What is so great about living in/near Orlando? Who loves or hates it & WHY? (Tampa: mortgage)

[bdpop]

Originally Posted by katie_001166

I absolutely hate traffic. I think its horrible for the environment, people's cash flows, and their waistlines. What are the walkable, livable areas of Orlando to live in without need of a car? Is it too hot and sticky to ride my bike most of the year? Also, what is the downtown like?

If you are looking for a town where you don't need a car, don't come to Orlando. You need to have a car here.

[JTJ1977]

Thank you, Compelled, for the summary of Central Florida--well, at least from your eyes. I don't know what to say about all of it. On the one hand, it sounds like a pretty reasonable place to reside in; on the other, it sounds like a Las Vegas South--transients, weirdos (though they are everywhere), and angry people. I'll have to ask more questions in the near future.

[compelled to reply]

In a strange way, it is kind of like Las Vegas. It's not that bad really, but Tampa is my central FL choice by far. The number one problem with Tampa is that it's physical appearance can be dirty in some areas and there is also somewhat of a high crime rate there.

[Alphaman]

Originally Posted by katie_001166

I absolutely hate traffic. I think its horrible for the environment, people's cash flows, and their waistlines. What are the walkable, livable areas of Orlando to live in without need of a car? Is it too hot and sticky to ride my bike most of the year? Also, what is the downtown like?

You need a car to get around here and the downtown is a mess of ongoing construction projects and has a large homeless population. The housing slump is really hurting the downtown areas as alot of condo projects are having issues. You might be able to get by with minimum driving in some areas of winter park.

[chernail]

thanks for the info i'm looking to relocate to florida from nj

Originally Posted by OneBadApple

I agree with nk0171 up there. I've lived in Lake Mary (Seminole County) for 17 years, and with all of our massive growth, it is still a fine place to live.

Wherever a lot of people are, there will be crime.....but I'm pretty sure that it is very low here, relative to the population.

If you haven't checked out Seminole County yet, please consider doing so.....if you move here, I'm betting there is WAY less of a chance you'll ever regret coming to Florida.

Best wishes.....

[chernail]

i would like to relocate, how hard will it be to get my husband a job for disney in the construction/forman field ? any idea what the pay is like, he is in a union in nj,i know the pay will be different just wondering how different.....

[camper3]

Sad to say, but after growing up here and defending my decision to stay in Florida (even though I had offers to move to better jobs), I am now thinking of moving out of Florida.

11 months of heat, higher crime rates and all that go with that.

It was a great place as a kid many years ago. No longer a great place.

[Kenny1948]

My advice is this. If you're from somewhere in the Northeast, you will probably like it.
If you are from anywhere west of the Mississippi, you will hate it. It's that simple, I don't really understand it. I think Florida in general is the armpit of the world, bad schools, Religious nuts, Crime, awful drivers terrible weather ( summers are hot humid and stormy, winters vary too much from day to day ).

I moved from California, the lifestyle here is radically different. If you like healthy food, exercise and are into conservation in any form --- this is definately not the place to move!

Now on the other hand, if you like urban sprawl, big cars, wastefulness, Christian Conservatism then you have picked the right place!

[knightgoose]

Originally Posted by Kenny1948

I moved from California, the lifestyle here is radically different. If you like healthy food, exercise and are into conservation in any form --- this is definately not the place to move!

Now on the other hand, if you like urban sprawl, big cars, wastefulness, Christian Conservatism then you have picked the right place!

While true in some form, Florida is very diverse and very different in many parts. Tampa, Orlando, South Florida, the Panhandle are all very different from each other. I've lived in Orlando and a lot of people were into daily exercise and the 'looking good' lifestyle. Not as much in Tampa but small pockets there you will see it also(Hyde Park/South Tampa). The Pandhandle I agree is very 'southern' so you won't find many health food stores there.

[TERRI065]

Originally Posted by Lisa_from_Debary

I LOVE living near Orlando, I am about halfway inbetween Orlando and Daytona...

My daughter and I love to go to the parks in Orlando, especially the water parks...the shopping is great in Orlando as well. There is every kind of restaurant you can think of. Because International drive is packed with tourists, it has a celebritory air that lasts year around. I love that at any given time I can look over and find someone visiting from another country. One time I road the gondola with a guy from Chili (at Blizzard Beach), it was interesting to speak with someone from another country and see what life was like for him.

I also LOVE the temperate climate, I love being warm, not hot. I would LOVE to have a pool in the backyard, next time I have 40 grand I will...in the meantime there is one in the development I live in...my daughter and I lOVE to play in the water...
We are only about 45 minuts from the East coast of Florida and we also love going to the beach.
I also love to visit Sanibel and Captiva islands...its only about a 3 hours drive from here. When we got on the Disney cruise, I just hopped on 95 and drove down to Canaveral and jumped on the boat...

There are drawbacks just like with anywhere but this is as close to heaven as I have gotten so far...if I had the money I would be living on Upper Captiva...over off the coast of Fort Myers...that would be heaven for real.

So where is a safe place to raise a family near the mouse?