[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Jimbobster

I appreciate all the information. I have some follow-up questions, if you all don't mind:
1) What kind of industries are strong up in the Panhandle/Pensacola? Is there something other than tourism?
2) I know that all of Florida has a surplus, to put it mildly, of retirees; are there a fair amount of younger and middle-aged folks in the Panhandle/Pensacola? I am asking to know how easy it will be for us to find friends and activities.
3 & 4) I am wondering the same about Lakeland.

I will answer about Lakeland since I lived there for two years. Lakeland is not a resort or vacation town for the most part, so you will see a balance of all ages there. Not being coastal, it has vintage charm and the feel of a small town with a lot of civic pride. Lakeland has beautiful parks and recreational opportunities, there is a lot of nice family-oriented activities going on all the time in and around downtown, it can be a great place to live or retire. While it is probably not as "southern" in feel as the Panhandle, it most definitely retains a "Southern" flavor to it as compared to the coastal towns, or the larger cities of Tampa or Orlando.

[tiff21xy]

I live in Pensacola now and just like any other city there are good things and bad things...It fits your population #s, you are within driving distance to smaller towns, the beaches are literally some of the most gorgeous in the WORLD, big fishing and hunting community, it also has a nice downtown art community as well with young and up and coming artists, great restaurants, the nightlife isnt to be compared to Miami or NYC but then again there are some decent places to have drinks on the beach or downtown and listen to a different array of music......The pay scale is really low for most people, in the past few years crime has gotten a lot worse(just like anywhere), Jobs are far and few between and it doesnt seem like this city reaches out to get companies to come here....I think the price of living here is wonderful though if you already have a decent job or you are just doing a "Transfer" but if you dont have a job already lined up I definately wouldnt move here..Rent is very good here many nice apts. Homebuyer Im not, but the prices are good due to this bad economy...So if you ask me I think Pensacola is a nice town to raise a family if you are moving here with a job already in place and not expecting a hot party high fashion life like L.A. or NYC..People are nice and still smile when you walk down the street, men still hold doors open for you, families still have Sunday dinners here....Can you sleep with your doors unlocked at night? no Should you walk downtown alone at 2am? No Will you see bums and slum areas? yeah...I think people who put Pensacola down are used to it still being 1955(some jobs still pay like its 1955 too)...The world is changing and usually not for the better, But all in all I think Pensacola is still a nice town. Visit. Not just the pretty beachy areas but all the areas to see if you want to raise your family here.

[Starlady01]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Check out Lakeland. To me it still has a Southern feel, a small city of under 100,000, lots of beautiful lakes for fishing, etc. We lived there for 2 years and found the people to be VERY happy and VERY friendly! There are lots of industries in this area, it is more diversified than a lot of Florida. Lots of small charming towns within 20 minutes or so, i.e. Winter Haven, Auburndale, Lake Wales, Plant City to name a few.

Be aware that as mentioned above, we have some malcontents on this board who will undoubtedly show up to tell you what a pit it is, but it is simply not true. Visit for yourself, and I believe you will like what you see.

Hope this helps.

Yes they are extremely friendly in Lakeland, Winter Haven and Auburndale and will want to know every details of your life. But rest assured you want get the same in return. What they don't know don't worry they have a very vivid imagination.

Even when they do know they still have a very vivid imagination.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by tiff21xy

I live in Pensacola now and just like any other city there are good things and bad things...It fits your population #s, you are within driving distance to smaller towns, the beaches are literally some of the most gorgeous in the WORLD, big fishing and hunting community, it also has a nice downtown art community as well with young and up and coming artists, great restaurants, the nightlife isnt to be compared to Miami or NYC but then again there are some decent places to have drinks on the beach or downtown and listen to a different array of music......The pay scale is really low for most people, in the past few years crime has gotten a lot worse(just like anywhere), Jobs are far and few between and it doesnt seem like this city reaches out to get companies to come here....I think the price of living here is wonderful though if you already have a decent job or you are just doing a "Transfer" but if you dont have a job already lined up I definately wouldnt move here..Rent is very good here many nice apts. Homebuyer Im not, but the prices are good due to this bad economy...So if you ask me I think Pensacola is a nice town to raise a family if you are moving here with a job already in place and not expecting a hot party high fashion life like L.A. or NYC..People are nice and still smile when you walk down the street, men still hold doors open for you, families still have Sunday dinners here....Can you sleep with your doors unlocked at night? no Should you walk downtown alone at 2am? No Will you see bums and slum areas? yeah...I think people who put Pensacola down are used to it still being 1955(some jobs still pay like its 1955 too)...The world is changing and usually not for the better, But all in all I think Pensacola is still a nice town. Visit. Not just the pretty beachy areas but all the areas to see if you want to raise your family here.

Very well said!

[Strel]

Originally Posted by mango23

I read about some crazy religious movement in Lake city. I thought it was silly till I did some checking. Have you heard anything about it or experienced it? It kind of made me check Lake city off my list.

Why?

Clearwater is overrun with Scientologists but that doesn't keep me from going to the beach...

Hell there are "cults" all over the state. Just like anywhere else...

[Granny Sue]

Originally Posted by Strel

Why?

Clearwater is overrun with Scientologists but that doesn't keep me from going to the beach...

Hell there are "cults" all over the state. Just like anywhere else...

Going to the beach is one thing...living in the same town is a different subject all together.

If that cult bothered the poster then they had every right not to want to live there.

Don't read more into it than it was.

[CLTKing]

Any city outside JAX, MIA, Orlando and Tampa is Southern in FL, specially Gainesville, Tallahassee, Pensacola and Ocala.

[Strel]

Originally Posted by Granny Sue

Going to the beach is one thing...living in the same town is a different subject all together.

If that cult bothered the poster then they had every right not to want to live there.

Don't read more into it than it was.

Funny I thought they were the ones reading too much into things...

Kind of like people on this board that are scared to move to Florida because they might see a wild animal or two.

[Granny Sue]

Originally Posted by Strel

Funny I thought they were the ones reading too much into things...

Kind of like people on this board that are scared to move to Florida because they might see a wild animal or two.

Yeah but those wild animals are tourist...they change like the seasons lol

[StreetSmarts]

Originally Posted by CLTKing

Any city outside JAX, MIA, Orlando and Tampa is Southern in FL, specially Gainesville, Tallahassee, Pensacola and Ocala.

Most of S FL could be considered non-Southern.