Moving to Fort Myers !!! (Miami, Sanibel: school, living in, military)

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Mrs1885: I think you're describing Naples? Fort Myers Beach is not gorgeous

Fort Myers Beach is gorgeous if you like to swim in sewage .

[mrs1885]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Mrs1885: I think you're describing Naples? Fort Myers Beach is not gorgeous and there are no upscale shops.

Yep, was talking North Naples / Bonita Beach area. I'm not familiar at all with Fort Myers.

[rtboy1961]

I think Florida residents bash living in Florida because you dont want us northerners moving down there. Is that it? I have lived in Indiana all my life and vacation in Fl. We plan on moving to Fl. in the next month or 2. I cant find one resident who likes living in Florida. If its that bad, move out???

[121804]

Originally Posted by rtboy1961

I think Florida residents bash living in Florida because you dont want us northerners moving down there. Is that it? I have lived in Indiana all my life and vacation in Fl. We plan on moving to Fl. in the next month or 2. I cant find one resident who likes living in Florida. If its that bad, move out???

That's what we are doing but then again, that's what we were planning on doing all along, anyway- move back up north where we are from & back to our roots. Fort Myers area is NOT a place to raise a family for many reasons that run from nothing to do that is family related anywhere in the vicinity [one can only state "the beach" so many times b/c the beaches in the area have much to be desired] to a very poorly run education system in Lee County.

If one is retiring here, then they will fit right on in. This part of Florida is designed for retirees. There are lots of golf courses, RV parks, "gated" communities to give the vision of safety, and chain restaurants that offer senior discounts.

We have meet people here who are quite content & all different age groups, but more than often we meet more who want to leave than want to stay [all for their own reasons]. For us, we want to see our families more than once a year, change of seasons & a the midwest lifestyle that we were raised in for our children. That is not to be found here.

[florida1]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Mrs1885: I think you're describing Naples? Fort Myers Beach is not gorgeous and there are no upscale shops.

No but Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Bonita Beach, and Lover's Key state park are gorgeous. Two Lee County beaches made the list of Florida's top ten beaches on the travel channel. Sanibel was ranked one of the best family beaches in the country as well as one of the places that you should see before you die. Most counties are lucky to have one make the list. Lee had two. It is sad that people take the area's ugliest beach to try and deter people from visiting when there are six other gorgeuos beaches in the area to choose from.

Originally Posted by fort lauderdale

Fort Myers Beach is gorgeous if you like to swim in sewage .

Oh so now we are swimming in sewage? I wasn't aware of that. You know I went to Ft. Lauderdale and saw trash in the water but you don't see me telling people they are swimming in garbage if they visit the beach in Ft. Lauderdale.

This is getting ridiculous! Ft. Myers apparently has sewage for water, nothing for families to do, a horrible education system, and low paying jobs. However, despite all of these, Ft. Myers/Cape Coral is the fastest growing metro area in the state and also has the fastest growing schools (which indicates an influx of families).. We have two ice skating rinks, four inline rinks, numerous skate parks, a water park, many playgrounds, many parks with walking and biking paths, the Imaginarium, six movie theaters, a YMCA, and four large malls just to name a few things. Sounds like quite a bit to do to me. I have lived in Ft. Myers for over a decade and never heard people talk about it like they do on this forum. I hope people that read these threads have enough of a brain to realize that no area is even half as bad as people on this forum make them out to be

[121804]

A fast growing school system means little in relation to the quality of the school system. I find the setup alone of the school system in Lee County to be based on discrimination worries rather than providing good schools. I have heard horror stories & am thankful we will not be in that mess with our children. I also prefer my child to be taught in a classroom where the teacher does not have to speak two languages. The overall scores & stats of the elementary schools in Lee County are 10-20 points lower than where we are moving [which is out of Florida]. Also concerning is the economic & racial background of the "increase" in Lee County. These are just my thoughts & opinions on the matter.

I will say that Coconut Point & Gulf Coast are nice outdoor malls with a lot of variety. Tanger Outlet has good choice of stores. But, I think I'd be okay without seeing Sanibel before I died & just not all that impressed with it.

So much depends on the person. My husband & I grew up living around & visiting a lot of culture & historical sites. We thrive on it & miss it. That is not here; not at a mall or a beach. But some people don't care for those things & that is their free choice & allowed opinion.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by florida1

Ft. Myers apparently has sewage for water, nothing for families to do, a horrible education system, and low paying jobs.

Right. That is exactly right.

Sewerage? Maybe. It sure has a lot of runoff from the middle of the state that results in red tide. The local news is always down at the beach interviewing the tourists that are ticked off that they spent their hard earned money to vacation there.

Things for families to do? The Imaginarium? It's a third-rate children's museum sitting in the middle of the ghetto. Skate park, ice skating arena, Red Sox stadium? The same. In the ghetto. The Edison Mall? A dump. It's famous for having it's Easter bunny punch out a mother. He did time for that.

Low paying jobs? Oh, I know you don't even want to go there.

Since you've beat this dead horse over and over, let me expound. The reason that the school system has seen growth is because there is a major influx from the Miami area and immigrants moving in. That's in the same article that talks about the school growth.

Fort Myers is full of over-55 trailer parks. Those trailer parks are full of the rudest people that you will ever meet in your life. That alone, is reason not to live there.

121804: Right. The school system is a ridiculous lottery that you will never win. There are no cultural offerings in Fort Myers. And before you bring up the Arts Hall, Florida1, I will remind you that it is in the exploratory stages. Good luck getting that funding. Fort Myers is not known for its wealthy citizens. I know Florida1, you'll give me a list of rich people. Refer back to the trailer park statement. Those people will squeeze a nickel until it screams.

And Sanibel and Captiva? Have you ever been to Bermuda? That's someplace you should see before you die. The time I spent on Sanibel and Captiva I can never get back.

[backtofla]

hiknapster, i agree with some of which you said, but c'mon now, sanibel and captiva are awesome!!!

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by backtofla

hiknapster, i agree with some of which you said, but c'mon now, sanibel and captiva are awesome!!!

I don't agree.

First of all, no one can actually live there, so why tout it? Why the heck would you move to Fort Myers to be near Sanibel?

So you put up with the crap of living in Lee County so you can pay $6 to go over the bridge every once in awhile? Then you hunt for a parking space and pay to park? And for what? To collect some shells? And that's when you can get the time to do that, since you have to work constantly, due to the low-paying jobs.

Gosh, in the nine years that I lived there, I think I went to Sanibel four times. I could have lived elsewhere, been happy, and had the money to spend four quality vacations there. However, I would think that once would be enough.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by florida1

Oh so now we are swimming in sewage? I wasn't aware of that. You know I went to Ft. Lauderdale and saw trash in the water but you don't see me telling people they are swimming in garbage if they visit the beach in Ft. Lauderdale.

Yeah, but when I went to Fort Myers Beach, I not only got stuck in the first traffic jam I have got stuck in for a long time, but the trash-filled water was BROWN!!!!! . At least our trashy(once in a while) Fort Lauderdale beaches have nice turquoise water. If you can go to Hollywood Beach, you won't even have the garbage issue.

Look, I don't think its the hellhole some people are perceiving it to be, but Fort Myers Beach isn't too great.