[Madaly]

Originally Posted by Rachael84

Um, my students live in NYC, which has numerous beaches very close by. I guess you've never actually been to NYC to realize how close it is to many beaches. They all tell me they go to the beach during the summer. And as a matter of fact, they've never complained about the cold to me either.

It's amusing to me that you assume ALL kids must love the beach.

But you didn't believe me when I said my kids hated the snow. So it would be amusing to me that you assume all kids must love the snow.

[TANaples]

The MAJORITY of kids will probably like BOTH the beach and the snow. A small MINORITY will not like the beach or not like the snow. Your kids are part of the minority that don't like the snow. As a child, I was part of that minority that didn't the beach.

There are no absolutes either way.

[Rachael84]

Originally Posted by Madaly

But you didn't believe me when I said my kids hated the snow. So it would be amusing to me that you assume all kids must love the snow.

You're twisting my words. It's naive to think ALL kids either like summer or winter. I just said how 1 kid in my class preferred the beach to snow.

[Shoegal1075]

This thread took an ugly turn - I don't like the direction it went.

[rogercobb]

I'm not crazy about Orlando but statewide I think Florida ranks better than most states. Someone mentioned the rain. I wish we'd get three solid days of rain to wash away all the pollen. There's more of a seabreeze here in Citrus County and the pollen doesn't seem as noticable as Orlando. My eyes were burning when I left O-Town yesterday.

[mrcoolmrcool28]

Originally Posted by Sunny-Days90

So you are Hockeymom72 who was banned from this board for posting negativity.

Looking at Hockeymom72 post, how many people have

1. Lived on LI
2. Have a daughter named Rachael84 who is a teacher in New York and post the same negativity here.
3. Live in Naples
4. Was forced to move to Naples Florida
5. Post the consistent message of how bad Florida is.

and the list goes on and on.

So Tanaples and the banned Hockeymom72 are one in the same.

Thanks to the tip offered by DailyJournalist that made me take a close look.

you rock!!!

[Granny Sue]

Great the thread that will not die......

[Nomadicus]

I suspect this thread will be properly cremated and laid to rest one day....Just how far off topic can it get...All the arguments in the state will not answer the OP...for each and every person...This has been more of a place to vent that to look at positive and negatives of the state...from day one.

[Saffyre98]

Originally Posted by Ceiling Cat

I was at a Christmas party in Lakeland yesterday and all of us sat around in the living room fanning ourselves, almost sweating. Some of us stood by the dining room window because there was no air conditioning (this is supposed to be DECEMBER!), and at least right there we could feel a tiny breeze. Even the baby had to be changed out of his cute little Christmas outfit because it was too hot.

Later, my nephew was attacked by fire ants as he played on the trampoline. Welcome to the hell that is Florida, little ones...

Per your post, the day before in Lakeland Florida (December 19, 2008) the temps were mid 70's for the high and lower 60's for the low. For many of us here in Florida that is perfect weather. If it was warm, why didn't the host put on the A/C for a few minutes to make the guests comfy? I personally have never held one of my kids parties inside when we can be either at a park, in the pool out back or at the beach. Those are the best parties ever...even in December!

I love Florida! I moved here from PA in 1991 and have never looked back. We were actually out on our boat on the Mosquito Lagoon in December of last year with our son and his wife who were visiting for the holidays and caught some very nice Redfish, a bunch of slot trout and had tons of fun watching the dolphins play in the wake from our boat...flipping and spinning. Guess it's all about your lifestyle and what you're looking for in life.

Within a two hour drive I can be at a nice high end resort (Turtle Bay resort on Siesta Key is wonderful!) or point my boat in any direction and spend a day on the St. John's river or one of the many lagoon areas featuring jet skiing, fishing, swimming, canoeing, etc. We can pack a tent and a couple of sleeping bags and pull the boat up to any number of islands and camp out for the night.

I can drive over to the Casinos near Tampa, the Dali Museum or OMA (Orlando Museum of Art...(the Chihuly exhibit a few years back was just fabulous!), or any of the gorgeous garden exhibits such as Bok Gardens, Leu Gardens or several others.

The night life here is very diverse and plentiful. We have one of the top NBA teams in the country (Orlando Magic) and the games are lots of fun to attend especially with Dwight Howard (#1 in defense) and Rashard Lewis (#1 3=point shooter) to watch. Excellent golfing at dozens of area courses, SeaWorld, Disney, Hard Rock Cafe, Downtown Disney, Busch Gardens...there is always something exciting within an hour or two away.

This topic is very subjective! I've been reading through some of the comments and it's just about what folks enjoy doing with their lives and who you want to hang around with. Culturally and economically, there are the down home folks to the jet set crowd...scholars and just plain folk. Not sure there is anyplace with as much to do, see or people from diverse backgrounds to meet as there is in Florida. Just my 2¢

[Saffyre98]

Originally Posted by ngrome

There a few of them here who feel the need to defend FL. If they are happy down here, then let them be. They should leave the rest of us alone to vent in our own group therapy.

And regarding the original post, yes on both counts. FL used to be a good place to live (I wouldn't say great, but it was good over 10 years ago when I just got here), but I wouldn't say it is anymore. It's a better place to visit than to live in, IN MY OPINION.

Well, not sure why this should be your personal venting place It makes Florida look bad and there are lots of folks who live here that absolutely love the place! Why would we not respond to the negatives posted? It's no different than living in New York...there are your bad sections and good. Same in Florida.