[ascottw]

Hey there! I am going to move to Florida hopefully next summer (or this spring). This question is specifically targeted at those who moved from PA to FL (since I now live in PA and can't stand the cold weather (even the summers aren't hot enough or warm long enough) and only being close to NYNY and..that's about it). I have lived in PA all my life and really didn't like it...all my life. I was just curious how it was for those of you who lived in PA to move to FL (or those who lived in NJ, MD, DE, NY).

How was the move itself?
How long has it been since you moved?
Are you happy about it?
Was it what you thought?
How long are the winters and do they get real cold?
Any advice for my upcoming trip down? (I know it will take 3 days doing it comfortably and un-rushed.)

Basically pour your entire story out if you wish. The more you respond with the happier reading I will have!

-ps, I was looking at the Melbourne area. And please don't try and discourage me. I have already made up my mind. ^_^ Thanks!

[Doctor Octagon]

Hi ascottw,

Melbourne is pretty nice. I'm not from PA but have family (step) that are from PA. Some still live here in FL and some moved further north but remained in the southeast.

The winters are very short, I wouldnt even call the winters. And it doesnt even get that cold really, not even to me, and I'm a native.

My advice: secure a job before you move, and rent first.

[mango23]

Originally Posted by ascottw

Hey there! I am going to move to Florida hopefully next summer (or this spring). This question is specifically targeted at those who moved from PA to FL (since I now live in PA and can't stand the cold weather (even the summers aren't hot enough or warm long enough) and only being close to NYNY and..that's about it). I have lived in PA all my life and really didn't like it...all my life. I was just curious how it was for those of you who lived in PA to move to FL (or those who lived in NJ, MD, DE, NY).

How was the move itself?
How long has it been since you moved?
Are you happy about it?
Was it what you thought?
How long are the winters and do they get real cold?
Any advice for my upcoming trip down? (I know it will take 3 days doing it comfortably and un-rushed.)

Basically pour your entire story out if you wish. The more you respond with the happier reading I will have!

-ps, I was looking at the Melbourne area. And please don't try and discourage me. I have already made up my mind. ^_^ Thanks!

Keystone Heights, Florida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[MINNIEMEME]

Hello, We moved here about 14 years ago from Philadelphia it been good for us .But my husband came down ith a good job. There is lot of thing to do here in the Orlando area so that good .As long as you can afford to go for it the worst that will happen if you don't like it you can move back but you tried it . But for us at this point were getting a little older and I want 4 seasons again tired of the hot summers . Good Luck Were heading back half way

[psouth]

Just don't move to Florida without a good job first. Things are very tough here now. Too many people make this mistake and move only because of the warmer weather. It is not nearly enough. You have to make a lot of money in Florida these days.

[Retiredcoach]

I know that you and I from differing generations, but we probably share one distinct viewpoint.... Florida winter weather cannot be beat. When you retrace the various threads on here, those that boast of the "personal utopia called Florida" always appear in the greatest numbers during those few winter months. The numbers decrease drastically during the hot, very humid, unbearable for many, tortuous to some (like you maybe in the Pa winters?) summers. Wherever you finally decide to establish your domicile, weather should probably be a part of the equation, but never the primary factor.

As other posters have stated earlier, Florida is an expensive place to live and is suffering through this recession more significantly than the area you are looking to leave. That's OK to want to be a part of the rebuilding process, but the stark realities of the situation are: Would Florida have even a fraction of the foreclosures, or people being forced to leave, if affordability and opportunity are on the immediate horizon? In comparison, jobs that are still begging for employees in your current area (fast food jobs paying $7-$8 per hour), are unfortunately, supporting families and are called "Careers" by too many of the young in many region of Florida.

Yes, I am from Pennsylvania, and I thought I would have my eventual retirement home already owned and paying for itself already. There are many factors that should be considered before "chasing your dreams".... first and foremost, Can you afford them?

[mango23]

Originally Posted by Retiredcoach

I know that you and I from differing generations, but we probably share one distinct viewpoint.... Florida winter weather cannot be beat. When you retrace the various threads on here, those that boast of the "personal utopia called Florida" always appear in the greatest numbers during those few winter months. The numbers decrease drastically during the hot, very humid, unbearable for many, tortuous to some (like you maybe in the Pa winters?) summers. Wherever you finally decide to establish your domicile, weather should probably be a part of the equation, but never the primary factor.

As other posters have stated earlier, Florida is an expensive place to live and is suffering through this recession more significantly than the area you are looking to leave. That's OK to want to be a part of the rebuilding process, but the stark realities of the situation are: Would Florida have even a fraction of the foreclosures, or people being forced to leave, if affordability and opportunity are on the immediate horizon? In comparison, jobs that are still begging for employees in your current area (fast food jobs paying $7-$8 per hour), are unfortunately, supporting families and are called "Careers" by too many of the young in many region of Florida.

Yes, I am from Pennsylvania, and I thought I would have my eventual retirement home already owned and paying for itself already. There are many factors that should be considered before "chasing your dreams".... first and foremost, Can you afford them?

There is a problem with the winter summer annology.

In the winter Florida can't be beat. By comparison, winter in the north can be so bad people can't even leave their houses, they lose power, schools close, they miss work days, get sick and many even die due to the weather.
Summer on the other hand can be pretty hot in Florida although it is only a few months. Most of the summer is very tolerable. In the north during the summer it is hot as well many days worse then in the south. Things are not really that different up north then in Florida. Biggest difference is it cools off a little more in the north at night but that may be about it. We live a great life year around pretty much uninterrupted. I don't thing there is really an argument here.

[Doctor Octagon]

Originally Posted by mango23

There is a problem with the winter summer annology.

In the winter Florida can't be beat. By comparison, winter in the north can be so bad people can't even leave their houses, they lose power, schools close, they miss work days, get sick and many even die due to the weather.
Summer on the other hand can be pretty hot in Florida although it is only a few months. Most of the summer is very tolerable. In the north during the summer it is hot as well many days worse then in the south. Things are not really that different up north then in Florida. Biggest difference is it cools off a little more in the north at night but that may be about it. We live a great life year around pretty much uninterrupted. I don't thing there is really an argument here.

Wow, really? Very tolerable? Do you live in FL?

[Retiredcoach]

Originally Posted by mango23

There is a problem with the winter summer annology.

In the winter Florida can't be beat. By comparison, winter in the north can be so bad people can't even leave their houses, they lose power, schools close, they miss work days, get sick and many even die due to the weather.
Summer on the other hand can be pretty hot in Florida although it is only a few months. Most of the summer is very tolerable. In the north during the summer it is hot as well many days worse then in the south. Things are not really that different up north then in Florida. Biggest difference is it cools off a little more in the north at night but that may be about it. We live a great life year around pretty much uninterrupted. I don't thing there is really an argument here.

From personal experience, your assertions are false, especially if you are referring the the OP's and my home state. We had two school cancellations and three delays in our local school district due to the weather this year. I don't know if the schools would have been canceled either, if the starting times were not at 7:00 AM and final decisions for closure did not need to be so rapid. I do not recall any stores closing or extended power outages... if so, it was a real rarity. For the rest of your post, are you sure that you are really writing about a state or region that you have any real first-hand knowledge or facts to support your random generalizations?

[mango23]

Originally Posted by Retiredcoach

From personal experience, your assertions are false, especially if you are referring the the OP's and my home state. We had two school cancellations and three delays in our local school district due to the weather this year. I don't know if the schools would have been canceled either, if the starting times were not at 7:00 AM and final decisions for closure did not need to be so rapid. I do not recall any stores closing or extended power outages... if so, it was a real rarity. For the rest of your post, are you sure that you are really writing about a state or region that you have any real first-hand knowledge or facts to support your random generalizations?

It's a matter of trying to compare potential inconvenience. In the winter if I need to head out to the drugstore in the middle of the night it is no problem. In the north it could actually be an impossibility at times. In the morning you may be digging your car out before you can even go to work. I just get in my car an go. My biggest problem may be traffic. In the summer, all things are pretty much equal north and south. You have warm and warmer north and south.