Young family looking to move

[justNancy]

LewLew, I hope you don't think I was criticizing or even directing my comments at you. I was only offering suggestions.

[nhkev]

I've often wondered "what decides whether a school is good or bad" is it perception, how well the kids test, graduation rate, % that goes on to higher ed? I think these are the criteria for "great schools" which rates schools and some cape coral schools score very high. gulf elementary and gulf middle school score 9 out of 10 on this rating system which is nationwide comparisons. ......... another point . Nobody likes to see anyone lose their jobs but if lee county lost 2000 kids they should layoff faculty.. if I owned a hospital that was 200 bed facility with 1800 nurses and it got cut to a 150 bed facility I would expect to lay off 1/4 of the staff.. sounds like good management to me and probably to other tax payers

[Donna-501]

When my DD was in the 9th grade the teacher asked them how many of you were born in Ft Myers/Cape Coral and they all raised their hand except for my DD as she was born in Pembroke Pines, FL.

My younger DD is still hanging around with 6 kids that she went to kindergarten with.

[LewLew]

Originally Posted by 121804

Wow, sorry to hear that LewLew, b/c I remember you being quite excited about the move...

While NEOH is not necessarily the hotspot of America (if I remember correctly you are orignally from here??), it's not SWFL. And that, alone, it what brings a smile to my face when the weather is less than desirable. Decent schools, varied demographics, change of seasons, communities with community activities that revolve around every age group, and good restuarants (also home to Iron Chef Micheal Symon ). January was a mess for those WHO DID NOT live in the snowbelt, but the snowbelt is suppose to be getting about 8-12" tommorow & that's the only area...give & take.

Plain & simple...SWFL is not for young families or young singles. Not sure it ever was nor will it ever be...

Just be glad you didn't test out Punta Gorda... I still have to remind myself that not all retirees glare at children. But, I will also state that I am sure there are some very nice older couples in the area & younger families who probably love it there.

Best of luck with your coming adventures.

Yeah, we were very excited to get back to the West Coast. I have always been very defensive of it b/c it's where I met my husband, and we enjoyed some fantastic times on this coast. We were reloed to SWFL and not back to the Tampa Bay area (our favorite West Coast area), and were happy initially. However, our son came 4 months after relocating. I am humble enough to admit that I too can be wrong (LOL) I will still admit that there are great things for kids to do here, and for the right families it is still a great place to live. However, I changed my mind. It's very strange how things in your mind and perception can change so drastically once you become a parent. I think my becoming a mom, my own mother getting very ill and being up in the Cleveland Clinic for a month, getting the support from my true friends and my family (all up there) and spending some good quality time up there made me realize what I really wanted for our family. My husband is in total agreement, so off to the tundra we go.

Everything you mention about Cleveland is why we are going back. The block parties for kids, the nature center, the museums, the community roots and people that genuinely care about the prosperity of their hometown. The sporting events; the restaurants; the schools; the homes with character; the tree lawns (LOL, no one but people from NEOH say that ya know), the community pools that blow away anything down here for fun and socializing; the sledding hills, the rapid transit, the newscasters who are still giving us the news and have been since I was a toddler (things are grounded there is what I mean); the fall...man I miss the fall; the holidays with snow and not bikinis; the planetarium in Shaker; the duck pond; Nelson's Ledges; Mentor Headlands; Cedar Point; the Metropark system (nothing down here compares); the layout of the area that basically allows you to travel many many places without getting on congested roads and highways; true "neighborhoods" with no gates or guard guys; Chagrin Falls; fireworks at Blossom with the orchestra...and the list could go on. I can not wait for my children to experience all the culture, the diversity, the true community that I did. I guess my heart has always been at home. Most people are that way, and really appreciate where they grew up. I have friends who grew up here, and love it. It really is an individual thing. I can appreciate that for sure.

We'll certainly be back on vacation, and get to enjoy the lovely things we appreciate about FL.

So, I'm assuming you are back up there? My family lives in the Snow Belt (Geauga County), and I grew up in Shaker. The West Side was hit with more snow than I think they've ever seen!!! I always remember growing up, and having 10 inches in my yard, and driving west, to NO SNOW on the ground at all. The lake does some funny things up there. Stay warm as spring is just around the corner. I hear it's been quite sunny actually these past few weeks.

[LewLew]

Originally Posted by justNancy

LewLew, I hope you don't think I was criticizing or even directing my comments at you. I was only offering suggestions.

No not at all justNancy. Just making sure that everyone understood that I didn't dislike the retirees, just want them to be more appreciative and rooted in the community. I don't appreciate the "I own this place" mentality when they are here half the year, or when they truly don't open up to try to accept anyone else.

I am all for everyone's opinions here. I don't hate FL, or SWFL. I don't begrudge anyone for loving it, or staying or leaving. I love everywhere I've lived for different reasons, and am wise enough to realize that some places work for a while and then don't, and some places will never work for someone. My hubs and I have loved our time in FL, but we are at a crossroads, and had to make some long term decisions. I loved NYC when I lived there, until I was old enough to not want to live in an expensive dump of an apartment anymore. I loved Chicago until I was offered a better job that caused me to have to move. I loved LA, until I missed my family so much that I had to get back to the East Coast. Life changes can cause changes in opinions of an area for long term residency. That's all that happened to us. No hard feelings at all...I appreciate your insight.

[mrambow]

Jennva:

We moved from Northern Virginia (Prince William County) 4 years ago with 3 young children. Cape Coral is a very nice place, our kids are thriving. Its a small town feel. The charter schools are excellent, I would recommend those. Plenty of shopping and things to do. Fort Myers as well is great.

Reply back if you have any more questions.

[seain dublin]

Why would someone like the OP even think they can transfer their home inspection business down here?

She talks about hard hits to VA real estate, well FL is number 2 or 3( I can't remember) in the hardest hit housing market in the country.

The beaches, schools, and soccer teams don't matter if you can't make a living.