small beach town (Daytona Beach, Jupiter, Panama City: estate, house, rent)

[BobbieS]

I am looking for a small "homey" town in North FL. Where should I look? I would like a town that you can walk to the post office,bank,coffee shop,
pharmacy etc...I currently live in Apalachicola..it is quaint and small with great places. But I was also just in Fernandina Beach and thought that was cool too, plus it is by a big city which I like for stuff to do. Please any input would be great, tell me the positives and negatives if you will.

[budman]

downtown fernandina beach has exactly what you're looking for in terms of coffee shop, post office, ect. close. it's a historic town so it's kind of busy during tourist season. it really is a nice place.

[BlueWillowPlate]

You can still get Apalach oysters here, but they cost more.
Look in the Fernandina/Yulee thread and you'll see different opinions.
FB does remind me quite a bit of Apalach, but there are certainly more amenities here. We spent almost two years in Port St Joe, and I do like it better here.

[BobbieS]

Thanks for the replies! I have read some posts about FB..is it true the police are corrupt? Is it true that the locals don't really welcome newcomers? Is the smell from the paper mill bad? Blue Willow Plate: I am so glad you like it there better than PSJ, I have to say it is a pain to drive thru Tyndall AFB to get to Panama City to shop!

[flaguru]

BobbieS,
Fernandina Beach (Centre St.) has the coffee shops and quaintness that you are describing but it's not the most polite or hospitable town in Florida, that's for sure. I lived in Fernandina Beach for about two years and I couldn't take it anymore so I moved to another area on the coast that doesn't have the pettiness and bickering as Fernandina does. Yes it's true that the locals don't like outsiders but what was funny to me is that they often talk about each other very negatively and will stab each other in the back in a heartbeat. To each his own but I just thought Fernandina Beach was either for the well to do or the lower classed blue collar workers. And it's definitely a fact that the locals are resentful. Half of them didn't even complete high school so you can imagine how they feel when Mr. CEO and his wife slaps down 1 million plus for a home there and lives in their home town. I read somewhere on here that there's a lot of class conflict on the island and I would have to say that it's very true. It is kind of an unspoken thing on the island that the wealthy stay on the south end and the "others" stay on the North end and Central areas.
While I was there, there was a big deal going on with the Police Department because some of the Officers had engaged in some unlawful activities with a minor. The Officers were fired, needless to say. But all in all, I think the things you've heard are true. I wouldn't consider this as a quality place to live unless you are the type who doesn't mind mediocrity and angry people who don't understand how to deal with it.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by flaguru

BobbieS,
I read somewhere on here that there's a lot of class conflict on the island and I would have to say that it's very true. .

Maybe you read this, by a poster who sounds a whole lot like you:

I have a close friend who owns a house at the beach in Amelia Island and she gave it up to move to Rural America afterwards...... For the most part, this town suffers from Class Conflict or even Class Warfare. The "South End" which is the area considered to be affluent and upscale consists of only a small area of the island and isn't large enough to credit the entire town of Fernandina Beach as being upscale. Leave the South End and you will quickly be surrounded by small town, small minded judgmental and unrefined rednecks. It's true. Move there and you will see. It may take you a year to realize it but you will, especially when you try to do business with them.

BobbieS
I think Flaguru, for whatever reason, had rather a tough time here.
We've been here a year and I still love it more than ever.
Yes, sometimes you can smell the two (yes, two!) mills, no question about it. And of course, depending on where you are, you can see them, too.
And the log trucks are a part of the traffic here.
The south end of the island is indeed ritzier than the north. As is the case in so many American cities, some wealthier folks seek fancier surroundings.
We are sort of in the middle of all this, not in downtown, not in the south end, not on the beach, but close to it, in Amelia Park.
It's definitely a small town with a small town atmosphere, but we certainly have not had any trouble either doing business with people or dealing with corrupt law officers.
What is Fernandina Beach's identity? Well, to me it's diverse.
Here is an example.
Last night we went visited several art galleries. At one of the galleries, a dockmaster, a man born and raised here, was exhibiting his paintings. We looked at his work and sipped drinks with a variety of people: locals, people from the infamous South End, and everything in between. Then we walked across the street for dinner. We sat outside on the porch for dinner. Quaint horse-drawn carriages clip-clopped by.
With a loud rumbling, a very cool chopped bike pulled up, then parked next to the gallery--various attractive young ladies were photographed astride it. After awhile, the dockmaster got out his guitar and began playing and singing.
Meanwhile, we enjoyed our seared tuna and rosé along with the other entertainment.
It was a perfect Fernandina evening.

[flaguru]

I posted other information in the other forum for Fernandina, BobbieS, but I think I should point out something about the lifestyle in Fernandina. I noticed in the other posting about Fernandina Beach that the forumer was stressing how business people take days to return calls. IN defense of Fernandina Beach, this is to be expected in just about any Florida town. I will stand my ground on saying that Fernandina Beach is mediocre compared to some other areas in Florida but the person who was going on and on about the lack of class, redneck thing shouldn't even consider Fernandina Beach in the first place. They also said that even the people on the south end "lack class." This is apparently someone who is used to being around a high society environment and definitely NOT the beach. What beach is classy besides Palm Beach Florida or Jupiter Island? Or maybe even Naples? That person needs to move to Manhattan or London because that poster won't fit in at any beach town in Florida. If you are a laid back person who enjoys the beach life and doesn't walk around with high expectations in an area with very rich and very poor people who obviously don't like one another, then Fernandina Beach can be a quaint little place to live. I agreed with the other poster- Corensickle-on his views about the island but I also think that he is a person who is used to a more formal environment. I would bet that he's from a faster paced place where things are done by the minute. Someone considering Fernandina Beach should move there knowing that people are on island time and won't return calls in the same business day- that is why they live on an island. They aren't into the minute for minute lifestyle. Now I agree with the things said in the post because I happen to be a minute to minute person. Not as ridiculous as the other person-Corensickle- but I do think he made some valid points for someone who can't appreciate the small town island lifestyle. You just have to decide for yourself what you want and don't want in life. Blue Willow thinks I had a hard time in Fernandina Beach. I didn't have a hard time in Fernandina Beach. I just happen to be the type who doesn't enjoy all of that dramatic stuff in life- and there's plenty of it in Fernandina Beach, Florida. I've found that people in small towns tend to think differently from people who like the more metropolitan areas- they handle things in life differently. Bluewillow seems like she loves the island and I think that's great. Like I said before, "To each his own." There is another area in Florida you should look at- Ormond Beach or Palm Coast. Ormond Beach can be tricky because you have to stay out of it's neighbor, Daytona Beach, to enjoy the island like, tropical setting. The people in Ormond Beach are very cool and open to outsiders, they are open-minded and more on the ball in life. Happier environment. I think it is prettier than Fernandina Beach.
I expect big things from Palm Coast because a Town Center is going in and the real estate is reasonable priced. Beautiful setting and beaches and the people are diverse. Take a look at it. The only catch is that you won't find the coffee shops and the small town feel like you will in Fernandina Beach. Just remember that living in a place with a small town feel comes with the price of dealing with the small town attitude.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by flaguru

If you are a laid back person who enjoys the beach life and doesn't walk around with high expectations in an area with very rich and very poor people who obviously don't like one another, then Fernandina Beach can be a quaint little place to live.

I really don't think that phrase describes FB, from my experience, there is not *quite* the polarization you seemed to feel, but everyone has their own impression of things. I'm not really out there with the hoity-toity types, I work with local people, so maybe my perspective is a bit different.

You just have to decide for yourself what you want and don't want in life.

Yes.

Blue Willow thinks I had a hard time in Fernandina Beach. I didn't have a hard time in Fernandina Beach. I just happen to be the type who doesn't enjoy all of that dramatic stuff in life- and there's plenty of it in Fernandina Beach, Florida. I've found that people in small towns tend to think differently from people who like the more metropolitan areas- they handle things in life differently.

Yes and no. I've known some very provincial people who hail from very large, cosmopolitan cities. And I have met people here who *appear* to be simple--but simple-minded, they are not.
It's true that if it's Cobia season or something like that, stuff might not get done as fast as someone from Dallas, Texas or West Trust Fund, Connecticut might expect it to. The thing is, my husband might be out there fishing with those guys, too.

Bluewillow seems like she loves the island and I think that's great. Like I said before, "To each his own."

Thanks, I do.

[flaguru]

I'm sorry Blue willow, I don't get the Dallas or West Trust thing? Can you tell me about that? Always helps to learn something new!

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by flaguru

I'm sorry Blue willow, I don't get the Dallas or West Trust thing? Can you tell me about that? Always helps to learn something new!

Oh, I just meant that if you are building or having work done or something like that, people from more established, wealthier places might expect it to be done faster. I agree with you that there is a laid back island time attitude here.