[FlipFireDawg]

Hello, I'm relocating my family from Central California to P'cola. We are a young couple w/ a 10m/o daughter. We're Filipino heritage but very Americanized. We have some questions that need to be answered to help our transition from the west to the east coast run smoothly.

First. How diverse is the area? would my family fit in? I'm 25 y/o prior AF, just got a position at the NAS. I am a assistant wrestling coach for a high school here in cali. I like to keep my self in shape and i train brazilian jui jitsu, i hope there's a bjj gym there and good fitness gyms. My wife and I love the beach and like outside activities. We are always open for new things. What is the culture like there? what are people into. Is there racism? I'm not the type to play the victim part, but i just want to know if there are people and places i should avoid if there is..

Second. We would like to rent a home but don't know the area enough to make a decision. We're looking for a safe area for my wife and our daughter. I don't want to worry too much when im away from home for work. If anyone has input on some houses for rent in a safe and nice area w/ parks near by and places to shop that would be great. I wouldn't mind a 25-35min commute to P'cola NAS. Oh, how are movie theaters? small big? Also, the malls? hope there's a decent mall. if not where do people go to shop?

Third. Is there anyone who moved from cali to florida? How does it compare? Well i should say Central Cali vs. North West florida.

Thanks!

[beachmouse]

I don't think there are as many Asians in Pensacola as there are in Ft. Walton Beach, but there's definitely a presence, usually involving a woman who married a GI and over time brought a lot of family over here.

A good neighborhood within a reasonable commute to NAS is a bit of a challenge. There are a couple nice neighborhoods around Star Lake/Pensacola Country Club but it gets ghetto pretty quickly and the poor parts of Pensacola are very poor. And you don't want to have to deal with the traffic of downtown Pensacola every day so the usual suspects to the north and east of town wouldn't work.

I'd look in the area around Helen Caro Elementary School- nice newer homes, pretty safe reputation, the people who live there seem to take care of their property, and it's a good elementary school to send the little one to once she's that age. It's also close to the Perdido Key beaches, which are less crowded and a little more family friendly than Pensacola Beach. Not a ton of shopping out there right now though.

Cordova Mall is pretty much an average 100+ store mall with some big box stores attached. There are good outlet malls in Fairhope, AL and just east of Destin. Also in Alabama, the new 'lifestyle center' in Baldwin County just off I-10 has a couple more upscale stores than what you'd find in Pensy.

Culture-wise, Pensacola is about as Deep South as you're going to find in the metro areas of Florida, with all the good and bad that entails.

[FlipFireDawg]

Wife and I would like to know more about the Perdido Bay area. We found a condo on craigslist.com it looks really nice, and our style and from what we see online a great views of the intracoastal waterway. Also, we found a house for rent on the same website in gulf breeze. If anyone has more info for us please rely! and also any1 know about martial arts schools in the general area, preferably BJJ? Please help.

[beachmouse]

Gulf Breeze is a very nice area, but the commute would be all surface streets to NAS and highly annoying.

When you do get serious about a place, ask about whether there was any damage or flooding from Hurricane Ivan, and what flood zone the property is in.

[FlipFireDawg]

I will be asking. thanks for the insight! really helpfull.

[lokahi]

Perdido Key is really nice - I have friends out there and they love it. It's not too far from NAS Jax, but some areas around Perdido can be very rural. Beachmouse is right about the flooding. The area around Perdido was one of the hardest hit during Ivan.

Also, in FL we have alot of problems with Termites (WDO) and Mold. Make sure that the condo hasn't had any of these issues. Besides this, also check to see if it is an apartment to condo conversion or if it was built as a condo. Condo conversions can be tricky and usually have more maintenance / code issues which require the HOAs to raise. Plus, they can be poorly maintained until they're flipped as "condos".

If I were looking in the Perdido area, I would consider a single family residence, b/c condos aren't reselling at all here in FL. If the price is right, that's one thing, but also consider your resell value and don't buy anything in FL sight unseen! I would rent first and then decide where you'd like to eventually buy. The market in FL is great for buying, but once you buy, plan to be stuck with it for at least 2 years until the market comes back. So, really put alot of thought into what you'll be buying. Can you live on base until you want to buy?

Best of luck

[FlipFireDawg]

Thanks for the info lokahi. I'm glad I found this site. .

Wife and I are excited. Can't wait to just be there already! HUGE change and challege for us.

We have a lot of resources to learn and prepare us for the change but it's so tough trying to find a place w/out even looking at it physically. Well, thanks for the advice and help.

Matt~

[oceans123]

Here is a quick list that I put together. It is by no means complete because I know that there are people training in Pensacola that I don't know about, but it covers most of the schools in the area and a little bit beyond.

PLACES TO TRAIN IN/NEAR PENSACOLA:

Welcome to The Club in Gulf Breeze (Pat Vito in Gulf Breeze, FL)
gulfbeachfitness (Pat Vito in Pensacola, FL)
MySpace Video - GULF BEACH FITNESS!!!!'s Video Channel & Video Clips (Commercial for the gym)
MySpace.com - GULF BEACH FITNESS!!!! - 24 - Male - Florida - www.myspace.com/gulfbeachfitness (This is the gym owner's myspace page.)

MySpace.com - Alex Silva Ruas (BJJ) - 32 - Male - PENSACOLA, Florida - www.myspace.com/alexruasbjj (Alex Silva Ruas in Gulf Breeze, FL)
Dragon Defense (Alex Siva Ruas in Pensacola, FL)

http://ifswebsite.com/ (Innovative Fitness Solutions)

MySpace.com - Big Green Drum - 27 - Male - PENSACOLA, Flevoland - www.myspace.com/big_green_drum (Big Green Drum myspace)
Big Green Drum Japanese Martial Arts (Big Green Drum)

Home (Tiger Rock Tae Kwon Do. They advertise BJJ on a poster in front of the school, but the guy said that the classes will not start until later this year.)

http://www.pensacolamartialarts.com/ (Gulf Breeze, FL I think they teach Japanese Jujutsu.)

Harris International :: Certified Grappling & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Instructors Worldwide (Ed Hart in Pace, FL)

Armed Services Judo and Jujitsu Academy (ASJJA), Pensacola, Florida Martial Arts (NAS Pensacola Judo Club)

UWF - Recreation & Sports Services - Wrestling (UWF Wrestling Club)
YMCA of Northwest Florida - Wrestling (YMCA Wrestling, Site says grades K-12.)

MySpace.com - MMA - 102 - Male - PENSACOLA, Florida - www.myspace.com/pensacolammaclub (Pensacola Diesel MMA club myspace)
Pensacola MMA club - No BS Martial Arts (Pensacola Diesel MMA club)

HERE IS A LIST OF SCHOOLS THAT ARE ABOUT AN HOURS DRIVE FROM PENSACOLA:

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu of Mobile (251) 470-1761, Mobile, AL (Pedro Sauer affiliate in Mobile, AL)

MySpace.com - EL CAPITAO - 30 - Male - FORT WALTON BEACH, US - www.myspace.com/dlruiz (Capitao BJJ in Fort Walton Beach, FL.)

Donvito's Academy of Martial Arts Brazilian Jiu-jitsu-Carlos Machado (Ron Donvito in Mary Esther, FL)

Destin, Florida Premier Martial Arts and Karate Lessons (Premier Martial Arts in Destin, FL)

DESTIN MMA THAI KICKBOXING JIU-JITSU NICEVILLE OKALOOSA FT WALTON SANTA ROSA BEACH 30A EGLIN HURLBURT (Carlos Diaz in Destin, FL)

[patticaryl]

Originally Posted by FlipFireDawg

Hello, I'm relocating my family from Central California to P'cola. We are a young couple w/ a 10m/o daughter. We're Filipino heritage but very Americanized. We have some questions that need to be answered to help our transition from the west to the east coast run smoothly.

First. How diverse is the area? would my family fit in? I'm 25 y/o prior AF, just got a position at the NAS. I am a assistant wrestling coach for a high school here in cali. I like to keep my self in shape and i train brazilian jui jitsu, i hope there's a bjj gym there and good fitness gyms. My wife and I love the beach and like outside activities. We are always open for new things. What is the culture like there? what are people into. Is there racism? I'm not the type to play the victim part, but i just want to know if there are people and places i should avoid if there is..

Second. We would like to rent a home but don't know the area enough to make a decision. We're looking for a safe area for my wife and our daughter. I don't want to worry too much when im away from home for work. If anyone has input on some houses for rent in a safe and nice area w/ parks near by and places to shop that would be great. I wouldn't mind a 25-35min commute to P'cola NAS. Oh, how are movie theaters? small big? Also, the malls? hope there's a decent mall. if not where do people go to shop?

Third. Is there anyone who moved from cali to florida? How does it compare? Well i should say Central Cali vs. North West florida.

Thanks!

Did you and your wife make it to Pensacola? Where did you end up choosing to live? Would love to hear your experiences now that you are there.