[Tungsten_Udder]

Originally Posted by TANaples

There are no mountains in Florida.

True. While there are hills in Florida, the highest "natural" elevation is Britton Hill, which is 345 feet above sea level. Not high enough to call anything natural a mountain by any conventional sense of that word.

It doesn't get cold and it doesn't snow.

False. While what counts as "cold" is relative/subjective, even Orlando has winter average lows (not record) of 48 in January and February. Chipley, in the northern part of the state, has average (again, not record) lows of 37 in January. The record low in Florida, by the way, was -2, recorded in Tallahassee in 1899.

Florida regularly has frosts--hard frosts are a major reason the citrus industry is not as big as it was in the past. Hard frosts basically wiped out a number of growers in various years.

And just this past January, there were snow flurries and ice along the Eastern Central Florida coast, including flurries recorded at Daytona Beach International Airport on January 3-4. Orlando had some snow in the winter of 2006-2007, and the East Central Coast had snow in 2003, as well. Other areas of Florida have had snow at other times (including a time I very vividly remember when it snowed while I was in grade school in West Palm Beach in early 1977 and we all ran outside; It snowed all the way down to Miami then, too).

Of course, it doesn't get as cold as the average temperatures can get in most of the rest of the United States, and snow is rare, but it does get cold and it can snow--even if it almost never sticks.

There are no changing leaves in Florida.

False. While the leaves do not change as dramatically, and in the same concentrations, as they do in New England, quite a few trees and plants in the state regularly change colors with (relatively) cooler weather. Certainly trees like elms, oaks and maples will change colors in northern Florida when those winter daily average temperatures (as mentioned above) arrive, but even much further south, flora such as sea grapes can change colors in autumn or winter.

There are no 4 seasons in Florida, with their associated activites.

It's false that there are not four seasons in Florida, and not just on a technical, astronomy-based level. There are temperature average differences in all parts of the state correlated to the four seasons, and different plants bloom during different seasons. It is true that there isn't a "snow season" where kids go out and make snow angels, mom's bake apple pies, and other Norman Rockwellish stereotypes, but as stereotypes, it's difficult to say that they're true of any area en masse. And culturally, Floridians do tend to do different things at different times of the year--it's just that they're more apt to avoid outdoor activities in the height of the summer and engage in them at other times instead.

THESE are the things that are making the majority of us who frequent this thread MISERABLE.

The problem is that the majority of them, as factual statements, are false. That's not to suggest that you really like it in Florida instead. There would be ways of stating related gripes that wouldn't be false--they just wouldn't have the black & white ring of finality. They'd be more moderate. For example, "Florida has less pronounced temperature differences in the different seasons than most of the US (and I like more pronounced differences)".

Many of us don't and cannot leave, just yet. So, leave us ALONE.

You are willingly posting on an open, "public", message board--a message board with the ultimate aim of disseminating helpful information to people wondering what different places might be like. If you want to strictly control who can interact with you ("only people who agree with me in spirit and won't ever challenge any factual claims I make" or something like that), maybe start a private board or email list or something.

[TKramar]

I like the fact that it stays pretty warm in Florida. I still need long sleeves, sweaters, jackets, and a knit hat in the winter though.

At least I don't have any snow to shovel, or have to walk in below zero weather, like I did when I was a young kid.

[PixiStix]

Well, this is my first post on this thread although I've taken comfort in reading about everyone else who feels exactly how I do & I'm glad I'm not crazy for hating the "warm, sunny, paradise" of Florida.

We moved here a year & a half ago. I'd always wanted to live in Florida. I'd vacationed here so many times & loved it, so living here must be even better, right?! Yup, stupid assumption on my part. I realized within 6 weeks of moving here "What the h*ll have we done?!" I've been absolutely miserable for over a year & I've tried so hard to 'go with the flow'... I can just never see raising my children here. Battling with tourists (Oh, to be a clueless happy tourist again), snowbirds, the horrendous drivers (see: tourists & snowbirds) enountered every creepy crawly flying biting critter known to man, the searing heat & humidity which keeps you inside for most of the summer, the need for SPF 70 every day on my kids, the sameness of everything EVERY DAY (God I'm sick of green palm trees 365 days a year, unless you count the lovely big dead brown fronds all over my yard)....

I lived in the midwest all my life & was excited to get out & experience something different. Well, I've learned how much I took for granted- I left friends, family, great schools, great neighbors with KIDS, courteous drivers, a sense of community, seasons, I could go on..

This time of year is the worst for me. I love fall. Enjoying those cool sweatshirt days, bonfires, going to the farmer's market with my kids to buy hay bales & pumpkins, the beautiful leaves... Nope, none of that here. I'm still sweating outside with my t-shirts

And Christmas- I'm sorry but blow up snow globes under a palm tree just isn't right, lol..I can't even bring myself to put up a Christmas tree here. It seems so silly. Thank goodness we spend 2 weeks up north so we can have an ACTUAL Christmas.

Luckily we aren't stuck here due to a job or anything. We're heading back up north ASAP- For those of you who love Florida, that's great.. you can have my parking spot

[Tungsten_Udder]

Originally Posted by Rachael84

I guess those unhappy can just ignore tho posters who don't seem to read the title of this thread and post anyway. Why aren't their posts deleted if they're off-topic? I don't care if my post gets deleted, just delete theirs also since they're off-topic.

The thread title doesn't actually give a topic, it says who it's for. "An x for y" also doesn't mean that you're only "allowed" to post on a thread if you're a y.

[TANaples]

Originally Posted by Tungsten_Udder

The thread title doesn't actually give a topic, it says who it's for. "An x for y" also doesn't mean that you're only "allowed" to post on a thread if you're a y.

in Florida" to post why you are HAPPY in Florida, as in "I don't have to shovel snow." Save that one for a thread on "why you love Florida." Excuse me can you follow the logic in that?

[Tungsten_Udder]

Originally Posted by TANaples

in Florida" to post why you are HAPPY in Florida, as in "I don't have to shovel snow." Save that one for a thread on "why you love Florida." Excuse me can you follow the logic in that?

(1) I just stated that the thread title isn't a topic. You'd have to argue that it is in fact a topic. Just claiming that it is isn't sufficient in my opinion.
(2) Maybe you're talking about someone else, but I've certainly never posted anything about being happy in Florida in this thread. What I posted was challenges to some things that were claimed to be factually true, and I reported what I believe to be factually true instead.
(3) It might be worth noting that people don't constantly complain in the other threads when folks post comments in reaction to comments about the OP. It tends to happen in the threads where the OP was focused on complaining. I'll let folks draw their own conclusions there.

[TANaples]

Originally Posted by acegirl

Well, this is my first post on this thread although I've taken comfort in reading about everyone else who feels exactly how I do & I'm glad I'm not crazy for hating the "warm, sunny, paradise" of Florida.

We moved here a year & a half ago. I'd always wanted to live in Florida. I'd vacationed here so many times & loved it, so living here must be even better, right?! Yup, stupid assumption on my part. I realized within 6 weeks of moving here "What the h*ll have we done?!" I've been absolutely miserable for over a year & I've tried so hard to 'go with the flow'... I can just never see raising my children here. Battling with tourists (Oh, to be a clueless happy tourist again), snowbirds, the horrendous drivers (see: tourists & snowbirds) enountered every creepy crawly flying biting critter known to man, the searing heat & humidity which keeps you inside for most of the summer, the need for SPF 70 every day on my kids, the sameness of everything EVERY DAY (God I'm sick of green palm trees 365 days a year, unless you count the lovely big dead brown fronds all over my yard)....

I lived in the midwest all my life & was excited to get out & experience something different. Well, I've learned how much I took for granted- I left friends, family, great schools, great neighbors with KIDS, courteous drivers, a sense of community, seasons, I could go on..

This time of year is the worst for me. I love fall. Enjoying those cool sweatshirt days, bonfires, going to the farmer's market with my kids to buy hay bales & pumpkins, the beautiful leaves... Nope, none of that here. I'm still sweating outside with my t-shirts

And Christmas- I'm sorry but blow up snow globes under a palm tree just isn't right, lol..I can't even bring myself to put up a Christmas tree here. It seems so silly. Thank goodness we spend 2 weeks up north so we can have an ACTUAL Christmas.

Luckily we aren't stuck here due to a job or anything. We're heading back up north ASAP- For those of you who love Florida, that's great.. you can have my parking spot

what so many of us have previously said. Other than lack of jobs, these are the reasons why we want to leave. We miss our families and the 4 seasons. Yes, for many that even includes WINTER.

I agree with you about the palm trees. I try my best to ignore them. Actually, since I have to stay here for some time, I try my best to ignore just about EVERYTHING here. That is why many of us have posted how we decorate the inside of homes for fall and winter, and try to shut out the outside world.

That is what the purpose of this thread is SUPPOSED to be about. For those of us who feel this way to find comfort in the support of others who feel that same way we do. Now is probably the worst part of the year for us.

We don't need or want to hear all the "wonderful" things Florida has to offer. Good. Keep them for those who enjoy them.

[Tungsten_Udder]

"Florida does not have four seasons", and "Florida has no winter" are both false.

since I have to stay here for some time, I try my best to ignore just about EVERYTHING here.

I have to say that, in context, that is believable.

[TANaples]

Originally Posted by Tungsten_Udder

"Florida does not have four seasons", and "Florida has no winter" are both false. I have to say that, in context, that is believable.

Give me a break. Hot, hotter, and hottest are the seasons.

On ignore.

[Lulu101]

That poster was giving you factual information. Long, thoughtful replies. I don't see that as a valid reason for putting someone on ignore, unless...

"you can't handle the the truth!"

Originally Posted by TANaples

Give me a break. Hot, hotter, and hottest are the seasons.

On ignore.