[svbusdriver]

I have lived here for 3 years... Came from Pittsburgh, leaving for there again tomorrow...

Anyway, This whole state is not anything close to what I expected...Here's why...

1- The wages here stink...bad. I drive a motorcoach here in Orlando and I make a whopping 10 bucks a hour. No benefits whatsoever. My friends up north that do the same job get considerably more, and tell me all the time they wont LOOK at a bus for that money. My boss hired me on "Full Time" yet could not shed a tear when he cuts me a paycheck for $54 because "works slow".

2- Utilities...I thought they were bad in Pittsburgh...No comparison. The electric bills here are insane. 3-400 a month in electric. I paid no usually more than 100 back home a month, and I run the same stuff. And the deposits they demand, and god forbid if you can't make your huge payment on time...see number 1 above. They shut it off after a month. Back home they work with you. The PUC makes them. And we had a cap program, that went by you budget...big help.

3- Car insurance...My rates went from $740 a YEAR to $800 every 6 months when We got here. Same car, same coverage.

This is not meant to be a bash Florida post...because Florida does have many good points. But when you can't even afford to pay your bills, and your gross for the year was only 14,000...Then its time to go.

Now I understand why its referred to as the "retirement state".

Shawn

[vaughanwilliams]

Take me with you.

[Ken E]

I had some relatives just move back to Penn. from the Villages

[Sunny-Days-in-Florida]

If I ever left Florida I surely would NOT go back to where I came from.

[Ken E]

I moved back to within 50 miles of where i was born and raised. I honestly cant think of anywhere else i would rather live. I didnt know that Ohio was that bad.

[jambo101]

Originally Posted by Ken E

I moved back to within 50 miles of where i was born and raised. I honestly cant think of anywhere else i would rather live. I didnt know that Ohio was that bad.

Anywhere can be great or not great depending on your circumstances as exampled by svbusdriver's experience with Florida and Sunnydays experience in Fla..

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by jambo101

Anywhere can be great or not great depending on your circumstances as exampled by svbusdriver's experience with Florida and Sunnydays experience in Fla..

This is exactly right. My husband has a great job, we love our home and neighborhood and our electric is never over $135 a month even now, in the hottest months. I don't know what the heck the OP is doing to have $400 per month in electric - sounds like an exaggeration to me.

Anyway, it just goes to show that a move doesn't always work out, and that can mean a move to anywhere, not just Florida. The grass just isn't really greener on the other side for many.

[Sweetbottoms]

I feel you , we're looking to go back to New England. I'm also sick of the crime here. It was quieter in NH.. Just this am I woke up to my friggin bikes chain cut and the bike gone. It had a babyseat on it so I hope they're looking real pimp driving their bike with a babyseat attached to the back in the ghetto... Just gotta finish school and we're outta here too.. GL on ur journey back!

[OCtoWPB]

I will be bidding farewell to Florida in two weeks and going back to my home state! Hubby and I have only been in Florida for 3 months and decided it wasn't for us and so we are heading back. I am beyond excited!!

Good luck in your move!

[ferret111]

See ya.