South Florida to Wisconsin (house)

[Changeistuff]

Originally Posted by franktank232

Living in La Crosse and having been to Madison many, many times and having just spent 8 days in Ft. Lauderdale, FL i can see some very HUGE differences in almost everything. I think anyone moving one to the other is in for a huge shock. S. Florida to me is a foreign country. It doesn't seem like the rest of the US. Its too tropical, too diverse, etc... I liked it!! I didn't want to leave

I think it is different when you are on a vacation for 8 days and then having to settle there. Like I tell my DH, I would have fallen in love with Wisconsin if we came here on a vacation in fall. But having to live here in the winters - hmm I am not sure. Anyways, I am keeping a positive attitude. Its already starting to get better. The fall colors were mesmerizing (my first time) and I am sure my first winter here will be an adventure .

As some of you said, it is what I make of it. And I have decided to give it time.

[Changeistuff]

Originally Posted by ImaloneJill

I am not sure about the longevity study, but I would venture to guess that people who live in warmer climates are probably, as a whole, thinner and get more exercise. Possibly eat more fish, fresh fruit and vegetables. But....if you are not happy with your life, whether it is in a warm or cool climate, not much else matters. The reason I want to retire to Wisconsin when the time comes? Because I found a place that God touched and named for me-Imalone.

I agree. What is important is being happy with your life. My reason for liking Florida is very different from what most people like about the place. I am not a water person, not crazy about the beaches and my lifestyle is not partying every weekend. My reasons for liking Florida and wanting to stay there is cos of the people I knew and not the place itself. The thought of leaving my friends and moving to a place where we did not know anybody was not exciting for me. In fact it was depressing. I know I am sounding like a baby.

But things are so much better now and I hope it will continue to get better .

[Changeistuff]

Originally Posted by amax41

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.

I might be wrong but I don't think Madison in touristy in any way. All I see here is family and student crowd.

Yes-we do care about our careers. We are relatively young and having a decent job and building a good career is important to us. At the same time we want to have kids, give them a good life and decent education. I believe we can have both.

I never said I am looking for a perfect place to raise kids (I don't think there is any). Its all comparative. My question was not which is a perfect place to have a great career, make lots of money and is good for raising a family. I wanted to have an idea where Wisconsin compares to Florida in all these areas.

[Drover]

Yeah, I was curious about the "touristy" claim. I haven't noticed Madison doing much of anything to hold itself out as a tourist destination. About the only tourists it regularly draws are alumni on game days and folks from places like Stoughton and Black Earth who want a taste of city life on a Saturday evening.

[amax41]

Originally Posted by Changeistuff

I might be wrong but I don't think Madison in touristy in any way. All I see here is family and student crowd.

Yes-we do care about our careers. We are relatively young and having a decent job and building a good career is important to us. At the same time we want to have kids, give them a good life and decent education. I believe we can have both.

I never said I am looking for a perfect place to raise kids (I don't think there is any). Its all comparative. My question was not which is a perfect place to have a great career, make lots of money and is good for raising a family. I wanted to have an idea where Wisconsin compares to Florida in all these areas.

Ok guess you didn't get the point. If your career is education then you are in the right town. if not.... then no. kids are fine there, but it is a small town so that goes without saying. Also watch that 'lots of money' cause if you are looking for 6 figures - wrong town...but then again you said you two are young and that sort of money doesn't happen for a while.

The tourist thing - no it's not an Orlando, however it is touristy. It is the capitial of the state and that brings tourism not to mention all the state finals competitions and such. Also note that Wisconsin people for the most part don't ever leave the state for vacation.....for those that fit that mold Madison is one of the vacation spots.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by amax41

Ok guess you didn't get the point. If your career is education then you are in the right town. if not.... then no.

What about insurance, health care, real estate, legal, financial, civil service, support services for these various industries, etc...

[amax41]

Originally Posted by Drover

What about insurance, health care, real estate, legal, financial, civil service, support services for these various industries, etc...

ok fine -

insurance - move to CT

Health care - again there are a few metros with a way better shot on this one, Cleveland, Nashville,Durham, etc....

legal - NYC, Chi, LA, any big city not here....if you're going to be a crook be a big one

financial - NYC

civil service - this is a career??? fine - DC

again Madison is small potatoes and WI is 'rustic'. With that said WI is a great state, love it like crazy, but the reality is it's not big league...just peewee and little league. Harley, Schneider, Miller...... that is WI big league.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by amax41

insurance - move to CT

Health care - again there are a few metros with a way better shot on this one, Cleveland, Nashville,Durham, etc....

legal - NYC, Chi, LA, any big city not here....if you're going to be a crook be a big one

financial - NYC

civil service - this is a career??? fine - DC

Or, you could just stay in Madison and have all those options available to you in Madison.

Originally Posted by amax41

again Madison is small potatoes and WI is 'rustic'. With that said WI is a great state, love it like crazy, but the reality is it's not big league...just peewee and little league. Harley, Schneider, Miller...... that is WI big league.

Not everyone wants to be big-league. Not everyone can be big-league. Many people have made comfortable careers for themselves in Madison in fields other than education, and have also managed to strike a balance between work and quality of life that is not so easily obtained in most of the cities you listed above.

[amax41]

and with that don't expect a $200K+ house,

[AMC Man Dan King O' Keno]

Originally Posted by amax41

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.

Madison....touristy? LOL! WI is a great place for kids to grow up. That's gotta be the most important thing. I hope you stick it out. Your kids will thank you for it someday!