[DanBev]

Yes the heat and humidity are nasty but haveing lived here 20 years now and seeing the growth with not the same type people that were here when we came would make me want to move but where.The people today are not considerate of anything.For the most part driving,shopping,attitude toward other people etc.Maybe this goes with over crowding.We benefit with SOH and homestead and good driving record so our cost of living is low.My sister in CT filled her oil tank this week 260 gal. $1200,this and extreme property taxes and many other,so maybe North Central Fl doen't look bad.

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by BacktoMA4good

Enjoy being outdoors?!?!?!?! Ya right.... January, February, some of march maybe. NOT HUMID???!!!.... WHERE ARE YOU LIVING???

I totally agree, this is the biggest misconception of Florida. Its way to Hot, Humid from May - November to spend any length of time outdoors in Florida. The further south in Florida you live the longer that time gets too almost all year hot and/or humid. We had 313 days in 2007 in the 80s and 90s, so we had only two months of nice weather to spend time outdoors in 2007. Otherwise it was hot and/or humid.

Most the people that I have met that have moved to Florida in the last few years have already left. Florida isn't the same as when you are visiting on vacation, and so people figure this out usually after moving and living here. One reason why the carolinas are getting more of the half backs from Florida.

[TANaples]

Originally Posted by doggiebus

I totally agree, this is the biggest misconception of Florida. Its way to Hot, Humid from May - November to spend any length of time outdoors in Florida. The further south in Florida you live the longer that time gets too almost all year hot and/or humid. We had 313 days in 2007 in the 80s and 90s, so we had only two months of nice weather to spend time outdoors in 2007. Otherwise it was hot and/or humid.

Most the people that I have met that have moved to Florida in the last few years have already left. Florida isn't the same as when you are visiting on vacation, and so people figure this out usually after moving and living here. One reason why the carolinas are getting more of the half backs from Florida.

This past winter it rarely got into the low 70s. Having lived in Gainesville, I can definitely say that Naples is a lot HOTTER.

You are also correct about the Carolinas. I am from NY. If you go on that board, you will see a lot of threads and postings about North Carolina. That seems to be THE most popular place to move to.

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by TANaples

This past winter it rarely got into the low 70s. Having lived in Gainesville, I can definitely say that Naples is a lot HOTTER.

You are also correct about the Carolinas. I am from NY. If you go on that board, you will see a lot of threads and postings about North Carolina. That seems to be THE most popular place to move to.

My phone company in PA. offered a buy out package in November and 23 people took it. I came here. Several of them moved to NC. All of us were able to get job offers with the phone company in our respective states doing the exact same job. (all Bell South)

P.S. MY job never even started yet, the FL recruiters can't even get the class started, mass confusion ever since then. Even though they're still posting job requisitions online.

All the NC co-workers got immediate start dates way back in Dec and have been making money since then.

I don't get it but it shows the attraction of NC quite clearly in my little example alone....

[DailyJournalist]

Originally Posted by runswithscissors

My phone company in PA. offered a buy out package in November and 23 people took it. I came here. Several of them moved to NC. All of us were able to get job offers with the phone company in our respective states doing the exact same job. (all Bell South)

P.S. MY job never even started yet, the FL recruiters can't even get the class started, mass confusion ever since then. Even though they're still posting job requisitions online.

All the NC co-workers got immediate start dates way back in Dec and have been making money since then.

I don't get it but it shows the attraction of NC quite clearly in my little example alone....

Exactly, people are moving to N.C. because of the great job situation. N.C. has been able to attract numerous corporations and make their state prosperous. Florida on the other hand continues to decline and jobs are getting more scarce everyday.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by DailyJournalist

Exactly, people are moving to N.C. because of the great job situation. N.C. has been able to attract numerous corporations and make their state prosperous. Florida on the other hand continues to decline and jobs are getting more scarce everyday.

Well, to clarify, the jobs are all in the Raleigh/Triangle area or Charlotte - the rest of NC is pretty economically depressed, and in the Western mountain area (Asheville) the only jobs are hospitality, like Florida.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by DailyJournalist

Exactly, people are moving to N.C. because of the great job situation. N.C. has been able to attract numerous corporations and make their state prosperous. Florida on the other hand continues to decline and jobs are getting more scarce everyday.

Yeah, have you done any research on the ever-rising unemployment rate in Charlotte? All of the jobs are in RDU and the rest of the state is either struggling or depressed. Attract numerous corporations? Yeah, maybe numerous malcontents throughout the state, but the jobs are in Raleigh and to a lesser degree Charlotte.

[TANaples]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

Yeah, have you done any research on the ever-rising unemployment rate in Charlotte? All of the jobs are in RDU and the rest of the state is either struggling or depressed. Attract numerous corporations? Yeah, maybe numerous malcontents throughout the state, but the jobs are in Raleigh and to a lesser degree Charlotte.

A lot of people are moving there for retirement from the north. Closer drive to their kids, cheaper, and more moderate temps. You still have the 4 seasons, but not as extreme. My husband has even talked about moving there for retirement, although I still prefer NY because cold and snow doesn't bother me.

However, we are both in agreement that retirement won't be in Florida.

[runswithscissors]

I'm no NC expert (or FL) by any means but ...I'm not so sure I agree with the assessments. You probably know more about it than me, but....Perhaps "right now" yeah, NC is having cut backs like every where else that is impacted by fuel etc. You can see the immediate change in unemployment on this chart, even though I'm not a big stat person since you can usually find charts to support any argument:

North Carolina Economy at a Glance

However, it's not just a "tourist" state. Look at the chart...and what about the things you always think about when you think of NC.... furniture, tobacco....finance....and does it really matter what part of the state ?

Florida's unemployment rate is lower for the same period. Does anybody know who's actually IN that labor force, or were already unemployeed before etc? I have no idea. But it's only a .5 difference anyway....

LOL anyway, you dismiss Winston Salem and Charlotte like they're all centralized in a tiny area. Can you really compare Fayetteville? That's like comparing Fort Dix NJ to Trenton, imo.

But even their chamber of commerce online just announced ground breaking there for a new RLM high tech defense contractor's Communications contract awarded under a potential 157,778,069 value (not just there, all over).

That's like expecting the Pocono mountains in PA to offer the same quantity of employment as Philly. Not comparable.

Asheville? this link has more than hospitality

Asheville, North Carolina (NC) Companies & Businesses

If it's current online, Greensboro has Honda Aircraft, Lorillard Tobacco, VF Corp, AIG Ins, Volvo Trucks, International Textile, RF Micro Devices and yeah fast food but the HQ of Cook Out and Lincoln Financial's life insurance arm.

Remington Arms in Madison, Lowes in Mooresville, here's a list.....of just Fortune 500...NC has 14 FL has 12 ...but isn't NC's population only about 9 million, half of Florida?

FORTUNE 500 2007: States - North Carolina

I can tell you that 17 people I know personally all moved to NC since November and all work. No problem yet. Maybe it'll change....several went to Wachovia and BOA besides Bell South.....

I don't know how many jobs these companies offer locally, all I'm saying is that maybe there are other reasons, too, that people are moving there. Like they have MONEY and don't need JOBS all that much, for one thing.

Two of my non working friends took their steel worker 30 year pensions and 401Ks to the mountains and are sitting on lakes quite happy.

Are Floridians sitting back cynically waiting to predict and realize the crash and burn of NC? The abhorrent crime rate of SC? The wonderful outcome of less population (less tax base) of Florida?

People in the other states don't seem to miserable yet

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by runswithscissors

I'm no NC expert (or FL) by any means but ...I'm not so sure I agree with the assessments. You probably know more about it than me, but....Perhaps "right now" yeah, NC is having cut backs like every where else that is impacted by fuel etc. You can see the immediate change in unemployment on this chart, even though I'm not a big stat person since you can usually find charts to support any argument:

North Carolina Economy at a Glance

However, it's not just a "tourist" state. Look at the chart...and what about the things you always think about when you think of NC.... furniture, tobacco....finance....and does it really matter what part of the state ?

Florida's unemployment rate is lower for the same period. Does anybody know who's actually IN that labor force, or were already unemployeed before etc? I have no idea. But it's only a .5 difference anyway....

LOL anyway, you dismiss Winston Salem and Charlotte like they're all centralized in a tiny area. Can you really compare Fayetteville? That's like comparing Fort Dix NJ to Trenton, imo.

But even their chamber of commerce online just announced ground breaking there for a new RLM high tech defense contractor's Communications contract awarded under a potential 157,778,069 value (not just there, all over).

That's like expecting the Pocono mountains in PA to offer the same quantity of employment as Philly. Not comparable.

Asheville? this link has more than hospitality

Asheville, North Carolina (NC) Companies & Businesses

If it's current online, Greensboro has Honda Aircraft, Lorillard Tobacco, VF Corp, AIG Ins, Volvo Trucks, International Textile, RF Micro Devices and yeah fast food but the HQ of Cook Out and Lincoln Financial's life insurance arm.

Remington Arms in Madison, Lowes in Mooresville, here's a list.....of just Fortune 500...NC has 14 FL has 12 ...but isn't NC's population only about 9 million, half of Florida?

FORTUNE 500 2007: States - North Carolina

I can tell you that 17 people I know personally all moved to NC since November and all work. No problem yet. Maybe it'll change....several went to Wachovia and BOA besides Bell South.....

I don't know how many jobs these companies offer locally, all I'm saying is that maybe there are other reasons, too, that people are moving there. Like they have MONEY and don't need JOBS all that much, for one thing.

Two of my non working friends took their steel worker 30 year pensions and 401Ks to the mountains and are sitting on lakes quite happy.

Are Floridians sitting back cynically waiting to predict and realize the crash and burn of NC? The abhorrent crime rate of SC? The wonderful outcome of less population (less tax base) of Florida?

People in the other states don't seem to miserable yet

Well, just go read those forums here on City-Data and you'll see a lot of the same complaints - LOL. I just think people everywhere think "the grass is greener."

As for Asheville, we had a house there for 3 years, I'm sorry but it IS mostly a hospitality/retail industry there, just like any resort in Florida. That is the #1 complaint of people who go there. Unless you are in medical (even those jobs have a waiting list) or an entrepreneur or wealthy retiree, making a living is tough. Also, the furniture manufacturing is dying there - it's being made overseas now for the most part, although the showrooms are there.

The only point I am making is that I don't see NC as a big "job mecca" - honestly other than the Triangle area, overall it's on par with Florida, IMO. It's a good place for retirees with a pension, though, although they have a state income tax and higher taxes in general.

I'm thinking a lot of folks here don't really realize how much we DO HAVE in Florida - this is just manufacturing in Polk County where I live:

CFDC.org - Business Expansion - Industries

Check out the rest of that website, too, lots of good info. We also have an aerospace academy, breaking ground on USF Polytechnic, and about to break ground on a huge new CSX facility in Winter Haven (eventually up to 8,000 new jobs)

Florida has a lot more than just hospitality jobs, but it depends on the area of the state.

ETA: We also have Lockheed Martin, I don't think it was on that list:

http://lockheedmartin.com/