Alaskans dreaming of moving to Fl seek opinions and info, and maybe How-tos

[Alaskapat528]

Hi there, that is great that you know exactly where you want to relocate to. I wish you and your family the best of luck. As for myself and my husband, we are still up in the air so to speak as to where we'd like to go. I know my husband would probably prefer to stay here in Alaska but I want to leave. I've heard over and over that lots of folks who leave here end up coming back so who knows. I just know I miss my family in the lower 48 and its time to go. Again, best of luck and enjoy those beaches!

[kitkendall]

AlaskaPat: I would say what you've heard is true, actually. I left and came back twice, and my husband left and came back as well.
We both have family here, but we're so close with our own little family, we hardly see the relatives even though they live in the same area.

I found an interesting article (dated Nov 7) by Fortune that predicts the housing fate of 54 communities over the next 5 years:
Real estate: Buy, sell, or hold? - Nov. 7, 2007

Maybe you'll be able to see something there to help you decide?
Jacksonville was on the list. I'm curious if folks in Jax believes the article is on track with regard to the Price/Rent ratios?

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by kitkendall

AlaskaPat: I would say what you've heard is true, actually. I left and came back twice, and my husband left and came back as well.
We both have family here, but we're so close with our own little family, we hardly see the relatives even though they live in the same area.

I found an interesting article (dated Nov 7) by Fortune that predicts the housing fate of 54 communities over the next 5 years:
Real estate: Buy, sell, or hold? - Nov. 7, 2007

Maybe you'll be able to see something there to help you decide?
Jacksonville was on the list. I'm curious if folks in Jax believes the article is on track with regard to the Price/Rent ratios?

Thanks much for the link. I won't dare tell my husband what you said about coming back after leaving lol. We get spoiled I quess in Alaska with no State tax and such a pittance of sales tax in the Valley so it makes me look closely at tax rates, etc. Actually Maine is where I do believe I'd love to live, near the water. It'd be about a 12 hour car ride to family in Ohio and about 3 or so hours to family in Conn. It sure beats a longgg plane ride and expensive ticket once a year though. I just know I want a small town atmosphere with employment opportunities, family values and low crime. Quess I should get in line with most folks huh. Actually Wasilla has grown so much that I'd prefer a place even smaller. It appears Palmer is growing also with all of the homes and apts. they are building. When are you planning your move for Florida?

[kitkendall]

Maine sounds like it could be a good fit. We are sure tired of the long plane rides too.
We plan to move to florida in 2011. We had been planning for a long time to move in 2007, after our oldest graduated, but then we had another baby in 2006 and decided it would be better to wait a bit longer.
By then our next two teens will be out of high school and the younger kids will be just starting out in grade school.

After the housing and economy woes, I'm so glad we chose to stay put for awhile. I'm hopeful that things will be settled when we are ready to go.

Jax is our vacation choice this year, and it will either become our choice for moving or help us decide that Pensacola is the place. Either way, we'll have a fun time learning about the Jax area.

How did you start following the Jax forum on City Data? Have you considered moving there as well as Maine?

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by kitkendall

Maine sounds like it could be a good fit. We are sure tired of the long plane rides too.
We plan to move to florida in 2011. We had been planning for a long time to move in 2007, after our oldest graduated, but then we had another baby in 2006 and decided it would be better to wait a bit longer.
By then our next two teens will be out of high school and the younger kids will be just starting out in grade school.

After the housing and economy woes, I'm so glad we chose to stay put for awhile. I'm hopeful that things will be settled when we are ready to go.

Jax is our vacation choice this year, and it will either become our choice for moving or help us decide that Pensacola is the place. Either way, we'll have a fun time learning about the Jax area.

How did you start following the Jax forum on City Data? Have you considered moving there as well as Maine?

Hi Kit,

Well the other day as I was scanning down looking at the various states, your topic appeared and I was curious because of the Alaskans wanting to move. It's fun looking at the topics and info on all of the States. No, don't want to move to Florida lol, toooo toooo hot for us. Would like to visit there one day though. I had a friend in Cleveland who years ago moved to Florida due to husband's medical condition. She would come back to Cleveland every summer for a month or so (and it is hot and humid there in summer also). She came back one year saying how the floor mats melted to the car floor lol and about the signs at Walmart about looking under your cars before getting in (crocs or alligators).

Maine appeals to me because of the rugged coastline and somewhere I have always wanted to go. Needless to say I would go there and check it out thoroughly first. I have family in Ohio and Conn. Parts of Ohio are doing real bad economy wise so there I'd have to real careful also if settling there. And as you can see, on April 30th, it is snowing "again" lol....sigh....I am waiting on Spring to appear!

[kitkendall]

Thankfully we didn't get more snow today, just rain. Husband is putting a swingset together in the garage today and we're going to plop it down in the front yard since we don't have grass yet and that's the driest part of the lot. The backyard is full of standing water still from the big snow dump.

Well, I have never been to the northeast, but that area has never pulled me like Florida has. If you haven't been, I'd suggest going a few times in different seasons to check it out. We've been to Florida in Fall, Spring, and Summer, and checked out the same place twice in different seasons. I still love it!! We didn't bother with winter because... well, we're from Alaska.