[bdpop]

One of the biggest differences between NJ and FL is when you criticize NJ on the NJ forum, most people will agree with you. When you criticize FL on the FL forum, people will defend the state to the teeth, saying it is like that everywhere.

[Pooring Footers]

Originally Posted by bdpop

One of the biggest differences between NJ and FL is when you criticize NJ on the NJ forum, most people will agree with you. When you criticize FL on the FL forum, people will defend the state to the teeth, saying it is like that everywhere.

But seriously, who wants to live in NJ?

And second, although I am a native Floridian, and I have seen a lot of changes, and many not for the good), I can still say that there are some nice places to live in FL. I am sure there are nice places to live in NJ too (far away from NYC) and in the rural pretty areas... but people in NJ also think places like "Fllaahrida" are great because of the warm weather. But sometimes, little do they know, FL has problems too.

[TANaples]

Originally Posted by Pooring Footers

But seriously, who wants to live in NJ?

And second, although I am a native Floridian, and I have seen a lot of changes, and many not for the good), I can still say that there are some nice places to live in FL. I am sure there are nice places to live in NJ too (far away from NYC) and in the rural pretty areas... but people in NJ also think places like "Fllaahrida" are great because of the warm weather. But sometimes, little do they know, FL has problems too.

Princeton area, and if you like the shoreline, Cape May. Very expensive though. My daughter's former SO lived in the Brunswick area. I don't remember precisely where, but it was near Great Adventure so must have been South Brunswick. I am not from NJ. I am from NY, but we have gone just about all over NJ. There is much more to it than what most people think of as in North Jersey/Newark area. Many parts of NJ are very rural. That is why it is called the Garden State. The Dover/Lake Hopatcong (spelling)/Delaware Water Gap is very, very pretty at the foothills of the Poconos. Over the years, my husband knew several coworkers who lived in this area and commuted every day to work in Manhattan.

Yes, I would rather be in NJ than Florida.

[bdpop]

Originally Posted by TANaples

Princeton area, and if you like the shoreline, Cape May. Very expensive though. My daughter's former SO lived in the Brunswick area. I don't remember precisely where, but it was near Great Adventure so must have been South Brunswick. I am not from NJ. I am from NY, but we have gone just about all over NJ. There is much more to it than what most people think of as in North Jersey/Newark area. Many parts of NJ are very rural. That is why it is called the Garden State. The Dover/Lake Hopatcong (spelling)/Delaware Water Gap is very, very pretty at the foothills of the Poconos. Over the years, my husband knew several coworkers who lived in this area and commuted every day to work in Manhattan.

Yes, I would rather be in NJ than Florida.

I second that! As soon as I can afford to, I am moving back.

[esty/esthetician]

I am a former Jersey Girl and recently visted NJ 15 yrs later. I gorged myself w/sausage sandwiches, cheese steaks, hot dogs & birch beer (on tap...whoo-hoo!) at Five Points in Union (couldn't believe the place was still in biz 53 yrs later!). After having my fill of comfort food...I was ready to head home and swim off the extra pounds...lol.

I'ved lived in FL for 28 yrs and have not seen an alligator other than Sea World and Alligator Alley (behind a fence on a loooong road). Rule of thumb: Where there is water there could be an alligator (I'm NOT talking swimming pools). The alligator stories you've seen on the news usually happened during their mating season. Floridians should know to avoid swamps, water retention ponds and lakes during this time. Unfortunately, there are always gonna be fools who feed alligators (errrrrrrr) which by the way is considered a no no.

As for snakes? I periodically see little garden snakes (maybe 4 in 28 yrs) which are no biggie. However, my husbands cousin was bit by a rattler in NJ (it was hiding in her sandbox). I saw more snakes in Jersey (water moccasins, rattlers and other various snakes) than I have in FL. Snakes are really a non issue here.

Schools are another issue though. NJ has better schools so I've been told. However, with that said, FL schools do offer dual enrollment (college courses while in HS) for students who meet the criteria. This saves you money since there is no charge and the student could have a year (or more) of college under their belt prior to graduation. Private school is another option of course. Main thing is to locate in a top rated public school district (realtors should tell you this). When we located here, everyone told us where the best school district was located (I had 5 children).

It took me a good 2 yrs to love FL. My hubby (a Jersey boy) adjusted immediately. My entire family ended up moving here a few yrs later and love it.

Another thought to ponder is *no state income tax* which is sweet.

My hubby was raised in Lake Hopatcong NJ (born in Dover). Later we moved to Newton (more rural and very pretty).

As for hurricanes? I've seen them destroy homes on the Jersey shore. My home never had a problem and I live on a barrier island.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by esty/esthetician

My hubby was raised in Lake Hopatcong NJ (born in Dover).

My family had a summer house near Hopatcong right above Lake Rogerine (Mt. Arlington?)..... lotta good summer memories there, but even then, we were told to watch out for snakes in the water!

Also remember going to Lake Hopatcong to swim.

Originally Posted by esty/esthetician

As for hurricanes? I've seen them destroy homes on the Jersey shore. My home never had a problem and I live on a barrier island.

While the hurricane risk is definitely greater here in Florida, it's really no worse than living in tornado alley, and at least you have good warning. As for hurricanes up north, my grandfather was mere second away from being whacked by a falling tree limb in the 80s from and during one of the hurricanes that managed to meander up there!

[dmccauley]

Originally Posted by Pooring Footers

But seriously, who wants to live in NJ?

And second, although I am a native Floridian, and I have seen a lot of changes, and many not for the good), I can still say that there are some nice places to live in FL. I am sure there are nice places to live in NJ too (far away from NYC) and in the rural pretty areas... but people in NJ also think places like "Fllaahrida" are great because of the warm weather. But sometimes, little do they know, FL has problems too.

I can't wait to go back.

[SonnyD23]

This is the bottom line. EVERYONE from NJ would get out of here in a heart beat, unless your a relentless depressive with massive overloads of anxiety, in which case you would like the dense cold, windy, expensive, over taxed, boring NOTHINGNESS. I don't know about most of you, but I would rather live with the crime in Florida, than I would here in NJ. The way I see it as far as crime goes, it happens everywhere, but I would rather worry about it in the warm weather, rather than the cold. And I don't know how dangerous it is in Orlando where I am moving, but I can tell you around here in NJ, they would kill you for 10 cents if they wanted it. In Atlantic City, Pleasantville, Ocean City, Somers Point, Trenton, Newark, East Orange, Jersey City, Bayonne, etc., you either drive with your windows up, or they take it as disrespect, and shoot you in the middle of traffic, and even then there is still that chance. Now you may all take this and brush it off as would most people. I am 22 years old, still very young. I have seen ALOT of things that go on in the streets of NJ, and I can tell you that if its like this everywhere you go... what the hell kind of world is this??

[DailyJournalist]

Originally Posted by SonnyD23

This is the bottom line. EVERYONE from NJ would get out of here in a heart beat, unless your a relentless depressive with massive overloads of anxiety, in which case you would like the dense cold, windy, expensive, over taxed, boring NOTHINGNESS. I don't know about most of you, but I would rather live with the crime in Florida, than I would here in NJ. The way I see it as far as crime goes, it happens everywhere, but I would rather worry about it in the warm weather, rather than the cold. And I don't know how dangerous it is in Orlando where I am moving, but I can tell you around here in NJ, they would kill you for 10 cents if they wanted it. In Atlantic City, Pleasantville, Ocean City, Somers Point, Trenton, Newark, East Orange, Jersey City, Bayonne, etc., you either drive with your windows up, or they take it as disrespect, and shoot you in the middle of traffic, and even then there is still that chance. Now you may all take this and brush it off as would most people. I am 22 years old, still very young. I have seen ALOT of things that go on in the streets of NJ, and I can tell you that if its like this everywhere you go... what the hell kind of world is this??

Thats funny, considering Newark is safer than Orlando. Not everyone wants to leave NJ, some actually like making a good wage.

[bdpop]

Originally Posted by SonnyD23

This is the bottom line. EVERYONE from NJ would get out of here in a heart beat, unless your a relentless depressive with massive overloads of anxiety, in which case you would like the dense cold, windy, expensive, over taxed, boring NOTHINGNESS. I don't know about most of you, but I would rather live with the crime in Florida, than I would here in NJ. The way I see it as far as crime goes, it happens everywhere, but I would rather worry about it in the warm weather, rather than the cold. And I don't know how dangerous it is in Orlando where I am moving, but I can tell you around here in NJ, they would kill you for 10 cents if they wanted it. In Atlantic City, Pleasantville, Ocean City, Somers Point, Trenton, Newark, East Orange, Jersey City, Bayonne, etc., you either drive with your windows up, or they take it as disrespect, and shoot you in the middle of traffic, and even then there is still that chance. Now you may all take this and brush it off as would most people. I am 22 years old, still very young. I have seen ALOT of things that go on in the streets of NJ, and I can tell you that if its like this everywhere you go... what the hell kind of world is this??

No one I know in NJ wants to leave. Everyone I know is very happy there. They would not even consider moving to Florida.