, there are rental homes here in our in-town location near Lake Hollingsworth, a lovely and convenient area to live. All depends on your taste and budget.

Good luck!

[sbtb]

Grew up in Virginia Beach, VA

Moved to Tampa Florida in 1998

Left Tampa to move to Scottsdale AZ in 2006
I left because my Mom and Dad, who were in Ocala, were also moving to Arizona
because my brother and his family live there. That's where the kiddo's are (my two
beautiful nieces). Both my parents and myself regret leaving Florida. Since I didn't
buy a home (Arizona is in the same boat as Florida as far as foreclosure rates,
economy) I am going to start my job search to move back to Florida, hopefully by
June. I have felt tremendous guilt over leaving my family but have realized that I need
to be where I'm happy.

I'm in the insurance industry and most companies are located either in Tampa or Orlando, so I'll settle with one of the two.

[ConeyIsBabe]

gypsychic: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, that's exactly the information I need to narrow down my choice for a rental house. After being a renter for 6-months to 1-year I will learn more about where I want to purchase. For a rental location, I favor as close to downtown I can get, as long as it's a safe, pleasant neighborhood to live in. Right now, I'm living out in the country (with Bambi) and I'd much rather be in an urban community closer to some "life" other than the critters all around me. It really is beautiful, but I'm a city-gal at heart. Thanks again for the information.

To answer the question on this thread........ I moved from Miami 3,000 miles away to the PNW s/Oregon, for a "change". Although it is fantastic country, very friendly people, affordable to live......... the bottom line is ....... I'm getting too old to scrape the frost off my car and my old bones miss Florida's warmth !

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by ConeyIsBabe

gypsychic: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, that's exactly the information I need to narrow down my choice for a rental house. After being a renter for 6-months to 1-year I will learn more about where I want to purchase. For a rental location, I favor as close to downtown I can get, as long as it's a safe, pleasant neighborhood to live in. Right now, I'm living out in the country (with Bambi) and I'd much rather be in an urban community closer to some "life" other than the critters all around me. It really is beautiful, but I'm a city-gal at heart. Thanks again for the information.

To answer the question on this thread........ I moved from Miami 3,000 miles away to the PNW s/Oregon, for a "change". Although it is fantastic country, very friendly people, affordable to live......... the bottom line is ....... I'm getting too old to scrape the frost off my car and my old bones miss Florida's warmth !

CONEYISBABE - I would then recommend the "South Lake Morton" neighborhood to you. There are some rentals around there, it is a downtown neighborhood (Lakeland's oldest) and borders the beautiful Lake Morton swan and bird sanctuary. You can walk downtown from here, and the streets are heavily shaded with HUGE old oaks (hundreds of years old) as well as neat old bungalows - charm galore! If you don't find something there, then look near Lake Hollingsworth, another mile or two from downtown, but still charming and close to all kinds of conveniences.

Hope you find just what you are looking for!

[Back Home]

Moved from Port Orange Fl 8 months ago and planning on leaving NH and going back to possibly Lakeland area.

[Sunshine Chick]

Originally Posted by Back Home

Moved from Port Orange Fl 8 months ago and planning on leaving NH and going back to possibly Lakeland area.

I love this thread. So are you from Florida to begin with?
It only took you 8 months to want to move back?
Since you have lived both what is it that attracts you to go back to Florida please?

[Tarastomsgirl]

Originally Posted by Back Home

Moved from Port Orange Fl 8 months ago and planning on leaving NH and going back to possibly Lakeland area.

too me 6 months to find out how horrible NH is and 3 months to plan my move, and now leaving in 5 weeks.. I highly doubt if I'll be back to even vaca here for a while. This winter has been horrible and its not over yet..

[Sunshine Chick]

Originally Posted by Tarastomsgirl

too me 6 months to find out how horrible NH is and 3 months to plan my move, and now leaving in 5 weeks.. I highly doubt if I'll be back to even vaca here for a while. This winter has been horrible and its not over yet..

Hard winters will take it toll on you. It only took you one winter to find out that this is no life at all. I can deal with being hot, humid, sweaty or even sunburned, but I cannot deal with the cold anymore. Time to get a real life and move to Florida where the sunshines all the time!
Who wants to live like a snowman or snowwoman? Why be miserable all winter long? If I am going to be miserable I can be miserable sitting in a lanai or hot tub sipping an ice tea in Florida instead of slurrping a hot chocolate that doesnt do a darn thing for frost bite.

[ChrisA70]

Originally Posted by Sunshine Chick

Hard winters will take it toll on you. It only took you one winter to find out that this is no life at all. I can deal with being hot, humid, sweaty or even sunburned, but I cannot deal with the cold anymore. Time to get a real life and move to Florida where the sunshines all the time!
Who wants to live like a snowman or snowwoman? Why be miserable all winter long? If I am going to be miserable I can be miserable sitting in a lanai or hot tub sipping an ice tea in Florida instead of slurrping a hot chocolate that doesnt do a darn thing for frost bite.

Until you get back here to see how far the state has gone downhill....