i visited jax and surrounding areas (Tampa, Orlando: real estate, insurance, job)

[riveree]

Originally Posted by smash731

I don't give a hoot if the minority is the majority. I'm probably the only person who says that lol, but we all want what we know and we're comfortable with, right?

You're not alone in that thought !

I should be upset because a sign is bilingual??? Hint:they both say the same thing - you're not missing anything. They can add a third line in Klingon and it wouldn't rock my world.

If I'm in line at the local Walmart and the group ahead of me is speaking to themselves in their native tongue, I should be upset that I'm left out of the conversation? They're the ones being rude when it's me who wants to butt into everyone's business (it's THEIR conversation!)? Should I also be upset at the deaf couple speaking to each other in sign language? How far does it go?

Unless you're Native American, your own ancestors emmigrated here at some point. Showing respect to the immigrants you see today shows respect to your own heritage - they were all after the same thing - a better life.

Peace out .

[backtofla]

when everyone is speaking spanish in a store, and you need assistance, but dont get it b/c you are in the minority, hence, taking a back seat so that they can help out other ppl who they have more in common with, is annoying.

i can give you a perfect example: when looking for an apartment, i was clearly in line to talk to the office person, but i was passed on and the person showing the apartments clearly passed on me to talk to other spanish ppl who also were looking to rent an apartment. i was overlooked, i didnt speak spanish, and i truly believe it had something to do with me being white. maybe not, but i had a feeling. we moved into this apartment anyway, and this lady was never very friendly.

i was told about this kind of thing by some family of mine, and i didnt want to believe it, but now i do.

i always defended fla before i moved back, as far as crime, the hispanic population, the sex offenders, and so on...but even though i cant speak for the entire state, i can no longer make excuses for orlando. it is very transient and ppl are from all over, mostly ny and pr, and it justs makes for a lack of community, rude ppl, a lot of ppl that cant speak english, and a lot of crime. i was hoping that i could find a peice of old fla still in the jax areas, but after hearing some of the comments on the forum, i am not sure it is that much better up there. i would consider than panhandle, but it is so far away. maybe northern ga or charlotte nc is in the cards one day. i hate to say it, but w/ all the crap that goes on in orlando, not so sure i would do it all over again the way we did.

i defintely like being closer to some family though, and that is a big part of my life.

i've tried so hard to defend fla on this forum, but i am wondering if what i am trying to escape in orlando is evident in northern fla (jax areas) too. i like fla so much, but why is it that we attract so many criminals and rude ppl? and ppl want to hate on me b/c i want my old fla back! if you like it now, it was better before!!!

[riveree]

Originally Posted by backtofla

when everyone is speaking spanish in a store, and you need assistance, but dont get it b/c you are in the minority, hence, taking a back seat so that they can help out other ppl who they have more in common with, is annoying.

It cuts both ways. We can all cite experiences with racism/reverse racism, but the idea is to move on from it and not write off an entire nationality or race of people.

I had an experience this past Sunday when I needed help from someone who was my own race, and for some unknown reason she looked me in the face, heard my request, then turned and walked away.....unbelieveable! A classic case of Bi*chism !

[backtofla]

yeah, i sort of got the feeling in my short visit in jax areas that customer service, rude drivers, rude ppl and crime are pretty prevelant up there as well. it did seem better than orlando though. my thing is, and the reason i do so much research/ask questions/get opinions about northern fla is b/c wherever we choose up there, we will be there for a while. i want my kids to enjoy the fla i had, not having to worry about all the crime, drugs, and sex offenders we got here in orlando. and since we want to be stable while our kids are growing up, we want to choose an area in northern fla that we will really enjoy, and not feel like we have to get away from. i couldnt stay here in orlando for that long period of time, so we are trying to find an area up there that will make us happy. if we decide to move elsewhere after our kids are grown up and out of school, that's okay. but i want to enjoy where we live as we will be there for a while. if i move to st aug or southside jax., i want to make sure it is a good decision. the last thing i want is to feel like i need to move again. because if that's the case, it may be out of state. and i dont want to give up yet. i am not moving to south fla, i wouldnt want to return to central fla, so the only other option besides continuing northward would be the panhandle, but it's so far away. it probably wouldnt be much further than say, northern ga or back to the carolina's.

[kort677]

Originally Posted by backtofla

yeah, i sort of got the feeling in my short visit in jax areas that customer service, rude drivers, rude ppl and crime are pretty prevelant up there as well. it did seem better than orlando though. my thing is, and the reason i do so much research/ask questions/get opinions about northern fla is b/c wherever we choose up there, we will be there for a while. i want my kids to enjoy the fla i had, not having to worry about all the crime, drugs, and sex offenders we got here in orlando. and since we want to be stable while our kids are growing up, we want to choose an area in northern fla that we will really enjoy, and not feel like we have to get away from. i couldnt stay here in orlando for that long period of time, so we are trying to find an area up there that will make us happy. if we decide to move elsewhere after our kids are grown up and out of school, that's okay. but i want to enjoy where we live as we will be there for a while. if i move to st aug or southside jax., i want to make sure it is a good decision. the last thing i want is to feel like i need to move again. because if that's the case, it may be out of state. and i dont want to give up yet. i am not moving to south fla, i wouldnt want to return to central fla, so the only other option besides continuing northward would be the panhandle, but it's so far away. it probably wouldnt be much further than say, northern ga or back to the carolina's.

I don't know where you went but I don't think that I've encountered one rude person yet. I admit that I don't get out too much and when I am out someone is trying to seperate me from my money, but everyone I've met has been friendly, of course I am not including some of the kooks you encounter on the highways, but other than that people are great around here

[backtofla]

it was such a short trip, it's really hard to tell. but i like your positive outlook

[songgirl]

Originally Posted by kort677

I don't know where you went but I don't think that I've encountered one rude person yet. I admit that I don't get out too much and when I am out someone is trying to seperate me from my money, but everyone I've met has been friendly, of course I am not including some of the kooks you encounter on the highways, but other than that people are great around here

I agree with Kort completely. Backtofla, it sounds like your trip to Jax wasn't all you were hoping for. If it doesn't seem like a good fit, maybe Georgia or the Carolinas would be better options.

However, like Kort, my experiences in the Jax and St. Aug. areas have been almost exclusively positive. Most of the time, when I go in a store or restaurant, I end up having a long conversation with a complete stranger. Also someone almost always holds the door for me or volunteers to let me go ahead of them when I just have a few items. Common courtesy is the norm here.

It sounds like you went to some of the more congested and less friendly areas of Jax. Even Ponte Vedra, while beautiful may not be quite what you seem to be looking for. I lived there for awhile and it was ok, but not for me. A little too uppity and the people were more reserved.

Did you look in northern St. Johns County? ie: Fruit Cove, Switzerland and around World Golf Village? Also downtown St. Augustine and Anastasia Island? These are some of my favorite areas because crime is low, lots of families, good schools and more of a economic mix of people.

Hope you haven't ruled this area out altogether. It's such a large geographic area, I think maybe you should check out some other areas of town before you make up your mind!

[backtofla]

oh no, songgirl, i love those areas. it was too short of a trip to base my decision, but overall, yes, better than orlando. easily!!! i love st johns county!!! i guess no place is perfect, and i was expecting too much. st johns co is a big improvement over orlando --- w/o a doubt!!!

[songgirl]

Originally Posted by backtofla

oh no, songgirl, i love those areas. it was too short of a trip to base my decision, but overall, yes, better than orlando. easily!!! i love st johns county!!! i guess no place is perfect, and i was expecting too much. st johns co is a big improvement over orlando --- w/o a doubt!!!

Hey I'm glad you saw some of the good aspects of this part of Fl and sorry you encountered some rudeness. But it really isn't that common around here. I keep to a pretty small radius like Kort, however, so my perception might be a little biased. Really, I hardly ever go into Jax at all unless out of necessity.

Anyway, I don't think this is the prettiest place in Florida, but it grows on you somehow! Are you going to check out the Carolinas and Georgia as well? If so let us know how it compares

[riveree]

Originally Posted by songgirl

I keep to a pretty small radius like Kort, however, so my perception might be a little biased. Really, I hardly ever go into Jax at all unless out of necessity.

My radius is pretty fat, and no, it's not because of all the pizza . I'm easily bored, so I'm always saying "let's go here, let's go check that out", so we "get around" a fair amount in all 4 counties (Duval, St. John's, Clay & Nassau), lots of outdoor stuff, events, etc.

I think issues like rudeness, angry drivers, etc. affect different people in different ways.

People in NE FL are pretty nice overall, but sure there's rudeness. In my younger years I might have taken it to heart a bit too much, but the older I get the bolder I get and I have no fear of confrontation (it makes me feel better than to bottle it up).

Any area with density will have it's plusses and minuses.

NE FL is not going to slow down in growth and with more people comes varying cultures and ways. In an area of density you have to be willing to adapt to change or you'll be miserable.

If the OP prefers a slower pace and equates that with people being more polite, then the Panhandle might be the place. I'm sure the Panhandle will be growing as well (it is already), but probably not near as quickly as the East Coast, so it might remain less dense for longer.