[riveree]

Originally Posted by kprincesssparkle

i really loathe ohio more than anything though, as messed up as it sounds i really would rather take on some of the challenges of the south than live up here any longer, i really can't think of anything positive i like about living here, ohio really has absolutely nothing interresting to offer anyone, not to mention i'm sure i would have to visit the family every once and a while if i wanted a break from the heat....

Sounds like you have every reason to go and no reason to stay. You're young, have a job lined up, a friend to make the move with, no realtionships holding you back in Ohio - now is a great time to make the leap.

In my younger years, I did it a few times myself and sometimes with no job waiting ahead. Someone once told me I was "scrappy" in my ability to adapt and get done whatever needed to be done. Some people can make moves like this, and some can't. Now that I'm older, it's different because I have a lot more responsibility and a lot more at stake, but when I was young, I just made my plans and did it.

An earlier poster provided some info on Stuart that sounded helpful, and St. Petersburg is probably worth keeping as an option too (try the Tampa forum for info on St. Pete).

Best of luck!

[cariad]

try Hurley real estate in Pass A Grille. My daughter rented a very small 2 bed, 1 bath for $850 a month-steps from the gulf.
Pass A Grille is beautiful , safe, and the house was clean. These places can be found around St. Pete beach, $800-1,000 a month, but it takes a lot of searching and luck, and you will probably have to adust to such things as tiny kitchen,no dishwasher, one of you having a bedroom that will take only a single bed, using the laundromat, and only 1 bath.
The house may be tiny, but the scenery and gulf can't be beat.

Also North above Clearwater Beach, you can find larger 2 bed, 2bath condo's at Harbor Club in Palm Harbor-not far(easy bike ride) from the Dunedin Causeway for about $800 and up-a month.

[kprincesssparkle]

thanks so much! yeah we're prepared to make sacrifices to move, and i'm staying with my mom right now in columbus, ohio for a while because my dad just passed away not long ago but i absolutely loathe this house it is falling apart so i basically just stay to my bedroom i can get used to whatever i need to to get down there...im really appreciating all the advice!

[PG77]

I moved from Ohio six years ago to Florida. I am alot older than you though. I took a $8,000 a year cut in pay to move here, and six years later, I am still making $4,000 less than I made in Ohio. But if you have another person to help you out and you are comfortable with $10 per hour than you should be okay. I have lived in Jacksonville, Tampa and now live in Bradenton. But, I am thinking about moving to Washington State because I have had it here with the employment situation. If you live near the beach and want something decent to live in, you might have to pay more than $600-700 though. But it is possible to find that, just depends on what kind of living conditions you are used to and just how far you are willing to travel to the beach.