Hello! The last time I posted on these boards was briefly in I think 2008-- a young, single, gay early 20's guy from Orlando, Florida visiting the west coast at the time (and I loved my journey from San Diego up to Seattle btw). It was Autumn time. October. My favorite month of the year (though often not here in Florida). I am trying to figure out the best state to move my family of two (plus dogs), and enjoy a new beginning in 1-2 years.
Present day:
-34 year old psych nurse (psychiatric NP end goal). Partner also a nurse, specialty is still TBD.
-No longer single, dating life no longer super relevant to me. (Concept of children still debated)
-STILL HATE about 9 months of the year in Florida...
-February to May is my pollen season in Florida (and I suppose most of the south)-- where Oak trees make life nearly unlivable unless it rains for days on end until the pollen has stopped (mid May usually, though the season seems to be getting longer..and hotter). It's like having a flu that never ends, really.
-Once pollen is over, we enter right back into 80's, 90's, 100's.. with that "real feel" temperature added in from
humidity. This lasts until sometimes... November now-a-days. I'm always hoping the Florida "Fall" will kick in so I can feel my "halloween spirit" in October... I am frequently let down as the years go by.
So essentially, if i'm lucky -- October, November, and December (piece of January?) is the only time I am comfortable stepping outside here in central Florida.
Dislikes:
- HUMIDITY
is probably unyielding hatred #1. I don't want to be in a sauna and have clothes
sticking to me for walking to the car.
- High temperatures in general. 85+ for me is generally disliked all year round. I'm happiest in the 50's to
mid 70's F.
- Extreme sub zero or 6 months of frozen. Having lived in Florida most of my life, I'm pretty sure it would
be very hard for me to adapt to say -- Minnesota's climates. Which is a shame, because I think it's very
pretty there.
- lack of distinct seasons, particularly Fall.
- lack of any motivation for holidays i.e. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter because Florida is
mostly Summer year round (give or take a month here and there). Having a "White Christmas" a few
times in my life would be nice.
- lack of geography. Completely flat lands as far as the eye can see, does not interest me.
- swamp lands/gators/humidity part 2: (goodbye most of the south east)
- Extreme rural. Feeling disconnected from where arts/culture/orchestras and shows travel to isn't my bag.
If I need a plane to attend an event or conference, it's too far from civilization for me.
- Extreme Urban. -- NYC is not for me. That's too much. I'm a stepford hell person. I actually like suburbs
20-30 minutes away from the ground zero of a metro area. I can raise a family, then.
- Apartment living/Condo living in those super urban areas. (I am not fully against condos, but that makes
having big dogs more difficult).
- Horrendous traffic and commutes (I am aware everyone will say that any given city has the worst traffic).
- The deep south (though much of it is pretty!)
- Average home values in the millions... (Kind of blows up northern California, another shame).
Likes:
- 4 seasons! If there's a place with a longer Autumn/Fall than other places, that's good. Snow is fine for a
little bit, not for 5-9 months buried and shoveling though.
- If not 4 seasons, close to it? Moderated distinct changes? Or ability to drive to winter perhaps not too far
away
- Pro nurse states (pay in Florida, and the south in general is not very good here for RN's). States that
love and care about mental health are great, since I generally have to work where there's psych
facilities.
Eventually outpatient practice in psychiatry.
- Night time. I am a night shift worker, and a natural born night owl! -- Mostly for the sake of eating, I
prefer areas where the entire region doesn't shut down at 8-9 pm.
- Craftsmen/modern houses (with yards/backed up onto nature like near a creek etc.)
- Creeks/streams/rivers/brooks. I enjoy being able to frolick in shallow, clear bodies of water if that makes
sense. I love waterfalls and springs, things that make me want to go outside. Not a beach goer, don't
hang out on the ocean ever. It's fine to look at though. Coastal cities are nice.
- Hiking/camping (Ever camped in Florida? It's... not ideal. These aren't even "forests", they're
underbrush and swamps with huge mosquitoes)
- Lack of oak trees for a less horrifying allergy season. Fall and Winter means no pollen = great!
- Driving in my own car. I'm not against public transportation, but I'm fine not having tons of it, and
getting myself around.
- No regressive, super conservative political atmosphere and religion. Obviously gay friendly states/cities.
- Nice suburbs with metros close enough to go play in, or to avoid if you don't want any part of what's
going on that week.
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TLDR: Where should I move?! I love other's opinions and polling advice. I've looked at every corner of the map, and always talk myself out of everything for one reason or another. I was gung-ho Seattle/Washington state for so long, then people just keep beating me down with endless negativity about the PNW (most recently, is how Oregon and Washington will now be covered with fire smoke every summer from now on). South is mostly a bust for me, and Colorado's elevations might be rough. I have about another year in Orlando, then I need to make a decision. Two nursing salaries isn't bad, but also not rich either.. Can't have million dollar mortgages presently.
At the very least, suggest a state with distinct seasons, lack of terrible humidity, and no more oppressive endless summer. Otherwise, I can and will stay indoors all year long with the A/C...as I have done for most of my life...
Sorry for long post. I've just been trying to leave Florida for most of my life, real estate market locked me in another decade after the crash of 07'. Thanks to anyone who wishes to wade into this. I will converse back if there's conversation. I don't just disappear if you respond!