[Lizz0rd]

LOL @ moving to Florida, hating the beach, hating hot weather, hating flora and fauna... hating gasp people who come on spring break...(probably from where you came from)

also haha @ sharks comment? You hate the beach...and sharks? So where are you seeing these sharks?

WTF did you expect?! That is like moving to Manhattan and hating city life. (Damn all these subways, broadway shows, shopping, etc)

[Mojave82]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

In the original poster's defense, I do think that greater Panama City is something of a dump in general. Redeeming factors would be the lovely Frank Brown Park, some nice triathlon options, and a few stores you can't find in Destin/Ft. Walton Beach (Borders, World Market, Hobby Lobby) but overall, both Ft. Walton/Destin and Pensacola have a lot more to offer, IMO.

Well said. Destin, Ft Walton have some things to offer but PCB......

[smarino]

Having lived in both, here's my 2 cents. I couldn't wait to get out of Panama City, largely for the reasons the OP mentioned, and especially due to the rednecks. Since I'm originally from Mississippi, I figure this is something I know a little bit about. They were nothing but trouble w/ a capital T. Riding a bike on ANY road only resulted in cat calls, cursing from the bubbas in pickup trucks, or having something thrown at me from the windows of cars/trucks. I kid you not. Plenty of very conservative, religious stuff going on as well. Not the most friendly or open minded folks. Shoot, I have a rebel flag too, but I am NOT like that. Panama City Beach is another animal all together, but you're asking about Panama City here.

So, years later, I married and we moved to South Daytona. My wife is black (I'm the other, opposite color) and she was very concerned about moving here. However, it's been great. There are only a very few rednecks, and they are nothing like the ones I dealt with in Panama City. In fact, where we live, it's quite cosmopolitan. Here in the old fogey trailer parks, you'll find Canadians, New Yorkers (not to be confused w/ **nkees), Southerners, all sorts of folk. Go down the road into Port Orange and it's much more conservative and white. Go further into New Smyrna and it's artsy and mostly snowbirds. In the other direction is Daytona itself and it's just nuts. Spring breakers, snowbirds, bikers, rif raf galore, poor black neighborhoods, lots of serious crime, large mansions on the Halifax river, etc. We like going to Daytona because there's some stuff to do, such as it is, but can't wait to bike 20 minutes back into South Daytona where it's quiet and peaceful. Beach side Daytona is very different in it's own way as well.

Some people think the entire state of Florida is the same, but I assure you it isn't. You can travel just a few miles here and be in completely different demographics. A lot depends on where you are in your life too. When I lived in Daytona 15 years ago I was in my 40's and it was just impossible to find any women that I could relate to. They were either too young, too old, had lots of drug and alcohol issues, or were super straight. Now, in my 60's and married, I fit right in to the senior park scene, and the area in general. Who knew? It's absolutely the best place we've lived in the 8 years we've been together, and Panama City was one of the worst places that I ever lived.

[printingray]

Panama is generally a good place of living considering cost factor. Its less expensive place as compared to other states of US. It has different areas of conditions. Its like big cities all over the world having a lot of malls and private schools. Now there a lot of people from Venezuela and Colombia are moving to Panama. In short, Panama is a small country, having its own charm and nice people if you treat them well.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by smarino

Some people think the entire state of Florida is the same, but I assure you it isn't. You can travel just a few miles here and be in completely different demographics. A lot depends on where you are in your life too.

That about covers it.
Also, as Ab Lincoln said, most people are about as happy as they make their minds up to be. I spent 20 months in Port St Joe, and for us, Panama was the big city.

Printingray, this thread is about PC in northwest Florida, not about the Panama City in Central America.