Detroit to Jacksonville (Ocala, Orange Park, Paxton: apartment, for rent, daycare)

[fiyahwerks]

Here's the short version:

Born and raised Detroiter here. I will be losing my job soon due to lay offs. I worked for the local government. Ten years down the drain, plus this is my third layoff from the city. It's frustrating and depressing.

Everyone knows the facts: Detroit is uber bad news. But there are good people like me who want better. I'm 30, I have my BS in Computer information systems, but my job experiences is mostly in the government and public health care industries. Working on getting my Masters in Health Information Technology. I have 2 daughters and my fiance.

I stayed in Florida for a very short while in 2003 in Ocala to help an ex's family out and fell in love. I doubt they would let me stay or use their address though.

We are looking for new start. Nothing can be worst than Detroit. I tried to make things work here, and the constant negativity and worrying is literally making me sick. My oldest daughter has to travel so far for a decent and challenging school because most of them are closed. Plus, I just want to give my younger daughter a chance to grow up in a area where at least she can enjoy herself in yard without the fear of drive-bys, etc. But, I'm not saying that bad things aren't everywhere.

As of now, we are saving as much as we can. My fiance and I have experience in hospitality/catering services (i.e. chef services, banquet servers, culinary setups, floral arrangements, etc) which he does it full-time and I work part-time. Currently, we are both working 2 jobs, trying to make big moves in small spaces.

So what are your suggestions for a family basically starting all over again? Any information that is given is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Hoping to call Florida our new home.

[Robyn55]

Wherever you go - nail down at least one job before moving. I think this metro area is in better shape than Detroit - but the job market isn't fabulous. Robyn

[Shannon4426]

Kudos to you for trying to better your situation. If you're looking at Jacksonville, you can't beat northwest St. Johns county. The public schools here are better than most private schools, and consistently rank at the very top in the state. Communities are very family oriented, to the point where if you don't have kids you might be miserable!

For renting, I'd suggest Julington Creek Planation. If you want to buy, I'd suggest Durbin Crossing or Nocatee. Can you tell us what your monthly budget would be, and if you'd like to buy or rent?

[madcapmagishion]

Originally Posted by Shannon4426

The public schools here are better than most private schools

Maybe their better than private schools in St Johns County but definitely not,
The Bolles School or Jacksonville Episcopal High School! Probably not even Bishop Kenny or St Johns Country Day school in Orange Park, FL.

[fsu813]

Originally Posted by fiyahwerks

Here's the short version:

Born and raised Detroiter here. I will be losing my job soon due to lay offs. I worked for the local government. Ten years down the drain, plus this is my third layoff from the city. It's frustrating and depressing.

Everyone knows the facts: Detroit is uber bad news. But there are good people like me who want better. I'm 30, I have my BS in Computer information systems, but my job experiences is mostly in the government and public health care industries. Working on getting my Masters in Health Information Technology. I have 2 daughters and my fiance.

I stayed in Florida for a very short while in 2003 in Ocala to help an ex's family out and fell in love. I doubt they would let me stay or use their address though.

We are looking for new start. Nothing can be worst than Detroit. I tried to make things work here, and the constant negativity and worrying is literally making me sick. My oldest daughter has to travel so far for a decent and challenging school because most of them are closed. Plus, I just want to give my younger daughter a chance to grow up in a area where at least she can enjoy herself in yard without the fear of drive-bys, etc. But, I'm not saying that bad things aren't everywhere.

As of now, we are saving as much as we can. My fiance and I have experience in hospitality/catering services (i.e. chef services, banquet servers, culinary setups, floral arrangements, etc) which he does it full-time and I work part-time. Currently, we are both working 2 jobs, trying to make big moves in small spaces.

So what are your suggestions for a family basically starting all over again? Any information that is given is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Hoping to call Florida our new home.

Jacksonville has all types of housing and communities in all types of budgets.

- What's your budget?
- What do you want to be close to?
- What does your family enjoy doing?
- What sort of lifestyle do you want?

Answering those can narrow down your search quite a bit.

[fiyahwerks]

Originally Posted by fsu813

Jacksonville has all types of housing and communities in all types of budgets.

- What's your budget?
- What do you want to be close to?
- What does your family enjoy doing?
- What sort of lifestyle do you want?

Answering those can narrow down your search quite a bit.

It would be the gravy on the mashed potatoes if I could land a job before I relocate. But I believe I am running into the same walls as others who have tried (i.e. not local, address, etc.) I'm constantly scanning the State of Florida job site for government positions and will be reviewing the City of Jacksonville tonight.

I'm trying to get my foot into health information technology, so I am applying to local hospitals, public health facilities and federal VA hospitals. Here, my drive is 30-45 minutes, so that would be the ideal commute time.

Unfortunately, I own my house in Detroit. I will be either giving to my parents or to a friend for safekeeping. Selling a house in Detroit is a joke. So my budget for renting an apartment would be $700-900 for a 2/3 BD. Close to an school and/or daycare would be ideal. We enjoy the usual family stuff: parks, lakes, picnics, backyard bbqs, etc.

Because my fiance and I work in the hospitality field too, close to hotels, bars and restaurants would be an okay idea. We use to be big clubbers, but now we have the girls, we just want to grow old together and raise our family.

If I can't land a salaried job, I have no qualms working in the hospitality industry until I can find something that is around the salary I'm losing in Detroit (33K+).

We are scheduling a trip to Jacksonville in mid-July, just to scout around the area.

[Shannon4426]

Originally Posted by madcapmagishion

Maybe their better than private schools in St Johns County but definitely not,
The Bolles School or Jacksonville Episcopal High School! Probably not even Bishop Kenny or St Johns Country Day school in Orange Park, FL.

I think that's debatable. Since private schools don't participate in the same standardized testing as public schools, there's no way to know for sure. But I've heard of kids coming from a school you've listed above into St. Johns public schools and being up to a year behind.

For the purpose of this thread, I think we can at least agree that St. Johns county public schools are excellent.

[madcapmagishion]

IMO ... The Riverside area would be almost perfect, as the rents there are in line with what you listed I know of a nice 2/2, for $595 on the corner of Osceola St and Myra St that's very convenient to many bars, restaurants, clubs and hospitals in the area. And it's also very close to the downtown area where most city government jobs are located.

[madcapmagishion]

Originally Posted by Shannon4426

I think that's debatable. Since private schools don't participate in the same standardized testing as public schools, there' no way to know for sure. But I've heard of kids coming from a school you've listed above into St. Johns public schools and being up to a year behind.

People hear all sorts of thing! Maybe the kids you heard of weren't hacking it at the private schools either...it happens.

For the purpose of this thread, I think we can at least agree that St. Johns county public schools are excellent.

Excellent, No!
Very good, Yes!
Better than Duval County public schools? Overall except for Paxton, DA, and Stanton.
But then it's just an opinion and not really etched in stone!

[Shannon4426]

Ok, you've just lost credibility with me... you don't think St. Johns county schools are excellent?!? Plus it's "they're" not "their." That hurts the credibility a little too.