Relocating to Ohio from South Florida. Need help please ... (Cleveland: ski resorts, house)

[Orlavinjr]

Hi,

I am a husband and father who works in Cleveland Clínic Florida. I am highly thinking of transferring to Cleveland Clínic Ohio and relocating my family. 1) I want a better life style for my 2 boys. 2) cost of living in Ft Lauderdale is very high. 3) i hear salary is higher in Ohio in comparison to FL.

The job transfer is in Solon, Ohio. Can anyone tell me how the lifestyle is in Ohio? I dont have friends or family there so i will be moving blindly. Never even visited, yet, although i plan to go in September to visit.

I stress more about the cold weather, snow days. Is it true people get more sick due to the cold?
My other stress is having my wife who most likely will get depressed and anxious for being alone without her parents and family who are all in So. FL. She was born and raised in FL and never been up north and never seen snow.

I was born in NJ so im somewhat aware of the cold however lived in FL since i was 7 and im 28 so dont remember the cold much.

Please also tell me about good surrounding areas that are safe and great to raise a family.

Also, unlike FL i hear that Ohio charges several taxes, for example, Florida charges only state taxes and doesnt matter where you live and where you work. How is it in Ohio?

Although i would work in Solon, i wouldnt live there because i heard its expensive. What about Euclid, Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights ... Or what other areas do you recommend?

Currently its 07/2012 and i plan to move within a year or less

Thank You in advance

[bjimmy24]

Good to hear that you're coming to the Cleveland area!

First off, don't be so afraid of the cold weather! Here is a good summary of the cold making you sick myth: Weather and Colds - Can Cold Weather Make You Sick. Winters will probably take some taking used to, but honestly it isn't like living in Siberia or anything even close to that.

I would recommend somewhere in "the Heights" (Cleveland Heights, University Heights, Shaker Heights) or Beachwood. Beachwood definitely has the best school district and is very safe. Shaker Heights has the next best schools. University Heights is small but nice, especially near the Beachwood border and around John Carroll University. Very affordable too. Cleveland Heights is a more quirky kind of place, so if you're into that it would be a good area for you. I'd look around in Solon though, it might not be too expensive, but I've never lived there so I cannot say for sure. It's definitely a nice area with very little crime. Excellent schools.

Overall, life in Northeast Ohio is pretty good and getting better. There are good people here and I'm sure you'll meet many people who will be happy to help with your transition. Good luck!

[Cruzincat]

I grew up in NE Ohio(Stark County). What I remember is the grey skies, even when the weather was good! I went into the USAF in 1972 and discovered a life outside of Ohio. I can't imagine anyone wanting to leave Florida for that area. Not only would your wife be depressed because her family is not around, she, and possibly you, we get depressed because of the weather. Unless you cannot stand the heat of Florida summers any more, I would stay there.

I lived in S Fla in the late 70's to early 80's. Did it without having AC in the car, too.

[Cruzincat]

Further, there is what is called the snow belt and Solon is likely to be in it. The lake effect snow from the prevailing winds sweeping down off of Lake Erie can hit the area pretty hard. The only time this doesn't happen is when it is cold enough for the lake to freeze over, thus negating the evaporation. But then you have the even colder winter to deal with. No win situation.

As far as sickness goes, during the winter you heat the house and it dries out. That will mess up your sinuses. As long as you use a humidifier, you can avoid that. I would say that it is pretty much a wash when it come to the difference in sickness, though, since in Florida you never get the freezes that kill off the germs and viruses.

[Orlavinjr]

Thank you BJimmy 24 for all the great advise. Cruzincat, thank you as well. Although it seems you are completely against OH, truth be told OH is a better fit than FL because south florida is just as bad or worse, very difficult to raise a family, too expensive, hardly a win/win. Other than the weather, but it's always hot and summer year round. I need variety. Too tired of not having a nice spring/fall or winter. Christmas and New years I walk out at 80 degrees or more. its depressing.

Just a quick question, I hear the Ohio is generally grey vs sunny. is this true?

[funkenstein91]

^Depends on the season. Late spring, summer and early autumn are typically very sunny. Late autumn, winter and early spring can have a lot of grey days. In autumn that's offset by the colors of the leaves, though. In winter you've got lots of beautiful snow. I think early spring is the only part of the year I find depressing because nothing is alive yet.

I lived in Tampa for a couple years when I was younger and I definitely prefer the variety in the seasons here.

[Cleveland_Collector]

Originally Posted by Cruzincat

Further, there is what is called the snow belt and Solon is likely to be in it. The lake effect snow from the prevailing winds sweeping down off of Lake Erie can hit the area pretty hard. The only time this doesn't happen is when it is cold enough for the lake to freeze over, thus negating the evaporation. But then you have the even colder winter to deal with. No win situation.

You make it sound as if the lake effect snow is perpetual. In reality, it usually only affects the far east side of Cuyahoga county maybe 2-3 times per winter. Geauga, Lake, and Ashtabula counties are more affected by it. Solon is on the very fringe of the snow belt.

Also, it doesn't really get that cold even if the lake does freeze over. We might see single digits at night for a week or two in January or February. It almost never goes below zero (F).

As far as sickness goes, during the winter you heat the house and it dries out. That will mess up your sinuses. As long as you use a humidifier, you can avoid that. I would say that it is pretty much a wash when it come to the difference in sickness, though, since in Florida you never get the freezes that kill off the germs and viruses.

Hydronic heat is the best. It doesn't dry out your house.

Illness has little, if anything, to do with the cold itself (you can "catch cold" in the summertime too). It's mostly because people tend to congregate more in the winter which allows the cold virus to spread more easily.

Originally Posted by Orlavinjr

Thank you BJimmy 24 for all the great advise. Cruzincat, thank you as well. Although it seems you are completely against OH, truth be told OH is a better fit than FL because south florida is just as bad or worse, very difficult to raise a family, too expensive, hardly a win/win. Other than the weather, but it's always hot and summer year round. I need variety. Too tired of not having a nice spring/fall or winter. Christmas and New years I walk out at 80 degrees or more. its depressing.

I totally agree. A change of seasons always gives you something to look forward too.

Just a quick question, I hear the Ohio is generally grey vs sunny. is this true?

It depends on who you ask and what your frame of reference is. Put it this way, due to the fact that I hear this so much (and generally form people who don't know anything about it other than what they have heard), I began to keep count of our "sunny" days beginning on 1/1/2012. So far, we have had 112 days this year with 6 or more hours of sunshine during the daytime (8am to 6pm). If you are from Arizona, maybe that's too few. If you're from Seattle, maybe it's too many. Overall, I'd say it's moderate. The cloudiest time of year starts around Thanksgiving and goes until about mid-April. The rest of the year it is usually pretty sunny. Yes, it does rain several times per summer and that is a good thing.

[Orlavinjr]

Wow!!! Cleveland Collector! That information you just shared was Amazing!!! Thank you so much. Definitely answered all of my questions/doubts. Looking forward to my visit in Ohio in September. Thanks again :-)

[WRosado]

Originally Posted by Orlavinjr

Thank you BJimmy 24 for all the great advise. Cruzincat, thank you as well. Although it seems you are completely against OH, truth be told OH is a better fit than FL because south florida is just as bad or worse, very difficult to raise a family, too expensive, hardly a win/win. Other than the weather, but it's always hot and summer year round. I need variety. Too tired of not having a nice spring/fall or winter. Christmas and New years I walk out at 80 degrees or more. its depressing.

Just a quick question, I hear the Ohio is generally grey vs sunny. is this true?

I lived in Florida for a three years. I hated it. I lived in Jupiter. Air conditioned car to air conditioned house. Horrible economy, and when you live there, going to the beach isn't an option everyday. I have so many more choices in Ohio for job opportunities in what I want to do instead of construction or tourism.

It's nice having four seasons. And if you choose Solon, I don't think you will regret it. It is constantly rated as one of America's best places to live, a quick Google search will answer that. Also, recreation in NE Ohio is much better than the flatness of Florida. You have great lakes (literally a Great Lake at your doorstep) and plenty of other lakes inland to go boating on... a national park, Cleveland metro parks, water parks and theme parks galore, ski resorts in the winter, and the changing of the leaves is an awesome site at some of the overlooks at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Don't miss out on some of the waterfalls either.