[Keithcooper]

I started a thread under NC about comparison between FL and NC and was told to try the FL forum. So, basically I cannot decide between NC and FL to move to. I LOVE the gulf coast, the warmth and blue of the water. But I'm not sure if there's a gulf city that fits my requirements and stick with NC?
I am looking for a near the coast city with southern hospitality. I'm from Georgia. I want to feel like I'm "living down south" from the culture, manners, meal, Spanish mossy oak, etc. That was one of my favorite things about Savannah, how friendly people are and easy it is to make friends. I need a place with decent COL and abundance of RN jobs that hire new grads. Since I'll be living alone for a while, I will to afford an apartment on just my salary. I assume I could not budget more than a grand a month for living expenses. I want a place I can call home, affordable, low crime, beautiful scenery and weather but most important, southern charm? Does Fl have that or am I better with sticking to the coast of NC?
Please advise.
Thanks

[Famalam]

Originally Posted by Keithcooper

I started a thread under NC about comparison between FL and NC and was told to try the FL forum. So, basically I cannot decide between NC and FL to move to. I LOVE the gulf coast, the warmth and blue of the water. But I'm not sure if there's a gulf city that fits my requirements and stick with NC?
I am looking for a near the coast city with southern hospitality. I'm from Georgia. I want to feel like I'm "living down south" from the culture, manners, meal, Spanish mossy oak, etc. That was one of my favorite things about Savannah, how friendly people are and easy it is to make friends. I need a place with decent COL and abundance of RN jobs that hire new grads. Since I'll be living alone for a while, I will to afford an apartment on just my salary. I assume I could not budget more than a grand a month for living expenses. I want a place I can call home, affordable, low crime, beautiful scenery and weather but most important, southern charm? Does Fl have that or am I better with sticking to the coast of NC?
Please advise.
Thanks

I dont think "southern charm" exists anywhere below north florida. Try the gulfcoast on the panhandle, would probably be your best bet.

[jwolfer]

Originally Posted by Keithcooper

I started a thread under NC about comparison between FL and NC and was told to try the FL forum. So, basically I cannot decide between NC and FL to move to. I LOVE the gulf coast, the warmth and blue of the water. But I'm not sure if there's a gulf city that fits my requirements and stick with NC?
I am looking for a near the coast city with southern hospitality. I'm from Georgia. I want to feel like I'm "living down south" from the culture, manners, meal, Spanish mossy oak, etc. That was one of my favorite things about Savannah, how friendly people are and easy it is to make friends. I need a place with decent COL and abundance of RN jobs that hire new grads. Since I'll be living alone for a while, I will to afford an apartment on just my salary. I assume I could not budget more than a grand a month for living expenses. I want a place I can call home, affordable, low crime, beautiful scenery and weather but most important, southern charm? Does Fl have that or am I better with sticking to the coast of NC?
Please advise.
Thanks

Pensacola, Ft Walton Beach, Panama City will get you on gulf, nice water, everywhere has hospitals but these are smaller cities. Those are the larger cities on the gulf coast that are more "southern"

Jacksonville is a larger city, coastal and more RN jobs but the water is not blue like Panama City or Pensacola. Obviously its on the Atlantic not the Gulf, the beaches would be more similar to coastal NC.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by Keithcooper

I started a thread under NC about comparison between FL and NC and was told to try the FL forum. So, basically I cannot decide between NC and FL to move to. I LOVE the gulf coast, the warmth and blue of the water. But I'm not sure if there's a gulf city that fits my requirements and stick with NC?
I am looking for a near the coast city with southern hospitality. I'm from Georgia. I want to feel like I'm "living down south" from the culture, manners, meal, Spanish mossy oak, etc. That was one of my favorite things about Savannah, how friendly people are and easy it is to make friends. I need a place with decent COL and abundance of RN jobs that hire new grads. Since I'll be living alone for a while, I will to afford an apartment on just my salary. I assume I could not budget more than a grand a month for living expenses. I want a place I can call home, affordable, low crime, beautiful scenery and weather but most important, southern charm? Does Fl have that or am I better with sticking to the coast of NC?
Please advise.
Thanks

I would also urge you maybe to push the geographic boundaries a bit and consider a larger city like Mobile (population around 200K) though while in Alabama, barely so. It certainly nails all of your criteria, though uncertain of the RN jobs for new grads portion.

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[Sunshine Rules]

I am looking for a near the coast city with southern hospitality. I'm from Georgia. I want to feel like I'm "living down south" from the culture, manners, meal, Spanish mossy oak, etc.


Many of Florida's residents are retirees or transplants from states "up north" or midwest, so the culture is not Southern, so it's doubtful you would find anyplace here that would compare to Savannah on the points you mentioned.

[jwolfer]

Originally Posted by Sunshine Rules

I am looking for a near the coast city with southern hospitality. I'm from Georgia. I want to feel like I'm "living down south" from the culture, manners, meal, Spanish mossy oak, etc.


Many of Florida's residents are retirees or transplants from states "up north" or midwest, so the culture is not Southern, so it's doubtful you would find anyplace here that would compare to Savannah on the points you mentioned.

I would venture that you have not spend much time in Northern Florida.

According to some posters the northern parts of Florida are either Lower Alabama for the panhandle or Jacksonville is the biggest city in South Georgia( I do not like either one of those assertions... its just a part of Florida)

[k9coach]

If you want FL gulf beaches with southern culture you definitely want to check out the panhandle from Pensacola all the way to Carrabelle. Many different types of areas in that long stretch but they all give you southern culture with gorgeous gulf beaches. There should be somewhere in there that will work for you.

[smarino]

I'm afraid you want too much for that kind of money, and more money may not even help. As someone that moved from Savannah to Florida many years ago, I understand the Southern culture aspect, and it was sorely lacking when I came here. But, as many people understand, the cost of living was a positive. Didn't miss the crime and high rents in Savannah for sure, nor the narrow mindedness and old time racial prejudices that still exist in Southern cities, although you have to sift through a lot of code words sometimes to get it.

The election of a black man to the presidency exposed the Republicans for what they really are, and every Southern state I can think of is Republican run. These recent "religious freedom" laws that have been passed exposes the deep seated distrust and prejudice against anyone that is outside the right wing's Christian fundamentalist viewpoints. So much for Southern hospitality! I doubt that the things you miss in the South are really there underneath the veneer of polite talk. As mentioned by another poster, you can't even count on that surface politeness from East Coast Yankees, who often hold racial views not dissimilar to conservative Southerners. Many of us from the South don't see reality as it is, we become habituated to seeing as we wish it were. Living in other areas of the country was an eye opener for me. I don't think any place in the USA offers what you're looking for. Might be time for a reality check.

[jwolfer]

Originally Posted by smarino

I'm afraid you want too much for that kind of money, and more money may not even help. As someone that moved from Savannah to Florida many years ago, I understand the Southern culture aspect, and it was sorely lacking when I came here. But, as many people understand, the cost of living was a positive. Didn't miss the crime and high rents in Savannah for sure, nor the narrow mindedness and old time racial prejudices that still exist in Southern cities, although you have to sift through a lot of code words sometimes to get it.

The election of a black man to the presidency exposed the Republicans for what they really are, and every Southern state I can think of is Republican run. These recent "religious freedom" laws that have been passed exposes the deep seated distrust and prejudice against anyone that is outside the right wing's Christian fundamentalist viewpoints. So much for Southern hospitality! I doubt that the things you miss in the South are really there underneath the veneer of polite talk. As mentioned by another poster, you can't even count on that surface politeness from East Coast Yankees, who often hold racial views not dissimilar to conservative Southerners. Many of us from the South don't see reality as it is, we become habituated to seeing as we wish it were. Living in other areas of the country was an eye opener for me. I don't think any place in the USA offers what you're looking for. Might be time for a reality check.

Opposition to President Obama's policies is not in and of itself racist any more than someone who opposed Margaret Thatcher was a misogynist

Many from the Northeast think that Racism only exists in the South. The most segregated cities are all outside the South.

[BNBR]

Originally Posted by smarino

I'm afraid you want too much for that kind of money, and more money may not even help. As someone that moved from Savannah to Florida many years ago, I understand the Southern culture aspect, and it was sorely lacking when I came here. But, as many people understand, the cost of living was a positive. Didn't miss the crime and high rents in Savannah for sure, nor the narrow mindedness and old time racial prejudices that still exist in Southern cities, although you have to sift through a lot of code words sometimes to get it.

The election of a black man to the presidency exposed the Republicans for what they really are, and every Southern state I can think of is Republican run. These recent "religious freedom" laws that have been passed exposes the deep seated distrust and prejudice against anyone that is outside the right wing's Christian fundamentalist viewpoints. So much for Southern hospitality! I doubt that the things you miss in the South are really there underneath the veneer of polite talk. As mentioned by another poster, you can't even count on that surface politeness from East Coast Yankees, who often hold racial views not dissimilar to conservative Southerners. Many of us from the South don't see reality as it is, we become habituated to seeing as we wish it were. Living in other areas of the country was an eye opener for me. I don't think any place in the USA offers what you're looking for. Might be time for a reality check.

"I'm interested in North Carolina or Florida, what do you guys think?"

"Well, a black man was elected president and Republicans are stupid"

WTF?! Any opportunity, I guess. Though if you are a Democrat, I think your comment says a lot more about your type than any Republican.