[ffire]

Originally Posted by Jammie

I'm not from Fla. so I can give you my opinion of it, for what it's worth.

We've been to Fla. several times and I love the palm trees and the warmth and the humidity and the beaches. We've never been to the Panhandle, but it may have too much of a southern culture for us. We've never been to Miami, but it may have too much of a melting pot culture for us, too.

Orlando is nice and SeaWorld is actually not mentioned nearly enough. People often concentrate on "The Mouse". It's a beautiful city, but it didn't feel that friendly or "homey".

We're from the upper Midwest and we fit the stereotype of being drawn to the Tampa Bay area. We love it there, especially St. Pete. The traffic doesn't seem too "laid back", but the people do. Most of the people there seem very friendly and happy. We noticed a difference as soon as we got off the plane. (No one yelled at me like they did in the Orlando airport. They smiled instead.)

I actually think that Fla. would be a wonderful state to live in if you find the right spot for you and your family. Right now the Fla. economy is awful so I wouldn't choose to move there, but when things turn around, it'd be a definite consideration.

Fla. is also known for having problems with politics. They have a rep for having problems with elections. Sorry Floridians, I HAD to throw a bit of humor in here.

That is good info thanks The reality is even if Tampa is more laid back it still could be much more cosmopolitan than we are used too .
On the economy - given the whole world has a crap economy would it really make any difference right now? Is the entire US economy the same? I think we are lagging behind you in the effects it is having so far....

[ffire]

Can anyone define Southern Culture in a way that won't really tick people off. Does it mean 'more proper, upper class????? redneck(only know that from the movies).....conservative etc..

And Southerners I would love to hear your definition too....I have no idea about this difference that is obviously a real one.

[TatersFan]

Originally Posted by MiamiRob

ok let's give ffire some sane advice and if you want a vibrant energetic cosmopolitan city Miami and southeastern Florida is for you. Tampa is a very laid back but a ugly city. The panhandle is more Southern culturally than the rest of Florida and the way of life is also more reserved. The southwest coast of areas like Naples are very nice but the population is older.

It's really hard to find that "laid-back-ness" anymore... like the panhandle. And I agree with you MiamiRob, I dont find Tampa to be very attractive at all (except for beaches). On the other hand, I dont find it very laid back either, atleast, not on the roads/while driving.

[Alatex]

On the economy - given the whole world has a crap economy would it really make any difference right now? Is the entire US economy the same?

The two states where my family owns property (Alabama and Texas) mostly haven't been hit as hard as some other areas (the exception being the Alabama beach area, which has dropped like Florida beach property) . The Florida housing market has seen some properties drop more than half their value in just the last couple years.
One factor is that so many residential units (especially condos) in Florida are owned by investors who do not live in them.
I do think the timing is good to look at some of these Florida properties that have already dropped so much in value.

And Southerners I would love to hear your definition too....I have no idea about this difference that is obviously a real one.

When my parents lived in Gainesville, Florida about 40 years ago, Florida's population was less than that of Alabama and a pretty good percentage of those had family ties to other southeastern states, but now, even though Alabama has grown somewhat, Florida's population is over 4 times as large. Most of the people who have moved to peninsular Florida in that span are from outside the southeastern region, while the panhandle and other areas in the northern end of Florida continue to attract plenty of people from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, etc. One contributing factor for this is that the northern end of Florida is the most convenient for the rest of the southeastern states to drive their cars to, while peninsular Florida has the larger cities that more people visit by airplane.

I'm not one to place value judgment on whether being "southern" is a good or bad thing, just a little different.
I eat grits for breakfast and speak with a drawl , and my ancestors mostly lived in the southeastern US since the 1700s, but I don't see that it makes me any better or worse than anyone else. A conversation in Alabama might be about what kind of tomatoes you planted in the garden, or which college football team is going to win the most games in the fall, rather than the latest international music and fashion or which nightclubs will let you in.

I do think that the largest cities in Florida, having grown so quickly with new residents flowing in from far away and having such a large tourism industry, have a "transient" culture that fosters both great strengths (lots of turnover means things stay new, fresh, exciting, etc) and potential weaknesses (hard to feel a "sense of place" sometimes in areas where everyone's coming and going, and can be difficult to police such communities).

[ffire]

Originally Posted by Alatex

The two states where my family owns property (Alabama and Texas) mostly haven't been hit as hard as some other areas (the exception being the Alabama beach area, which has dropped like Florida beach property) . The Florida housing market has seen some properties drop more than half their value in just the last couple years.
One factor is that so many residential units (especially condos) in Florida are owned by investors who do not live in them.
I do think the timing is good to look at some of these Florida properties that have already dropped so much in value.



When my parents lived in Gainesville, Florida about 40 years ago, Florida's population was less than that of Alabama and a pretty good percentage of those had family ties to other southeastern states, but now, even though Alabama has grown somewhat, Florida's population is over 4 times as large. Most of the people who have moved to peninsular Florida in that span are from outside the southeastern region, while the panhandle and other areas in the northern end of Florida continue to attract plenty of people from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, etc. One contributing factor for this is that the northern end of Florida is the most convenient for the rest of the southeastern states to drive their cars to, while peninsular Florida has the larger cities that more people visit by airplane.

I'm not one to place value judgment on whether being "southern" is a good or bad thing, just a little different.
I eat grits for breakfast and speak with a drawl , and my ancestors mostly lived in the southeastern US since the 1700s, but I don't see that it makes me any better or worse than anyone else. A conversation in Alabama might be about what kind of tomatoes you planted in the garden, or which college football team is going to win the most games in the fall, rather than the latest international music and fashion or which nightclubs will let you in.

I do think that the largest cities in Florida, having grown so quickly with new residents flowing in from far away and having such a large tourism industry, have a "transient" culture that fosters both great strengths (lots of turnover means things stay new, fresh, exciting, etc) and potential weaknesses (hard to feel a "sense of place" sometimes in areas where everyone's coming and going, and can be difficult to police such communities).

That's helpful info

What's your take on Jacksonville then. What do Georgians etc think about it?

[Alatex]

I think Jacksonville is a good choice for those who want a large Florida city, but still with "southern culture" and not as many tourists.
Nearby St. Augustine is worth a visit, and it is an interesting drive from Jacksonville northward along the coast to Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC to see some of the really old homes.
Like the rest of northern Florida, Jacksonville does get chillier in winter than from Orlando-Tampa south. You see tropical plants in the landscape regularly beginning about Orlando and Tampa, with Miami being truly tropical.

[runswithscissors]

As a practical matter, unfortunately you cannot live in downtown Jacksonville 32202 yet it's only commercial there not really ready for residential walkable. All corporate and some building waiting for rehab. I just tried. Not unless you want to live in the Berkman Tower and do all your social things during the day or on the Landing specifically at night. Nothing else is open at night even at 7 pm I saw "some" stores that were CLOSED...but not even a restaurant open only one pizza place for blocks and blocks and blocks. This was during the week ...unless you include the theater and that type of thing. The other condos/rentals like Carling are in sketchy areas with no view either. Sketchy meaning even though they are right a couple minutes from the river, you wouldn't just casually walk outside to the Landing at night if you are female especially. I drove by the Metro Lofts because I liked the ad and it appeared to have a bunch of hookers in the lobby hanging out talking to the lobby guard. It was also not walkable and there is NOTHING surrounding it either. Meaning other than buildings. The park there had tons of single men seemingly just hanging out and there was practically NO LIGHTING I tried to look and could see zero except the shadows of the guys. At least 20 or more and not a single woman. Same at 7 am when I was driving around checking. Until 9 am only saw commuters in parking garages, some construction workers having a sandwich before work and the same random guys doing nothing or walking in twos aimlessly. Not on their way to work LOL.

You have to start in 32207 or 32205 suburban neighborhoods.

This applies specifically to the "downtown" river areas, as several people have cross talked me that Jacksonville is 850 sq miles, but I'm not interested in a commute and will be working downtown and there from Monday through Friday.

[dadeguy]

Originally Posted by flyers29

I think people see it as either some tropical utopia or some backward hick state. Within that framework, Miami is an awesome vacation spot, but living there would be like living in Mogadishu.

really? have you ever lived in mogadishu? have you ever lived in miami?

[dadeguy]

Originally Posted by doggiebus

Why is it silly, there was nothing in Orlando when Walt Disney went there and built the theme park. Orlando grew because of the theme park. No one in their right mind would want to live in the center of Florida back then, its hot and humid there, people moved to the coast.

not true, visit lake county and see the real beauty of my beloved central florida. (yes, it's true. I love every square millimeter of florida)

[JSnFla]

uneducated and unsuccessful people see florida as a paradise and uproot their lives to move here thinking everything will be perfect...usually ends in disaster as florida is littered with broken dreams of unsuspecting, wide eyed transients. smarter more successful people see florida as a nice place to vacation in the winter but would never move here or raise kids here. the difference between vacationing and living here is dramatic and most learn this the hard way