moving to ocala florida from NY HELP!!! (Miami: employment, construction)

[MoveNo8]

Originally Posted by momof3heatherns

Wasn't gonna reply but after all the bad vibes everyone has given I just have to say, being born and raised in Marion County...i'm leaving because it's gotten to big for me, way to many people have moved into the area. Disregard alot of the naysayers on here. Right on SR 200 we have a 16 screen movie theatre, 2 malls, and every restaurant or chain store imaginable. As for US 27 being run down. Thats a fact. However a simple turn onto east SR 40 takes you to "downtown". An artsy eclectic mix of privately owned businesses where one can find unique, and beautiful items. CFCC may well be below NYU standards however its a good place to get those pesky pre-req classes out of the way if your kids are looking at going to a University afterwards...it's also cheaper. Ocala is the countyseat also so you shouldn't have a problem finding a job in your profession. Many people read these boards and take what their told as gospel instead of with a grain of salt. One thing to remember. Alot of responders are natives and most of us have become disenchanted with the area for different reasons. I've listed mine but many younger people want out because as was already said, we do call it Slowcala

As many move out, many will move in.
Ever think it's called slowcala because it didn't have as much as it does now?
Soon it won't be called that because of stores being built giving business & jobs to the area. No wonder many of the younger crowd want out now it's called "slowcala", but in time with growth they won't want to leave. There are many places in other States that have nothing for the younger generation to do. I came from PA and trust me nothing there for them to do either, lived in NJ and other places and nothing for them either. It's not the places, it's the age they're at. What is there for a person between the ages of 18 to about 26 to do? Go to college, work, clubs.

Nothing wrong with wanting to leave either, expanding their horizons is a good thing. Some people don't want to look back on their life to say, I should've made that move back when I could've made something of myself. When they weren't in a serious relationship, before getting married or having kids. If we didn't go to other places what would we know what other places have to offer? So for the younger crowd it's a good thing to get up and get out and see what life has to offer besides sitting where they grew up and complaining there's nothing to do.

Natives want to keep it slow, but then wonder why there isn't anything for the younger crowd to do. They say there aren't any jobs, but then say there are too many stores. Expanding businesses makes for expanding the population of course and many of the newcomers are the ones bringing in the businesses for the area. A damn if they do, damn if they don't situation.

I wouldn't want my kids to stick around anyway if they can take part in other places to help make them grow before they settle down. I have met so many people that are stuck in life because they didn't take that chance and move. They are sad, uninvolved and blame everyone else for god knows whatever they think should be different. I'm one to say that i'm glad I have done my moves before I settled here. I wouldn't be who I am and accomplished what I have if I didn't.

Like "ALL" places Ocala is going to grow.

[kshe95girl]

I think you are just a bit behind the times in your assessment of Ocala, have you driven down 200 lately and noticed all the empty restaurants? How about all the empty stores in the new mall?
Nope, no new growth here, and there will not be for quite a while.......

[deeni]

I lived in Philadelphia for 24 years and moved to Ocala for my hubby's job. When we first drove into Ocala I was crying. I just knew I was going to miss the big city. What could this town possibly have to offer a big city gal. Well, surprise surprise, I loved Ocala. We are now back in Philly and I miss it very much and think about going back. I miss Jervy Gant (very pretty park), how easy it was to get around, the close proximity to all the Florida attractions, the awesome thunder storms, the warm weather (no snow!!!), the slower lifestyle, pet friendly, cheap cost of living, newer apartments/homes, near a fantastic research University (UF), and much more.

Of course Ocala is not without it's negatives. I hated all the weird bugs, I missed having good shopping close by (although a day trip to Tampa usually cured that), and of course the job situation which was ultimately what drove us out of Ocala and Florida in general.

But if you can get around the job situation, Ocala is a great place to live.

[Foxes]

If they are going to cfcc they are not teenagers and will be busy in college.
Ocala is beautiful. If you are into horses it can be fun. I live at a private airport. If you are into recreation there are places to canoe, kayak, etc.

It is close enough to gainesville, tampa or orlando to do things there.

Far as jobs, they dont take to outsiders, Suggest you quickly join a church or other social network and be prepared for low pay.

[h2obaby65]

Why is that? Ocalans don't take to outsiders? Is it because they may be challenged intellectually? Hugging each other tightly, pretending there is no "outside world?" Ocalans will continue this perpetual denial of progression that exists, it is truely sad, you can't be afraid of change.

[KathyA11]

Originally Posted by h2obaby65

Why is that? Ocalans don't take to outsiders? Is it because they may be challenged intellectually? Hugging each other tightly, pretending there is no "outside world?" Ocalans will continue this perpetual denial of progression that exists, it is truely sad, you can't be afraid of change.

I was down there for a week in June, looking at houses, and I found the people I met to be perfectly lovely.

[kshe95girl]

Ocala still has a small town mentality, unemployment rate 12.1%, how shocking

[KathyA11]

Originally Posted by kshe95girl

Ocala still has a small town mentality, unemployment rate 12.1%, how shocking

I don't think one has anything to do with the other.

[madmj]

I'll give you the best advice straight from someone born and raised in Ocala who has moved around a bit. Here are a few hints.

1. Move to any neighborhood -it's cheap, friendly, and close by to everything. Also what's really cool is that every house on your block will look exactly identical to the one you live in. How cool is that!

2. Feel free to swim in any body of water. Like all the other transplants do, please make sure to feed the alligators. They love it and can become tame very quickly.

3. Don't mind all the other pissed off people from up north. They're just unhappy because they left a place that was beautiful to come to a place where their retirement or lawsuit money would go a lot further. Now they are unhappy because they live in a place they hate simply for stretching out the dollar. After a year or two you will be yelling at waitresses and driving like crap too!

4. If you're looking for great shopping and dining we've got it. I mean where else in America can you find a Wal-mart, Target, BestBuy, CircuitCity(err... closed down) Pizza Hut, Olive Garden, Shells Seafood (errr...closed down) Red Lobster,Outback, McDonalds, Wendy's, Bennigan's (err...closed down) Carabbas, and a Hooters all right next to each other? Come on, who needs a ZAGAT rating?

5. In case you get sick DO NOT WORRY! There is a Walgreens on EVERY corner. The brilliant construction companies in this town sure know how to capitalize on a market. AND....just in case you can't find what you need at Walgreens DO NOT WORRY AGAIN. Why you ask? Because I guarantee you that right next door to that very Walgreens is a brand new CVS. GUARANTEED.

6. Lastly you should know that this town really looks after eachother. That includes all of the non-corrupt people in the county and city seats. Here is a great example. At the big landfill in town which is surrounded by homes on every side, they have mandatory water testing wells to make sure that run-off from the garbage is not getting into the ground. The good city officials were mandated to check the water recently for the citizens. Only problem was that they couldn't find the testing wells. Why you ask? Because the city had covered them in Garbage while the local commisioners looked the other way and forged the testing results that were supposed to be done regularly. In all actuallity it hasn't been tested since the 90's. And to think all it took was a gigantic lawsuit.

If you like trees this is the place for you! But you better get here quick. See all the construction jobs go to the same 3 or 4 companies. Well these companies like money and not trees. I mean who cares when you can just vacation anywhere you want to right? And since Ocala is mostly filled with grumpy old transplants living off retirement or lawsuit money, they couldn't care less about the local destruction. They won't be here anyway when there is no more to build.

Oh well, it's cheap and there are plenty of drugstores, doctor's, and Wal-mart's. And we got us one of them there big screen theeateers!

[KathyA11]

Originally Posted by madmj

4. If you're looking for great shopping and dining we've got it. I mean where else in America can you find a Wal-mart, Target, BestBuy, CircuitCity(err... closed down) Pizza Hut, Olive Garden, Shells Seafood (errr...closed down) Red Lobster,Outback, McDonalds, Wendy's, Bennigan's (err...closed down) Carabbas, and a Hooters all right next to each other?

New Jersey. And Circuit City and Bennigans closed all over the country, not just in Ocala.

5. In case you get sick DO NOT WORRY! There is a Walgreens on EVERY corner. The brilliant construction companies in this town sure know how to capitalize on a market. AND....just in case you can't find what you need at Walgreens DO NOT WORRY AGAIN. Why you ask? Because I guarantee you that right next door to that very Walgreens is a brand new CVS. GUARANTEED.

Gee, that sounds just like NJ, too.


Oh well, it's cheap and there are plenty of drugstores, doctor's, and Wal-mart's. And we got us one of them there big screen theeateers!

Gee, that sounds just like NJ, too. I'll feel right at home once we move....