Naples, The Good, Bad and Ugly? (Gainesville, Fort Myers: 2009, foreclosure, insurance)

[Kuota]

Bought a lovely home at Lely Golf and Country Club in Naples after we sold our Town Home on Long Island New York, best move we ever made.
Was fed up with high property taxes,traffic,overcrowding and horribe weather.

Upstate New York:
Aug. 12 - Moved into our new home in Upstate NY. It is s o beautiful here. The hills and river valleys are so picturesque. I have a beautiful old oak tree in my front yard. Can hardly wait to see the change in the seasons. This is truly God's Country
Oct. 14 - Upstate New York is such a gorgeous place to live, one of the real special places on Earth. The leaves are turning a multitude of different colors. I love all of the shades of reds, oranges and yellows, they are so bright. I want to walk through all of the beautiful hills and spot some white tail deer. They are so graceful, certainly they must be the most peaceful creatures on Earth. This must be paradise
Nov. 11 - Deer season opens this week. I can't imagine why
anyone would want to shoot these elegant animals. They are the very symbol of peace and tranquility here in New York. I hope it snows soon. I love it here!
Dec. 2 - It snowed last night. I woke to the usual wonderful sight:
everything covered in a beautiful blanket of white. The oak tree is
magnificent It looks like a postcard. We went out and swept the snow from the steps and driveway. The air is so crisp, clean and refreshing. We had a snowball fight. I won, and the snowplow came down the street. He must have gotten too close to the driveway because we had to go out and shovel the end of the driveway again. What a beautiful place. Nature in harmony. I love it here!

Dec. 12 - More snow last night. I love it! The plow did his cute little
trick again. What a rascal.=2 0A winter wonderland. I love it
here

Dec. 19 - More snow - couldn't get out of the driveway to get to work in time. I'm exhausted from all of the shoveling. And that snowplow!

Dec. 21 - More of that white **** coming down. I've got blisters on my hands and a kink in my back. I think that the snowplow driver waits around the corner until I'm done shoveling the driveway. *******

Dec. 25 - White Christmas? More freakin' snow. If I ever get my hands on the son-of-a-***** who drives that snowplow, I swear I'll castrate him. And why don't they use more salt on these roads to melt this crap??

Dec. 28 - It hasn't stopped snowing since Thanksgiving. I have been inside since then, except of course when that SOB "Snowplow Harry" comes by. Can't go anywhere, cars are buried up to the windows. Weather
man says to expect another 10 inches. Do you have any idea how many shovelfuls 10 inches is??

Jan. 1 - Happy New Year?
The way it's coming down it won't melt until the 4th of July! The snowplow got stuck down the road and the ****head actually had the nerve to come and ask to borrow a shovel! I told him I'd broken 6 already this season.

Jan. 4 - Finally got out of the house. We went to the store to get some food and a goddamn deer ran out in front of my car and I hit the bastard. It did $3,000 in damage to the car. Those beasts ought to be killed. The hunters should have a longer season if you ask me.

Jan. 27 - Warmed up a little and rained today. The rain turned the snow into ice and the weight of it broke the main limb of the oak tree in the front yard and it went through the
4]roof. I should have cut that old piece of **** into fireplace wood when I had the chance.

May 23 - Took my car to the local garage. Would you believe the whole underside of the car is rusted away from all of that damn salt they dump on the road? Car looks like a bashed up, heap of rusted cow ****.

May 10 - Sold the car, the house, and moved to Florida. I can't imagine why anyone in their freakin' mind would ever want to live in the God forsaken State of New York.

[sunflower8000]

Finally made it here. I didn't know it got this cold in FL. WOW!!!!! We moved here to work at the casino. I was told I would be hired but I have been getting "the run around". Got hired by one manager and then was told I had to interview again the next day and then was told we'll get back to you. I don't know what happened!!!!!!! We travelled 3000 miles to work here... they obviously don't care. I was very excited about the casino but now that I have to look for a job somewhere else.....I will never spend a dime there and I hope anyone reading this doesn't spend/waste thier hard earned money there. The girl in human resources office is the most miserable person I have ever met. I am looking forward to discovering the beaches and the caribbean while I am here. After that i'm outta here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[justNancy]

Sunflower, until I moved to Florida, I would never think of leaving a job without giving at least 2 weeks notice. However, I'll never forget when I was hired to work in a store, gave notice & trained my replacement at my current job, and when I walked in on Monday to begin, I was told the manager changed his mind. So here I was without an income and I gave up a steady job! Then I found out that happens a lot down here. Managers will hire 2 or 3 people in case one of them doesn't show up, sort of like overbooking flights. It's a whole different world in Florida.

[outnabout]

Kuota,
I gotta hand it to ya...your post is the only one that made it worth reading 7 pages worth!

Seems like most everyone else is a 'glass is half empty' sort.
I happen to love Naples (when I'm there)...OK y'all, go ahead and start kickin me!

[FLGulfcoaster]

A lot of these negative things being said about Naples and SWFL in general are being highly exaggarated.

- The weather in Naples is very hot especially factored in with humidity. December - Febuary is considered the dry season. I think it is very temperate weather, can be a bit chilly at times but can be in the 70's with relativley low humidity. The summers are very humid and hot. If you cannot handle a hot/humid climate I suggest you do not move here. However, what really annoys me is people move here and then when things don't go their way complain "OMG ITS SO HOT AND HUMID." Chances are you knew that before moving down here so that is your own fault.

- The "in season" is greatly exaggarated in my opinon. At a restaurant we were told that the wait would be 35 minutes and it took us 25 minutes to be seated. This was on christmas eve and during christmas week I ate out everyday and never had a wait that was longer than 45 minutes. In contrast when I was in Miami I was told I would be seated in 30 minutes and it took two and a half hours. The traffic is really not that bad in Collier County during the "in season". I find it is pretty freeflowing and that it is much better than the northeast on any given day.

- The old people. The median age of collier county which I consider the "Naples area" is 44 years old. Yes that is not extremley young but people make it seem like everyone is 75+ here. Naples is really more of a middle aged place instead of a seinor citizen place that everyone stereotypes it as. Second of all old people never hurt anyone. Thirdly, who do you think goes to all of these high schools and middle schools, it certinally isn't old people. I much rather be neighbors with a quiet, eldely couple then some gangsters and thugs.

-The snobbiness/richness. Around 10.3% of Collier county is below the poverty line. Yes there are very wealthy places in the Naples area but lets not forget about Immokalee, East Naples, Gold Gate Estates, and Naples Manor. Also, just because people have money it doesn't mean they are snobbish, I know people who live in Pine Ridge and Marco Island and they are very down to earth and kind people. This is a very individual based thing, of course some people are going to act snobbish but you also have to recognize that they are in the small minority and that this can happen anywhere.

[LewLew]

Originally Posted by outnabout

Kuota,
I gotta hand it to ya...your post is the only one that made it worth reading 7 pages worth!

Seems like most everyone else is a 'glass is half empty' sort.
I happen to love Naples (when I'm there)...OK y'all, go ahead and start kickin me!

No one will kick you, and you are entitled to your opinion. However, I must point out that you say "when I am there". FL is a great part time residence, and resort destination. When you live here year round and all the time, you might appreciate all the points of view on this board including the so-called "half empty glass" opinions.

[LewLew]

Originally Posted by FLGulfcoaster

A lot of these negative things being said about Naples and SWFL in general are being highly exaggarated.

- The weather in Naples is very hot especially factored in with humidity. December - Febuary is considered the dry season. I think it is very temperate weather, can be a bit chilly at times but can be in the 70's with relativley low humidity. The summers are very humid and hot. If you cannot handle a hot/humid climate I suggest you do not move here. However, what really annoys me is people move here and then when things don't go their way complain "OMG ITS SO HOT AND HUMID." Chances are you knew that before moving down here so that is your own fault.

- The "in season" is greatly exaggarated in my opinon. At a restaurant we were told that the wait would be 35 minutes and it took us 25 minutes to be seated. This was on christmas eve and during christmas week I ate out everyday and never had a wait that was longer than 45 minutes. In contrast when I was in Miami I was told I would be seated in 30 minutes and it took two and a half hours. The traffic is really not that bad in Collier County during the "in season". I find it is pretty freeflowing and that it is much better than the northeast on any given day.

- The old people. The median age of collier county which I consider the "Naples area" is 44 years old. Yes that is not extremley young but people make it seem like everyone is 75+ here. Naples is really more of a middle aged place instead of a seinor citizen place that everyone stereotypes it as. Second of all old people never hurt anyone. Thirdly, who do you think goes to all of these high schools and middle schools, it certinally isn't old people. I much rather be neighbors with a quiet, eldely couple then some gangsters and thugs.

-The snobbiness/richness. Around 10.3% of Collier county is below the poverty line. Yes there are very wealthy places in the Naples area but lets not forget about Immokalee, East Naples, Gold Gate Estates, and Naples Manor. Also, just because people have money it doesn't mean they are snobbish, I know people who live in Pine Ridge and Marco Island and they are very down to earth and kind people. This is a very individual based thing, of course some people are going to act snobbish but you also have to recognize that they are in the small minority and that this can happen anywhere.

Remember that your median age stats are for year round residents who fill out census cards. Someone would need to consider this their "permanent" residence to fill out the census card. Also, in such a transient area, by the time the year over year stats are published, they are outdated. Remember, most 75+ people don't fill them out, and don't live here year round. They consider some other area home.
I think the snobbiness is a stigma. Not everyone who is snobby or elitist are actually rich. There are kind and not-so-kind people all over.
I think the reason there is negativity regarding all the retirees is that they inhibit the area from improving. They vote down all levys that would improve schools, they don't like the growth of the area, etc etc. It is more about the overall community than it is that they are old.

[Audreyonthebeach]

Assistance, please...

My husband now has a great job that can allow us to move wherever when our lease is up in June.

We were looking into Naples for a few reasons. Warmer, cleaner, white sandy clear-watered beaches, sunsets, etc... (at least that's what the pics show)

We're in Ormond right now (a tad above Daytona), directly on the beach.
I've had to deal with too much at my boys' school. Alot of stuff is closed down, and it's starting to look trashy, and crazy neighbors. Many more reasons we want to leave, but that's irrelevant...

This thread was not too helpful, just alot of bickering... Some funny people, but I really need information that will help me decide to choose or overlook this place and everyone is so completely opposite, it's confusing.

#1: I need a good school for my boys.
#2: We do love the weather.
#3: We do love the beach.
#4: I do not want another nightmare experience! (see below)

I am a southern girl, have southern hospitality, and like that sort of thing, I hated living in Palm Coast, Fl. because no one knew what that meant. It was a town designed for retirees, but didn't quite make it all the way to a retirement community like "The Villages" in Lady Lake, so the retirees from up north (will not specify where from) were bitter that there were families living there. We were mistreated because of our age- it was crazy! Even though we were respectful, polite, good neighbors, not loud partiers, we're some of the few parents that keep our little boys under control, it didn't matter, we were harassed constantly. People looked at my awesome little boys like they were monsters because they wanted to play in our yard or ride their bikes around the block with us. I just don't want another experience like that.

Can anybody help me to understand if Naples is like this or not? Please don't write back with crazy drama- I don't like soap operas- lol.

Thanks in advance :-)

~AJ

[TANaples]

Originally Posted by Audreyonthebeach

Assistance, please...

My husband now has a great job that can allow us to move wherever when our lease is up in June.

We were looking into Naples for a few reasons. Warmer, cleaner, white sandy clear-watered beaches, sunsets, etc... (at least that's what the pics show)

We're in Ormond right now (a tad above Daytona), directly on the beach.
I've had to deal with too much at my boys' school. Alot of stuff is closed down, and it's starting to look trashy, and crazy neighbors. Many more reasons we want to leave, but that's irrelevant...

This thread was not too helpful, just alot of bickering... Some funny people, but I really need information that will help me decide to choose or overlook this place and everyone is so completely opposite, it's confusing.

#1: I need a good school for my boys.
#2: We do love the weather.
#3: We do love the beach.
#4: I do not want another nightmare experience! (see below)

I am a southern girl, have southern hospitality, and like that sort of thing, I hated living in Palm Coast, Fl. because no one knew what that meant. It was a town designed for retirees, but didn't quite make it all the way to a retirement community like "The Villages" in Lady Lake, so the retirees from up north (will not specify where from) were bitter that there were families living there. We were mistreated because of our age- it was crazy! Even though we were respectful, polite, good neighbors, not loud partiers, we're some of the few parents that keep our little boys under control, it didn't matter, we were harassed constantly. People looked at my awesome little boys like they were monsters because they wanted to play in our yard or ride their bikes around the block with us. I just don't want another experience like that.

Can anybody help me to understand if Naples is like this or not? Please don't write back with crazy drama- I don't like soap operas- lol.

Thanks in advance :-)

~AJ

That is where the young families are. Don't buy into a gated community if you are a young family. These are all retirees and snowbirds, even if they are not a 55+ community. Get a single family house. Forget the condos if you can. Again, mostly Seniors who don't want to be around kids.

The schools are better in North Naples also. The farther south you go, the more "at risk" student population you will see. You can go on the school district website and it will give you the student demographics. Yes, there is school choice, but certain "A" schools have waiting lists and unless you are in that area, or your child is special needs, or a minority, you will have very long wait.

North Naples is probably the most expensive area also, although even there prices are dropping rapidly.

Naples is not exactly a family centered community. Yes, there are families, and they constantly try to attract them, but it is really snowbird oriented, not even towards retirees as much as the "winter residents". That is simply the way it is.

Cannot say much else on a positive note. I have lived here a year and a half. It feels like forever. I am 60, work at the "A+" school, and just biding time until I can leave.

[LewLew]

I would say Estero and South Ft Myers is very good for families. We are actually looking to sell/rent our single fam home on a street with tons of school age boys actually. I think there is a girl or two on the street, but all are boys aged 5-13. They play at the neighbors batting cage and backyard putting course, or ride bikes around the neighborhood. Sometimes I see them playing football down the street as well. The schools are decent, and the private schools around here are good. All the boys in my neighborhood wear uniforms to school, but they go to the public school, and the bus picks up right on the end of the block.
We are 6 miles to the ocean, and about 15 minutes to Naples.
Two of our good friends are from NC, so I'm sure you'd find others with southern hospitality in the area. I personally would steer clear of Naples. It is extremely transient in nature.
Have you thought about St Johns County? Very southern/hospitable and great public schools.
Best of luck to you.