[hubbyes]

Hello,

I am really confused on weather to move to New Jersey or Clearwater Florida area. I currently live in New York (Staten Island Area). I am not concerned about the job since my career is comfortable anywhere thank GOD! I have 2 little kids who will go to school next year and I wanted to make the move before they start making friends then it will be hard later. My kids are the most concern!!

I went to visit Clearwater Florida and it was amazing (the weather and beach) I loved it. I am just so scared of the hurricanes, Alligators and Snakes. I don’t want anything to hurt my kids. I would love to go Florida, but those reasons are the only things that are holding me back! Also I am concerned about the SCHOOLS!!! I want the best for my kids and I pretty sure we all do. I heard New Jersey has the best schools down here and a safe place. I also heard the same with Florida. I have been investigating about both and really have not yet got much information. I am just tired of the cold weather LOL.

Any help and experience would be appreciated!!

Thanks

[THX 1138]

Originally Posted by hubbyes

Hello,

I am really confused on weather to move to New Jersey or Clearwater Florida area. I currently live in New York (Staten Island Area). I am not concerned about the job since my career is comfortable anywhere thank GOD! I have 2 little kids who will go to school next year and I wanted to make the move before they start making friends then it will be hard later. My kids are the most concern!!

I went to visit Clearwater Florida and it was amazing (the weather and beach) I loved it. I am just so scared of the hurricanes, Alligators and Snakes. I don’t want anything to hurt my kids. I would love to go Florida, but those reasons are the only things that are holding me back! Also I am concerned about the SCHOOLS!!! I want the best for my kids and I pretty sure we all do. I heard New Jersey has the best schools down here and a safe place. I also heard the same with Florida. I have been investigating about both and really have not yet got much information. I am just tired of the cold weather LOL.

Any help and experience would be appreciated!!

Thanks

Depending on your line of work, the salaries here may not be at the same level as Jersey. I would also suggest you have a job lined up before moving here, might be a reality check on the salary thing and cost of living adjustment.

You should be more afraid of the quality of jobs, schools and crime than alligators, snakes or hurricanes. Why are people so afraid of Snakes and Alligators???

Vacationing here and living here is totally different. I know of people who vacationed here and then subsequently moved here with stars in their eyes then sooner or later started complaining because the vacation was over.

If you can afford private schooling, that's your best bet though some public schools in certain areas are suitable just not "the best".

[hubbyes]

Thank you for your input, its really helpful. I am really not concerned about work since I have a job already lined up. I am just so concerned about hurricanes, snakes and alligators. How log have you lived in Florida? And have you seen or heard of any incidents?

[hubbyes]

Oh I am sorry I forgot to mention that I am a Computer Engineer. How is the job market in regards to computer work in Florida and NJ?

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by hubbyes

Thank you for your input, its really helpful. I am really not concerned about work since I have a job already lined up. I am just so concerned about hurricanes, snakes and alligators. How log have you lived in Florida? And have you seen or heard of any incidents?

I'll take this up. I've been here since 1991. I've only seen gators at Sea World, retention ponds and in fresh water lakes...Florida is basically a swamp and we live in it...there will always be "incidents" of gators getting lost in pools and roads...but it's not an everyday occurence. Do some googling on gators in Florida & see what you come up with.

The west coast of Florida is a lot slower or at least pretends to be than the east coast...

Coming from Staten Island, I know you've dealt with "noreasterners" the northern version of a hurricane....June through November is hurricane season, sometimes we're lucky, sometimes not...it all depends on which way the wind blows...

Florida schools are nothing special...our best is like a version of New York's worst....all the children's tv shows really helped my sons learn prior to preschool and they did fabulous but went to an "A" rated school on Anna Maria Island as well....just know, private doesn't mean better down here!

[hubbyes]

I want to thank you very much for your answer since you have been there and it sounds like you have kids as well. If you were in the same situation, would you move from Staten Island to Florida or New Jersey?

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by hubbyes

I want to thank you very much for your answer since you have been there and it sounds like you have kids as well. If you were in the same situation, would you move from Staten Island to Florida or New Jersey?

That's a tough one for me. I've lived in NYC back in the mid-80's where I met my xhusband. If school is a priority for your children,, here in Sarasota, they just bringing out their $20 million dollar tax cut...one of the first budget cuts to be unveiled in FLorida (gee, like where has that $20 million really been hiding???)...and Sarasota is a town with $$$$...so you can only imagine what kind of precendent that may set for the rest of the state

If you hate the bump and grind of the city, have jobs waiting here for you and/or are independently wealthy, c'mon down....if you have family, even better!

If you could come for a two week trip & check out the areas & schools that you're interested in, even better (kind of like an interview processed reversed, you're interviewing the school system...).

There are a number of "A" rated schools around the state; google the areas you're interested in and get a true report card on them...

My children did very well in school here on the West Coast; they are out of state presently due to allergies (mold).

A small town is not necessarily better in Florida (i.e. nothing for children to do), whereas a more "city" type of town has more to offer as they grow, do sports, after school activities, exposure to culture...crime is found equally spread across the board so don't even worry about that issue, but I will say that boredom leads to trouble and therefore, the more activities the children have available, the less likely for boredom!

The West coast has a slower pace for family life...I (having a bit of that NYC born in me) prefer the East Coast, but glad I raised my family before getting divorced, here on the West coast...

Hope this helps?!

[PSLBound]

Hi,

I made the move from Staten Island (Dongan Hills) to Port St. Lucie almost exactly 1 year ago. We have 2 children 10 and 12 and we just love it here and are happy we did it. The kids adjusted and made friends very quickly even though they didn't want to move.

I don't know much about the west coast of Florida so I can only speak for the east coast, but so far so good. We are in the process now of moving to Vero Beach. We like Port St. Lucie, but like Vero better :-)

Anyway, it was the hardest and scariest thing we've ever done - NY born and raised, but now I can say I wouldn't go back. We also thought about Jersey but figured we'd just go all the way. Jersey also had a lot of things we didn't like so figured if we were going to make a big move may as well go somewhere warm :-)

I do have a one pointer though... it takes a long time to adjust and you will probably regret it for a few months. I cried for the first few weeks we were here. I wanted to go home, I missed my family and friends, I missed all the things that I knew my whole life. I didn't feel comfortable here at all.

Everyone told me it will get better and soon I wouldn't dream of going back, but of course at the time I didn't believe them. I'm happy to say that 1 year later I'm over all of it. Of course I still miss people, but I would never move back. The people here are extremely nice, the weather is great, no one beeps a horn, people hold the door for you, you don't get cursed out driving down the street (at least not so you can hear it, haha), and the quality of life is just much better then SI.

SI will always be my "home," I will always miss certain aspects of it, but I will never move back.

We've run into quite a few New Yorkers down here, mostly from Brooklyn and Staten Island (you know as soon as they open their mouths) and it always makes me feel good to talk to them. Everyone seems to be glad to be here.

As far as hurricanes and alligators.... well I don't see it as a reason not to come. I was more afraid of the lightening!!! We got through our first hurricane season here without one and I've never seen an alligator. They aren't exactly running rampant. We even went on an airboat ride to try and see alligators and STILL didn't get to see them! The lightening gets bad in the summer, but now I know the rules and I obey them :-)

If you have work down here I say go for it. We've had lots of company from back home and they've all loved it. In fact our old neighbors came down to visit and now they are trying to figure out a way to move down and I'm hoping they'll be down in the next year or so.

Good luck with your decision. We went back and forth with it for almost 2 years before we finally made the move. Like I said, it was hard, but I'm so glad we did it!

Good luck to you!

[hubbyes]

Yes, this helps alot. I think I will try to move to Florida. Since it will probably be better for my family and I. I actually strated looking for a position right now in Florida. I am just so worried about the Hurricans, and Animals (Snakes and Alligators).

[hubbyes]

PSLBound, I want to thank you very much for the positive feed back. I think I will give it a shot and move there. I will miss my family alot since they all live on SI.
But I cant stand SI anymore. I am looking more for my kids future then mine.