[gypsychic]

Bottom line here is that there are WAY more positives mentioned on this forum than negatives. And most of the negatives are from concerned individuals about problems that could affect all of us. Threre are truly only a couple posters here that I would consider "bashers" for the sake of bashing.

Also, it as been mentioned time and again that what one person finds as a negative, for another it will be a positive. The reasons why my hubby and I like a place will not be the same for someone with different tastes of family situation. And as far as that goes, over time circumstances change and one can find themselves feeling the need for a change of scene and a different living situation.

Bottom line, I think that most people coming to Florida will really enjoy it as long as plenty of research is done (outside of this board) and several visits to the area you intend to locate to. Visit in all seasons to see if it is for you. Rent first if possible (as Floridabound mentioned) - there is nothing like actually living in a place to see if it is for you.

If money and jobs aren't an issue, then you can enjoy almost anywhere in Florida. If jobs are an issue, try to research and land one first - don't just "wing it." Lots of problems and unhappiness in Florida can be eliminated by just doing the homework and laying good groundwork.

Good luck!

[Annie31]

Originally Posted by jercie

Whew! I'm glad I read these replies before I went to bed! I've been reading some of the negative posts and became very dishearted. I will soon be divorced after 19 years and plan to move to the Orlando area soon. I am really getting worried about being able to earn enough to live in a decent place without a roommate. I hope it will be possible because once I leave here there will be no way back! My son is in Orlando now and I can stay with him while I look around for a job and place to live. However, he will be moving to NY in a few months. I plan to stay in Florida.
How safe do you all think it is for a single 60 year old working and living in or around Orlando? Should I reconsider?
Thanks

What area in Orlando are you looking at moving to? Where does your son live in Orlando? I would avoid Pine Hills area, Metrowest area, South Apopka area. Have you looked into Lake County area? You could still drive into Orlando if you had to work in that area it would be a little drive about 35-45 minutes depending on traffic, but the alot of the areas in Lake County are nice and smaller, alot more older people in your age group. I have no idea what your looking to spend, but they have rentals in 55+ in Zellwood Station in Zellwood, Florida all gated and nice, but still close to Apopka area and Orlando to commute if you had to for work, the 429 is right up the road maybe 15 mintues if that from Zellwood. Zellwood Station homes are manufactured homes though but they do have some rentals.

[sunstate]

I think Port St. Lucie is beautiful. I used to have to travel there from Orlando for my work and my inlaws live there. What I find odd (and disturbing) is the the klan has a big presence in that area. This was from a TV magazine type show a couple of years ago. They were doing a story about that organization and where the strongholds for it were located.

[memoriesbre]

You don't like the snow?
Try a hurricane with debris all over the place and a house without a roof.

How about the drivers? They are terrible down in Florida, terrible.

Sunsets happen everywhere.

SAD? How about going outside day after day and having your eyes destroyed by the sun???

No trees left after the hurricanes.

Far from family? Not a good thing. When something happens to one of your loved ones up north, you can't be there in a flash, try a twenty hour drive or wait to get an airline ticket.

No heating bills??? The A/C has been on almost all year down there.
It's in the 90's already in Punta Gorda.

The beaches? red tide, dead fish, green algae in the canals, yuk.

Ignorant commissioners that only care about themselves.

Nasty people that don't get along mostly.

Getting ready to leave at a moments notice when a hurricane is coming??
What about the tornadoes that ripped through the middle of the state a few months ago during the middle of the night without warning?

Schools??? Ha, what a joke. When we moved down there my kids had already studied what they were teaching in class two years before.

What did I like about Florida??? Well, all I can say is that when we moved down before the hurricanes the weather wasn't so bad, the heat was not even that bad. Something has changed down there after 2004.
It was nice once Sept. use to roll around but not anymore. I use to like sitting out in the Lanai after dinner but you can't do that much anymore.

I did like the beaches until the dead fish took over.

I did like boating but now the waterways are a mess.

I did like going to Disneyworld but how many times can you do that?

The people? Some were nice, you get friendly with them then they move...

Do your homework. Rent, don't buy... try it out for a while then decide for yourself.
It's your decission, not ours!
Good luck with your move

[phoenixxphyre]

Originally Posted by memoriesbre

You don't like the snow?
Try a hurricane with debris all over the place and a house without a roof.

How about the drivers? They are terrible down in Florida, terrible.

Already listed as cons

Sunsets happen everywhere.

SAD? How about going outside day after day and having your eyes destroyed by the sun???

True, they do...maybe I'll take another sunset picture up here...or try to find the one I have...worlds of difference in appearance. The sun shines pretty much every day in a lot of places in the south, so unless I stay north, that's just something I'll have to deal with. I've got sunglasses; will have to suffice

No trees left after the hurricanes.

Don't have it listed as a con, but it's something I'd deal with.

[quote]
Far from family? Not a good thing. When something happens to one of your loved ones up north, you can't be there in a flash, try a twenty hour drive or wait to get an airline ticket.
[quote]

Well, I didn't move sooner so I wouldn't have to try to rush back when my grandma passed because she'd been sick. But my brother lives where I'm going and he has always managed to get back here, whether by plane or making the drive for holidays and emergencies. If I he can do it, I'm sure I could too (and on the plus side, we'd be going for the same family members, so we could split the gas/drive if that's what it came to). But the only way to be 'close at hand' for that kind of thing is to live up there, and that's not an option. It's closer than my other consideration, CA, which is at least double the distance.

No heating bills??? The A/C has been on almost all year down there.
It's in the 90's already in Punta Gorda.

Already listed in the cons.

The beaches? red tide, dead fish, green algae in the canals, yuk.

Well, it's a body of water...fish are going to die and algea's to be expected....I thought you were supposed to stay away from the beach at red tide anyhow? Plus I suppose it depends on which beaches you go to...I plan on checking out as many as I can while I'm in the area.

Ignorant commissioners that only care about themselves.

Nasty people that don't get along mostly.

That's a lot of places--including parts around here.

Getting ready to leave at a moments notice when a hurricane is coming??
What about the tornadoes that ripped through the middle of the state a few months ago during the middle of the night without warning?

We get tornados up here too.

Schools??? Ha, what a joke. When we moved down there my kids had already studied what they were teaching in class two years before.

That is a negative, but I'm out of school and don't plan on having kids anytime soon. If and when that happens, if FL is *that* bad for it, I'm sure I can relocate again.

What did I like about Florida??? Well, all I can say is that when we moved down before the hurricanes the weather wasn't so bad, the heat was not even that bad. Something has changed down there after 2004.
It was nice once Sept. use to roll around but not anymore. I use to like sitting out in the Lanai after dinner but you can't do that much anymore.

I did like the beaches until the dead fish took over.

I did like boating but now the waterways are a mess.

I did like going to Disneyworld but how many times can you do that?

The people? Some were nice, you get friendly with them then they move...

Do your homework. Rent, don't buy... try it out for a while then decide for yourself.
It's your decission, not ours!
Good luck with your move

Obviously there are going to be negatives everywhere. Sorry that the things you liked about FL have changed. It's all perspective and where you're used to. Personally, I'm used to NE OH where there is nothing in terms of jobs, equivalent negatives, and most of the people I know get out of the state as soon as they can as well. I've always been able to make friends, whether close or acquaintances, and the few really close ones I have in the Toledo area would leave first chance they got if they knew where else they wanted to go and could secure the opportunity.

I don't have much time for the homework of it. I'm just looking at it as that this is an opportunity to have an improved life from what I have in
OH...if I hate it more than here (which is hard to imagine)I can always try to move somewhere else. And if I really like it, so much so the better. I plan on being a renter anyhow--besides being more affordable than buying, it keeps the options open as far as moving place to place. Anyhow, thanks We'll see how this goes.

[LAURIE BRANDI]

Florida is a happening place. You are never bored. And yes, many people that live here a long time are tired of the constant new construction and more and more traffic. But in the long run, where will you get such a beautiful blue sky, turquoise water, green grass and palm trees all year round. And the prices are much cheaper than New York and New Jersey. In the winter down here, it is just gorgeous. The weather is picture perfect. Don't let the hurricanes scare you and everything you hear from people. You will never ever please everyone and everyone cannot say what you want to hear. You just have to learn from your own experience. If I had listened to people in 1980, who trashed Florida because of the hot weather and hurricanes, I would never be living here almost 26 years. So, go for it. You only live once. Make the move. Come on down. And the best to you in whatever decision you choose.

[cmdavis]

I have lived in Florida all my 33 years, and never thought I would want to leave, but for me I know that things have changed in the last 3-4 years. I believe you have to make 100,000/yr to live comfortable. I think the increase in crime in Orlando area is related to low wages and high cost of living( just my opinion). I also live in Lake County I rent can't afford to buy. I work as a nurse and earn a good salary, still can't buy. There are a lot of affordable 55 and up communities in area. Schools need and upgrade, Teachers salaries are not good, Now their bonus is depended on a test that student take that was so confusing causes, such anxiety within the schools. The hospital that I was employed at was consider partnering with the city to sponsor a charter school, to have use for employees and recruitment of physicians.

[121804]

Being borned & raised in NE Ohio myself & majority of my side of the family still there, I know for a fact why you want to leave. Don't try explaining it to people who have never lived there. They won't get it.
Toledo has struggled in a way that only people who live there understand. Maybe some in FL need to see young children walking to school without hats & gloves on in the freezing temps & go to an elementary school that has cops in the halls. But, wait, it's only Florida that has any struggles in the past few years. Toledo & NE Ohio have been struggling for YEARS and YEARS.

Good luck. You know it is not going to be perfect but you survived Toledo. You'll survive FL. And if you don't like it, you can leave (as you have mentioned)

[holletree]

i am no sure if you have already moved but i live in pt st lucie, schools are bad, they have no district boundaries, its first come first serve i myself just recently got a job offer in apoka florida my husband and i are inthe auto business, its a scary proposition to move,. gas is expensive down here 3.00 a gallon, the traffic is horrible the city cant keep up with the growth. there is not en ough main roads to get you where you needto go especially at work hours. again it really depends on the reason you want to move here, housing went threw the roof not to long ago, now they are having a hard time giveing the away. good luck

[phoenixxphyre]

121804-
Thanks

holletree-
Gas is expensive everywhere. In Toledo, OH it's 3.19 a gallon.