[CampingMom]

Originally Posted by cfbs2691

This is solid advice.

Not what the OP wants to hear but the reality.

If there was an area in Florida outside a busy city that had good job opportunities and reliable public transportation- people would flock there. I would myself!

I'm sure this post will be attacked by BNBR since he spends an awful lot of time on here bullying people, but We're all entitled to our own opinions.

I've had bosses from hell. It's no picnic for sure. I do know the school bus industry across the board they are begging for drivers. No one wants to do that job because the economy is picking up. I know I can drive for a private contractor or public. Heck, I could always find another way to use my CDL B if need be. With my degree, I do have options there in hospitality and tourism. I have recent office experience. I am not tied down into one small niche.

I work now with a boss who can't handle noise. There's no talking allowed in the office much of the day-hard to do as a dispatcher let me tell you. Can't even put the radio on to hear local traffic reports. The drivers in the break room are told to shush. The boss before that would scream at us all and call us all cows. So I have thick skin and I myself have no issue with walking away from a boss that's a nut job believe me.

[CampingMom]

Originally Posted by Rabflmom

I think you will find the public transportation very limited in Florida----even in the big cities compared to NY or any of the NE cities.

Areas have buses but they may be limited. A friend used to take a bus her in Brevard to get to work sometimes. She would have to bring her bike(they have a bike rack on the bus) then when the store closed at 11PM she would have to bike back to her apartment 10 miles away. Sometimes it took her 2 hours to get to work by bus and then she would have to wait an hour or 2 to clock in because it was the only bus running before the time she had to be there. BTW when you wait for a bus, most are out in the open....no cover from rain or the sun. They only run on the main streets so you may have to walk or ride a bike for a mile or 2 to get to one.

Buses often don't run at niht or on weekends or holidays. It is different down here. Most everyone has cars-except for the ones with DUI who lost license and the people from big cities that never learned to drive.

I have been researching driving for the VA, colleges, medical shuttles, etc. There's a broad spectrum to look at in terms of driving. Our local Loop System is limited also here, nothing like the MTA in NYC.

Nothing says I can't drive or commute 45 mins to get to a job either, so that's an option to see if I lived say north of St. Pete and drive into a job. I am leaning more towards the West Coast of FL. Only because I like that side a bit better than the East Coast. But still looking as we do have family that lives in Palm Bay also.

[ChicagoExpatriate]

Didn't read all of the replies / arguing, but I wanted to tell you to check out Dade City. You can get a really nice place with low taxes around 100k. You'd be about 20 minutes from the Gulf and a short drive into Tampa. Good luck!

[CampingMom]

Originally Posted by ChicagoExpatriate

Didn't read all of the replies / arguing, but I wanted to tell you to check out Dade City. You can get a really nice place with low taxes around 100k. You'd be about 20 minutes from the Gulf and a short drive into Tampa. Good luck!

I am willing to spend up to 200K for a home. Ours is for sale now for $340K. I'd like to have a nest egg to build on. I'll check out Dade City,I know we've been there before when visiting with relatives.

What about Holiday, FL? Or New Port Richey, FL? I have friends that have been there before. They seemed to like it. What can you tell me about them?

[TD*]

Tallahassee.

[Hatehumidity]

Hi, dunno if anyone has read this in awhile. But, my take is Port Orange on the East side of the State. Compare to a bedroom community of Orange Park. Nice comparison. Hope the OP made a good decision. Any updates OP. GL by the way.Peace

[smarino]

I liked living in Savannah, but it was a good place to get robbed or shot too. That downtown Historical area is surrounded by some dangerous ghettos, and I never thought the housing was worth what they were asking for it. I think of the city as New Orleans Lite (New Orleans is really where you take your life in your hands at night.......or even in the day!)

I'm in St Pete and love it. A liberal (for Florida), beautiful city w/ lots of trees, water, a great downtown, wonderful neighborhoods and parks, and a good economy, especially if you throw in the whole Tampa Bay area. Good public transportation too. Avoid south side and it's very safe. But, it has been discovered, and people are flocking here. Development is all over the area, and I don't like it, but what are you gonna do? Better than living some place that is stagnant. Lots of young people are coming here too. It is absolutely the best place I have ever lived, but it's not perfect. Summers are miserable, winters are to die for. Just perfect. People are pretty OK too. You won't find that Southern charm and manners, but you won't find the rednecks either :]

[cfbs2691]

Looking at the OP's posts.. she's moving to Savannah any day now.