[grizzly7377]

Hi there, How are you doing this morning???
I was in Florida for 24 years, we left in the mid 1990's and I am thinking about moving back there. But all this talk about crime and stuff has me freaking out. My dad just passed away and we went down there to visit the old area and it seems better then what I remember it. If you could can you please contact me in my e-mail at
grizzly7377@yahoo.com
Thank you much!!!

[backtofla]

which part of fla grizzly?

[aaronda]

Talk about seeing one end to the other, My parents had me in Oklahoma City and we lived there until I was five. We moved to Lakeland Florida and stayed until I was ten. We went back to Oklahoma and stayed until I was thirteen. We went back to Florida (Orlando area this time) and stayed until I was sixteen. A short stop in San Antonio Tx and on to northern California at age seventeen. I went back to Florida to visit for my 18 birthday, I missed my friends and I had no idea the difference in weather!!! When you live in Florida you do not realize how WET it is and when you live in California you do not realize how DRY HOT it is!!!

There are very beautiful aspects of both California and Florida, they are not as similiar as I expected. The mountains of California are breathtaking and the shock of seeing them for the first time (being a flat land resident for the first eighteen years of my life) was awesome. I have ended up in California since the age of eighteen now in my late 30's and considering moving back to Florida. Seems some of my fondest childhood memories have been those of Florida. My parents were happier and seemed to have "more" when we lived in Florida. I have done alright in CA despite the High Cost of Everything!!! If you have not yet purchased a home and you live in California, be prepared to pay at least 300k for something decent. You could pick up a nice trailer in a run down park for about 185k and if you go south to San Jose or LA you had better have a huge down payment cause you are looking at 450 or 500k for something to "fix up". We have gangs all over the place, English is no longer the dominant language spoken, we have celebrities all over the place and even in our government office, the most sought after elective surgery is breast augmentation, for all I know these are the same things going on in Florida???

I guess I need to go back just for the change, My parents moving me so much is in my blood. I have been in one state too long. I may be thinking of greener grass only to find it is just grass on a different side of the fence. We are vacationing in Florida this September and will make a decision.

Interestingly, NEVER experienced first hand....a hurricane (FL) a tornado (OK) or an earthquake (CA)

[JohnVosilla]

Originally Posted by aaronda

Talk about seeing one end to the other, My parents had me in Oklahoma City and we lived there until I was five. We moved to Lakeland Florida and stayed until I was ten. We went back to Oklahoma and stayed until I was thirteen. We went back to Florida (Orlando area this time) and stayed until I was sixteen. A short stop in San Antonio Tx and on to northern California at age seventeen. I went back to Florida to visit for my 18 birthday, I missed my friends and I had no idea the difference in weather!!! When you live in Florida you do not realize how WET it is and when you live in California you do not realize how DRY HOT it is!!!

There are very beautiful aspects of both California and Florida, they are not as similiar as I expected. The mountains of California are breathtaking and the shock of seeing them for the first time (being a flat land resident for the first eighteen years of my life) was awesome. I have ended up in California since the age of eighteen now in my late 30's and considering moving back to Florida. Seems some of my fondest childhood memories have been those of Florida. My parents were happier and seemed to have "more" when we lived in Florida. I have done alright in CA despite the High Cost of Everything!!! If you have not yet purchased a home and you live in California, be prepared to pay at least 300k for something decent. You could pick up a nice trailer in a run down park for about 185k and if you go south to San Jose or LA you had better have a huge down payment cause you are looking at 450 or 500k for something to "fix up". We have gangs all over the place, English is no longer the dominant language spoken, we have celebrities all over the place and even in our government office, the most sought after elective surgery is breast augmentation, for all I know these are the same things going on in Florida???

I guess I need to go back just for the change, My parents moving me so much is in my blood. I have been in one state too long. I may be thinking of greener grass only to find it is just grass on a different side of the fence. We are vacationing in Florida this September and will make a decision.

Interestingly, NEVER experienced first hand....a hurricane (FL) a tornado (OK) or an earthquake (CA)

Many parts of Florida now have similar issues as in California too compared to 15-20 years ago.. Orlando and S Florida especially..

Where is it so hot consistently in Northern California? Even in summer places like Sacramento usually drop to 60 at night a nice relief from days in the 90's.. You will not see that for half the year in most of Florida. Southern part of the state is now A/C 24/7 for 8-9 months.. Relief from the persisitent heat and humidity is something I'd love more of in Florida just like folks living in the NE and upper Midwest would probably like a some relief from cold gray long winters..

[Nirvana-Guy]

Originally Posted by Floridabound09

For those who left Florida and came back to Florida, why did you come back and were did you move from and were did you move back to in Florida please?
Also if you don't mind were did you live in Fla before you left.

For instance, a business friend of mine lived in Stuart, Florida, took a job in Holland, Michigan for 125k as a plant manager, he lasted 1 winter and took a 50k job back in Tampa as a sales rep. He hated the cold and missed the Florida weather. I warned him before he took the job but he insisted the
125k salary would make up for it, it didnt. He is what prompted this question.

I left and would NEVER come back. Ever! Evah!!!

Michigan is highly depressive. No wonder he came back. But the noirthern states are not all there is to it. We have the South, which is MUCH cheaper to live than FL, sunny in the winter and not as cold, and wages are MUCH better than FL.

So while going to Michigan is NOT a smart move, there are other options in the South (othern than FL) and the West (sunny and pretty).

FL is NOT your opnly option.

[aaronda]

Originally Posted by JohnVosilla

Many parts of Florida now have similar issues as in California too compared to 15-20 years ago.. Orlando and S Florida especially..

Where is it so hot consistently in Northern California? Even in summer places like Sacramento usually drop to 60 at night a nice relief from days in the 90's.. You will not see that for half the year in most of Florida. Southern part of the state is now A/C 24/7 for 8-9 months.. Relief from the persisitent heat and humidity is something I'd love more of in Florida just like folks living in the NE and upper Midwest would probably like a some relief from cold gray long winters..

I am referring to Redding Calilfornia. It does cool down a bit during winter months it has even snowed on a few occasions usually melting before it sticks. The summers are HOT! We went shopping last weekend and the car in the parking lot was on fire, you can literally burn your hand on the door handles and the steering wheel is so hot you cant hold it. It is not unusual to be 112 degrees. A different kind of hot than Florida for sure.

[JohnVosilla]

Originally Posted by aaronda

I am referring to Redding Calilfornia. It does cool down a bit during winter months it has even snowed on a few occasions usually melting before it sticks. The summers are HOT! We went shopping last weekend and the car in the parking lot was on fire, you can literally burn your hand on the door handles and the steering wheel is so hot you cant hold it. It is not unusual to be 112 degrees. A different kind of hot than Florida for sure.

The seven day forecast looks okay to me though I'd prefer Santa Barbara type weather in the best of all worlds scenario. How does 98/62 clear skies compare in the early morning and the evenings to 93/80 with very high humidity down here? No doubt middle of the day is hot in much of the low lying parts of the country this time of the year once you get away from the pacific coast..

Redding, CA weather forecast and current conditions - AOL Weather

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by JohnVosilla

The seven day forecast looks okay to me though I'd prefer Santa Barbara type weather in the best of all worlds scenario. How does 98/62 clear skies compare in the early morning and the evenings to 93/80 with very high humidity down here? No doubt middle of the day is hot in much of the low lying parts of the country this time of the year once you get away from the pacific coast..

Redding, CA weather forecast and current conditions - AOL Weather

JohnVosilla - not sure where you live (Sarasota?) but here in Dade City where I am moving from and also in Lakeland, my new home, highs are low 90's and lows are high 60's low 70's consistently in summer except for a couple days where it can get more extreme. We are at higher elevations here with hilly topography and keeps it much nicer at night. Coastal cities in South Florida have VERY hot nights, IMO.

I've never lived in California, only visited, but while the coastal areas have IDEAL weather, going inland I thought it was brutal. I felt almost nauseous from the heat, and like I might pass out. True, the high desert areas cool down at night, but I also hate the "brownness" and lack of vegetation in these hot places. Yes, the Central Coast of Cal is as good as it gets in every way, but the average person can't afford to live there.

For me, I found paradise right here, in Lakeland - the few summer months we have are a small price to pay for what we enjoy for most of the year. Many lakes and nature parks to enjoy in the area, with cool breezes coming through the heavy tree canopy. I know, one of these days I have to stop "hyping" this place, because the "secret" is going to be out; but for now I am glad to share and answer questions to those who are curious about it, and also to let people know that the climate and topography can differ greatly around Florida, which is something a lot of folks don't know. It's true that in a LOT of the inland areas it can be brutally hot and flat, but when you get to the "ridge" it cools down several degrees, sometimes 10 degrees better than elsewhere. This makes a huge difference to me. People should keep in mind also that any town or area with a lot of large old trees will ALWAYS be cooler than somewhere with no trees and a lot of pavement. If you have some hills and lakes, so much the better.

[momma123]

Moved to East Tennessee 2 years ago from Florida. Even though Tennessee is very pretty, Honestly they can keep it!!!!!!!!!!!! Miss the beautiful ocean and sunsets in Florida. I know there is alot of negativity about Florida. But there's no place like home. It depends on where you live in Florida. But that goes for any state that you live in. It depends on what you like. Personally I'm a true florida girl. Who misses wearing shorts and sandals. Can't stand wearing winter clothes and the long gloomy days of winter in Tennessee

[Tarastomsgirl]

Lived in Naples for 24 years, moved to Keene NH in June of this year.. Loved it, still love it, but not so much the winter.. Begun missing the amazing sunsets, bbqing on the beach in January and just warmth.. Moving back June of 08... I think the north can keep the snow.. I'll take the white sand