looking for a good country area (Tampa, Orlando: work, live, road)

[dragon magick]

i was just reading a story about a woman that was walking her dog by a lake and an aligator poped up and grabed her dog, are there aligators there in Ocala? if so are they much of a problem?

[Bubba Cue]

Originally Posted by dragon magick

I am going to be moving from So-Cal to florida and i am looking for a place thats more small town country area but within resonable distance to an area with good local (home every day) trucking jobs, does anyone have any ideas of good places to check out?
thanks for your help

TAKE IT FROM ME, A NATIVE FLORIDIAN who owns a business with branches all across the US....Don't move to Florida! DON'T EVEN CONSIDER IT!

Move to the Port of Kalama, Washington. The trucking business from there to Vancouver/Portland is where it's at! The State of WA has no income tax. People here understand & appreciate truck drivers MUCH MORE than in FL. That appreciation is reflected in the ROAD TARIFFS...check them out for yourself!

[dragon magick]

actully, i lived in WA for almost 4 years first in university place for about 3 months then got a house in auburn and lived there for a year then moved to gig harbor, there were a couple parts of western washington state i thought were ok, but for the most part i didnt like it there and ended up moving to the southwestern conner of PA, right along the WV boarder, after doing long haul trucking and going thru just about everywhere in the US i decided that i like florida, the southern part of Alabama and also Oklahoma but i like salt water fishing so i decided florida is probly the place for me

[Bubba Cue]

Originally Posted by dragon magick

i like salt water fishing so i decided florida is probly the place for me

Why is salt water fishing so good for you?

The reason I ask is because there's AWESOME salt water fishing on the west coat that beats FL's by far...plus some fresh water trout/salmon fishing that kicks every experience I've had by MILES!

[AONE]

I would suggest Lakeland and the surrounding area. There are distribution centers in annd around, Orlando is only 40 mins away. Walmart has a large dist cebter, there are many food dist centers around and so on. certainly between Lakeland and Orlando are many rural communities that are still very affordable.

[dragon magick]

well for one i love fishing, and i love the ocean, when i was younger i used to go to the lake and fish whenever i could, then i got to go on my first deep sea fishing trip and it just beat fishing at the lake all to hell, i have gotten to fish in the gulf of mexico a couple times and had a blast. i like the idea of getting my gear togeather on a day off and being able to drive out there for a day or 2. i know a lot of people think fishing i just kinda boring but to me its a great way to spend a day, get some friends and family togeather and head out, we always seem to have fun even if we dont catch anything

[dragon magick]

thanks Aone i will take a look at the area, i think i know the wal-mart dc your talking about.

[daniellefort]

Originally Posted by dragon magick

i was just reading a story about a woman that was walking her dog by a lake and an aligator poped up and grabed her dog, are there aligators there in Ocala? if so are they much of a problem?

Well to start, the dog was not on a leash. It's not like they come out chasing you or anything but if something small walks in it's path, it could take a bite at it which is what happened in this case and the lady recently moved to FL and did not know anything about alligators. It's also getting close to mating season so they get a bit more feisty. I live across the street from a lake and though i've seen alligators now and then our there, I still went out jet skiing and tubing along with many other people of course it's always on my mind when i'm out there but Usually if there's a crowd on the lakes, they don't want to be bothered and move on into the swampy areas. Just don't feed them because that's when they start getting curious with people and could pose a threat. Usually if there's a nuisance gator, the county will come out and trap it and move it somewhere else but for the most part, we're invading their homes and if you see one, don't be alarmed, just calmly walk away from it. There is alligator hunting season as well once a year to help control the population. Alligators tend to stay around ponds, lakes or swamps. I would say they are in Ocala, maybe Silver Springs or the many many natural springs you'll find but if you don't live near water, i don't think you'll find one in your yard.

[daniellefort]

Publix (the florida grocery chain store) also has a distributin plant in Orlando. Then there's always back to the rock hauling jobs. Florida Rock has several substations throughout the state and CEMEX is concrete. You have many choices wherever you decide to move. I'd just focus on your home location first because your never far from a trucker job.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by AONE

I would suggest Lakeland and the surrounding area. There are distribution centers in annd around, Orlando is only 40 mins away. Walmart has a large dist cebter, there are many food dist centers around and so on. certainly between Lakeland and Orlando are many rural communities that are still very affordable.

I second this - this area is a mecca for distribution. A little-known fact is that Lakeland is second only to LA for the amount of leased warehouse space, and more is coming. Publix corporate headquarters is here, as well as many other companies. Lakeland is also between Tampa and Orlando, only one to one and a half hours from either coast, and Polk County has 558 lakes with some of the best fresh-water fishing you will find in Florida. The area is clean and beautiful, family-oriented and you will get a bang for your buck here.

Good luck!