Quote:
Originally Posted by Chromedome
do you have alot of money?
if not, then i suggest you back off before its too late.
fort myers is NOT the place to be for young couples. or young people in general.
this is where you come to spend your fortune not make it.
majority of the work available in the area is retail and service oriented, usually revolving around the tourists/seasonal residents meaning you will probably have 30/40% less business during the summer months. which usually results in less hours. and less money
majority of the jobs here pay extremely low and are very far from in tune with the cost of living. Expect small-town wages with a big city cost of living
if youre EXCLUSIVELY into dining out and shopping and then you will be just fine because that about sums up all the activities there is to do in the area... not that theyre anything world class either, mostly chain restaurants (fridays, applebees) and big box retailers(target,walmat,marshalls,kohls). very few mom and pop/local stores. or boutiques. you can find somewhat better options in bonita springs/naples which are fairly close tho
theres no real cultural events/scene in the area.
also plan on having to drive everywhere you go since everything is pretty much in stripmalls/shopping centers. neighborhood stores and businesses are very far and few in between here.
id definitely think twice before making the move.... atleast come here and stay for awhile, and see what its like to live here as a resident, not a tourist
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I know this is like my hundredth post on this thread but I have to post this anyway.
My family moved here from Detroit, Michigan in the 80's. We basically lived pay check to pay check in Detroit. We decided to move Ft. Myers because we figured anywhere was better than Michigan. We moved down and my parents started their own business and hired three employees. The first year was a struggle as my parents often had to give up their own paychecks to pay their employees. Well ten years later my parents were making a triple digit income. Over the years I've been introduced to many business people who share a similar story. They came to SW FL with nothing and built their own business. I was always taught that if you don't like something, change it yourself. My dad didn't like his job in Michigan so he moved to Florida and started his own. It seems most people on these forums take a different approach. Wait for things to change on their own and complain the whole time you are waiting. If you are hard working and independent, SW FL is a great place to live. If you are expecting to find a job where you make 50K a year after spending an hour on monster.com, you will be pleasantly surprised.
The original poster has already bought property to develop. Instead of telling them how much they are going to hate Florida, we should be helping them find an area to suit their interests.
I would look into the Estero/Sout Ft. Myers area. Two huge regional malls with stores like Bass Pro Shop, Belk, West Coast Surf Shop, Ron Jon, and about 200 others. Restaurants like Panera Bread, The Grape, Blue Water Bistro, Ale House, R.J. Gators. This area is also by the college so this is probably where you will find the most things to do for young people. For more of a night club scene you will have to go to downtown Ft. Myers.
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06-17-2007, 09:12 AM
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