Florida's most perfect location (Jacksonville, Miami: jobs, sick, house)

[brian_2]

Coral Gables/Coconut Grove/South Beach in the mid-1970's to early 1980's were very different places to live. Some things (the more superficial things in life such as: shopping, dining, etc. are better now - but for every Norman Van Aiken joint I'd rather have the number of residents in the late 1970's, and I'd be content to eat out at the old unhip Biscayne Cafeteria and/or a small Cuban family restaurant - you can have the chi-chi beautiful people/attitude/jive stuff), and while superficially changed for the better, the most important things have deteriorated considerably. South Florida is no exception to what has happened to so many places throughout this country the past 25-35 years - large scale, uninhibited growth and sprawl brought on by immigration, the changing migration patterns of Americans (retiring/exodus from rust/snow belt states - all of which have stressed State/county resources to the breaking point, besides having a deterious effect upon quality of life issues). Anyone around 50+ remembers how life was years ago in South Florida (with the exception of the cocaine trade which brought crime, addiction and the disintergration of many a family) - it was a much less crowded area, and while addiction and the associated problems of drug/alcohol abuse have always been with us (and most people avoid getting involved in illegal drugs anyway) - there's no avoiding the throngs of new arrivals crowding the roads and every livable space in SoFlo. Life's not as sane, or with the breathing room once available in the past, no matter how much one chooses to fool one's selve.

[MiaDolFan]

[quote=macguy]I Live on South Ocean Dr. I would not walk down the street with out my golf club and I also have a gun permit. I know of what I speak. I like bike riding but have almost given it up due to the heavy traffic, bad drivers as well as the crime. I actually had a guy try to knock me off my bike near my house. People delude themselves a bit because they drive around in their cars with the windows up, doors locked, music on, then return to their homes with security systems and locked doors.

They don't even know what goes on around them in their own communities, sort of, if I pretend it isn't happening it won't effect me. I don't know what the Trailer comment was to mean, I live in a house now that clocks in over a million and the place we are going to build up north will be a large multi acre property. The St. Joe company is building what are called Gentleman farms right now, I believe Disney is also involved, in the same general area with prices starting around a million. It is a better way of life in my opinion. Those areas you point out are little more then people hiding behind their doors in their condos and pretending they are living the good life. Have you ever walked down Galt Ocean Mile at night?

Gee, I live on S. Ocean Dr. also--in Hollywood, not ritzy Galt Ocean Mile. I walk outside at night all the time. Never had a single problem. If I saw a guy walking down the street with a golf club or any other "weapons" I'd think he's either gonna commit a crime or is a paranoid nutcase. All the people walking down Surf Road, the beach, and the Broadwalk at night aren't in hiding. The "Trailer" comment was meant to be derogatory towards the Panhandle, just like your "cesspool" comment was towards South Florida.

[macguy]

[quote=MiaDolFan]

Originally Posted by macguy

I Live on South Ocean Dr. I would not walk down the street with out my golf club and I also have a gun permit. I know of what I speak. I like bike riding but have almost given it up due to the heavy traffic, bad drivers as well as the crime. I actually had a guy try to knock me off my bike near my house. People delude themselves a bit because they drive around in their cars with the windows up, doors locked, music on, then return to their homes with security systems and locked doors.

They don't even know what goes on around them in their own communities, sort of, if I pretend it isn't happening it won't effect me. I don't know what the Trailer comment was to mean, I live in a house now that clocks in over a million and the place we are going to build up north will be a large multi acre property. The St. Joe company is building what are called Gentleman farms right now, I believe Disney is also involved, in the same general area with prices starting around a million. It is a better way of life in my opinion. Those areas you point out are little more then people hiding behind their doors in their condos and pretending they are living the good life. Have you ever walked down Galt Ocean Mile at night?

Gee, I live on S. Ocean Dr. also--in Hollywood, not ritzy Galt Ocean Mile. I walk outside at night all the time. Never had a single problem. If I saw a guy walking down the street with a golf club or any other "weapons" I'd think he's either gonna commit a crime or is a paranoid nutcase. All the people walking down Surf Road, the beach, and the Broadwalk at night aren't in hiding. The "Trailer" comment was meant to be derogatory towards the Panhandle, just like your "cesspool" comment was towards South Florida.

Considering your own Mayor got robbed just a few weeks ago buying gas in your city, the crime rate in Hollywood is over two times the national average, the air quality is rated as 1/6 the national average, with the population now approaching 150,000, and that is just permanent residences, your little city is fast headed towards the same disaster many of the other over crowded, over built cities in South Florida are. You also have serious gang problems there. The future there looks pretty bleak, enjoy it while it lasts.

You have to be objective, don't feel you need to have some kind of blind loyalty to the city just because you live there. There are problems and you as a resident just pretending they don't exist doesn't do anything to help the problem, not that there is anything you could do, but at least don't fool yourself. I live in Fort Lauderdale, a dirty, broke and corrupt city, they are laying off police and fire men because they can't afford to pay them. Of course I doubt any of the local politicians have missed a paycheck.

If you never have you should sit in on a city commission meeting now and then, you will come out talking to yourself. Many South Florida cities are going down the drain faster then you can imagine. They are over building for no other reason then to increase the tax base. Why have a single house that is homesteaded paying $1400. a year in taxes sitting on a property when they could have several Townhouses costing $700,000 a piece paying $17,000 each a year in taxes, so they play with the zoning. Forget the impact they do to neighborhoods and the area in general these are broke cities that are corrupt and just see the short term. Much of South Florida is one big facade.

[MiaDolFan]

Yeah it's going down the drain alright--new million dollar high rises replacing the old dilapidated motels, the old Boardwalk getting redone, beach widened, and lowest unemployment in decades. It's gone downhill so fast here that property values in my waterfront area (and yours) have increased 200% in the last 6 years.

Is everything rosy and perfect? Of course not, but it's also not in the Panhandle or anywhere else, and your vision of impending doom around here is way off. South Florida has changed tremendously throughout the years, and some life-long residents like me adapt and choose to stay while others choose to leave. So you want to move elsewhere for who knows what reason--so be it. Just don't condemn South Florida as a dump. It's very short-sighted, and I'll call you out on it.

[macguy]

Originally Posted by MiaDolFan

Yeah it's going down the drain alright--new million dollar high rises replacing the old dilapidated motels, the old Boardwalk getting redone, beach widened, and lowest unemployment in decades. It's gone downhill so fast here that property values in my waterfront area (and yours) have increased 200% in the last 6 years.

Is everything rosy and perfect? Of course not, but it's also not in the Panhandle or anywhere else, and your vision of impending doom around here is way off. South Florida has changed tremendously throughout the years, and some life-long residents like me adapt and choose to stay while others choose to leave. So you want to move elsewhere for who knows what reason--so be it. Just don't condemn South Florida as a dump. It's very short-sighted, and I'll call you out on it.

All You are describing are the quick buck artists taking advantage of the situation here, where they have cities so broke and so desperate to increase the tax base they will agree to almost anything, why do you think Trump is here now? Where are the roads and waterways these new residents are going to use? What about the water situation, they are talking about near future water shortages almost crises level due to the uncontrolled growth. South Florida is a poster child of bad city management and over growth without a plan. I am afraid all your points just go to exemplify my point.

[MiaDolFan]

You think budget problems, water availability, and political corruption are problems that you'll leave behind when you leave here and move elsewhere? Good luck avoiding it elsewhere. Crooked politicians abound everywhere, but at least here the weather is nice. Besides, how much does this supposedly overwhelming corruption here affect your life here. I got no problems with keeping my nose down, earning a living, and enjoying all this area has to offer regardless of who is mayor. You're gonna flee here because of the politicians?
Don't pity us, as Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and California are all gonna run out of drinking water looong before South Florida does.

Hey, the Panhandle you want to move to is a fine, beautiful place, but wherever there's people, there's problems--and that includes poverty, theft, and political corruption. South Florida isn't all bad; in fact most believe the good outweighs the bad, which is why the population is growing and housing costs are rapidly rising.

[macguy]

Originally Posted by MiaDolFan

You think budget problems, water availability, and political corruption are problems that you'll leave behind when you leave here and move elsewhere? Good luck avoiding it elsewhere. Crooked politicians abound everywhere, but at least here the weather is nice. Besides, how much does this supposedly overwhelming corruption here affect your life here. I got no problems with keeping my nose down, earning a living, and enjoying all this area has to offer regardless of who is mayor. You're gonna flee here because of the politicians?
Don't pity us, as Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and California are all gonna run out of drinking water looong before South Florida does.

Hey, the Panhandle you want to move to is a fine, beautiful place, but wherever there's people, there's problems--and that includes poverty, theft, and political corruption. South Florida isn't all bad; in fact most believe the good outweighs the bad, which is why the population is growing and housing costs are rapidly rising.

Your last post pretty much explains it. Just out of curiosity, where else have you lived, do have a perspective or is this place all you know? I have a feeling this place is all you know and if that is the case I understand, also it can be scary to think you could just up and live a different life then you are now living. You say what goes on in the city doesn't matter to you, I guess as long as your personal, even selfish needs are met you don't really care about anybody else, well, not much more I can say, your words speak for themselves, just try not to trash the place any worse then it already is.
I'm not going to back and forth on this with you, enjoy your life.

[falisamarie]

My husband and I were both born in Orlando and we can not wait to move. FL does have its good points but the bad outweighs the good IMHO. The cost of living is outrageous and we realized that with the COL increasing our children would never be able to own anything on their own. As far as a nice area Lake County is pretty and quiet. Good Luck to you

falisamarie

[lulu]

Brian 2...

Cuban restaurants...simply tasty & delicious. Lots of quality food that you can't gobble up in just one sitting for under $10 - doggie bags are a must, though, forget the dog - for oneself of course ha, ha.
Oh myyy..... Did you say unhip Old Biscayne cafeteria????? YESS... I like being that unhip!! I loved getting my tray and asking for my individual American fare pickin's of the day..ohh & the desserts weren't they the best?? I was sooo...sad when they closed it down. Just like all the Morrison's down here. Do you remember Toby's on the old 8 st?? If you don't, when it closed guess?...the same wonderful super-super nice African american waiters were the ones working at Biscayne Cafeteria on miracle mile. They had that old fashioned Southern niceness about them - so attentive & simply the best in the whole world. They are part of my best memories here, I'll never forget them for the rest of my life.

[bamboosmom]

It truely depends on what a person is looking for. Beaches? The theme parks?
Lot's to do? Small town???
There are a number of different places to choose from.