[sunrico90]

Originally Posted by patticaryl

I have been reading this board for the last few weeks, contemplating our family moving from the Albuquerque, NM area to Navarre. Sunrico, you have convinced me that I would love to live there!
My husband is retired early (a disability) and I am a R.N. Is there any hospitals easy to get to in the area that I would like working in?
We also have a 13 year old daughter that will be starting high school next year. I read that the school system in Navarre is one of the best. Any comment?
I have really enjoyed reading your posts, Sunrico! Thanks for all the valuable information. We hope to be making a trip out there very soon to see the beautiful beaches in person!

Lets get back to the OP....

[mehcmh]

Hi! I've never posted here before, but I have to put my 2 cents in!! I am from Ohio, and have lived in Kentucky for 15 years. In 2001, I could stand KY no longer and talked my husband into moving to Navarre!! We were down there 10 months, and I loved it! (We went down with 2 SMALL children, and NO JOBS!!!) Our family back home in KY made us feel so guilty about leaving, and taking away the grandbabies.... I was overwhelmed with guilt, and we moved back. For 7 straight years I have LONGED to go back. Navarre is beautiful! Navarre Beach, Pensacola Beach, and Gulf Breeze are really beautiful too. The Gulf Island National Seashore is so awesome, I can't even describe it. It is a wonderland of discovery, and it makes you feel so peaceful to be there. My daughter only started kindergarten there, but the schools seemed very nice. Navarre in general was kind of boring, but we are the more "boring" type, lol. We were looking forward to getting wave runners and a boat!!! We are right now pretty sure we are going to put our house up for sale and move there again. Probably within the next 3 months!!! My heart longs to be there....You can't understand what I mean, unless you feel this way about the beach too. We are looking down more towards Gulf Breeze/Tiger Point area, but that is not set in stone. I cannot describe the pull that area has had on me for 7 straight years....it is like there is a hook in my heart, and that area is on the other end ALWAYS gently tugging me..... I would recommed the area to anyone....

[patticaryl]

Originally Posted by mehcmh

Hi! I've never posted here before, but I have to put my 2 cents in!! I am from Ohio, and have lived in Kentucky for 15 years. In 2001, I could stand KY no longer and talked my husband into moving to Navarre!! We were down there 10 months, and I loved it! (We went down with 2 SMALL children, and NO JOBS!!!) Our family back home in KY made us feel so guilty about leaving, and taking away the grandbabies.... I was overwhelmed with guilt, and we moved back. For 7 straight years I have LONGED to go back. Navarre is beautiful! Navarre Beach, Pensacola Beach, and Gulf Breeze are really beautiful too. The Gulf Island National Seashore is so awesome, I can't even describe it. It is a wonderland of discovery, and it makes you feel so peaceful to be there. My daughter only started kindergarten there, but the schools seemed very nice. Navarre in general was kind of boring, but we are the more "boring" type, lol. We were looking forward to getting wave runners and a boat!!! We are right now pretty sure we are going to put our house up for sale and move there again. Probably within the next 3 months!!! My heart longs to be there....You can't understand what I mean, unless you feel this way about the beach too. We are looking down more towards Gulf Breeze/Tiger Point area, but that is not set in stone. I cannot describe the pull that area has had on me for 7 straight years....it is like there is a hook in my heart, and that area is on the other end ALWAYS gently tugging me..... I would recommed the area to anyone....

I am hoping to make our first trip there to look around in the next few months. Still haven't put our house on the market, with the way real estate is looking, but when I read what you have to say........I have to admit, I start pondering about moving all over again. Navarre sounds so beautiful. And we really do miss the beach!

[beachmouse]

Catching up on the thread, Florida tuition rates these days are some of the lowest in the country. (Which is actually causing some problems because the state legislature hasn't had direct funding of higher ed keep pace with increases in college enrollment)

Schools in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties are actually pretty good, and significantly better than what you'd find in the bigger urban areas. The two districts have a friendly rivalry about which one is #1 on the state rankings every year.

I'm not really big on Navarre myself- too much urban sprawl, and even with the recent commercial development, not enough there is there. If we were looking to buy further west than we are, I'd go for Gulf Breeze proper myself. It just seems like a more organic 'real' community.

The rental market's pretty loose right now- lots of overbuilding during the boom, and you should be able to find someone willing to rent to dog people instead of letting what was supposed to be a flippable investment property just sit vacant until the market hopefully recovers.

We kind of ended up in the Ft. Walton Beach by accident. After two utterly miserable and soul-sucking years in rural west Tennessee, we took the first job out of town that one of us was offered. It's not a perfect place, but the positives have been more than the negatives enough that we've been in FWB/Niceville for 10 years now.

[patticaryl]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

Catching up on the thread, Florida tuition rates these days are some of the lowest in the country. (Which is actually causing some problems because the state legislature hasn't had direct funding of higher ed keep pace with increases in college enrollment)

Schools in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties are actually pretty good, and significantly better than what you'd find in the bigger urban areas. The two districts have a friendly rivalry about which one is #1 on the state rankings every year.

I'm not really big on Navarre myself- too much urban sprawl, and even with the recent commercial development, not enough there is there. If we were looking to buy further west than we are, I'd go for Gulf Breeze proper myself. It just seems like a more organic 'real' community.



Thanks! The rental market's pretty loose right now- lots of overbuilding during the boom, and you should be able to find someone willing to rent to dog people instead of letting what was supposed to be a flippable investment property just sit vacant until the market hopefully recovers.

We kind of ended up in the Ft. Walton Beach by accident. After two utterly miserable and soul-sucking years in rural west Tennessee, we took the first job out of town that one of us was offered. It's not a perfect place, but the positives have been more than the negatives enough that we've been in FWB/Niceville for 10 years now.

Beachmouse, could you tell me..........if you were to choose the panhandle/coastal area over again, now that you know the area....which area would you choose? I need to be in a close proximity to work (a hospital or medical facility.) And why?

[beachmouse]

If we're talking coastal Panhandle, probably right where we are (Bluewater Bay part of Niceville). Greater panhandle area would probably be Tallahassee for greater job opportunities for me. (Husband's in academe, and I'm the classic highly-educated trailing spouse, and since I haven't found a way into the DoD stuff, I'm kind of screwed)

We like our area because it's set up so you don't have to get in your car to go everywhere; you can walk/bike/golf cart to the grocery store, bank, several restaurants, the elementary school, etc. and because they've got a good community pools network (I'm a recovering competitive swimmer who still likes to do laps for fitness) It's also close enough to Destin for shopping or beach stuff but far enough away we don't have to deal with the tourist crowd unless we want to.

I also like our neighbors- lots of Air Force officers and people who work in very high tech fields. (I joke that I feel dumb in my neighborhood sometimes because I've only got one master's degree)

[patticaryl]

I read recently on this board that the Baptist Hospital is closing. Anyone know the details to that? Are they just being bought out, or are there really going to be a lot of unemployed nurses? That could be a problem for me wanting a nursing job there. Anyone know? Sunrico, are you there?

[Ready2Retire]

Patti,

Baptist isn't closing. They were in the process of trying to buy out West Florida Hospital but that deal fell through.

Here is an article about it from the Pensacola News Journal:

Baptist CEO: Shaky market sank buyout | pnj.com | Pensacola News Journal

How are your moving plans going?

[patticaryl]

Originally Posted by Ready2Retire

Patti,

Baptist isn't closing. They were in the process of trying to buy out West Florida Hospital but that deal fell through.

Here is an article about it from the Pensacola News Journal:

Baptist CEO: Shaky market sank buyout | pnj.com | Pensacola News Journal

How are your moving plans going?

I found some information about Baptist Hospital, and saw that the deal had fallen through. I am not sure why the hospital they were buying seemed in fear of job losses. I would think the hospital would continue business with just some modifications from the new owners.
I have been more nervous with this economy about changing jobs. In the past, as a nurse, I have had the benefit of real job security. Right now, it could be shaky for anyone, I suppose.
But, we are continuing with our motion towards the Panhandle. I had a real estate agent out to our home today to work up an analysis for listing price to sell here. We will see over the next few days what she comes up with.
I have made one call to HR for Sacred Heart. Actually, was very pleased to see they have a Childrens Hospital. I think that's where I would like to head to first. Playing phone tag with them.
I would like to live close to the beach, like the Navarre area. But I wonder if inland slightly would be more practical for insurance purposes. I really want to walk the beach on a whim.........not just have it "just close enough" but not fully appreciate it.
We will see how selling the house here goes........wish us luck!
Patti

[patticaryl]

I just read some past posts of yours and I think this is too funny. I grew up in San Diego, but then moved to Lake Isabella/Kernville area. You know where that is? I then moved down to Bakersfield after meeting my husband.....I see that you lived in Ridgecrest (not far from us.)
Then my husband moved me to Los Lunas (Albuquerque area) where you have already been, again before me......and now.......you are ahead of me again to Florida! Well, I will get there soon.....and then I don't want to move again.