Should I move to Jacksonville? (Miami, Tampa: home, job market, neighborhoods)

[Kizzoom]

I am currently living in Atlanta. I have been here for 4 years now and I`ve been having trouble finding a stable job. The jobs I have had last about 3 or 4 months then I get laid off. This has been going on with me for 4 years on and off. The longest job I had was 6 months. They make up excuses for the layoffs and I`m tired of it. I hate this place, I`m not going through this anymore. I`m looking to relocate to Jacksonville Fl. I have family that lives in South Fl and I`d like to be closer to them. However, I do not like South Fl I lived there for 15 years and hated it. It`s always TOO HOT in the winter. Can anyone tell me the real truth about that city? I want to know about the job market, cost of living, average salaries, neighborhoods, nightlife, (VEGETARIAN) resturants, weather, crime, and are there any democrats there? Or is everyone that lives there a conservative Southern Baptist? If Jacksonville is not the place for me then what city in Northern Fl is? I`d like to live near the water. I`m not interested in a College town like Gainsville I am 40 years old I have no kids and i`m single. Can somebody there hook me up with a job lead in Jacksonville? I`m interested in a job either working with people like sales, customer service, hospitality etc. or light industrial or even in the IT field I am A+ certified by trade but like I said I`m looking for the above fields Please advise me I would really apreciate it.
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[jdaryl2002]

The city of Jacksonville is owned by the First Baptist Chrch. Jax is more conservative then inside Atlanta's beltway. As for jobs its a high growth city but AOL just layed off 800. The only democrats you'll find are those driving through town heading back home to Miami. You may do better looking at Tallahassee.

[Kizzoom]

hmm wow that`s what I heard how for is Tallahassee from the ocean?

What about St Augustine?

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by jdaryl2002

The city of Jacksonville is owned by the First Baptist Chrch. Jax is more conservative then inside Atlanta's beltway. As for jobs its a high growth city but AOL just layed off 800. The only democrats you'll find are those driving through town heading back home to Miami. You may do better looking at Tallahassee.

Are you quite familiar with Jax? We have some friends who plan on moving there. They have a son who would be going to Joseph Stillwell Middle School. Is anyone familiar with that school or the area? Does anyone know what high school the children from there go to and the rep of the schools? This is a bit of a concern for our friends.

[Kizzoom]

Jammie I`m not at all familiar with Jacksonville

WOW yes I did hear that?

[ready2move]

All I know about Jax, from what I hear is that there is some "smelly" side......

[Jammie]

A smelly side? That is so funny. Do you know where the "smelly side" is? I'd hate for my friend to end up there.

[Kizzoom]

I never heard of Jacksonville being called smely side? Why do they call it that? Does it smell or something?

[riverofmay]

Yep, it stinks... paper mills.

But, really, ALL of Florida smells. It's the sulfuric ground water.

St. Augustine... NO JOBS. NO JOKE. Unless you want to earn maybe $7 in the service/tourist industry. Or maybe a dime more at Taco Bell. The cost living in St. A is extremely high.

[daedalo]

I have a number of posts on Jacksonville. Low pay, service economy, very conservative, heavy republican neo-con slant on the newspaper, in short, a pretty stifiling place. The big corps are NOT in Jacksonville. Look further south in Tampa and Orlando for corporate jobs.