[MrTudo]

"Mean" in Fla? Get real. Does anyone here remember Hurricane Andrew? I do. I ran a truck down there that was donated to me. I raised thousands of dollars from clients of mine and bought huge amounts of food, ( canned and fresh ) from a number if Winn Dixies, Publix's in Broward, ALL who gaave additional discounts so as to load that truck up so a friend of mine and I could bring it all Southbound to the hardest hit areas. Did that twice. I remember convoys of people going south, all loaded with goods that were GIVEN AWAY FREE. Sure there were some dirtbags who seemed to get the media's attention moreso that anyone else but so what? That's the media. The reality of it all was that tens of thousands of Floridians as well as other people from all over the country gave...money, their time, to help people who needed help.

Fast forward to Hurricane Charley. Similar thing happened here in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda. Those who claim that people are "mean" in Fla are just plain wrong.

[hiknapster]

Don't discount my experiences and I won't discount yours.

I stand by what I say. I was there for Hurricane Charley. It was not New Orleans.

Still, in all the years I lived in southwest Florida, it was the nastiest bunch of people I have ever seen.

And don't tell me to get real. I am real. You have no right to be flip about my personal experiences. It was heartbreaking.

[121804]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I've said it before, I'll say it again, Fort Myers, Florida is like something straight out of a Stephen King novel.

The tax assessment issue on Cape Coral & just plain crime issues in Lehigh Acres mixed w/ a city that has no real source of economy... Also appears too rapid of growth...you drive down Daniels & in a 15 min time span go from straight poverty to outlandish condos.

We feel blessed that we found Punta Gorda & Port Charlotte area.

His commute is not that bad & we live in a pleasant area. Prices are high, but so be it.

[DHs other job choice was Muskogee, OK where the biggest city is Broken Arrow, about 40 mins away & cost of rent there...same as here...no perfection anywhere ]

People are struggling everywhere. My family & I count our blessings. Things could be worse.

[cmsvmom]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I had a little old lady call me an ___hole because I was driving too SLOW in a parking lot. This was in front of my FIVE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER. She screamed it at the top of her lungs.

Gee, lady, I was taking care to not run anyone over. Was it really that important to get into Ace Hardware ONE minute earlier?

I've had a little old man lean on his horn and give me the finger, while HE was in the wrong lane. This was also in FRONT OF MY DAUGHTER.

These were not isolated incidents. This happened EVERYDAY.

You sure this wasn't Ft Myers NJ? Sounds like my daily life.

My son wrote a one act play for his drama class which is a satire. The characters go into to a bar, there's a screech of tires, someone yells "That's MY parking space" and then there is the sound of gunfire. Without missing a beat, the characters turn to their guest and say "welcome to Jersey".

This is the sort of thing that happens when things are too crowded.

[hiknapster]

I am sure it is Fort Myers, Florida, and you are right, I think it is too crowded.

[edotabin]

I suppose that rude people are everywhere. They tried to charge me 12 euros for a cup of coffee in while I was at the airport in Austria. A german guy asked if he could sit at my table because there were no available seats. i asked him about the prices and he said in broken english: "No worry. All bad people here"

So I guess with all the people leaving, the predictions about SW FL growing 70% over the next 10-15 years are wrong or fabricated (for property prices)??

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Don't discount my experiences and I won't discount yours.

I stand by what I say. I was there for Hurricane Charley. It was not New Orleans.

Still, in all the years I lived in southwest Florida, it was the nastiest bunch of people I have ever seen.

And don't tell me to get real. I am real. You have no right to be flip about my personal experiences. It was heartbreaking.

I was there for Charley. I recall three looters (or whatever euphemism Palm Beach County calls them ) trying to get into my neighbors house. I called the HOA security (for which we paid dearly to live in an affluent gated safe community) The security cop didnt speak english so I had to call PBC police. They were very busy during that hurricane. And I dont recall anyone ""helping out"" either. We had to drive for miles to get water. Lines and arguing everywhere.


Sunny

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by edotabin

I suppose that rude people are everywhere. They tried to charge me 12 euros for a cup of coffee in while I was at the airport in Austria. A german guy asked if he could sit at my table because there were no available seats. i asked him about the prices and he said in broken english: "No worry. All bad people here"

So I guess with all the people leaving, the predictions about SW FL growing 70% over the next 10-15 years are wrong or fabricated (for property prices)??

Look, they can inflate and number crunch anything to sell real estate. It will not change the reality once you are locked in. S Florida is unlike any other area. It has to be experienced to be believed.

[gypsychic]

<<I think mid-westerners, that are NOT retirees, are very nice people.>>

hiknapster, I agree with you on this. I currently live in Dade City, and to the south of us is a little larger town of Zephyrhills. Z-hills is, and always has been a retiree town for midwesterners, especially Michiganders. Speaking in general terms, they are an EXTREMELY rude and grouchy bunch. I have to drive to Z-hills to get to my grocery and it is such an unpleasant experience, same with Walmart. You just can't believe how unpleasant these people can be. Now don't get me wrong I have friends and relatives who are from midwestern states, and they are great people, but I am speaking in general terms. For some reason the grouch ones like to come to Zephyrhills!

Same with South Florida. For some reason, everywhere SOUTH of Tampa Bay is like another Florida - I have observed this for years. We lived in Sarasota for 17 years, and all I will say is, never again. RUDE, RUDE, ARROGANT PEOPLE! And snooty to boot! Post office employees would make customers cry. And rude and unhelpful employees at the bank, stores, etc. I am sure all in response to their hellacious workday of dealing with the uncouth! I am talking no manners at all. Now of course, once again this is IN GENERAL - we did have some nice friends there, but overall, people wouldn't smile and wave etc. As soon as you get at least up to Tampa/St. Pete the people as a whole are SO DIFFERENT - hubby noticed how everyone smiles, is helpful, easy to make friends, etc. A completely different vibe. Something is definitely wrong with south Florida and you couldn't pay me ANY amount of money to live anywhere south of Tampa/St. Pete - that is my dividing line.

For those of you who do live there and love it, that's great more power to you that you have your paradise. But I am lending my observations as a Florida native - born in Tampa. And no, South Florida wasn't always that way - speaking for Sarasota (since I lived there) it started going downhill in the 1970's and was pretty much ruined (for us) by the 1980's.

Remember - JUST MY OWN OPINION, just as valid as anyone else's.

[memoriesbre]

Originally Posted by MrTudo

"Mean" in Fla? Get real. Does anyone here remember Hurricane Andrew? I do. I ran a truck down there that was donated to me. I raised thousands of dollars from clients of mine and bought huge amounts of food, ( canned and fresh ) from a number if Winn Dixies, Publix's in Broward, ALL who gaave additional discounts so as to load that truck up so a friend of mine and I could bring it all Southbound to the hardest hit areas. Did that twice. I remember convoys of people going south, all loaded with goods that were GIVEN AWAY FREE. Sure there were some dirtbags who seemed to get the media's attention moreso that anyone else but so what? That's the media. The reality of it all was that tens of thousands of Floridians as well as other people from all over the country gave...money, their time, to help people who needed help.

Fast forward to Hurricane Charley. Similar thing happened here in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda. Those who claim that people are "mean" in Fla are just plain wrong.

Everyone was very kind at the time of the hurricane but after a year or so everyone went back to being nasty grumps again. Same happened with 9/11.