Should we move from No-Cal to So-Fla?

[allenk893]

Originally Posted by la1chapina

We are your typical Northern California couple complete with hippie tendencies, cultural diversity and super liberal thinking. We have to make a big decision whether or not to move to Miami/Ft.Laud/Orlando area but are nervous about being completely foreign. Is there anyone out there that's done the move from No-Cal to So-FLa and been happy about it? To give you an idea, we love the outdoors, shop at health food stores, watch mostly independent and foreign films, voted for Obama, and can stand ignorance or people out to prove themselves! HELP!!

Nooooooo!!!!! DON'T DO IT. I BEG YOU PLEASE. Your gonna make the biggest mistake of your life!!

[Island_OnThe_Land]

Originally Posted by MalaK

Well, I'm bumping this thread because after almost 2 yrs in this $hit hole called Miami, I only have a couple of months left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm static. I'm going back to the 1st
world, the promised land, my home, California.

Malak: As a fellow West Coaster (SoCalif. to be precise) who has ALWAYS ENJOYED his visits to Miami, I am curious about what you disliked and LIKED (if anything) about your time in Miami??

What neighborhoods did you live in, etc? I think your earlier post said Coral Gables. Seems like such a wonderful place to live I am curious to here why it was such a negative exp. for you.

Let's try to keep it civil but I am interested in your experience and impressions.

[R66]

Coral Gables is very nice. Norcal is cool but Miami is the only sub-tropical climate in North America. The beaches from Jupiter to Key West best in US.

NorCal is cold at night. Traffic is bad too. but SF has good culture and food stuff. Mountains are nice for spirited driving, rock climbing, etc.

I lived in SoCal for 7 years ( 1989-1997 )... I like LA.

Miami, LA, SF, SD... it's all good. However living on the Beach, Brickell, Key Biscayne in SoFlorida you got a nice constant tropical wind, so it's not that hot. Walking at night on the beach in South Florida is magical. Sometimes I walk at 2am bare foot on the beach or flip flops around Brickell...I can't do that in California.

I'm no hippe, just clean cut, direct, good looking blonde dude. Worked hard in RE now semi-retired at 43. I speak Portuguese and spanish. I am into health and travel. I hit Whole Foods on Sunset in South Miami every 3 days, and our Miami Whole Foods rival that of any LA one... I do triathlons, work out every day.

Just got back staying 2 weeks in Marina del Rey, stayed at Oakwood temporary residence. Expensive there and many spoiled kids. Driving down Lincoln any hour a traffic jam. Nights were cold.... People not so friendly like in So. Florida. And LA women were completely unaproachable. Power people addicted to the cell phone, running around like someone died.

Tomorrow it's 72, clear skies. Walk Brickell, hit Whole Foods at Sunset. BMX Freestyle my old skool Haro Master on Key Biscayne....Hit SoBe and check out the Latinas and Brazilian babes with great (and big) butts....

Most people speak english, and the ones that dont, try their best. And newly arrived immigants love USA and want to be here. They work hard and pay taxes. Latin people value family and the simple life, something us Americans should learn to do that same.

But I miss buying Weed in California... They got good Weed up there in NorCal.

yea, Miami sucks....

[amIayankee?]

As a student in North Miami, I can't stand to be here for more than four months at a time. However, it's a great to fly out of and also fly back. The drive down the peninsula is way cool. There are some great things around here. This thread is old no?

[northbeacher]

I agree with most of what has been said about Miami. But the original question was about the "Miami/Ft.Laud/Orlando area". Given that, after ruling out Miami, I would have to add to also rule out Orlando and everything north of Lauderdale. First tho, one little jewel hidden in the midst of the mire of Miami is Coconut Grove, somewhat bohemian, nice liberal people, quiet, not congested, a tropical jungle in the middle of the concrete jungle. Another hidden jewel north of Miami and just south of Lauderdale is Old North Beach in Hollywood, radically different from the rest of southeast Florida. Hard to be objective, not sure what you are looking for, but have to add, have you considered the Florida Keys, from Largo down to Key West, very different, people there are also different, with a mix, but lots of bohemian liberal types there also, if you don't mind being secluded on islands...

[Island_OnThe_Land]

Originally Posted by R66

Coral Gables is very nice. Norcal is cool but Miami is the only sub-tropical climate in North America. The beaches from Jupiter to Key West best in US.

NorCal is cold at night. Traffic is bad too. but SF has good culture and food stuff. Mountains are nice for spirited driving, rock climbing, etc.

I lived in SoCal for 7 years ( 1989-1997 )... I like LA.

Miami, LA, SF, SD... it's all good.

Just got back staying 2 weeks in Marina del Rey. And LA women were completely unaproachable. Power people addicted to the cell phone, running around like someone died.

You make some very valid points regarding SoFal vs. No. & So. Calif.

I will go out on a limb and share a quick TRUE story that relates to the bolded part of your post.

I used to work for a company in Beverly Hills and I was shocked to find out one day that a female co-worker was dating a VERY well known movie star.

I really didn't believe it at first b/c this gal is NOT particulary attractive (to put it kindly) nor was I impressed with her personality. Fact is she was pretty shallow and her relationship with the movie star had cleary gone to her head. I remember her saying roughly, "Now that I have dated a wealthy man...I will never date anyone who is not wealthy." I wanted to puke right then and there.

That said, in public interviews the movie star made it clear he had a thing for "normal" girls with jobs, etc. He really did go out with her and bought her expensive gifts. Have no idea what he did or did not do on the side. Funny b/c he dug her for being "normal" in the sense she had a job and was very plain looking. She obviously dug being courted by a wealthy, good looking, famous actor. Tragically he apparently didn't see her shallow side....

I guess my point is that you could be walking down the street and you'd not even look twice at this gal.

Yet, if you tried to approach her, she'd be looking at you like: how many academy awards have you been nominated for and what are you talking to me for????!!!!!

So yes, SOME women in LA have an inflated sense of self (ok, plenty of guys too) and are quite shallow. That said, if you learn to laugh it off, you will find down-to-earth ladies without the huge egos, etc.

But you do have a point...I can't totally refute it because to some extent it is true....

[Thom66as]

Ok. So, we moved to Miami from SF 1.5 years ago. Before SF, we lived in NYC for 10+ years. So, we gravitate towards bigger, metro areas that offer diversity and culture. I'm originally from California. My wife is from Brazil. We are both educated (graduate degrees) and have a child. We love Miami and don't for one minute regret having moved here... Don't get me wrong. SF is a wonderful city too. We do miss the amazing food selection (both restaurants and supermarkets), the amazing hills and mountains to hike and cycle, wine country, etc. But, overall, IMO Miami provides a better quality of life. Overall, it's much cheaper to live here. And it's easier to get around with parking readily available with relatively minimal traffic. This is a big factor in reducing stress... Yeah the drivers here suck! But, you just have to deal with it. In the short time we've been here, we've made some great friends with common interests. The Adrienne Arscht Center is amazing and offers world class acts. And being able to jump into the most amazing, warm, turquoise-colored ocean is priceless... Something we could never do in NoCal!