Burned by Orlando (Apopka: living in, statistics, to move)

[bbills03]

everyone thinks the grass is always greener.

I say try living in Buffalo, NY for 1 year and see how thankful you are regardless of your city/state!

[annerk]

There are definitely instructional design jobs here--welcome!

The only point you made that I need to correct is about the tourists. Unfortunately they aren't all stuck in Disney World. They are in the malls, in the Sand Lake restaurants, on the roads all over the area. On my way to work each morning up to 30% of the traffic has out of state tags and often has either a clamshell or is pulling a travel trailer. This is 25+ miles from Disney.

Where are you looking to live? I live out in the north end of Clermont and really like it.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by bbills03

everyone thinks the grass is always greener.

I say try living in Buffalo, NY for 1 year and see how thankful you are regardless of your city/state!

No thanks, I lived in Siberacuse (even snowier!) for three years--some of the worst years of my life!

[ExDC]

Originally Posted by annerk

There are definitely instructional design jobs here--welcome!

The only point you made that I need to correct is about the tourists. Unfortunately they aren't all stuck in Disney World. They are in the malls, in the Sand Lake restaurants, on the roads all over the area. On my way to work each morning up to 30% of the traffic has out of state tags and often has either a clamshell or is pulling a travel trailer. This is 25+ miles from Disney.

Where are you looking to live? I live out in the north end of Clermont and really like it.

At least the tourists here normally wait until after rush hour to start their treks and thank goodness they are not pulling a clamshell or trailer! Unless they do a tour bus, most of them are too terrified to try to get into the city then (most stay in MD or VA anyway since hotels in DC are not priced for the tourist set). But regardless, you get used to them so that is not something new for me that I will have to get used to there.

Since I've actually lived in the city (yes a lot of people do live in this supposedly crime ridden city, but thats for another thread!) One thing about DC is that people do walk a lot. Having to get into the car for everything is to me a pain. I've been looking closer in. Thornton Park, Delaney Park, College Park, and Winter Park areas (although not Baldwin Park -- didn't like it all for many reasons, but again that's for another thread).

The only other downside I've found is that while housing prices is some areas are becoming more realistic, these areas (with the possible exception of College Park) are for the most part listing at prices close to a year ago. Regardless of what real estate agents say, I don't think the market has realistically adjusted in these areas yet. Moderately priced homes/areas -- probably yes -- but my gut feeling is in these areas -- no.

[FrozenShores]

Originally Posted by ExDC

I AM moving to Orlando from DC despite all the negative comments people make on here. Its amazing really. After looking over the Orlando forum I looked over the DC forum. Most of the time I thought "Are you sure you live here in DC?!"
All in all I see most people who complain on here and DC forum unhappy with their life not really the city. A city or any place is what you make it. Trust me if you are a lower paid service employee you will be as unhappy in DC as in Orlando.

Quite frankly I expect the transition to be smooth:
1. Tourists. We have them--tons of them. And they are not confined to one area (Disney). They roam all over the city in hoards.
2. Humidity. Visit DC in August! They swear it was not built on a swamp but you'd swear it was!
3. Crime. What big city doesn't have it. Be aware and you can avoid most of it. In fact if you don't want crime why live anywhere near a large metropolitan area?
4. Traffic. You have nothing on DC. Try driving in 75 mph bumper-to-bumper traffic on the beltway. THEN see what happens when there is an accident and it takes you 2 1/2 hours to make a 45 minute commute. We have morning rush, lunch rush, evening rush, and saturday rush hours just to name a few.
5. All type A personalities (or almost all). In fact most people swear DC is colder and less friendly than NY. But I know and meet a lot people. How? By saying hello - you want friends -- be friendly.

Anyway just my two cents - before I move there!

Yeah, I think that coming from DC, you will enjoy Orlando. I considered moving to DC because of the culture, free museums, awesome transit system, and high walkability. But I knew people in Orlando from there and they didn't like the cold people (or cold weather) and the crime is still pretty bad there even though it has improved.

[FrozenShores]

Originally Posted by bbills03

everyone thinks the grass is always greener.

I say try living in Buffalo, NY for 1 year and see how thankful you are regardless of your city/state!

For me personally, I disagree about the greener grasses thing. I realize no matter where I live there is going to be something I don't like about the place. There are many other places in the country that I wouldn't want to live because they don't have the basic amenities that I require for my type of lifestyle. So I guess I think the grass is browner in some cases

So if one can find a place that has enough of what you do want, just go there, check it out and make your decision. You get bored of your home city, go on vacation more. Familiarity always breeds contempt.

[Disco_Dave]

I first moved to Orlando in 1995 when I was six years old before moving back to Connecticut in late 2001. My family ended up missing Orlando so much that we came back in mid 2006.

My parents seems to have a love/hate relationship with Orlando and they acutally moved back because I wanted to be here.

Living anywhere is really what you make of it. It just depends on your tastes and your attitudes about life. To the guy who started this thread who found Orlandians to be rude has obviously never been to New England. I have always found most of the people here to be friendly and out going. (not to say orlando is the friendliest place around, it isn't) People in connecticut were so introverted and cold-hearted it was actually pretty sad.

I may not have the best job around, but it pays my rent, bills, car, food, etc. I actually consider myself to be a very successful man since I just got promoted at work and am due for a raise in about a month and a half.

I have also never been the victim of any crime since I live in Southchase (near Hunters Creek and Kissimmee) but I am well aware it goes on and I know which areas of town to avoid

I love Orlando and I don't think I could ever leave. Though maybe I would want to if I was a victim of a crime or something like that. I'm enjoying my life here almost 100% and am happy with the direction my life is headed.

Compared to a lot of other places, Orlando is pretty bad a**. Orange County has 1.1 million people and continues to grow, its very ethnically diverse, theres a million things to do, and there are good paying jobs for those who seek them.

I understand there is a lot of negative things to say about Orlando (record crime rates, horrible rush hour traffic, very low paying jobs, urban sprawl) But there are a lot of positives as well (Racial diversity, progressive thinking, a moderate cost of living, wonderful weather between October and May)

Like I said I'll never leave Orlando. I plan to marry and raise a family here

[msdiffy]

Originally Posted by annerk

My guess is that a lot of the people you've met won't be sad when you leave. It must be difficult to be around a person as negative as you are.

I am definitely not negative, but I am a die hard realist. The Proof Is In The Pudding, when it comes to the rudeness of the people that I have encountered here. You on the other hand always make something out of nothing. If you don't like me so much, then whey even comment on my post.

I also know that you have read and comented on other posts about the character of the citizens of your wonderful Orlando. You don't like what they say either. But every has an opinion, and mine is that Orlando SUCKS!!!!

[Practice]

“If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will.”
-Abraham Lincoln

[AONE]

It appears the OP bought in MetroWest when they came here. Unfortunaetely housing did take a tumble and some prices fell greatly and then when crime in some of these areas became apparent the market really fell for some communities.
In reality housing fell in most every place in the country so one can't say the loss is only felt here. You likely would have had the same elsewhere. I am finding we have a pretty busy market and as such we are sellig more homes than the rest of the country.
Crime can happen anywhere. and horrific crimes are not prone to any one place. I lived close to a serial killer in Kansas City and even met the man. shortly after I moved here I got a call from a man that later that day turned out to have killed both his parents. You just never know the potential of people and it isn't geared around the location... well unless we are talking about Seattle and no one gets to see the sun (i'm kidding).
There are some great homes and areas in Orlando. as was pointed out there is much to do and our weather beats Colorado any day. The mountains there certainly take a good picture but I'd rather see a picture of the snow than experience it again.

I don't find FL to really be Southern though most think it is from the geography. It isnt the native Floridians that are so rude here but all the transplants. So when you find a rude interaction ask them where they came from... bet it isnt here. Not sure why FL deserves the rap for rude people moving here.

I've been tied to FL for most of my life and I love it. I don't worry about crime. I havent had any break ins here. I did get robbed 3 times in Kansas City and 2 attempted... thats what insurance is for. I didnt fret about it there either. I doubt anyonee would come into my house here as I have 6 dogs. I would worry more about their safety than what they would be protecting. btw ... you can shoot them in this state and many people carry and own guns. Thats no different from TX before anyone goes off on FL for that...

I think its a great place and I love it here. I like some areas more than others given a choice.

ken a