A note to all Florida Nay-Sayers... (Tampa, New Port Richey: schools, living, bus)

[scarlett68]

Originally Posted by tblan

Ya know, I live in upstate NY in the Capital District and my husband and I are planning to move to the Tampa area in about a year or so for a change and to be closer to family. I've read SO much negativity from people on here and it's refreshing to finally read that some people are happy down there. You know, Florida, and more specifically Tampa, are not the only places in the country with not-so-great wages, high home forclosure rates, and high rent. The entire country is feeling the crunch! Many are doing much better than others, but little of that has to do with location. Try living up here where you have to make the choice to either pay your rent late, buy food to feed your family, or pay you heating bill so your family doesn't get sick or freeze in the 3 degree weather! I know that there are negative aspects of living in Tampa, just know that most of the reasons people complain about living down there are the same or worse up here. Just live within your means. Move to a different climate if you don't like the one you're in. Find a new career or get higher education if your job does not pay well enough. There's ways for everyone to be happier...not just those that are wealthy or have wealthy parents.

By the way, palm trees, feeling the warmth on my face, and seeing the sunset will put a smile on my face any day =) These things don't fix problems, but they sure do put things in perspective! ...and they beat having branches fall on your car because the weight of the ice broke them off the tree, the feeling like your face is going to shatter because to freezing cold wind is unbearable and unavoidable, and bundling up to dig your car out of the snow for 2 hours before heading to work...

I agree with this wholeheartedly!

[matt_sfl]

You hardly run your AC? How is that? Half the year it's over 90 degrees with high humidity. I guess if you tell yourself you're in paradise long enough, you'll start to believe it.

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Believe me, there are people here who LOVE living/working in the Tampa Bay metro area - my hubby and I are two of them. We get up every day and give thanks and pinch ourselves for being able to live here - and I am a native!

And utility bills are great for us - last month only $60! I hardly ever have to run heat or air, even the summer bills aren't bad. The people here who complain just do it loud and often, that's why it seems like there is so much negativity. Those of us who are happy just don't post about it as much or we get blasted by the malcontents!

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by matt_sfl

You hardly run your AC? How is that? Half the year it's over 90 degrees with high humidity. I guess if you tell yourself you're in paradise long enough, you'll start to believe it.

What's with the 'tude? And maybe where you are it's over 90 degrees half the year, but not for everyone. Maybe I just enjoy natural climate which is more healthy? I live in a nice insulated home with high ceilings, fans and near the bay with great cross breezes. I love having the windows open.

[nucat78]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

I like palm trees, but would people please, please stop wrapping them n Christmas lights already? Because that look, it's just not good.

Gotta love the beer commercial though where the guy by a tropical lagoon is whistling "Oh, Christmas Tree" and the top of a palm tree lights up.

[nucat78]

Originally Posted by dunedinbeachbum

Hey, I live on social security, and can't imagine where else I could live that has all of the amenities and niceness of this area, and is still affordable. If someone thinks that it's hard to get by here, they should try living up in the Northeast. Dealing with the frigid winters is the least of it, it's expensive to boot.

Try Chicago. The past month it's been 2 degrees or so while I stood waiting for my morning train.

[si33]

gypsychic,..well said, once again...and yes,..im sure that making use of nature's own air conditioning is better for your health then constantly relying on the ol' AC.

Its also true that if your landscape includes larger trees which shade the house during the afternoon..this will also keep the temperture lower...

Add to this the consistant Thunderstorms there during the summer..and it's not nearly as bad as living somewhere which does not have that added benefit.. anyone who thinks Florida humidity is bad..live in Kansas or Oklahoma for a few summers...That can really get annoying..

I'll definitely take Florida's heat over the other areas..

[On-da-Beach]

How nice is this?? Positive and articulate comments regarding Florida. It's very refreshing...thanks everyone!

[Aconite]

Originally Posted by tblan

Ya know, I live in upstate NY in the Capital District and my husband and I are planning to move to the Tampa area in about a year or so for a change and to be closer to family. I've read SO much negativity from people on here and it's refreshing to finally read that some people are happy down there.

Florida's like anyplace else, insofar as there are people who love it and hate it and most people are somewhere in between (or all over the map, depending on the day). There's plenty to love and to hate, and most of it's the same thing: the Mouse, the beach, the traffic...
Everyplace has its charms and its annoyances. Home is where you make it, and what you make of it. Personally, I'm not all that crazy about Florida, but I don't hate it or anything. There are people here I stay for, though. And people I stay away from.

[Aconite]

Originally Posted by tblan

Try living up here where you have to make the choice to either pay your rent late, buy food to feed your family, or pay you heating bill so your family doesn't get sick or freeze in the 3 degree weather! I

If you're in that dire of straits, you will be no matter where you are. The only difference is that in Florida, the choice between late rent and the ginormous electric bill comes in July and August. It may come as a surprise to folks, but those balmy beach breezes don't penetrate very far inland. Check out a temperature map sometime, and the disparity between Pinellas County and Polk.

In general, it's silly to create a geographic p***ing contest. If your life is crummy in New York, it probably will be in New Port Richey. And vice versa. Your outlook and your effort are what're going to change things, not a hill or a palm tree.

[jsirois831]

FINALLY a thread that isnt bashing Florida!! Right now everyplace is hurting...Id say the thing I am gonna miss the most is getting out of work in the middle of January at 630pm and sitting in my freezing cold car for 10 minutes for it to warm up.....on second thought....