[What!]

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

That whole argument in favor of Florida is a bad, baaaaaaad joke. Has anyone who is favoring Florida even been to the Florida forums? Good God, man, the self-hate Floridans have is unbelievable. There's a thread in the General U.S. forum that asks, "What state bashes itself the most?" Florida is in the top 4 along with Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

Word of advice: go to the Florida forums. You will see what I am talking about. The negative things Floridans have to say about their state never ends. Almost every thread turns into some sort of Florida bashing.

[kaypurdue]

I do like to get out and see other places every once in a while, so I can come back to Michigan and remember how much I appreciate everything I have here!

[Steve-o]

If you have millions of dollars to have a beach-front home in Florida, and live the good life, than Florida just might be paradise. But if youre an average Joe, FL suffers from many of the same problems as MI, just with hotter weather. Substitute snow for hurricanes and rain, substitute crime in Detroit for crime in Miami, etc... Dealing with Florida's heat in summer is just as taxing on the body as dealing with MI's cold winters. If you like monotonous weather, steamy summers, warm winters, than Florida might be the place for you. If you like 4 seasons, etc, Florida will be a nightmare.

[mimberly]

I wish most people could move just to get a vacation or not deal with snow. In these times people are leaving the state to get a job not just go on a vacation from whatever. If that job leads you to another snow state then hello snow. I think for many like my husband and myself who are in our 40's we wish it could be just to get a change instead of having to move to make a life for our family. Enjoy your age.

[One Thousand]

Originally Posted by Jsszyman

I am thinking about moving to Florida after I graduate. Being surrounded by warm weather and Palm trees is the life for me!! Any one else feel like they need a "vacation" away from Michigan for a bit?

I left. I'd like to go back... but, to be very honest, when I read some of these threads or CL's RnR, I'm reminded why I haven't gone back. Every other week, MI is in the news for something. We sit and laugh at the "Get a hand up" commercials inviting businesses to MI. (Why they're still running footage of corn harvesting and references to ethanol even after they ignored all the predicitons of what it'd do to food prices and now the discovery that it was all a waste... )

Florida has no income tax. 6% sales tax. Cheap to register a car.

MI is bad news for someone trying to start a life... especially if you're educated. Think about it like this: Taxes were raised during a recession. Who's going to pay for it but those capable of making a living. Who do you think controls that state? The people making livings or the people expecting you to pay their way?

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Jsszyman

I finally made it as a senior in college. I have worked my ass off the last four years. I have not left the state since I started college and I went to Orlando Florida that year, where I periodically go for vacation. I am tired of our long cold winters. I do not want to be here another winter. I hate going outside a half hour before work or school to brush off my car in the blistering cold. I hate shoveling snow off my drive way every day the whole winter. Being in the same bubble for awhile really gets old. I am thinking about moving to Florida after I graduate. Being surrounded by warm weather and Palm trees is the life for me!! Any one else feel like they need a "vacation" away from Michigan for a bit?

I took a trip to Florida when I was in college and I decided that I'd rather live without long winters but not in Florida. I ended up in the SW where there are 4 seasons but winter is like 2 days.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by quartz2456

I lived in the north part of Michigan most of my life. Cold in the winter, Nothing to do in the summer. Some people love it, but not many or homes would be selling. I have a sister who is trying to sell here home worth 160 thousand a few years ago, now she is not able to get 120 thousand. I think she would have to price it at 90 thousand and she is stunned. She is holding her ground but I think this is a big mistake. I sold out last year at this time and thought I was getting robbed, but now it looks like I got out just in the nick of time.

I always thought there was a lot to do in the summer. More there than many places, and really there is plenty to do in the winter but for me those aren't things I like doing that much. In the summer though -- everything is good. You can hike, bike ride, ride horses, camp out, float down a river, hit the beach, cook outdoors, watch the sunset at the lake, tube behind a boat, sail and on and on.

[forestst]

I'm a proud Michigander but now that I'm starting my fourth post-college year without any promising career opportunities I think it's time to leave. Seriously, I've now been five months without a job at all, not even the kind of restaurant and retail jobs I could easily pick up just after high school. Anybody I know who finally made the leap and left this state can only say they wish they did it sooner.

[kimba01]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

If you have millions of dollars to have a beach-front home in Florida, and live the good life, than Florida just might be paradise. But if youre an average Joe, FL suffers from many of the same problems as MI, just with hotter weather. Substitute snow for hurricanes and rain, substitute crime in Detroit for crime in Miami, etc... Dealing with Florida's heat in summer is just as taxing on the body as dealing with MI's cold winters. If you like monotonous weather, steamy summers, warm winters, than Florida might be the place for you. If you like 4 seasons, etc, Florida will be a nightmare.

And don't forget alligators and palmetto bugs. Yuck.

[nw michigan]

I lived 35 years in Florida. I lived inland, I lived right on the ocean. I was in several hurricanes. I STILL prefer that over the bitter cold that seems to go on for ever and ever. In all honesty, you do get tired of being too hot, just as you get tired of being too cold, but heat is easier for me to deal with

And most Floridians DO spend a great deal of time on the water, be it ocean or inland lakes, locals always run to the water!

in answer to the question though....arghhhh! I am soooo vacation ready!!!!!!!!