[spotrod]

Hello there everyone who is wanting the truth. Well I'm not a realtor just a hard working school teacher who has read alot of the posts on here and felt your joy and pain of just trying to live a wonderful life somewhere. My wife and I lived in Florida all our lives. It was once a very beautiful place and still has some nice areas. When you grew up and the roads were remote and the only traffic you saw was a possum or deer crossing the road. Now dump trucks, cement trucks going to construction sites semis going to Walmart at all hours, the working folks going to and from the traffic jams, the teenagers racing with their rice rockets or loud mufflers and the boom boxers, and oh yea the 100 yr old snow birds in winter time with their coke bottle glasses going 20 mph in a 55mph zone just to name a few.

My story is my wife and I worked for a local school sytem She was a data entry secretary and I taught coached football worked on my Masters degree in education full time and worked security on weekends to get ahead. We rented a small home and lived within our means, but that would soon change. I thought that once I finished my Masters degree that life would get easier. I soon found out that I was not the only one who was busting their hump and when I finshed I was told I basically could get promoted but it would take awhile politics (long story). In a nutshell as we were watching the bills pile up like some of you rent/mtg going higher, electric up up, car insurance. taxes, borrowing from peter to pay paul extending due dates, living on credit a big no no etc I felt that sinking feeling like swimming with a life preserver but with an anchor attached getting heavier and heavier.

We then heard from a fellow Floridian who lived in Western Carolina in the mountains who invited us to come up for a vacation. We had not had a vacation in 8 years. I had worked 3 jobs for 3 years + worked on Masters for 2 years I need a break. We took off to the mountains gas was $3.15 a gallon but the wife said we are doing it. It costs us about $150 just in gas, but everything else our friend paid for (Thank God) he understood and was living much better than we in NC so he helped us out. The trip was "awesome". We had a great time. And on our way home I turned to my wife and said we have to do something she agreed we can't keep killing ourself like so many hard working middle class Floridians.

Well just to make a long story short unless you want to stay here and read my life story I'm sure you have better things to do, but I applied for a teaching job in the North Georgia Mountains (got a 14k pay raise yea) and was basically hired over the phone. The town was Dahlonega Georgia in the Mountains, very beautiful. The schools are nice and clean and the kids are well mannered small town type. We have made some friends but still miss family in FL. The roads have limited traffic in the mountains, but we are seeing more Florida and other state tags spying property for purchase. This has created a housing increase in these parts. There are 9 subdivisions planned just in this area alone ,so growth is also coming to this area as well.

We are happy we made the move but my wife has had trouble finding a decent paying job in these parts, not much industry unless you go near Atlanta and thats a drive but everyting else is great. The schools sytems where we are are smaller and she has applied to as many a 50 different companies to no avail. As of this time she is still unemployed. We still hold out hope as we really like the area, but we left all our friends in FL and it was scary and we hope we made the right decision. We still think we made the right decision as the costs there in florida are just out of control for middle class working people. right now it stills seems better here.

As for the rest of you if you are deciding on making a move then you need to decide the good (lower cost of living of living, higher $$, no hurricanes, lower taxes, lower h/o insurance) the bad ( leaving friends, state income taxes, familiar surroundings, weather) the ugly (why did I have to leave in the first place what is wrong with this State this was my home I grew up here wow what happened, I will keep you posted further but I would like to hear your storys.

[connielynreturns]

I feel for you, my dad made the move to Hayesville, NC, in the 1980s, at the time the Mountain roads were dirt, the brush thick and magnificent, and the people very friendly. The area boomed in 5 years, now the property is overpriced, the area overcrowded, and the locals are snobs. Dads back in Florida after selling off all of his property. Everyone seems to eb heading to the Georgia, NC, Tenn, and SC areas. I personally wouldn;t go there for all the Tea in China.

[hiknapster]

I've been in Tennessee for fourteen months, having moved from Florida.

You're right. There are lots of Floridians coming and I'm afraid they will make it another Florida. Then you have the locals that are really mad that they are being invaded. It's a bad situation.

[macguy]

Originally Posted by connielynreturns

I feel for you, my dad made the move to Hayesville, NC, in the 1980s, at the time the Mountain roads were dirt, the brush thick and magnificent, and the people very friendly. The area boomed in 5 years, now the property is overpriced, the area overcrowded, and the locals are snobs. Dads back in Florida after selling off all of his property. Everyone seems to eb heading to the Georgia, NC, Tenn, and SC areas. I personally wouldn;t go there for all the Tea in China.

I got the idea he really likes it although is sad he had to leave Florida not of his own choice. I think it soulds like a nice place. I was just doing some reading about it after reading his post.

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I've been in Tennessee for fourteen months, having moved from Florida.

You're right. There are lots of Floridians coming and I'm afraid they will make it another Florida. Then you have the locals that are really mad that they are being invaded. It's a bad situation.

hiknapster- we are in Ne Tenn after moving from So Florida- my husband loves it- but I can see your point- yes it is cheaper- Johnson City is fine- but Carter County-lol- are you going to stay here? I have an MS in Psychology and except for ETSU the market is scarce.

sunny.

[Christian11]

Originally Posted by sunnyhelena

hiknapster- we are in Ne Tenn after moving from So Florida- my husband loves it- but I can see your point- yes it is cheaper- Johnson City is fine- but Carter County-lol- are you going to stay here? I have an MS in Psychology and except for ETSU the market is scarce.

sunny.

TN is beautiful. I would move to the Gatlingburg area, if there were more jobs. I lived in KY for a while.

TN rules!

[jessOH]

Originally Posted by spotrod

Hello there everyone who is wanting the truth. Well I'm not a realtor just a hard working school teacher who has read alot of the posts on here and felt your joy and pain of just trying to live a wonderful life somewhere. My wife and I lived in Florida all our lives. It was once a very beautiful place and still has some nice areas. When you grew up and the roads were remote and the only traffic you saw was a possum or deer crossing the road. Now dump trucks, cement trucks going to construction sites semis going to Walmart at all hours, the working folks going to and from the traffic jams, the teenagers racing with their rice rockets or loud mufflers and the boom boxers, and oh yea the 100 yr old snow birds in winter time with their coke bottle glasses going 20 mph in a 55mph zone just to name a few.

My story is my wife and I worked for a local school sytem She was a data entry secretary and I taught coached football worked on my Masters degree in education full time and worked security on weekends to get ahead. We rented a small home and lived within our means, but that would soon change. I thought that once I finished my Masters degree that life would get easier. I soon found out that I was not the only one who was busting their hump and when I finshed I was told I basically could get promoted but it would take awhile politics (long story). In a nutshell as we were watching the bills pile up like some of you rent/mtg going higher, electric up up, car insurance. taxes, borrowing from peter to pay paul extending due dates, living on credit a big no no etc I felt that sinking feeling like swimming with a life preserver but with an anchor attached getting heavier and heavier.

We then heard from a fellow Floridian who lived in Western Carolina in the mountains who invited us to come up for a vacation. We had not had a vacation in 8 years. I had worked 3 jobs for 3 years + worked on Masters for 2 years I need a break. We took off to the mountains gas was $3.15 a gallon but the wife said we are doing it. It costs us about $150 just in gas, but everything else our friend paid for (Thank God) he understood and was living much better than we in NC so he helped us out. The trip was "awesome". We had a great time. And on our way home I turned to my wife and said we have to do something she agreed we can't keep killing ourself like so many hard working middle class Floridians.

Well just to make a long story short unless you want to stay here and read my life story I'm sure you have better things to do, but I applied for a teaching job in the North Georgia Mountains (got a 14k pay raise yea) and was basically hired over the phone. The town was Dahlonega Georgia in the Mountains, very beautiful. The schools are nice and clean and the kids are well mannered small town type. We have made some friends but still miss family in FL. The roads have limited traffic in the mountains, but we are seeing more Florida and other state tags spying property for purchase. This has created a housing increase in these parts. There are 9 subdivisions planned just in this area alone ,so growth is also coming to this area as well.

We are happy we made the move but my wife has had trouble finding a decent paying job in these parts, not much industry unless you go near Atlanta and thats a drive but everyting else is great. The schools sytems where we are are smaller and she has applied to as many a 50 different companies to no avail. As of this time she is still unemployed. We still hold out hope as we really like the area, but we left all our friends in FL and it was scary and we hope we made the right decision. We still think we made the right decision as the costs there in florida are just out of control for middle class working people. right now it stills seems better here.

As for the rest of you if you are deciding on making a move then you need to decide the good (lower cost of living of living, higher $$, no hurricanes, lower taxes, lower h/o insurance) the bad ( leaving friends, state income taxes, familiar surroundings, weather) the ugly (why did I have to leave in the first place what is wrong with this State this was my home I grew up here wow what happened, I will keep you posted further but I would like to hear your storys.

My husband and children are thinking about moving to Florida. He has had a job offer near Winter Haven. We are from Northwest Ohio. I have done alot of research about moving to Florida. Alot of readings that I have read are from individuals who are really negative about Florida. Alot of the factories here are packing up and moving west or south My children are excited about this possibility and I am also. But, with so many unhappy individuals living in Florida, I am concerned(not of the people) but of making a wrong decision.
Can anyone give me some positive feedback on moving to Ohio?

[Need_affordable_home]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I've been in Tennessee for fourteen months, having moved from Florida.

You're right. There are lots of Floridians coming and I'm afraid they will make it another Florida. Then you have the locals that are really mad that they are being invaded. It's a bad situation.

This is why im relocating to where few others are. Like Oil city, not many are relocating there so its a nice quiet unspoiled place. Ok so its a little "depressed" but ill take that over the problems in Florida. I am still looking at other cities but Oil city is the best so far. Cedar Rapids, IA and Woodsfield, OH are two other good choices.

We still think we made the right decision as the costs there in florida are just out of control for middle class working people. right now it stills seems better here.

Everyones leaving Florida except the speculators, they can have their empty houses losing value, we wont play their games. And some rich people or retired snowbirds comming to Florida. Us middle class are outta here. We cant enjoy a normal life in Florida anymore, sad to say.

[JOHNNYCOUNTRY]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I've been in Tennessee for fourteen months, having moved from Florida.

You're right. There are lots of Floridians coming and I'm afraid they will make it another Florida. Then you have the locals that are really mad that they are being invaded. It's a bad situation.

I live in North Georgia and youre right every other tag is almost a Floridians and were really getting sick of it. There turning our small towns into the places they left and theres a lot of hostility towards them. They are definetly considered outsiders and arent accepted in the small social circles. Many Floridians that move to North Georgia move back. You see a lot of anti Florida bumper stickers and a lot of rudeness to Floridians. Dont ask directions from a local because usually theyll give you the wrong ones...I know I do.

[spunky1]

Originally Posted by JOHNNYCOUNTRY

I live in North Georgia and youre right every other tag is almost a Floridians and were really getting sick of it. There turning our small towns into the places they left and theres a lot of hostility towards them. They are definetly considered outsiders and arent accepted in the small social circles. Many Floridians that move to North Georgia move back. You see a lot of anti Florida bumper stickers and a lot of rudeness to Floridians. Dont ask directions from a local because usually theyll give you the wrong ones...I know I do.

johnny country i have found the exact opposite when I visit North Georgia. People are very friendly and welcoming, and as I am directionally challenged, i stop to ask directions ALOT and have never once been given the wrong one. Furthermore, I have never been the recipient of hostility etc. I am sure there are some (like you) who feel that way, but thank goodness most people are open and warm. The truth is that the people that want to get out of Florida are doing so because they do not approve of what is happening in Florida now. And they are certainly not the people who caused the problem. I guess you will have to accept the change or be unhappy and resentful of them. Better to accept and welcome than have the attitude that they are "outsiders".