Theory about those who dislike Florida (Palm Coast, Naples: relocating, gated, vacation)

[Floridabound09]

Mac... I used to find goodies at the huge Ft Lauderdale Market but not much anymore.
Is McCoy plentiful down there? Allot of the people who come up here from Florida pay big bucks for McCoy, Hull, Roseville etc. They tell me they cannot find it.
I like yard sales too, just never have time to ge to many. Usually a good auction on Saturday mornings.
Have you ever been to Webster?

I have to add, I have yet to personally talk to a single person who has told me the story of how they moved to Fla with little money, a junk car and did not make it down there, I have heard this story for years, allot of years, almost all of them tell me they are much happier there then where they were.

It is all what you make it and I feel Florida has allot more opportunites for this situation then any other state I have been in.

The mechanic who worked on my truck for instance, lived in Tarpon Springs, made 60k per year as a mechanic, he love it there, he is here now only because his ex took the kids and moved to Columbus Ohio, so he moved here so he could see them. He told me the day they turn 18 and they are getting close I think, he is back to Tarpon Springs.

I have lots of them stories and love to hear them.

Mac, some Occ Japan pieces are bringing some good money right now.

[Magnulus]

It's hot all over the US, though. And humid. The Central Florida area is not much more humid than parts of the midwest, and definitely no worse than the rest of the south. Summer just starts earlier here. I was in Tulsa, Oklahoma last summer and it was over 100. Yes, it was a slightly drier heat than Orlando but still hot. You are going to find very few temperate places in the US. Maybe the Pacific Northwest or parts of the Northeast would be closer to what you'ld want.

What really stinks about Florida is the people. They are rude and crass, all rolled into one. I've lived here for 12 years, spent a few years here as a kid too, and it gets worse and worse. Crime, rude people... there's not much redeeming about this state anymore. It only gets worse every year. The state attracts alot of people seeking low skilled jobs and there's a glut of labor here (and little affordable housing), and alot of people working between jobs, unemployment, or rather DISemployment (people who are basicly out of work long term or underemployed or marginally employed), is probably higher than the government registers in their official stats.

[ShepsMom]

Originally Posted by macguy

You said your parents brought you here when you were young, I had assumed you were like 5 and were about 20 now. You were 19, thats not young to where you are under your parents thumb. I was in a jungle when I was 19. Why did you stay around for 15 years? You are 34 and still living at home? I am sorry, but you put it all out here for people to read and comment on.

Well, i consider 19 young, especially when you're moving from another country you're kind of trying to stick together, lack of language, not knowing anything about where you are, and pretty much just being stupid and learn from the beginning. And the reason we moved to FL, that's where my relatives are.

No i dont live with my parents, i live with my BF for the last 10 years. He's well aware that i want to move. I liked FL at the beginning, it is quiet with a nice beach, whooo peee!!! It was fun for a while. I've been up and down East and West coasts and i really liked it out West.

I guess it's the heat, bugs, low wages, and other stuff. My HO taxes are up to 3K from 1400.00, i thought they gonna drop us period. Yikes!!

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by Floridabound09

Know Winchester too.... Front Royal as well, we always start down the parkway from Front Royal.

Last trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway we were lucky enough to spot a group of bears with new babies, it was an awesome sight.
We love going down the parkway to see the Biltmore Estates in NC and then onto the Cherokee Indian Reservations at the very end.

For those who have never been on the Blue Ridge Parkway, try it sometime, it is amazingly beautiful up there, start at Cherokee or Front Royal, you can get on and off when you want too.

We take a break and go down into the small towns like Luray and see the Caverns.

That's actually how we "discovered" this area. Visiting my father last summer before we went on vacation in the Smokies and decided to take Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway down.... Got a burr up our behind about moving to this area and here we are!!!

Anyway, I've always thought about getting into antiquing but it seems like something you can really use your shirt on if the person you are dealing with (buying or selling) has more knowledge than you and I have ZERO knowledge about items. I just know what I like.....

BTW if you ever get this way again, the town of Strasburg has a HUGE antique emporium (supposedly the largest in the state) and is only 10 minutes from Front Royal....

Anyway, sorry bout the diversion...... Back to the show.... Man Florida sucks, blah blah blah!!!

[macguy]

Originally Posted by ShepsMom

Well, i consider 19 young, especially when you're moving from another country you're kind of trying to stick together, lack of language, not knowing anything about where you are, and pretty much just being stupid and learn from the beginning. And the reason we moved to FL, that's where my relatives are.

No i dont live with my parents, i live with my BF for the last 10 years. He's well aware that i want to move. I liked FL at the beginning, it is quiet with a nice beach, whooo peee!!! It was fun for a while. I've been up and down East and West coasts and i really liked it out West.

I guess it's the heat, bugs, low wages, and other stuff. My HO taxes are up to 3K from 1400.00, i thought they gonna drop us period. Yikes!!

I understand completely. It can be very hard to just up and make huge changes in your life.

[macguy]

Originally Posted by Floridabound09

Mac... I used to find goodies at the huge Ft Lauderdale Market but not much anymore.
Is McCoy plentiful down there? Allot of the people who come up here from Florida pay big bucks for McCoy, Hull, Roseville etc. They tell me they cannot find it.
I like yard sales too, just never have time to ge to many. Usually a good auction on Saturday mornings.
Have you ever been to Webster?

I have to add, I have yet to personally talk to a single person who has told me the story of how they moved to Fla with little money, a junk car and did not make it down there, I have heard this story for years, allot of years, almost all of them tell me they are much happier there then where they were.

It is all what you make it and I feel Florida has allot more opportunites for this situation then any other state I have been in.

The mechanic who worked on my truck for instance, lived in Tarpon Springs, made 60k per year as a mechanic, he love it there, he is here now only because his ex took the kids and moved to Columbus Ohio, so he moved here so he could see them. He told me the day they turn 18 and they are getting close I think, he is back to Tarpon Springs.

I have lots of them stories and love to hear them.

Mac, some Occ Japan pieces are bringing some good money right now.

The internet has ruined the pricing of many types of collecting. People would haunt thrift shops and auctions looking for things and make discoveries. They would excitedly take their rare find home. Now you find many thing you thought were rare are not actually rare. I just looked on ebay and there are almost 700 pieces listed just for McCoy pottery. If someone wants one it is just a click away. On the other hand though the internet has opened up the whole world as a market.

I like to buy and sell billiard memorabilia. I was interested in it before the internet and it was almost impossible to sell anything. Now I put something on ebay and have people bidding on it from Germany and Honk Kong. I recently sold a Billy Stroud cue for $2500. to a guy in Germany (pool is big there) that before the internet I could have walked into a hundred pool rooms with it and the chances of getting a $500. offer would have been very slim. I don't know about selling antiques on the internet but items that have a nitch market really sell.

[ShepsMom]

Originally Posted by macguy

I understand completely. It can be very hard to just up and make huge changes in your life.

Thank you for understanding!

[kberr32]

Originally Posted by HengyMama

I have lived in Florida almost my whole live (39 years). We moved here when I was five years old and it used to be a nice place but now the housing is horrible, the cost of living is very high (Comcast cable and internet 90.00 a month), the wages are low. And if you have ever had a water claim with your home owners insurance, you are declared uninsurable. The people here are rude, teenagers are disrespectful, the schools stink, property taxes are outrageous, the sand is hard to grow a garden in, the pine pollen is horrible, the bugs carry you away, you can live in a rural area with a neighbor that reves his stock car all day and there is nothing you can do about it, gas prices are high, electric companies take you for a ride, boom boxes everywhere, the only one that smiles is the cashier at the grocery store and only when the manager is looking, you go into any store and ask for an item and they say, "no we don't carry that" and then you look and find the item.....can't tell you how many times this has happened, restaurant service stinks, it's smothering hot for months at a time, can barely breathe from May to October....it's so hot, the beaches are full of half naked people, the springs are full of drunk rednecks, no where to take the little ones. Guess that's about it till someone else ticks me off.

Oh.....and the grass does not grow very well because of the sand.

it seems as though you wouldn't be happy no matter where you lived. take a look in the mirror as to why you are so unhappy because i bet if you think about how unhappy you are it probably has nothing to do with the state of Florida.

[kberr32]

Originally Posted by BahamaBreeze

I've lived in the State 38 years. And, I have traveled, so dont give me this, "you dont know better attitude."
So, limiting it to the mainland US, nah, I disagree. Yeap, in comparison to 30 years ago, it's gone down...down. So? Where in the US has it not gone downhill?
You guys that think WV and TN are nirvana, you kiddin me? And, even if it's all you want now, think again. What about 15 years from now? Think the illegals wont find you?
I live a decent happy life here, and know many others that feel the same (and yes, they too have traveled.)
Out of state readers, a lot of stuff on this thread is just people's frustrations with their lives, not a reflection of any general truth about Fl.

I 100% agree with you. this post has truned into a place where people can vent and not at all about Florida. i bet "established" is a person who has never been happy at all with their life and always wished they had more. I love Florida!!!!! I'm from MICH.

[vacationsover]

Honestly, I only read the opening topic post. There are a lot of responses and I didn't read any of them for lack of time. I am from the Northeast. Maryland, actually. I was born in Maryland, raised in Alabama for years 9-15, then moved to Maryland. I missed the warm weather, southern hospitality, and southern drawl.

I absolutely HATE living in Florida!!! The people drive like bats out of He--! The majority of drivers run red lights, don't care who has the right of way- floor it to get to the speed limit, then over the limit if they choose- then they slam on the brakes to make a turn of course do not use a turn signal, the drivers behind a car that is trying to turn practically rear end you while you are turning because they certainly don't want to have to slow down or God forbid actually stop just because you wanted to make a turn onto a different road! I got rear ended while I was at a dead stop ( I was the third car in stopped in line at a red light). The police man actually said, Aw, that's nothing. It's normal! They have constant car crashes at all the lights here!

There is no hospitality at all in the area I live in. Everyone here sticks to themselves and watches out for number one - themselves! I have a child that just got out of middle school. My child immediately made lots of friends in school, but when we call their houses to invite them over, all their parents say no they can't come over either because they have family activities planned - like cleaning out the garage, the child has chores to get done and can't come over, or the parent is too tired from working and doesn't want to bother taking their child to a friend's house. Then I say I will take their child to my house and back home for them. They then say no because they are tired from working!

A couple of kids have invited my daughter to parties and sleepovers, but they don't get together on a casual 'lets just hang out' basis. Then, all three sleepovers my daughter went to, the parents at the house that had the party made the kids call and tell their parents to pick them up hours before they said that they would have to leave. It's like the parents here can't deal with kids well.

Oh, here's one for you! You have to arrange a playdate for the teenagers!!!!
Yep, your teenager can't even just go knock on their friend's door and say "what's up, do you want to hang out?" and be allowed in to just chill out and hang with their friend. The parents want everything planned about a week in advance. Then they typically say no, and use the excuses listed above. I have lived here for a little over a year and have only been able to get a friend (all different friends) allowed over here for my daughter 4 times!!!!

I have been going to a church here for about a year - since I don't have the time to volunteer there (I work a lot), I can't make any friends in the church! I have chatted with a couple of people before and after church service, but it never amounts to a "friend" level. I have noticed that the only people that really seem to have friends there are the ones who volunteer a LOT of time at that church.

I have learned that here, people typically make a small handful of friends and they are content with that. However, they have all told me that they lived here for a couple of years before making that small handful of friends! How SAD!!!

I'm used to kids running around the neighborhood hanging at each others houses all day and into the evening. My daughter would call and say she was eating dinner at her friends house, here friends would be hanging out at our house and I'd feed them dinner. At the spur of the moment, on any given weekend, my daughter would ask if 2-5 girls can spend the night THAT night. I would almost always say yes, and all of their parents would say yes! We didn't have to plan out a week in advance! The neighbors helped each other - the guy across the street from me would cut his grass plus three of his neighbor's yards every week just because he knew those three homes had only older ladies in them - no husband. And we knew how to drive!!!!