does anyone have anything GOOD to say about bradenton?? (Sarasota: cheap apartments, rental)

[mariadbd]

Love the Darien, CT comment and totally agree! We're moving from uptight, insular, pressured Fairfield County, CT (both professionals) to Bradenton....and CANNOT WAIT!!
Stepford Wifedom is highly overated and give me normal life anytime..

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by TKramar

I can't see making more than $10 an hour. That's what I make. Five years from now...I should STILL be making $10 an hour. I won't, they'll give me raises throughout, but that amount of money is more than anyone "needs".

C'mon now, wait till next year when gas is $10 a gallon.....

[keelybella]

Originally Posted by mariadbd

We've been to and from Bradenton for over 10 years now and have done a heap of research before we decided to make the move. I felt a huge amount of indecision and concern from reading many of the comments on the boards - but I've made numerous visits in recent months, and every visit meeting with people living there, other families, schools, waiting staff in restaurants, the mail guys - everyone - has given me a totally positive perspective. M

I completely agree with this! My husband and I were researching this move for the past few years. But the overly inflated housing market had forced us to stay in TN longer. Now, so much has changed. And having not visited since the summer of 2006 (during the last wave of the inflation) we relied on these forums to get a feel for actually living there. We had actually let comments on these forums sway us a bit.

Then we finally visited again in early April and fell in love with the area all over again. It may not be for everyone, but it is certainly for us. The people are so friendly and laid back. There is so much to do and Bradenton is in an excellent central location! If you feel like going to the beach, take your pick! It's quick drive to Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, Siesta Key or St. Pete! Not to mention the active art communities surrounding the area. Take a visit and see for yourself. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

[MovingfromUKtoAmerica]

Originally Posted by Ladywithafan

C'mon now, wait till next year when gas is $10 a gallon.....

You should be grateful it IS that cheap, its more than 2 dollars a litre here in the UK, and it's still rising!

[TKramar]

Originally Posted by Ladywithafan

C'mon now, wait till next year when gas is $10 a gallon.....

Don't really drive all that much. Every two weeks, I probably put $30 in the tank of my girlfriend's car--I don't own one.

I walk, or ride the bus. Sometimes I might borrow her car, but I don't like driving--traffic's one of the reasons.

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by MovingfromUKtoAmerica

You should be grateful it IS that cheap, its more than 2 dollars a litre here in the UK, and it's still rising!

I don't find it cheap. I've given up driving to work & take the bus. $1.50/day vs. $4.00 in gas....in fact, found more people on the bus today than ever.

[TKramar]

Originally Posted by Ladywithafan

I don't find it cheap. I've given up driving to work & take the bus. $1.50/day vs. $4.00 in gas....in fact, found more people on the bus today than ever.

at $2 a litre, that's almost $8 a gallon...what the poster is saying is be grateful that it isn't almost $8 a gallon!

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by TKramar

at $2 a litre, that's almost $8 a gallon...what the poster is saying is be grateful that it isn't almost $8 a gallon!

I hear ya....no math ability here...when it gets $8 here, we'll all be a bit unable to do the math.

[jammeff]

Originally Posted by roblimo

But there are positive aspects to living in our area. We know most of our neighbors, so the "thugs" outsiders see are, to us, okay young guys who keep an eye on things and scare away thieves. And barking dogs and lots of Mexicans with children... all this keeps our crime rate LOWER than in the "out east" areas where both parents are working and the kids are abandoned after school, and half the houses are empty either because they are owned by failed speculators or because they are second homes for up-north richies who only come here a few months a year.

Are you serious? How long have you lived here? IMO this is very inaccurate all the gangs and violence in Bradenton are West of I75. Typically in any area the further you go out towards the country the less violence there is. I transport my kids South (out East) using school choice because even though we live out east the county wants to transport my children 45 minutes into town where racial tension is high (Lincoln and Palmetto schools) just to keep the mix even. I read the newspaper and watch the news there are other high schools with problems, like Southeast. What about the little boy's anniversary who died a year ago because he was caught in gang cross fire while riding his bike (Stacy Williams ring a bell). Here's a good article to read Bradenton.com | 05/18/2008 | Remembering Stacy: Lessons of tragedy (broken link) . We lived off of Cortez Ave for 9 months while our house was being built and the police were in the complex every night for some kind of problem.

[HENDREN]

I've Lived Here For Years And Want To Move; However, We Hear Nothing About Any "huge" Crimes, Or Crime Areas, Or Whatever. It's Like Any Other Town.... Bad Things Can Happen Anywhere....
But No More So In Bradenton Than Anywhere Else. People Here Don't Even Think Of This Area As Being "filled With Crime" Because It Isn't. I've Lived In A Very Nice Area For 25 Years, And I've Never Had Any Type Of Problem Happen To Me Or Anyone I Know. I Also Grew Up Here And Spent 10 Years In Bradenton Before Going Off To College... Again.. No Problems, Or Thoughts Of Problems. I Guess Things Happen In "iffy Areas," But That's The Same Everywhere. My Problem With Bradenton Is That It's Totally Unsophisticated And Has The "good Ole Boy" Attitude.
Also...... There Is Nothing To Do, Nowhere To Go, And Boring!!