Florida lifestyle? (Christmas: home, job market, neighborhood)

[taylornicole]

Unfortunately, I'm another one of those "considering moving to Florida" posters and have a few questions, but I already know which area I'll be looking in, so don't worry about neighborhood questions. They may, however, seem very trivial as I don't know much about living in Florida as I do vacationing there.

I've lived in Georgia my whole life, so I'm wondering how easy the transition will be if I move to Florida. I have a few issues that I'd like a little more info from your personal experiences on:

1. Heat. I'm used to Georgia summers.. hot, humid, miserable for a while, but nothing I can't handle. Has anyone experienced GA and FL summers? How do they compare?

2. Winters. I do not feel the need to live in a place where I have all four seasons, but I do enjoy Christmas, like everyone else. How cold does it get during the Christmas season, and does it "feel" like Christmas during that time? (I picture decorated palm trees).

3. What is the Florida lifestyle like? Will it be easy for someone who hardly ever sees the beach to transition into? The only people I know who live in Florida have moved there from another part of the country (which I guess would include myself), and they're going all out.. decorating in beach-themed decor, tanning all day everyday, etc. I won't be anything like that, so will I be one in a few? Or is it more laid back?

Also, I've only been to Florida for vacation.. does it always have that "vacation" feeling, or is it easy to get accustomed to?

Thank you for reading all of this and any info you have! I'm just very excited about possibly moving down there so I want to make sure I can be as prepared as possible.

[fishwiz]

Don't feel bad for asking questions- that what this forum is for!
I haven't lived in Georgia- but maybe I can help with some of your questions.
When I moved to Fl, I thought it would feel like I was on vacation everyday. After work- I could go scuba diving. Well- that vacation feeling soon left. Depends on what part of Florida you are looking at to move. South FLorida is very fast paced. Not excessively friendly people. And soon enough you are in your daily grind.

Christmas in FL. is totally different. Lights on palm trees are cool, but to me- it never felt like Christmas. But you just have to make your own new traditions. Every Thanksgiving after the meal- we go for a long walk on the beach. Now that is what I think of when I think of Thanksgiving.

The Fl lifestyle is as varied as any. As much as we love the beach we have neighbors who hate it and think sand is messy and never go!
I get a kick out of "classic" FLorida things such as manatee mailboxes- where else are you going to see that?

[Damemeow]

Originally Posted by taylornicole

Also, I've only been to Florida for vacation.. does it always have that "vacation" feeling, or is it easy to get accustomed to?

At some point when you live in Florida (when I lived in Boca)... you will be stopping at Publix on your way home from work and suddenly notice all of these tan relaxed people and that you are neither of those things...that's when you realize they are on vacation and you are not.

[Lilybeans]

Originally Posted by fishwiz

. As much as we love the beach we have neighbors who hate it and think sand is messy and never go!

True. I don't think I've been to the beach more than once or twice in the last twenty years, and then only because we had guests who wanted to go.

[lochmoigh]

Originally Posted by Damemeow

At some point when you live in Florida (when I lived in Boca)... you will be stopping at Publix on your way home from work and suddenly notice all of these tan relaxed people and that you are neither of those things...that's when you realize they are on vacation and you are not.

But the great thing about that is that you have publix, we don't here. That alone is worth the move.

[Tungsten_Udder]

I've never lived in Georgia, and the friends and relatives I have who do live in Georgia never lived in Florida, so I can't help you there, but:

Originally Posted by taylornicole

2. Winters. I do not feel the need to live in a place where I have all four seasons, but I do enjoy Christmas, like everyone else. How cold does it get during the Christmas season, and does it "feel" like Christmas during that time? (I picture decorated palm trees).

First a big sigh. Florida has four seasons. Seasons are not defined by temperatures. So just because Florida has a winter (and fall and spring), that doesn't mean that Florida gets cold in the winter. Just how cool/cold it consistently gets depends on just where you are in Florida. It's a huge state, and of course you know that it borders Georgia, so how different are the counties along the northern border of the state going to be from the counties along the southern border of Georgia for winter? The climate isn't going to be radically different for one side of your body if you are standing with a foot in both states.

What is the Florida lifestyle like?

You do know that there are almost 20 million people in Florida, right? There are old folks, young folks, rednecks, Cubans, fundamentalists, drug dealers, fundamentalist drug dealers -- just about any kind of person you can imagine. It's not as if they all have the same lifestyle.

If you're a "keep up with the Joneses next door" kinda guy, then just make sure you pick your preferred Joneses next door. Don't pick the fundamentalist drug dealers if you want to keep up with muddin', huntin' and fishin' rednecks instead.

Also, I've only been to Florida for vacation.. does it always have that "vacation" feeling, or is it easy to get accustomed to?

It's hard to say what a "vacation feeling" is. People can and do go all over the world for vacation, anywhere in the world can be very different than what one is used to, and people enjoy doing very different kinds of things on vacations. Anywhere that you move can be a place you've gone on vacation and be near the kinds of activities you like doing on vacation. Of course, you can choose to do those things or not in your free time. And any place you live is going to not seem so exotic once you've lived there for awhile. <shrug>

[PrettyMissAshley]

Does it have that "vacation" feeling??

Ahh....! Well I guess when I'm in my car, driving down the coast line with the windows rolled down, I look to the side and see the sand and smell the ocean breeze, the realize that I'm living in paradise... I guess it does feel like a vacation!

And I'm a native, born and raised, 21 years and counting!

[joanie55]

I am always amazed by Floridians who don't like the beach. Why live here? Honestly other than the warm weather and the ocean I don't see many advantages to living in south Florida. It's expensive, people are rude, it's a mecca for con artists and phonies and the job market sucks (did even before the recent economic crisis). BUT to answer some of your questions - I personally do think it feels like vacation alot but that's because of the warm weather and the beautiful ocean. I DO NOT think Christmas in Florida feels like Christmas. As far as fitting in goes, I think no matter where you live you can find like souls so I wouldn't worry about that.

[Tungsten_Udder]

Originally Posted by joanie55

I am always amazed by Floridians who don't like the beach.

When I was a kid, I didn't like the beach very much. I still don't care about it much for normal beach activities, although I like it now for hiking and observing flora and fauna.

Why live here?

If you think the beach is all there is to Florida you need a tour guide.