South Jersey VS. Central Florida (car insurance, houses, unemployment rate)
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Im 27 and I was just living in the St. Petersburg & Clearwater area of Florida the last couple years for school. Unfortunately I did move back to NJ a few months ago because I lost my job and with the economy so bad I couldnt find anything good that paid the bills. So Im back temporarily with my parents. I am sitting here on a cool April Monday night thinking warm.
Most of my friends around here (NJ) would never move because they are too scared to test new waters 1000 miles away. They cant live without their family or friends or whatever else. So I explain what Florida was like...this way:
Weather... The weather here truly sucks. Weather plays a big role in your everyday life whether you realize it or not. Everything from commutes to moods. They say you appreciate summers here more being that they are short...yea thats true but I appreciated everyday I woke up in Fla. with the sun beating through my window and green grass and flowers outside my window in January. Didnt take it for granted. Ive never felt humidity up here like there since I was in the Tampa area (2nd most humid area in USA). It really felt like someones mouth for 3 months out of the year. The rest of the year is so nice you can find many events/festivals/parties every weekend! That only occurs for about 3 months here in NJ.
Food... the food in Florida was just as good and the service was also as good, if not better than up here. Certain things like cheesesteaks or pizza is better in Phila/NJ but in general the food in Florida is as good and the Seafood is killer and theres plenty of it!
People... before I moved here many people have told me about how nice the people are in Florida. After living there and working with the "public" I can tell you honestly that is false. Many people keep to themselves in Fla. I found the only real nice people there were the Floridians. As we all know not too many people in that Pinellas County area are from Florida. I met alot of people from upstate New York and Mass. and Michigan and theres a bunch of jerkoffs that come from that area of the country. Everybody is from somewhere and nobody has like a common ground because of the different lifestyles all bunched up. I loved the true Floridians though...good people.
Driving... Florida is also known as "God's waiting room". There is WAY too many old folks there. As you know that leads to slow and delayed thoughts behind the wheel. Somehow the car insurance is MUCH cheaper than NJ and I cant figure that out. I have never been hit before. I move to Florida and got hit 3 times in 1 year!!!!!!! They are so stupid I am scarred for life when I drive. I used to see accidents every single goddam day. NJ has its reputation for bad drivers too and it IS bad...driving in Philly and Del co. is a breeze after surviving the retarded drivers in NJ on 42 and 295 and all over really. BUT nothing compares to the dopes in Florida.
Beaches... Im going to have to give this one to NJ. Sure the water looks like Iced Tea and the only palm trees in NJ are fake. But, Between the boardwalks and the girls and the entertainment, casinos, rides, water slides, games, and the oceans big waves the Jersey Shore is THE best! The Fla beaches are cleaner and softer; however, there is nothing to do. The parking is scarce to begin with. When you do get to the beach 80% of it is wrinkled up prunes from Toronto that act like they have never seen the sun before. There are no waves on the West coast. Flat. And the stingrays are vicious. Give me the Jersey Shore but I must say I miss those Fla sunsets!
I guess I'll leave it at those 5 basic things. I have no kids yet and Im currently single so I have no attachments. I know life is what you make it regardless of where you live. I will miss the Eagles very much but Im going back to Fla. it was just better living.
It's like comparing apples to oranges. I don't know what part of South Jersey you're in but, the summer where I am is closer to 5 months than it is to 3. Florida is the northern tropics. We are the southern arctic...lol.
It depends on what you like. I personally like the change in weather. It gives me something to look forward to. I had friends from "Floor-i-duh" when I was young and visited often. It was strange to be in shorts and a tee shirt in February and seemed to throw off my balance.
It's OK to like it better. The cost of living is cheaper, no winter coats, no heating bills and no snow. Could you imagine Florida drivers with snow? NJ is what it is. Not much is going to change.
It depends on what you like. I personally like the change in weather. It gives me something to look forward to. I had friends from "Floor-i-duh" when I was young and visited often. It was strange to be in shorts and a tee shirt in February and seemed to throw off my balance.
I've been in tee shirts and shorts the last three Feburary's (granted, the end of February) and that has thrown me back on my balance. In fact, it's probably the greatest aspect of living here. Plus it's dry every month except August. I personaly don't like the change in weather, at least when it changing from hot or warm to cold. This aspect of leaving NJ is a huge plus. I was looking at the weather channel two days ago, for instance, and the forecast in Pittburgh was a high of 44 with light drizzle. I just shook my head. I don't know how I did it for all those years. You are taking about 5 months of your life each year (at least outdoors) and literally flushing it down the toilet. I am grateful for this improvement in weather because it now means my two small children never have any reason to be inside. On the weekends we make it our business to be out in sun as much as possible. I remember when my son was a baby and we were living in Medford, in April, I guess that was 4 years ago, and it was still in the high 40s, after being couped up in the house all winter, just hoping and praying the weather would break for the warmer as it is supposed to for the spring, it would warm up into the low 60s for a few days, then back down into the 40s again. Then finally in the first week in May, it started hitting the mid 70s consistently, and I knew we'd have 5 good months to look forward to. That was the last spring I spent in NJ.
My Mother said the same thing when she visited me in Florida. She was too used to the season changes and being on the beach in January was for vacation purposes only. I agree with Mike, you hibernate for 5 months in NJ. It's a waste of life to me because I love being outside. Not only that but everything is green and not gloomy looking. You can wake up on a February morning and hear birds singing. My car doesnt have to warm up. Its just a bunch of things that make me wonder why is there still a heavy population up north.
Well, I guess like Geoff people prefer the climate changes. It hit 82 today and it was so nice to not have humidity. Thats one thing I cant stand in Florida. My palms would be sweating as soon as I come out my door. Ughh
I don't consider winter gloomy. You go outside to fresh snow that is so pretty. Driving, you see the snow & ice on trees, like a post card.
I love the spring, everything starting to come up. I love watching the various changes starting with the crocus that come up 1st, to the foresythea flowering the same time as the pears with tulips & daffs. The other trees start blooming when the others start to leaf out, then the color really begins.
I'm excited. My Redbud is starting to bloom, daffs & tulips have been blooming, next come the iris, roses & perennials. By the time winter comes I'm tired and want to mellow out and work inside.
Ditto what Roselvr said. I spent 10 years in the Sarasota area. And don't forget how FLAT FL is. Flat is boring. FL is only worth putting up with if you love the beach and water sports. When I was young I did not appreciate spring and fall, but after 10 years in heat-hell, MAN do I appreciate them now.
I just don't understand how you are supposed to enjoy the summer when its almost the same every season! By the end of Winter in NJ Im dying for summer and I enjoy it with every last ounce. In Florida its just another season.
Having lived in NorthWest NJ for over 20 yrs, the change of season is absolutely one of Gods gifts. With the leaves falling, cool breezes blowing, kids playing in the fallen leaves, the smells of apple pies baking, fireplaces burning, who would give that all up? Well, I did and moved to Swampland the East Coast of Fl, North of Tampa, where everyday is the same, where you can wake up in the morning open the door and be hit with 82 degree heat at 7:30AM, great way to start the morning, sit in traffic on US 19 (where we have bumper stickers that read "pray for me, I drive on US 19) and get cut off by rude drivers. Swampland prys on those Northerners that don't do their homework, builders will take your money and leave you nothing but a cleared lot......local builder just got 20 yrs for taking 1.6 million from approx 75 customers. Schools here are at least 1 yr behind the Northern schools and those that come from the North, sit in classrooms being bored.
Here in Fl. its high maintence for your homes, mold is a horror, because of the humidity, mold on roofs/lani/driveways. Bugs, want a green lawn well welcome to paying $3,000 a yr. for the privilege, and to keep those critters out of the house another $465. Oh, and roofs here only last maybe 15 yrs and painting your house every 8 or 10 yrs. Ah yes, the book I could write here in Swampland which is dependent on home building, our county has a unemployment rate of 7.1 with 167,000 residents only 58,890 are working
leaves many to roam the roads, running traffic lights, sell drugs, oh, did I tell you we have a new use for the empty homes here, grow houses, the local sheriff has at least two raids a week, millions of dollars in trees being burned.
Would I give this all up to move back to NJ, in a heartbeat, but with my home that once was $250,000 now worth $120,000 I don't think I can make the move..........well, at least I still have my wonderful memories of life in New Jersey, where life was good, the living easy and the people wonderful.
Route 19 SUCKS!!!!!!!!! You have the most valid points. I dont know how that one person would take NJ over Sarasota though.
I dont know much about the swamps but I would take 82 degree mornings rather than 20 degrees. I wont be shaking from the cold going into convulsions as I sit in my iced out car that takes 10 minutes to heat up. Thats just me though.
Ya know I just got back from a week vacation in the Tempe/Scottsdale area in Arizona. That place is soooo beautiful it makes Florida look like the way Florida makes Jersey look. Its unbelievably clean and sunny and the architecture of the buildings and homes are phenominal. Highways are super wide and people drive well-mannered.
Florida is booooring...
Hot hot hot, bugs, bugs,the noise of A/C day and night..
I like the change in weather, the fresh air..I didn't feel any fresh air in Florida ..However; i stayed there during the August and September and assume that the other months would be better..
I could live in both so I don't mind that much...(I don't speak spanish yet..)
I choose NJ..
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NJ v Swampland
