[psouth]

Originally Posted by virgode

I've been thinking about moving to Florida for about the last year. After reading all these posts, I'm going to re-think that.

A lot of people do not seem to understand there is a huge difference between vacationing somewhere and actually having to make a normal living there. Florida is like anywhere else except for the warm winters and beaches. Other than that you still have to somehow eek out a living and so the same as anywhere else. Florida is a very big state and has very different areas to consider. It is not something to just pack up the car and jump into without research or having a good job waiting for you.

[Rock Newman]

Originally Posted by Chrome Microphone

Hi Berryjuice, yes there are definitely some nice areas around Charlotte. My wife isnt as thrilled with Charlotte though. Not sure why. We both really like Asheville, Greenville, and also the Alpharetta/N GA area... Alpharetta (in my mind) is a good mix of both Asheville/Greenville and Florida. There are a large mix of folks in Alpharetta from all over (similar to FL) but also has more of that southern feel than FL does (atleast for the most part) and friendly folks with awesome scenery (similar to Asheville/Greenville). And ATL has a better, more diverse economy than FL. The only thing I dont like is the traffic.

Awesome scenery in Alpharetta ... what some small hills and dried brown front yards ... yes it is nice and upscale with Starbucks , Chili's , and Publix supermarkets on every corner ... but awesome scenery ... puleeeeze North Carolina I can agree , but there is no awesome scenery anywhere in the Atlanta area.. yes some lovely upscale areas such as Buckhead and Mid Town , but no natural sights IMO .

[psouth]

Originally Posted by Rock Newman

Awesome scenery in Alpharetta ... what some small hills and dried brown front yards ... yes it is nice and upscale with Starbucks , Chili's , and Publix supermarkets on every corner ... but awesome scenery ... puleeeeze North Carolina I can agree , but there is no awesome scenery anywhere in the Atlanta area.. yes some lovely upscale areas such as Buckhead and Mid Town , but no natural sights IMO .

What about Stone Mountain?

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by psouth

What about Stone Mountain?

I guess you could say Atlanta is like elsewhere except with slightly milder weather and Stone Mountain. Highly recommended, though.

[TANaples]

Originally Posted by virgode

Thanks, Your right, they probably wouldn't be happy with any place they lived.

although I am this site's most "miserable malcontent", albeit one who was very happy for over half a century where I was.

Just because you cannot be happy in Florida, it doesn't follow that you cannot be happy someplace else. Bad logic.

[psouth]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

I guess you could say Atlanta is like elsewhere except with slightly milder weather and Stone Mountain. Highly recommended, though.

I don't know too many unhappy people in Atlanta like there are in Florida. It has a lot more to offer. Most cities in the south seem pretty generic though. Especially the ones that took off in the last 10 years or so.

[psouth]

Originally Posted by TANaples

although I am this site's most "miserable malcontent", albeit one who was very happy for over half a century where I was.

Just because you cannot be happy in Florida, it doesn't follow that you cannot be happy someplace else. Bad logic.

Who cares who is happy or whatever. Plenty of people in Florida are not. Nobody knows any one else in here. This is a forum. Speak your mind.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by psouth

I don't know too many unhappy people in Atlanta like there are in Florida. It has a lot more to offer. Most cities in the south seem pretty generic though. Especially the ones that took off in the last 10 years or so.

I was close to moving there, but after having an opportunity to spend a month there, I decided against it due to the traffic. I was literally crying at some points. Also, the air was very polluted and I found the summer heat to be worse than South FL. In some ways, Atlanta kind of reminded me of an oversized, more affluent Orlando without the theme parks. I did a short stint in Orlando (Winter Park) and didn't like it too much either. My main problem with South FL is the expense of a lot of things, the drivers, and sometimes I also wish I lived in a more walkable kind of envrionment. I have to drive to a lot of different areas for my job, but I ended up in Weston because I liked the location, the safety and (yes) the diversity was a plus because otherwise, I would probably find this area way too bland. I found my niche, but I'm young and single so otherwise Weston probably wouldn't be my first choice down here.

[grapico]

Originally Posted by virgode

Thanks, Your right, they probably wouldn't be happy with any place they lived.

Eh, I have found I have flourished elsewhere but been held back and miserable in FL. I have experienced this twice... once after finishing college here and getting out because of a host of problems...then now again after coming back trying to be closer to family... only to have an even worse experience as it is well, worse now with the economy but particularly bad in an already bad Florida. I also think FL is much worse as a state than it was about a decade ago...and I thought it wasn't too good then.
I need not so hot and humid weather... I need a good job market... I need an actual NORMAL big city access...I need lots of culture... FL just doesn't offer that, or at least my ideas of that. Great for a vacation to get some sun on the beach though. As far as living here and doing normal day to day things? Pretty crappy imho.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by psouth

A lot of people do not seem to understand there is a huge difference between vacationing somewhere and actually having to make a normal living there. Florida is like anywhere else except for the warm winters and beaches. Other than that you still have to somehow eek out a living and so the same as anywhere else. Florida is a very big state and has very different areas to consider. It is not something to just pack up the car and jump into without research or having a good job waiting for you.

I look at it like this: Just because it is a good place to play and vacation doesn't always mean it's a great place to live. Honestly, Florida isn't for me. I do like the ocean, but I am also the type of person who likes snow and cold weather. For that reason, Florida wouldn't work for me.