Urgent! - Commute to Miami

[MadManofBethesda]

Originally Posted by ellemint

I don't know. Most of the comments about Miami on this forum are negative. It sounds hot/humid, unfriendly, expensive, full of bad drivers and congested traffic, poor bicycling access, bad public transportation, and full of dangerous areas, hostile to non-spanish speakers, not a walking city....

The pluses seem to be night-life, the art scene, and the beach. But life in Miami sounds very difficult. It doesn't make me want to live there.

There are about 2,500,000 people in the Greater Miami area and about 25 (or fewer) regular posters on this forum. So you're basing your decision on the opinions of 0.001% of the population here. It's actually even less than that because there are multiple posts from the board's resident troll who does absolutely nothing but go from thread to thread spouting irrational nonsense about Miami. Do you really want to make such an important decision using slanted and warped information such as that?

Thousands upon thousands of people move to Miami every year and absolutely love it (I am one of them.) Millions visit each year from around the world and would kill for the opportunity to live here if they could. And you want to throw away that opportunity because a few people think it's too hot, humid, and crowded (among other issues)?

BTW, the average June/July/Aug high temperature in Louisville is 85/89/88 respectively, and the averages in Miami for the same time period is 87/88/89. The year-round average humidity in Louisville is 78.49%; Miami's is 72.32%.

Miami, FL Weather
Louisville, KY Weather

[ellemint]

Originally Posted by MadManofBethesda

There are about 2,500,000 people in the Greater Miami area and about 25 (or fewer) regular posters on this forum. So you're basing your decision on the opinions of 0.001% of the population here. It's actually even less than that because there are multiple posts from the board's resident troll who does absolutely nothing but go from thread to thread spouting irrational nonsense about Miami. Do you really want to make such an important decision using slanted and warped information such as that?

Thousands upon thousands of people move to Miami every year and absolutely love it (I am one of them.) Millions visit each year from around the world and would kill for the opportunity to live here if they could. And you want to throw away that opportunity because a few people think it's too hot, humid, and crowded (among other issues)?

BTW, the average June/July/Aug high temperature in Louisville is 85/89/88 respectively, and the averages in Miami for the same time period is 87/88/89. The year-round average humidity in Louisville is 78.49%; Miami's is 72.32%.

Miami, FL Weather
Louisville, KY Weather

Let me ask you this: why do you love it? I'm not being sarcastic, I sincerely would like to know what it is like to live there from someone who loves it.

Yes, Louisville is humid, and can have killer summers. But South Florida's hot season lasts for longer than Louisville's and I understand the nights don't cool off.

Anyway, for me, it's a moot point. Speaking only for myself, I think I would have been uncomfortable in a congested city in which I had to fight heavy traffic every day, and spend about $1800 to $2000 a month for a small one bedroom apartment in a safe area.

And I actually followed up on apartments. If you're already living there, and can jump on a cheap apartment right away, maybe one can find something cheaper. But trying to search from far away, via the internet and phone, as I did, any decent apartment was in that price range, and most were higher. And I have pets which made the search even harder. So about $24,000 or more of my salary would have been spent on housing alone, so the high salary wasn't really that high. And I hate high-rise living, which Miami is full of.

I do have serious regrets about not pursuing the job further, and I probably should have stuck with it longer, but I have another thread on C-D about the fact that they wouldn't even pay for an airline ticket for me to fly down there. That pretty well killed any inclination I had to work for them.

And maybe a bunch of malcontents post on the Miami forum, but everyone says the city is not friendly, and I hate places like that.

[HellaGoose]

I can speak to why i love Miami....it is exotic, it feels equally international/latin American as it does North American...and to me that's a pretty awesome mix...you get most of the benefits of america, and a lot of the pros of other parts of the world. Of course there are cons that come with that...but the pros far outweigh them for me.

It is visually gorgeous in parts, more naturally stunning than just about any other city ive seen in the US.

Weather between November and April is incredible.

It may be famous for being an 'unfriendly' city...but its also a passionate, vibrant place.

The beach is our Central Park, and its equally impressive.

Wynwood and Miami in general has one of the hottest arts scenes in the world right now.

There are tons of wonderful neighborhoods...from cheap to expensive.

I could go on! But that's enough for now haha.

[valicky]

Don't second guess yourself ellemint. You're gut is right.

Yes, the nights don't cool off. You'll be using the a/c 24/7. It's very rare that you'll be able to open your windows to cool off or air out the house. On the rare cool evenings in Jan or Feb sometimes, even then you can't open your windows because everyone is so piled on top of everyone that it's difficult for even breezes to make their way through.

For people who don't like congested and traffic, Miami is terrible. I know. I'm one of them. I don't mind smaller cities, like Miami was in the 70's, but since then - not so much.

The work ethics and professionalism is another thing that might be a culture shock. It's seriously lacking here.

[Cubanchic]

Originally Posted by ellemint

Let me ask you this: why do you love it? I'm not being sarcastic, I sincerely would like to know what it is like to live there from someone who loves it.

Yes, Louisville is humid, and can have killer summers. But South Florida's hot season lasts for longer than Louisville's and I understand the nights don't cool off.

Anyway, for me, it's a moot point. Speaking only for myself, I think I would have been uncomfortable in a congested city in which I had to fight heavy traffic every day, and spend about $1800 to $2000 a month for a small one bedroom apartment in a safe area.

And I actually followed up on apartments. If you're already living there, and can jump on a cheap apartment right away, maybe one can find something cheaper. But trying to search from far away, via the internet and phone, as I did, any decent apartment was in that price range, and most were higher. And I have pets which made the search even harder. So about $24,000 or more of my salary would have been spent on housing alone, so the high salary wasn't really that high. And I hate high-rise living, which Miami is full of.

I do have serious regrets about not pursuing the job further, and I probably should have stuck with it longer, but I have another thread on C-D about the fact that they wouldn't even pay for an airline ticket for me to fly down there. That pretty well killed any inclination I had to work for them.

And maybe a bunch of malcontents post on the Miami forum, but everyone says the city is not friendly, and I hate places like that.

Elle I think you did the right move, for right now. I have lived here for 35 years and I love it and freakin hate it. My hate level has leveled down since moving to a another area.

The city is not for the shy or on the fence types.

[Cubanchic]

Originally Posted by HellaGoose

I can speak to why i love Miami....it is exotic, it feels equally international/latin American as it does North American...and to me that's a pretty awesome mix...you get most of the benefits of america, and a lot of the pros of other parts of the world. Of course there are cons that come with that...but the pros far outweigh them for me.

It is visually gorgeous in parts, more naturally stunning than just about any other city ive seen in the US.

Weather between November and April is incredible.

It may be famous for being an 'unfriendly' city...but its also a passionate, vibrant place.

The beach is our Central Park, and its equally impressive.

Wynwood and Miami in general has one of the hottest arts scenes in the world right now.

There are tons of wonderful neighborhoods...from cheap to expensive.

I could go on! But that's enough for now haha.

You remind me why, thank you!!!


Which btw freackin you all how awesome is it for us to get this dry weather this late?!!!! This is a dream in may.

[ruski]

It's May and it feels cool in the evening.

[HellaGoose]

^Yea weather has been amazing the past few days.