South Florida to Wisconsin (Madison, La Crosse: quality of life, living in, young professionals)

[billt94]

Originally Posted by Geechie North

We also spend money on stuff that reduces crime.

Tell that to the people laying around in front of the state capital all day!

[billt94]

Originally Posted by dlk33

All I can say is enjoy your first hurricane when it comes, enjoy the traffic that comes with living in a highly populated area, enjoy not having seasonal change, enjoy living in the air conditioning most of the time, enjoy not being able to keep your window open, enjoy worrying about crime on a daily basis, enjoy having to learn another language & most of all, enjoy the additional stress of having to deal with the above mentioned things. You may like it now, because it's all new to you, but it will get old soon

Madison doesn't have traffice?! Are you serious! Everytime I drive past that town, I feel like I'm taking my life into my hands, the traffic on the freeway is awful (and I frequently travel to Milwaukee, Chicago, been to California and Phoenix), plus Madison is definitely far from sparsely populated,and there are some seedy areas that I did not feel comfortable cycling through on the bike trail. THeres tons of immigrants, which is okay, America was built by immigrants. PLus we get tornadoes here, which I would think is worse than a hurricane if its right on top of you. I'll take the warm weather and beaches anyday. However Madison is not a bad town though, very progressive with the university there and lots of places to eat. Just sayin...

[Milwaukee City]

the traffic on the freeway is awful

lmao!!!! is all I can say.

plus Madison is definitely far from sparsely populated

Well around the capital building it's around 15K per square mile, which is high. The rest of madison is around 2,800 per sq. mile which is low.

[coreymcgovern12]

Madison is a fun town. It does roll up the sidewalks after dark sometimes.

[dlk33]

Originally Posted by billt94

Madison doesn't have traffice?! Are you serious! Everytime I drive past that town, I feel like I'm taking my life into my hands, the traffic on the freeway is awful (and I frequently travel to Milwaukee, Chicago, been to California and Phoenix), plus Madison is definitely far from sparsely populated,and there are some seedy areas that I did not feel comfortable cycling through on the bike trail. THeres tons of immigrants, which is okay, America was built by immigrants. PLus we get tornadoes here, which I would think is worse than a hurricane if its right on top of you. I'll take the warm weather and beaches anyday. However Madison is not a bad town though, very progressive with the university there and lots of places to eat. Just sayin...

Can't even compare the traffic in Madison to Chicago, I can't stand driving through Chicago.. now that's scary! You must live in a low populated area of Florida if you see no issue with the traffic there. Try Miami, or any area around there.
Most everywhere has some seedy area, but Madison has much less then a lot of other places south Florida.
I wouldn't want to have to be able to speak spanish as a first language.
I have never experienced a tornado, living here over 20 years. Can't say that was so when I lived in Florida. A tornado is over in a matter of minutes, a hurricane lingers.
Ok, I wouldn't mind warmer weather in winter, I'll give you that. I'll also give you the beaches, but that hot sun will most likely give you skin cancer over time, I have proof of that!

[ImaloneJill]

10 worst traffic cities:

Top 10 Worst Traffic Cities in the United States For 2009 : The Real Estate Bloggers

One reason I want to move away from the Chgo area.
BTW, you notice it says IL-IN not WI

And Miami is not far behind.

[billt94]

Originally Posted by dlk33

Can't even compare the traffic in Madison to Chicago, I can't stand driving through Chicago.. now that's scary! You must live in a low populated area of Florida if you see no issue with the traffic there. Try Miami, or any area around there.
Most everywhere has some seedy area, but Madison has much less then a lot of other places south Florida.
I wouldn't want to have to be able to speak spanish as a first language.
I have never experienced a tornado, living here over 20 years. Can't say that was so when I lived in Florida. A tornado is over in a matter of minutes, a hurricane lingers.
Ok, I wouldn't mind warmer weather in winter, I'll give you that. I'll also give you the beaches, but that hot sun will most likely give you skin cancer over time, I have proof of that!

Well yeah, comparing traffic in Madison to Chicago is a bit much, and I know florida has some nasty places that you want to stay away from. I really do like Madison, we drove through it last night and ate at this awesome mongolian grill place. THere's a fair amount of tornadoes, not like the great plains though. I was in one when I was a kid, thing went right over my parents cabin, thought we were goners. It was crazy, we couldn't breath and there was green mist everywhere from the lake. Skin cancer is pretty nasty, I worry about getting it when I am out in the sun alot. I love going to the beach though, whether it be the ocean or Lake Michigan in the summer.

[Drover]

Heh, that awesome Mongolian barbecue place is a chain.

[Wellstone]

The key to enjoying madison is to get into the city and spend some time downtown and find neighborhoods that you like. The mistake some people make is living in some crummy apartments in Fitchburg thinking they are in Madison and then going to restaurants along the beltline or shopping at West Towne Mall. If that's all you are doing then you probably won't like it. Realize those aren't the identity of Madison, those are cookie cutter places you can get in almost any city.

A lot of what makes it fun is who you know and when you first move and don't know people it is pretty hard. But if you can get out and have some fun with others and learn the good places to eat and drink and the quirky places you can shop, eventually most people like it and don't want to leave.

[amax41]

Originally Posted by Changeistuff

Hi

We (My husband and I) have already relocated from South Florida to Madison, WI. May be this post comes a bit late. However here is my situation:

1. We are in our late 20s. No kids yet.
2. We relocated here for my husband's job.
3. I quit my job to move here.
4. We are South East Asians.

My Husband never liked Florida much so it was an easy move for him. It was more difficult for me as I lived my job and its was extremely difficult leaving my friends. Also everyone in Florida were kinda shocked that we would leave South Florida for Wisconsin.

Here are his reasons for leaving South Florida:

1. Its not a good place to raise kids. School system is pretty bad compared to the rest of the US. My point is that the people I have come across and pretty smart and successful. So I dont understand the whole deal about Florida schools being bad.

2. Not a progressive place. He feels its more of a touristy place and not for young professionals who are career oriented.

Well you went from the fire to the frypan. We are raised Chicago, lived 14 years in Wisconsin (further north) and the last 3 in Orlando. I've been all over SE FL also.. Here's your news

There is none you went from the ethnic version to the plain white version. Both places (for what you mentioned) are the same with the exception of crime and winter.

Compared to SE Asia - America isn't progressive. Madison is touristy...just different tourists.

A place for young professionals that are career oriented... if your husband's job relocated him to Madison, WI.... you have a job issue first. Perhaps a career issue. Plus you want a good place to raise kids....

Here is the reality - if you want a perfect place to raise kids then you make sacrifices - that's all there is to it. If you care more about career (wouldn't know why in this day) then you make other sacrifices. Career? Chicago, NYC, LA.... Kids? Most of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, etc...it's all up there.....(depending on your standards, ours are high and FL is a sacrifice in this category)

I think reality needs to knock on both your's door. Neither of you are on the right page... IMO.