Tampa or LA? (Miami, Tallahassee, Gandy: insurance, crime, buying a home) - Tampa Bay - Florida (FL) -Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater - City-Data Forum

ejperryman · 07-17-2007, 02:55 PM

I grew up in Miami (too hot, too gridlocked and now too expensive).

Went to school in Tallahassee (too small, too "country" and now too gridlocked).

Have lived in DC for 12 years (too cold, too expensive, WAY too gridlocked, and the people are generally un-interesting drones marching lockstep to their govt. jobs).

I am thinking about moving back to Fla., but am worried that I will hate it. My family is in Fla. (I miss them), I love the winters (but hate the summers and the bugs), love the water sports and love the cost of living/tax benefit. Plus, I can buy a huge house in Florida for half of what my house in DC is worth! And I am also looking to prolly retire there, near one of Fla.'s many springs.

Being very familiar with Fla., I have decided that where I am right now in my life, South Tampa (Palma Ceia, Hyde Park areas) is probably my best bet. But I am still worried.

Living in DC, as boring and cold as it is, I have gotten used to a certain level of culture, class, educated inhabitants, good restaurants and, other benefits (like having 3 airports instead of one). A lot of Florida is lacking in those departments (compared to northeast, west coast etc). Tampa too.

Am wondering whether anyone out there has moved from DC, Chicago, LA, NYC, or Boston to Tampa, and liked it? Or should I just move to LA (like I have always dreamed about) and deal with the earthquakes?

FireballFL · 07-17-2007, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ejperryman

I grew up in Miami (too hot, too gridlocked and now too expensive).

Went to school in Tallahassee (too small, too "country" and now too gridlocked).

Have lived in DC for 12 years (too cold, too expensive, WAY too gridlocked, and the people are generally un-interesting drones marching lockstep to their govt. jobs).

I am thinking about moving back to Fla., but am worried that I will hate it. My family is in Fla. (I miss them), I love the winters (but hate the summers and the bugs), love the water sports and love the cost of living/tax benefit. Plus, I can buy a huge house in Florida for half of what my house in DC is worth! And I am also looking to prolly retire there, near one of Fla.'s many springs.

Being very familiar with Fla., I have decided that where I am right now in my life, South Tampa (Palma Ceia, Hyde Park areas) is probably my best bet. But I am still worried.

Living in DC, as boring and cold as it is, I have gotten used to a certain level of culture, class, educated inhabitants, good restaurants and, other benefits (like having 3 airports instead of one). A lot of Florida is lacking in those departments (compared to northeast, west coast etc). Tampa too.

Am wondering whether anyone out there has moved from DC, Chicago, LA, NYC, or Boston to Tampa, and liked it? Or should I just move to LA (like I have always dreamed about) and deal with the earthquakes?

EJ, no matter where you live, there is always going to be an upside and downside to anything. I used to live in the greater DC metro area and hated it with a passion. Tampa has it's fair shake of traffic, but surprisingly, my commute is normally uneventful. I like South of Gandy and travel up Westshore Blvd 5 miles to the Westshore Business District. Traffic is not too bad, but it all determines where you choose to live and where your employer is. Try to avoid the long, tiresome stretches of Dale Mabry and the Veterans. I would venture to say that gridlock is their middle name. I feel sorry for those that are on the roads for hours, wasting their time away and deal with endless gridlock, while I am home in 15 minutes and no problems at all. Avoiding major thoroughfares are key here in Tampa. It is not a bad place. Considering it only takes me 15 minutes to get to work, it is not a bad deal and I have saved considerably on gas while others have suffered the horrible through the gas prices.

parasol · 07-17-2007, 06:27 PM

You seem to know Florida really well. Do you know L.A. really well also?

Personally, between FL and CA, I'd move to California for better weather, amenities, & landscape, and then convince my family to move there with me.

But in a non-dream world, I'd say follow your instincts. Is it possible to try FL out for a year and see if you can thrive here?

tampaguy03 · 07-17-2007, 06:31 PM

Tampa has most everything that a big city would have(World Class Airport, Sports, History, Art, Traffic, Nightlife, Recreation)just on a MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH smaller scale.
LA is definitley a differnt kind of place for a particular type..my dozen or so visits to friends I have found it to be very spread out, very "who are you and what do you do" attitude, the Ocean waters are cold, weather is nice though. My buddy finds LA a great place to live, and wonders everyday why Im still in Tampa...to each his own I say.

yukon · 07-17-2007, 06:39 PM

In Tampa, you'll have high property taxes, high homeowner insurance, hurricanes, expensive housing and traffic.

In LA, you'll have state income tax, high homeowner insurance (possibly, depending on coverage), earthquakes, expensive housing and traffic.

In both cities you'll have palm trees, beaches, shopping, bad drivers and plastic people. Not much difference, eh?

Tampa's housing is a little less expensive. And our air is much cleaner.

ejperryman · 07-18-2007, 05:47 AM

Hey, thanks so much for the thoughts. I really like LA a lot better than Tampa (b/c LA has EVERYTHING), but I can't afford to buy a house there. While in Tampa I can, and having my own house (and garden etc.) is very important to me. Thanks again for the input. I can't wait to get out of DC. If anyone wants to move to DC, please, PLEASE e-mail me before you make that big mistake.

gypsychic · 07-18-2007, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ejperryman

Hey, thanks so much for the thoughts. I really like LA a lot better than Tampa (b/c LA has EVERYTHING), but I can't afford to buy a house there. While in Tampa I can, and having my own house (and garden etc.) is very important to me. Thanks again for the input. I can't wait to get out of DC. If anyone wants to move to DC, please, PLEASE e-mail me before you make that big mistake.

One more opinion for you - I am a native of Tampa, never lived in LA but been there a few times. My impression is that Tampa is a bit of a miniature LA - it has enough to offer to keep a city person happy, but way less traffic and crime than you have in LA. LA has better weather, but it also has fires and pollution. And as you mentioned, the prices in LA are ridiculous. You can have yourself a nice home here in the Tampa Bay area for a mere FRACTION of what you would pay in Cal. Plus, the Bay area beaches are gorgeous and you can actually go in the water! I would say it is worth giving a try - LA isn't going anywhere.

kmadewell · 07-21-2007, 12:54 AM

I vote TAMPA, not just b/c i live here but last time I was in LA ... looked a little scary to me! The cost of housing is crazy, and I would take FLorida and hurricane here and there to an earthquake anyday...

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KEMOZ · 07-23-2007, 06:54 PM

I can agree with most of the post above, however--I'm in the same boat as you. I've always dreamed of living in Cali. I love palm trees, beaches, and the mountains (want the best of both worlds)--I'm all for scenery and adventure. On a realistic note, Florida would be better of course...but...you will always have that thought of Cali in the back of your mind, no matter where you are. If you have no kids/or they are grown..and your finances can hold you....why not try Cali. for a year?????Half of the folks i know that went to Cali. lasted about 2 years before they went running back to their hometowns...thanks to the HIGH COST OF LIVING!! I'm in Detroit right now..yuk--& planning to move to Tampa next month...I'm excited... but Cali. stays in my dreams. My youngest kid is nine. The plan is for me and hubby to move to Cali when the kids are just about moving out. Gotta long way to go....but who knows...I may just find paradise in Florida!! Good luck to you :-)

DaveB · 07-24-2007, 07:41 AM

I bought a home in the Tampa area largely because I couldn't afford one in California. Someone said housing is a little cheaper in Tampa. No way - LA is about twice as expensive as Tampa.

I have been travelling to California for years - both northern and southern (my daughter lives in San Francisco) and California is still my favorite place. I am very familiar with LA,SF and San Diego and I could live in any of the three (especially San Diego).

LA and Tampa have nothing in common aside from good winter weather and beaches. LA is a hugely sprawling metropolis where getting to work is a 2 hour ordeal on the expressways. It also has the weakest public transit system of any big US city. So it's drive the expressways whether you want to or not.

LA is a very hip place with tons of stuff to do. Tampa has great amenities but certainly can't compare with LA. Someone compared Tampa to LA - again not even close. Tampa and San Diego might be a reasonable comparison though.

Even though I love the LA area and would love to live there I must say that, while Tampa is not LA, Tampa is a very cool city on it's own merit. I do not regret for a minute buying a home in the Tampa area.

Oh yeah, about the earthquake thing. If you can live with the Florida hurricanes you can live with the eartquake threat.