My perspective on moving to Orlando after 2 years. (Kissimmee, Sanford: theater, living in)

[StreetSmarts]

I've helped manage the building of both residential and a few commercial construction projects in Orlando during the boom, and it definitely was hot in the summer. I guess I got used to it, and I did have an A/C'd trailer to hide out in. But I was outside a lot. I remember doing a project in Apopka, and one morning, I felt the coldest I had ever felt it seems. I remember thinking "give me 93 degrees and humidity back" lol. It seems like you always long for the opposite.

[Crane's Rooster]

Originally Posted by ^Eagle^

Very good advice. It's ironic too because I have already started to act on both of those suggestions and am feeling better. Just met a bunch of new people so we will see where it goes. I also liked the suggestion about applying in Altomonte Springs.

Even if you don't find complete happiness here, but I hope you will....you will find happiness due to your attitude and approach. Anyone who's willing to adapt and try usually gets what they want in the end.

[TedTLPN]

Originally Posted by Crane's Rooster

Even if you don't find complete happiness here, but I hope you will....you will find happiness due to your attitude and approach. Anyone who's willing to adapt and try usually gets what they want in the end.

Attitude is EVERYTHING in how you shape your life.

[Soup Not See]

Originally Posted by TedTLPN

Attitude is EVERYTHING in how you shape your life.

Yep, sure is ... it's important to keep a good attitude as you realize Orlando is not the place you moved to 16 years ago and not in a good way.

[Mr Idealism]

Originally Posted by StuckHereinFL

So tell me how Orlando's downtown and surrounding areas compares to San Francisco, Chicago, New York, New Orleans, Seattle, Denver, Charlotte, Pittsburgh, Honolulu, Hell even Tampa, Miami, Cleveland, Cincinnati, or Columbus?

It doesn't, unless you like pretentious, overpriced dance clubs. Whoopee.

Even Lynchburg, VA has a more interesting downtown area.

Are you serious? You're not serious are you? Bash Orlando all you want, but Lynchburg, VA? Home of Jerry Falwell. The only reason that place really exists. Now, if you said something like Charlottesville you'd have a leg to stand on.

[NowInGreenville]

Originally Posted by leftee

I mean seriously what you can compare is the weather, quality of people, and availability of cultural activities. But you're right - I don't like living here.

You expect Orlando's cultural activities to be on par with London and Sydney? Orlando is in it's infancy when compared with these cities. In terms of the quality of people, most of then are from elsewhere as, again, this is still a newer city. Yeah, you can compare weather, but before moving here I'm sure you already had some idea it gets hot and humid in the summer, just like it gets cold and wet in London during the winter.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by leftee

Will it be any better where we end up ? Don't know for sure, but I've lived in Vancouver, Boston, London, Sydney and San Diego and all of them I would rate higher than Orlando.

Some people love it here ... good for them. Just not us ...

Makes no sense to compare Orlando to those cities. They are in a different category. Would you compare Pittsburgh, PA to London? I wouldn't.

You are comparing different tiers of global cities to each other. Orlando is an emerging global city, while those other ones you mention are much more established

Global city - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Soup Not See]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

Makes no sense to compare Orlando to those cities. They are in a different category. Would you compare Pittsburgh, PA to London? I wouldn't.

You are comparing different tiers of global cities to each other. Orlando is an emerging global city, while those other ones you mention are much more established

Global city - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You actually can compare cities by looking at particular sections. I was never present in many areas of Sydney, London, or Vancouver but I can compare the areas I did frequent. I doubt College Park will ever stand up to Chelsea even if you gave it 100 years to try.

And do you honestly think Orlando will ever be in the class of the other cities mentioned above ? Even if we give it another 50 years ? Not as long as tourism drives the economy and type of people who relocate here ... I'm not saying Orlando doesn't have a place in the world economy ... it will just never have a place in my heart like the other cities I've lived. When I look back at 80 years old and reminisce, I'll likely be thinking of my daily runs across the Harbour Bridge rather than my daily runs up Apopka-Vineland Road. To each their own ...

[DavieJ89]

Originally Posted by leftee

You actually can compare cities by looking at particular sections. I was never present in many areas of Sydney, London, or Vancouver but I can compare the areas I did frequent. I doubt College Park will ever stand up to Chelsea even if you gave it 100 years to try.

And do you honestly think Orlando will ever be in the class of the other cities mentioned above ? Even if we give it another 50 years ? Not as long as tourism drives the economy and type of people who relocate here ... I'm not saying Orlando doesn't have a place in the world economy ... it will just never have a place in my heart like the other cities I've lived. When I look back at 80 years old and reminisce, I'll likely be thinking of my daily runs across the Harbour Bridge rather than my daily runs up Apopka-Vineland Road. To each their own ...

Orlando may not be in the class of some MAJOR MAJOR world cities. IMO Orlando isnt meant to be THAT big, but a city does not have to be big to be world class, which imo Orlando is well on its way to being. Tourism wont drive Orlando's economy forever. Medical is on its way

And another thing, Orlando is not as dependant on tourism as Las Vegas is. Orlando has a beautiful downtown with great bars and restaurants (many of which I miss) Lake Eola, beautiful buildings, I can go on, as small as it is, it still marks the physical, geogrpahical center of the Orlando Metro Area. When Disney was built, along with I-Drive and all its attractions, as well as Sea World, it all got pushed off to the far southwest side of Orange County, its a complete and seperate entity from the rest of the Orlando area

Las Vegas on the other hand, the center of the city is the STRIP! Giant hotels and casinos visible from almost any point in the city and the only reason its a big city to begin with. If you dont work on the strip, dont expect to make much more than minimum wage. In Orlando its different, there are other industries besides tourism in which somebody can make money

Having lived in the two biggest tourist cities in the US (Orlando and Vegas) I have learned Orlando isnt as dependent on tourism as some would think

Orlando will always have a place in my heart. I was raised here, Im a product of the Orange County Public School system. And I hope my kids are lucky enough to get to do the same

I still ride my bicycle every now and again and did so when I lived in Orlando too. Even if I still live in Vegas by the time Im 80 (God forbid) I would still reminisce of my days riding down John Young Parkway rather then down Centennial Parkway in northwest Las Vegas

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by leftee

You actually can compare cities by looking at particular sections. I was never present in many areas of Sydney, London, or Vancouver but I can compare the areas I did frequent. I doubt College Park will ever stand up to Chelsea even if you gave it 100 years to try.

And do you honestly think Orlando will ever be in the class of the other cities mentioned above ? Even if we give it another 50 years ? Not as long as tourism drives the economy and type of people who relocate here ... I'm not saying Orlando doesn't have a place in the world economy ... it will just never have a place in my heart like the other cities I've lived. When I look back at 80 years old and reminisce, I'll likely be thinking of my daily runs across the Harbour Bridge rather than my daily runs up Apopka-Vineland Road. To each their own ...

In that regard, I think Orlando is actually much better. In terms of cost of living, good luck trying to get your own house in Vancouver, San Diego or London. The Orlando metro area is quite affordable compared to those places in terms of COL. Plus for a city of this size, I think you will not find better world class attractions and amenities.