[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by steelbus

Sorry, nothing left now but a tourist trap. Its Disney history, and some people like that. But it isn't really history.

Like a few other posters, I too am surprised at this description of the legacy and significance of St. Augustine in American history.

The nation's oldest continuous European settled city surely has a rich historical story to tell. Its architecture and major significance as a port city all tell a tale of the Spanish, French, and English coveting this beautiful part of Florida and fighting over it during the turbulent decades of the 16th and 17th centuries.

While not necessarily a reference to the poster who considers this area to have no real history, I have noticed that others, in a mad frenzy to knock everything Floridian, are not content to decry the weather, crime, traffic, cost of living, etc. No, some feel that it's also necessary to knock Florida in its entirety, to sweep under the rug all the culture, rich history, and past and contemporary significance of the state and its beautiful cities.

To those who do so, as if to justify their impending departure and to convince themselves that everything Florida is a nightmare, do know that it's really unnecessary to follow that path.

You do not like Florida, that's fine. Find a way out, if you can...but do not attempt to rewrite history. It's a disservice both to Florida and to yourselves.

[scdc850]

I'm the lady poster who lived in South Dakota for six years and would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to live in New England. No, I don't have a problem with the winters or cold weather. South Dakota was a great teacher for long, cold winters with blizzards, ice, and snow. I loved the different seasons. Yes, I admit that I was scared to death while driving in the snow (I am a southerner,after all) and constantly worried about black ice, but it was worth it to me. Like another recent poster, I only moved back to Tallahassee for a better paying job. The unemployment rate in South Dakota may only be 4.2% now (SD not as populated at Florida), but most of those who are employed are only making minimum wage or a little over it and that was BEFORE the current recession. We struggled constantly while living there-just like most everyone else around there. An example: $1,500 deductible per person for not-so-great health insurance with a $367 bi-weekly premium along with a low paying job, high daycare, etc. just took most of what we had. The job I took in Tallahassee is still considered lower paying, however it was $13,000 more than what I was making in South Dakota with MUCH better benefits, and I knew the area having grown up here! However, I was laid off in December 2008, so I guess it didn't matter!

I was attracted to Keene because of the small town community that was located in such a beautiful location, but now in my ongoing research of New Hampshire, I am in love with ENTIRE state! Heck, New England has always seemed awesome to me. I do have some loyalty to my home state, but it's on the minimal side. I am open to researching any city in New Hampshire, especially cities near the mountains. If there is any way for me or my husband to find good jobs up there, whether it is now or later, we would move our family in a heartbeat. All of you current New Englanders ARE LUCKY!!!!

Best wishes for all current Floridians who were previous New Englanders and are trying to make your way back up there! I hope you find something great!

[scdc850]

Originally Posted by Moderate Guy

Like a few other posters, I too am surprised at this description of the legacy and significance of St. Augustine in American history.

The nation's oldest continuous European settled city surely has a rich historical story to tell. Its architecture and major significance as a port city all tell a tale of the Spanish, French, and English coveting this beautiful part of Florida and fighting over it during the turbulent decades of the 16th and 17th centuries.

While not necessarily a reference to the poster who considers this area to have no real history, I have noticed that others, in a mad frenzy to knock everything Floridian, are not content to decry the weather, crime, traffic, cost of living, etc. No, some feel that it's also necessary to knock Florida in its entirety, to sweep under the rug all the culture, rich history, and past and contemporary significance of the state and its beautiful cities.

To those who do so, as if to justify their impending departure and to convince themselves that everything Florida is a nightmare, do know that it's really unnecessary to follow that path.

You do not like Florida, that's fine. Find a way out, if you can...but do not attempt to rewrite history. It's a disservice both to Florida and to yourselves.

If St. Augustine is a major historical site, I would love to visit while I'm still in Florida. I've never been there, but I've heard of some interesting festivals that are history-focused. Tell me some places I should visit that have deep historical roots such as those you mentioned above, and my family and I will make a trip of it. I'm a history nut, which is another reason I am dying to go to New England.

I do knock Florida a lot, though. I hate the weather, and I'm not fond of the environment. Yes, I do experience nostalgia when I'm away when I think about those sprawling oak trees, old red dirt roads, southern accents and sayings ("bless his heart"), home-cookin', plantation houses, lazy rivers, beaches (even though I'm not a beach person anymore), etc. Northern Florida is as different from South Florida as night and day! We're more like southern Georgia and lower Alabama. That doesn't mean I wouldn't leave it all behind for the environment that I love!

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by Moderate Guy

Like a few other posters, I too am surprised at this description of the legacy and significance of St. Augustine in American history.

The nation's oldest continuous European settled city surely has a rich historical story to tell. Its architecture and major significance as a port city all tell a tale of the Spanish, French, and English coveting this beautiful part of Florida and fighting over it during the turbulent decades of the 16th and 17th centuries.

While not necessarily a reference to the poster who considers this area to have no real history, I have noticed that others, in a mad frenzy to knock everything Floridian, are not content to decry the weather, crime, traffic, cost of living, etc. No, some feel that it's also necessary to knock Florida in its entirety, to sweep under the rug all the culture, rich history, and past and contemporary significance of the state and its beautiful cities.

To those who do so, as if to justify their impending departure and to convince themselves that everything Florida is a nightmare, do know that it's really unnecessary to follow that path.

You do not like Florida, that's fine. Find a way out, if you can...but do not attempt to rewrite history. It's a disservice both to Florida and to yourselves.

St Augustine is great, but let's not get carried away with talk of Florida's "culture and rich history and past". Some here are QUITE familiar with the history of Florida. While we shouldn't RE-write history, lets not write history to make it more interesting than it really is either... There's a reason the Spanish didn't really give two turds about their holdings in Florida compared with the rest of their empire...

Steelbus' description is WAY off with regard to St Augustine, but let's not go off the other end of the "What the heck are you talking about?" spectrum either...

[TANaples]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

But she said that she lived in South Dakota for six years. If she doesn't think that is cold, she can handle New England.

I'm surprised that she thought that the economy was not that good in South Dakota. It's certainly better than Florida. Rapid City's unemployment rate is 4.2. For that matter, New Hampshire's is around 6.2. However, housing prices are very, very high in New England.

whose parents lost there jobs, house, and were homeless for a time. The Dad found work in North Dakota and they moved in a heartbeat.

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by Rhett_Butler

St Augustine is great, but let's not get carried away with talk of Florida's "culture and rich history and past". Some here are QUITE familiar with the history of Florida. While we shouldn't RE-write history, lets not write history to make it more interesting than it really is either... There's a reason the Spanish didn't really give two turds about their holdings in Florida compared with the rest of their empire...

Steelbus' description is WAY off with regard to St Augustine, but let's not go off the other end of the "What the heck are you talking about?" spectrum either...

I guess that not only is beauty in the eye of the beholder but alas, so is history and culture too!

What can I say in my defence if I find a rich, interesting history in Florida going back to Ponce de Leon, the Seminoles, Flagler, the War of American Independence, the Civil war, the origins and development of Miami to its present status as a world-class city, and on to contemporary wonders like the space shuttle/NASA, the migration of Northerners to South Florida, Midwesterners to the West Coast, the exodus and return of native Floridians to/from Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, the dynamics of bilinguialism, the pivotal role of Florida in national elections, the marvelous Miami Dolphins, the stupendous Florida Marlins...and a long list of dynamic historical events covering politics, sports, race, and language issues.

Ahh...Florida is indeed rich in history and culture- past and modern - to the easily impressed like me! Of course, the smarter guys need more inspirational events to impress them!!

[TANaples]

I find no history in Florida in comparison to the original 13 colonies. Have you ever been to place in Florida where George Washington walked or slept?

[TNRyan23]

Originally Posted by TANaples

I find no history in Florida in comparison to the original 13 colonies. Have you ever been to place in Florida where George Washington walked or slept?

I lived in FL for 17 years and never went to St. Augustine. Not once..

The thing for Florida is that unlike the North East or even most of the South, Florida has only been a state since 1845. The orig. 13 were around what time frame ? 1790 ? That's over 50 years more history as states. There were several wars fought before Florida even became a state. I mean, Texas became a state in 1845 as well but they had already fought and won their independence in 1836 and had tons of spanish and french history.

I dunno, Florida history always bored me. Ponce de Leon, Seminole Indians, Cuban Cigars, Gasparilla, and a huge hispanic influence. Meh...

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by TANaples

I find no history in Florida in comparison to the original 13 colonies. Have you ever been to place in Florida where George Washington walked or slept?

As much as I revere our Founding Father and Great First President I would be hesitant to judge a state's historical significance solely by whether he slept there.

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by TNRyan23

I dunno, Florida history always bored me. Ponce de Leon, Seminole Indians, Cuban Cigars, Gasparilla, and a huge hispanic influence. Meh...

Yeah, I know...in the hills of Tennessee, there are more interesting tales like those of the Hatfields and McCoys of West Virginia.