[gypsychic]

Sunshine Chick - I know you are sort of hesitant about Lakeland because of what you have read about sex offenders but as a couple others here have posted they are really ALL over Florida even in the smallest communities - Lakeland is actually rather large and the ratio we have here is not that bad compared to the size community this is.

Let me assure you that this is a wonderful, beautiful family place to live, and just check the website that shows you where the sex offenders live - you can find many neighborhoods with few to none. And Lakeland just can't be beat for proximity to everything wonderful Florida has to offer - we are just 1/2 hour to Disney and about 40 minutes from Busch Gardens, one and one half hours to Gulf or Atlantic beaches. We have fabulous restaurants and shopping and easy driving to Tampa or Orlando. You really should come and check the area out, I highly recommend it. I like the climate here too. Since Lakeland is part of the "uplands" of Florida we are on high ground, and all the lakes and trees give us nice breezes in the summer. Cooler nights than near the coast, too, I love it.

ETA: After typing this, I noticed your comment in another post calling Lakeland a "danger zone" and comparing it to Bradenton? I don't get that AT ALL. This town has NOTHING in common with Bradenton. In fact, we were going to move to Bradenton first, and decided against it due to many reasons, crime being one, but lack of community and poor planning and lack of town leadership another. This town and our county in general has some of the best leadership in Florida. I don't know what you are talking about "danger zone" - this is a town like any other city, even the smallest ones I have lived in, have a "not-so-nice" part of town. If you want perfection, then you will have to go to a planned community like Celebration, where they will dictate the color of the curtains you can have. The real world does have a few warts, but in places like Celebration, people can pretend they don't exist.

[TKramar]

Originally Posted by Sunshine Chick

Thank you Kramer. So this is a www site?
Yes, I know, they are everywhere like a disease.

National Sex Offender Registry

[Sunshine Chick]

Originally Posted by TKramar

National Sex Offender Registry

Thanks to everyone for the input, I appreciate them.
And the TKramer for the links. Thank you

Allot of work to do so keep the opinions coming.

[countryclassic63]

I Live in Hamilton County Florida on 12.18 acres and I think it is beautiful and great for kids. My husband hates its. 15 min. from Madison. Blue Springs 3 miles down the road. Motor Cross about 4 miles down the road. Jasper is about 15 min. away. Live Oak is about 20 min. away. Georgia line is 10 min. away. This is the country where everywhere you go everybody waves at you even if they don't know you. My husbands wants to go back down central florida near his family. Moderator cut: no advertising here, please I think this is a good area. So relaxing. I wish you good luck.

[Sunshine Chick]

Originally Posted by countryclassic63

I Live in Hamilton County Florida on 12.18 acres and I think it is beautiful and great for kids. My husband hates its. 15 min. from Madison. Blue Springs 3 miles down the road. Motor Cross about 4 miles down the road. Jasper is about 15 min. away. Live Oak is about 20 min. away. Georgia line is 10 min. away. This is the country where everywhere you go everybody waves at you even if they don't know you. My husbands wants to go back down central florida near his family. Our place is going on the market this week. I think this is a good area. So relaxing. I wish you good luck.

Appreciate the response. I like northern Florida but if I am moving to Florida I want to be able to get to the beach and all the better nature sites within less then an 1 hour or so.
I really like Destin, Crestview but we do not want to have too many chances of it ever getting below 32 again and it can get kinda of cold up there.
So, I do appreciate yur input but we are pretty much going to stay with north central Florida leaning towards the guld side.
We want to be able to ge tto the beach, Disney, Epcot, Busch, Cypress and all the other things that we are moving to Floirda for.
I know we have allot of work to do, but we will wait until the perfect time, the perfect location and setting and will not get in any hurry with our decision.

[Sunshine Chick]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Sunshine Chick - I know you are sort of hesitant about Lakeland because of what you have read about sex offenders but as a couple others here have posted they are really ALL over Florida even in the smallest communities - Lakeland is actually rather large and the ratio we have here is not that bad compared to the size community this is.

Let me assure you that this is a wonderful, beautiful family place to live, and just check the website that shows you where the sex offenders live - you can find many neighborhoods with few to none. And Lakeland just can't be beat for proximity to everything wonderful Florida has to offer - we are just 1/2 hour to Disney and about 40 minutes from Busch Gardens, one and one half hours to Gulf or Atlantic beaches. We have fabulous restaurants and shopping and easy driving to Tampa or Orlando. You really should come and check the area out, I highly recommend it. I like the climate here too. Since Lakeland is part of the "uplands" of Florida we are on high ground, and all the lakes and trees give us nice breezes in the summer. Cooler nights than near the coast, too, I love it.

ETA: After typing this, I noticed your comment in another post calling Lakeland a "danger zone" and comparing it to Bradenton? I don't get that AT ALL. This town has NOTHING in common with Bradenton. In fact, we were going to move to Bradenton first, and decided against it due to many reasons, crime being one, but lack of community and poor planning and lack of town leadership another. This town and our county in general has some of the best leadership in Florida. I don't know what you are talking about "danger zone" - this is a town like any other city, even the smallest ones I have lived in, have a "not-so-nice" part of town. If you want perfection, then you will have to go to a planned community like Celebration, where they will dictate the color of the curtains you can have. The real world does have a few warts, but in places like Celebration, people can pretend they don't exist.

I appreciate and respect your opinion as I have rest your post allot, it is very hard for me to see the numbers and realize that first and foremost you have to protect your kids and if the local law enforcement cannot then we have to do their work for them.
I like Lakeland and the areas around it, but like Port Richey it seems to get allot of trash talk about it for some reason. The downtonw area is awesome and the people always seem to be smiling and happy when we stop for a bite to eat and take a quick walk.
I will look alittle further into Lakeland as well.
Questions for you, did I read you were from Sarasota? and move to Lakeland?
Could I ask why?
Which beach do you go to from Lakeland?

Appreciate the input.

[gypsychic]

Hmm, that's strange, honestly I don't remember seeing much "trash talk" about Lakeland. Only one or two posts. Most by far are positive, but frankly it mostly gets overlooked on this board. I have received numerous DMs from people who read but don't post here and have told me that they visited and fell in love with it and either moved here or plan to move here. I guess you have to go where you will feel comfortable, only you know where and what makes you feel good.

Yes, we lived in Sarasota for 17 years, we left 10 years ago. It is a nice place for many, but not for us. No jobs, hubby had to commute to Tampa (way too brutal!), high cost of living, and didn't care for the "transient" feel of the place (due to it being a vacation/retirement destination). Just a note - the neighborhood I used to live in there currently has 3 times the # of sex offenders as the neighborhood I live in now in Lakeland (Lake Hollingsworth). Just making a point that certain neighborhoods can have more than others anywhere you go.