[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by Muggy

Interesting topic.

For me it's not whether or not things are "negative" or "positive", or whether I'm "negative" or "positive;" my photographing and posting the worst of Florida is just a natural extension of a perspective I've had for quite some time now: that at some point, you can't build happiness. The idea that paradise can be built is worth examination and criticism. Paradoxically, the building of paradise is what precisely ruined something that was in fact paradise (by many definitions).

I guess this is my position: that Florida is so bizarre, so extreme, so polarizing, so foreign and exotic, that I can't help but to take pictures and post about it. Yes, I have hundreds of rust-best photos taken in Chicago, Buffalo, Cleveland etc. but why am I not posting those? Well, because the average human being has no idea what it's like to park between a Ferrari and 70's beater at the grocery store; to see McMansions next to 20's craftsmen houses and 70's block houses with burglar bars. We all remember what downtown used to look like.

I think the Florida board is just a representation of what is actually happening in Florida. Nobody has any idea what to make of all it; some things beautiful, some things horrifying, and everything in between.

What we all have to recognize is that there is a culture forming in Florida (and California) that has never existed anywhere else on Earth, at any given point in history. I posit that we are witnessing the formation of the Union's most unpredictable outcome of globalization.

Cleveland is a view to America's past, and Florida/California it's future.

Muggy your posts are always temperate. I see both sides. And your pictures were beautiful on that thread. Sunrico also had some beautiful pictures. I think there are people who NEVER lived down there, who idealize and think it is the same as every other state but with gorgeous views and beaches, and the same opportunities as California, Chicago or NY.

I love the beaches there. The NW panhandle in particular. That being said, living there is/was a whole different issue. The costs of HOI, overcrowding in S Florida-all these are realities. For some people it becomes too much. Everyone should post their opinions here, if they have lived there- to sugarcoat reality helps no-one; and I wish I knew of this forum 7 years ago!

sunny.

[faithfulFrank]

I do not want to "hijack" a thread, but to answer your question, I believe we are leaving Tuesday.
Real estate deals are much differant there then here.....it has been the most stressful experence...I have learned a lot.

Pretty bad when running into burning buildings and taking care of bloody wrecks is less stressful. After it is all over, I'll post all about it, to help others. It has indeed been a learning experience.

Frank D.

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by faithfulFrank

I do not want to "hijack" a thread, but to answer your question, I believe we are leaving Tuesday.
Real estate deals are much differant there then here.....it has been the most stressful experence...I have learned a lot.

Pretty bad when running into burning buildings and taking care of bloody wrecks is less stressful. After it is all over, I'll post all about it, to help others. It has indeed been a learning experience.

Frank D.

Tell me about it.... We ended up selling our house due to a refinance gone bad that left us with little choice... Ended up rescinding the contract and never looked back.....

All in all it turned out to be a good move for us, but yeah, the headaches involved with the whole process are mind-boggling...

[rodsterin_fl]

I hear what you are saying; however, my post was negative on FL and I gave valid reasons. There are times that people do not want to hear anything that may oppose what they want to do like move to Florida, for example, but I find this website serves a purpose to inform people what they might be getting into. I mentioned in my August post that my parents are getting ready to retire. Well, prepare yourself for another negative - my father checked the rates for supplemental medicare insurance and guess what state has the highest rates in the nation - Florida. Now, here is more info. The closest states to the Florida rate are New York and Texas and their rate is $500yr difference less than the Florida rate. Here is what he was also advised - once you establish the insurance then whatever state you establish it in determines the rate you pay for the rest of your retirement - even if you move. hmm.

It is easy to tell someone to hit the road if you don't like it but some people get involved in jobs that make it difficult to leave an area without loss. I would leave but it is not possible - yet. MANY of my coworkers ARE relocating as they can as well.

Much of what a place offers is subjective to the observer. A friend of mine was scared to death when they came to a remote private college in central Fl from a city in Japan. Their family bought them cases of supplies as if they were moving to a remote place! People from cities go wild when they see grass or space or quiet. I enjoy National Parks and mountains. I do not mind mild winter with snow. Yet, as far as data is concerned, readers on this site should consider what they read, the tone of the message and the information written positive or negative and take it into consideration. Everyone has different experiences, OK but facts are facts regardless of experiences. I laughed as I read about someone sharing how wonderful Fl was because they did not have to pay to launch a boat (where they were) but actually where I am - you do in many locations.

Take the facts and experiences and consider them judging them to yourself, not discounting those who share them attacking credibility.

[dreamofmonterey]

All good posts here. Everyone who has lived there or relocated has a valid opinion. Anyone buying should take their time, visit and read factual information.

People who vacation for a week with their parents, don't have a mortgage and say come on down- that is not realistic.

[Rhett_Butler]

In truth I think sometimes it would be helpful to understand the perspective that a poster is coming from when they comment on "life in Orlando" as well...

I mean the person living in a gated Lake Nona community that has a $200K a year job is most likely going to have a different perspective to one who works a $35K a year job and rents an apartment off of Lee Road...... (Sorry, these are Orlando locations and I now realize I'm in the general "Florida" board... )

That's what I seem to catch here and I wager a guess that many who post about how wonderful it is here have it pretty good...... That doesn't mean those people are wrong or that they haven't earned thier way to where they are at, but it certainly changes one's perspectives on the area when the majority of "issues" reside outside of your gated community as opposed to the apartment next door....

And yes, before I see all the exceptions posting, "HEY, I love it here and I make a modest wage and don't live in a fancy house!!!!", I realize this isn't true across the board, but when I see the "happy folk" saying how wonderful the area is and suggesting to people that they move to Windermere, Heathrow or Lake Nona I have to smile a bit and think, "No wonder they think it's so great...."

[sunrico90]

Very interesting views. Many of us have posted for sometime and we joint this forum looking for means of information, clarification and at times sanity. Most of us have posted on all 3 side of the coin, we are PRO or CON or neutral because of our believes and experiences. Many times we change the topic to the question to something else and we loose objectivity of what was asked.

What we collectively might have forgot at times is that only a very small amount of individuals (I still don't have a # from MODERATOR) that are trying to aid everyone that submit a post, but we forget that every individual or family has a very different situation than ours. We use our experiences good, bad, or ugly and that is how we reply.

May I ask: Why are you member of this Forum? My reason is for information above the state and maybe I can help someone. Again if you are helping to answer a post this can be on any side of the coin, but should not turn into a battle zone.

Lets collectively used our logic and moderate our self’s, we might have to ignore a post and maybe that might make us think, we might type OFF TOPIC and just bring everyone back.

Again, I do enjoy the forum, but is up to each one of us to make it the best in regards to accuracy, honesty, and effectiveness. We are the ones empowered to reply to the world, let's be on track.

Florida can be everything YOU want it to be...

[FedUpInFtMyers]

Forgive me if this has been mentioned before and it is redundant, but I think the biggest problem is that we tend to generalize. Those generalizations are based on where we are living at present or the only city that we ever lived in in Florida. I used to be guilty of just that when I lived in St. Petersburg. I had moved down from the Chicago area to St. Petersburg and LOVED it. Did I make statements of "I love St. Petersburg"? No, I simply said "I love Florida". Now, after having moved to Ft. Myers from years of wonderful in St. Petersburg, I realize that I errored in my perceptions of "Florida" as a whole. Of course, I thought that living in Ft. Myers would be just like St. Petersburg, but it is a far cry from it. Getting back to the point of this thread, I feel that if you are living somewhere in Florida that you love, you should state where you are and be appreciative and even grateful because there are some cities in Florida that are so different and miserable from where you are that you cannot even imagine. I also feel that we need more compassion and empathy on this board. I guess it is easy to feel attacked when you are sitting in a wonderful place in Florida and not experiencing the problems that some are while living in other places ( I know I was defensive about it when I lived in St. Pete ), but I think that if we stop generalizing, then we can all make useful and respectful contributions here.

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by sunrico90

Very interesting views. Many of us have posted for sometime and we joint this forum looking for means of information, clarification and at times sanity. Most of us have posted on all 3 side of the coin, we are PRO or CON or neutral because of our believes and experiences. Many times we change the topic to the question to something else and we loose objectivity of what was asked.

What we collectively might have forgot at times is that only a very small amount of individuals (I still don't have a # from MODERATOR) that are trying to aid everyone that submit a post, but we forget that every individual or family has a very different situation than ours. We use our experiences good, bad, or ugly and that is how we reply.

May I ask: Why are you member of this Forum? My reason is for information above the state and maybe I can help someone. Again if you are helping to answer a post this can be on any side of the coin, but should not turn into a battle zone.

Lets collectively used our logic and moderate our self’s, we might have to ignore a post and maybe that might make us think, we might type OFF TOPIC and just bring everyone back.

Again, I do enjoy the forum, but is up to each one of us to make it the best in regards to accuracy, honesty, and effectiveness. We are the ones empowered to reply to the world, let's be on track.

Florida can be everything YOU want it to be...

Hard to stop the natural flow of a discussion sometimes, even on a message board. Agreed that there's really no need for argument here and there wouldn't be if people all respected the opinions of others be them good or bad. The venom goes in both directions.

I think most people's issues with the negativity should have to do with non-constructive negativity like commentaries like, "Oh sure, come down here and try to speak english and then get held up in a bank parking lot in broad daylight and then see how much you like it!!" kind of venomous crap....

No, no one needs that and it serves very little purpose....

Constructive negativity is as much a part as positive re-enforcement of someone's decision to move to any state of course. For my part, I am a member of this forum to get information on the places I am looking to move to away from Florida, but also figured I can offer some advice and opinions to those who are planning on taking the plunge down here. Try to remember that very few people stumbled on to this forum with the intent of being a troll or just plain nasty.

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by FedUpInFtMyers

Forgive me if this has been mentioned before and it is redundant, but I think the biggest problem is that we tend to generalize. Those generalizations are based on where we are living at present or the only city that we ever lived in in Florida. I used to be guilty of just that when I lived in St. Petersburg. I had moved down from the Chicago area to St. Petersburg and LOVED it. Did I make statements of "I love St. Petersburg"? No, I simply said "I love Florida". Now, after having moved to Ft. Myers from years of wonderful in St. Petersburg, I realize that I errored in my perceptions of "Florida" as a whole. Of course, I thought that living in Ft. Myers would be just like St. Petersburg, but it is a far cry from it. Getting back to the point of this thread, I feel that if you are living somewhere in Florida that you love, you should state where you are and be appreciative and even grateful because there are some cities in Florida that are so different and miserable from where you are that you cannot even imagine. I also feel that we need more compassion and empathy on this board. I guess it is easy to feel attacked when you are sitting in a wonderful place in Florida and not experiencing the problems that some are while living in other places ( I know I was defensive about it when I lived in St. Pete ), but I think that if we stop generalizing, then we can all make useful and respectful contributions here.

Exactly, and my point is that it's important to note that these differences also occur within various towns and cities.... See my Orlando example a couple posts up and how drastically the opinions of two people who live all of 10 - 15 miles apart can be of the same area....