[dennis s]

Originally Posted by NO1LKME

And, where would that be? I was a military brat and trust me, retirees and immigrants are everywhere. However, retirees offer a lot of financing to communities so I would not be so quick to shut them out.

I make custom high end furniture and like other service businesses in So. Fla. I really appreciate when people move down from up north with there pockets full of cash from the sale of their house and are just looking for some way to spend it.
And as for the immigrants they are not a source of many crime or drug problems. If anything they are the victims of many robberies because they are known to carry their cash with them as they can't open bank accounts. They also don't call the police as they fear being deported.

Florida has become a place as competitive as the north east. There are very few factory jobs. It isn't cheap to live here like it was 25 years ago and it's hard to find Jimmy Bufet's old Florida. (it's there though....I found it). If one doesn't bring their own money or talent down here they will have a hard time. (see moving to Maine), same thing. As far as the heat we have that great invention A/C. Bugs... Keep a clean house and keep away the roaches . take B complex. It keeps the misquitos away...really.....There, all problems are solved. If you like the out-doors and love the water then this is the place for you. If you are a miserable person then you will probably be the same way wherever you move to.

P.S. sweating is very good for you....(unless you are wearing a tuxedo or a Mickey Mouse costume) then it's just plain smelly.

[lvmy3grls]

My family and I relocated from Long Island, NY two years ago and have not regretted the decision one day! Yes, we miss our family and friends terribly, but when we are busy doing things as we are every day like going to the park, playing soccer, taking walks, swimming, and you know they are stuck in the house or at the mall, I feel like it was the best decision ever!!!
Yes, there are things that we do not like about Florida, but overall, it is a wonderful place to live and raise a family! I remember that feeling in NY if it was nice out, no matter what, you MADE the kids play outside because you knew tomorrow would most likely not be nice, well, now, I don't care if they play outside today or not, because tomorrow will be just as nice! It takes away to much stress from your life, no gloves, heavy jackets, warming up the car, scraping ice, etc etc etc. Florida is paradise if you are willing to give it a chance!!

[kaminl]

I moved to Miami in 1972. Four years ago I decided to leave. Moved to Sarasota then to New Mexico. Believe me..... the grass is not greener on the other side. I realized what Miami had and what other cities did not have. I'm grateful that I kept my home in Miami. I moved back in August 2004. The day I drove to Florida to get to Miami, hurricane Charley was pounding Punta Gorda. A few hurricanes later I'm still here...higher insurance rates, higher gas prices, horrible traffic, (low Taxes for now), but what makes up for all of this is the neighborhood I live in. It's a small community that has Christmas boat parades, July 4th parades, hayrides through the streets, haunted houses during Halloween, block parties, great parks and sports teams for our kids, great restaurants, and now a beautiful cultural arts center is being built. Our town of Cutler Bay (Cutler Ridge) is blossoming into a great little town that is very different from the rest of Miami. For those of you who want to move to Miami, there are certain areas within the city that are great places to live and raise children.

[Floridabound09]

Originally Posted by verobeach

Retirees and immigrants are people.

I was thinking the same thing, but the name is leavingflorida05, well it's 07 and they are still there.

Must not be as bad as they make it out to be.



Great to see people move away and go back to the place they like, no matter where it is.

Originally Posted by sunnyhelena

It is hard to enjoy the beach when you can't walk on it. The humidity in April to Sept was a killer. So were the 600.00/month central air bills.

I love the beach, but if you get up at 7AM and are already dripping from the heat- that is too much for some people.

sunny

Wait until you get back to East Tenn, the humidity July-Aug-Sept will kill you if the dirty run down towns don't first.

[Liddy]

Hey All,
I have lived my whole life here in St. Petersburg, FL and hubby has lived most of his life here. He's origanlly from Mass. We are considering moving to Tennesse where a lot of other family members have ended up from other states. I love Florida. I love the tropical weather, the flowers, plants, greenery all year long. I love riding past the bays, beaches and gulf in everyday commuting. I think it's a great place to always have something to do in but...
Where we live it has become very congested. The traffic is thick and it's harder and harder to find any native Florida left. My beautiful beaches that I knew growing up, with all the Mom and Pop hotels have been commercialized into hugh hotels and condo's. That's what happens when thousands upon thousands of people move in. Hubby would like a slower paced, more open terrain to live in now. He says he's getting too darn old to work in the heat without a break. He's an electrical contractor and we have our own small business which has been successful for many years.
I think I will miss Florida but am willing to give it a try. My kids and grandkids also like the beach but want to move where we are. What would be a good area in Tennesse for jobs (new construction), entertainment, recreation, bikers (we all ride motorcycles and enjoy the local family bike nights), good schools, good value homes?
Suggestions would be appreciated.
We don' want to get bored.
Also, what about gray days? That's my big worry.
Thanks,
Liddy

[Floridabound09]

Originally Posted by Liddy

Hey All,
I have lived my whole life here in St. Petersburg, FL and hubby has lived most of his life here. He's origanlly from Mass. We are considering moving to Tennesse where a lot of other family members have ended up from other states. I love Florida. I love the tropical weather, the flowers, plants, greenery all year long. I love riding past the bays, beaches and gulf in everyday commuting. I think it's a great place to always have something to do in but...
Where we live it has become very congested. The traffic is thick and it's harder and harder to find any native Florida left. My beautiful beaches that I knew growing up, with all the Mom and Pop hotels have been commercialized into hugh hotels and condo's. That's what happens when thousands upon thousands of people move in. Hubby would like a slower paced, more open terrain to live in now. He says he's getting too darn old to work in the heat without a break. He's an electrical contractor and we have our own small business which has been successful for many years.
I think I will miss Florida but am willing to give it a try. My kids and grandkids also like the beach but want to move where we are. What would be a good area in Tennesse for jobs (new construction), entertainment, recreation, bikers (we all ride motorcycles and enjoy the local family bike nights), good schools, good value homes?
Suggestions would be appreciated.
We don' want to get bored.
Also, what about gray days? That's my big worry.
Thanks,
Liddy

Liddy,
East Tenn is growing and becoming crowded as well. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have popped out at the seems taking homes with it.
Knoxville is nice but the traffic is a nightmare.
Lafollette is a small town alittle north of Kville and is very homey and nice, but gets very cold!
If you do move, move more to the central southern Tenn areas.
Also, close to the Mtns you get you will not like the dark days of it, your used to the sun, not much sun there other then June, July Aug and some Sept then gets ugly.
When a cloud hits you in the face, youll know your too close to the mountains.
I used to spend allot of business time in Kville, summers are nice, but winters not to darn good.

[riverviewnative]

Jealous of a Parma reject with a plaid shrit, black socks to your knees and long shorts? Pot belly hanging down? Not likely

Originally Posted by Floridabound09

Liddy,
East Tenn is growing and becoming crowded as well. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have popped out at the seems taking homes with it.
Knoxville is nice but the traffic is a nightmare.
Lafollette is a small town alittle north of Kville and is very homey and nice, but gets very cold!
If you do move, move more to the central southern Tenn areas.
Also, close to the Mtns you get you will not like the dark days of it, your used to the sun, not much sun there other then June, July Aug and some Sept then gets ugly.
When a cloud hits you in the face, youll know your too close to the mountains.
I used to spend allot of business time in Kville, summers are nice, but winters not to darn good.

[sickfromredtide]

Originally Posted by kaminl

I moved to Miami in 1972. Four years ago I decided to leave. Moved to Sarasota then to New Mexico. Believe me..... the grass is not greener on the other side. I realized what Miami had and what other cities did not have. I'm grateful that I kept my home in Miami. I moved back in August 2004. The day I drove to Florida to get to Miami, hurricane Charley was pounding Punta Gorda. A few hurricanes later I'm still here...higher insurance rates, higher gas prices, horrible traffic, (low Taxes for now), but what makes up for all of this is the neighborhood I live in. It's a small community that has Christmas boat parades, July 4th parades, hayrides through the streets, haunted houses during Halloween, block parties, great parks and sports teams for our kids, great restaurants, and now a beautiful cultural arts center is being built. Our town of Cutler Bay (Cutler Ridge) is blossoming into a great little town that is very different from the rest of Miami. For those of you who want to move to Miami, there are certain areas within the city that are great places to live and raise children.

We moved to Key West 10 years ago from PA and when we had a baby thought we would move to an area that we thought was a family and more affordable area. Well let me tell ya, the grass definetily is not greener on the other side, when we moved to Venice, FL we bought a home and then found out there is no money to be made, bunch of old people waiting to die and nothing to do excect get sick from the Red Tide that no one wants talks about! We're back in Key West raising our daughter and couldn't be happier.

[smb_minipins]

I just wanted to post and say how great the posts are (for the most part) we are considering moving from Ny to Fl at the end of the summer so, this really helps me alot. (find the good and not so good areas) lol you wanna laugh about bills let me just throw one out there... we live in a apartment in upstate Ny so were 50 minutes from the city. We payed this year alone for heat $2,305.84 between the months of october to now its april ...i wish ya'll could see how big the apartment is and we also pay around 6-8 hundred in the summer for AC!! we just stopped paying for winter (heat) but im sure its not over. I think that poster said it the best, that you make wherever the best possible enviornment for you and yours, and live life. There are alot of haters, and meanwhile no i dont know greatly what its about down there, but im sure if they stuck you "lifers" up here, you would be begging to go back. Talk about high rates and high gas prices, high taxes (8-9 thousand plus!!! for a teeny house) just because we have NYC here, well its the biggest city in the world but please be a millionare if you plan on shopping there, or anything other then along the lines. Bring on the heat wave please.

[smb_minipins]

aside from that I am looking for any areas near Tampa that you would recommend for a young family with good schools possibly too. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.