[HopToIt]

Originally Posted by TNRyan23

HopToIt, I'm far from rich. I was lucky enough to have a relative here and enough cash for a Greyhound ticket. I sold off everything I owned and literally left Florida with a suitcase. I live in Nashville ( almost 4 hours from Knoxville and 2 hours from Chattanooga. ) To be honest, East Tennessee isn't that expensive at all unless you're buying land.

Most of the people I talk to that moved here are indeed natives, They tell me how bad Florida is and how much it sucks but then in the same breath tell me how much better Florida is then Tennessee and I always reply with ( Then why are you here ? ) trying my hardest to be polite because I'm in residential construction and am working on the houses they just bought.

I have met native Floridians too, but like I said, mostly they are retirees from up north originally. As soon as they open their mouth and say "Flaaahrida," I immediately know. And that is usually the accent I heard. But yes, I have met some natives that are my age or maybe a little bit older who have moved due to what FL has become and how much it as changed, and as a FL native myself, I completely agree. It has changed, it's (for the most part) not the same place that we knew as kids, and I have no problems with them complaining about FL due to this, as I feel the exact same way. Many of them really miss what FL was, so I can see that as being misinterpreted as "FL is the best, not Tennessee" but there is a reason they moved to TN and arent in FL any longer. They believe that TN is better now, but I think they like to brag about FL for what it was.

Shoot, when I'm in NC, I get made fun of at times for living in Orlando. I stick up for FL because it is where I was born, where my wife was born, where my daughter was born, and where a lot of my family lives and have lived for years. But do I think FL is as nice and have a better quality of life as Western NC? No. Atleast not any longer. Maybe 20 yrs ago, it would be close, but not now.

[Chelsa1075]

Maybe you are just living in the wrong area of Florida. Perhaps you should try a new area before deciding on a new state. Just a thought. Also, Hop you keep talking about Natives and most of the people that do bad things in Florida are from other places. Florida is one of most transient states there are. What exactly do you consider a native? Were your parents born there? Were there parents born there? I just wonder would you consider someone who was born to Cuban parents in Florida a native or not?

[TNRyan23]

Originally Posted by Chelsa1075

What exactly do you consider a native? Were your parents born there? Were there parents born there? I just wonder would you consider someone who was born to Cuban parents in Florida a native or not?

Luckily for me, My sister and I were both first generation Floridians. My mother was born in Tennessee and my father in Washington State. I say luckily because I don't have much family down there anymore.

[TNRyan23]

Originally Posted by HopToIt

Shoot, when I'm in NC, I get made fun of at times for living in Orlando. I stick up for FL because it is where I was born, where my wife was born, where my daughter was born, and where a lot of my family lives and have lived for years.

I was born in Orlando, I don't defend it at all. It's kinda funny though because my wife is from New Orleans and she has the same opinions about Louisiana that I do about Florida.

[HopToIt]

Well, I defend FL, but I sure as hell dont claim Orlando. I dislike Orlando.

[TNRyan23]

Originally Posted by HopToIt

Well, I defend FL, but I sure as hell dont claim Orlando. I dislike Orlando.

I spent large amounts of time in my life in Tampa and Ft. Myers too and they aren't much better. It's just a shame that a state with as much going for it as it has, That Florida just can't seem to get it's stuff together.

[HopToIt]

Originally Posted by Chelsa1075

Maybe you are just living in the wrong area of Florida. Perhaps you should try a new area before deciding on a new state. Just a thought. Also, Hop you keep talking about Natives and most of the people that do bad things in Florida are from other places. Florida is one of most transient states there are. What exactly do you consider a native? Were your parents born there? Were there parents born there? I just wonder would you consider someone who was born to Cuban parents in Florida a native or not?

I consider a native someone born in FL or older folks that have lived in FL for many yrs. Some people say natives are those who are born in the state only. I consider a lot of my family members as natives, either by being born in FL or living in FL for many yrs. If you were born in TX but moved to NYC when you were an infant, and you were now 36 yrs old, I'd certainly consider you a native to NY, not TX. But that's me.

[HopToIt]

Originally Posted by TNRyan23

I spent large amounts of time in my life in Tampa and Ft. Myers too and they aren't much better. It's just a shame that a state with as much going for it as it has, That Florida just can't seem to get it's stuff together.

If I were from Ft. Myers, I'm not sure I could claim it either.

[goofykid]

Is Florida Culturally the South? I think yes to some extent. It depends where you are in the state some parts are more Southern than others. I've lived in just about every major city in Florida with the exception of Orlando and Jacksonville. I lived most of life in South Florida( Hallandale & West Palm), and I've spent the summer with my uncle in Tampa and unfortunetly 2 months in Little Haiti with my cousin. Now I do my schooling in Ft. Myers. With all that experience I don't think South Florida shouldn't be considered the South. Sure their a bunch people who think it's Southern but those are the same people who think the "South shall rise again"! Theirs a reason they tried to make South Florida it's own state because they have different needs then the rest of the state. As for the rest of Florida (except Orlando & Jacksonville never been)from my experience is the South.

[Raivere]

Originally Posted by HopToIt

Trust me, I have lived in NC. Nowhere near the bad driving here in FL. Not even close. But, if any state knows about how people move in and cant drive, it's FL.

Lol. I trust you. I think every place has bad drivers to an extent now that i think about it. Just depends who's on the road.