What is with Ocala? (Inverness, Bell: rentals, job market, neighborhood)

[Iamthere]

Originally Posted by Dr Rich

Nail on the head bro. The only thing I can think of is the fact that Ocala is so isolated. Its surrounded by woods and had no real connection to other cities. So after a few generations...the inbreeding really starts to show. Its like Deliverance meets The Village.

too funny

[Mamma Miiagi]

Now this is more like it! Most of the other threads really knocked Ocala... I realize that being from Michigan I know very little about Ocala and Florida in general - but I have to say that the people I know here in Michigan have always had excellent things to say about Ocala - my friends and I are horse people and supposedly Ocala has the best grass for grazing second only to Kentucky. It was really disheartening to read all of the bad stuff about Ocala, especially since I'm finally going to be able to move!

So, what do the people in this thread have to say about Ocala and horse farms?

Thanks,
T.

[=^..^=]

Originally Posted by Mamma Miiagi

Now this is more like it! Most of the other threads really knocked Ocala... I realize that being from Michigan I know very little about Ocala and Florida in general - but I have to say that the people I know here in Michigan have always had excellent things to say about Ocala - my friends and I are horse people and supposedly Ocala has the best grass for grazing second only to Kentucky. It was really disheartening to read all of the bad stuff about Ocala, especially since I'm finally going to be able to move!

So, what do the people in this thread have to say about Ocala and horse farms?

Thanks,
T.

The horse farms there and some of the scenery outside the city is beautiful, breathtaking, what with the huge moss draped oaks and assorted palms. Shaded homes and pastures. I haven't owned a horse in many years but if I did, this is the place I'd want to be. Even the smaller farms and those with only a few horses are pretty. The area we stayed at was on the south side of Ocala, about 10 miles (?) north of The Villages called Belleview. We'll be staying in that same area this winter again. The main reason we decided against moving to FL was the cost of living there is so much higher than here in TN. There were other reasons but that was the biggest reason.

[Dr Rich]

Originally Posted by Iamthere

too funny

Thanks lol

Originally Posted by Mamma Miiagi

Now this is more like it! Most of the other threads really knocked Ocala... I realize that being from Michigan I know very little about Ocala and Florida in general - but I have to say that the people I know here in Michigan have always had excellent things to say about Ocala - my friends and I are horse people and supposedly Ocala has the best grass for grazing second only to Kentucky. It was really disheartening to read all of the bad stuff about Ocala, especially since I'm finally going to be able to move!

So, what do the people in this thread have to say about Ocala and horse farms?

Thanks,
T.

Yes, Ocala is "The Horse Capital of the World". But many argue that. But if you're just driving around the city, you'd never know horses were what put Ocala on the map. You have to almost go out of your way to find the horse farms. They're hidden pretty well. Or have LOTS of money and get your own farm lol.

Originally Posted by =^..^=

The horse farms there and some of the scenery outside the city is beautiful, breathtaking, what with the huge moss draped oaks and assorted palms. Shaded homes and pastures. I haven't owned a horse in many years but if I did, this is the place I'd want to be. Even the smaller farms and those with only a few horses are pretty. The area we stayed at was on the south side of Ocala, about 10 miles (?) north of The Villages called Belleview. We'll be staying in that same area this winter again. The main reason we decided against moving to FL was the cost of living there is so much higher than here in TN. There were other reasons but that was the biggest reason.

I've lived in Fl for over 20 years. While Ocala is nice...it would be on the bottom of my list of places in Fl to live. Florida offers nicer places to live. If it wasn't for the beaches, I would say Tn > Fl. I have family just outside of Middle Tn. I try to get up there once a year to see them. I'd really like to go up in winter. Its been years since I've seen snow!!

[YAPHET A BELLAMY]

My wife and I live in upstate NY and see a lot of bi-polar people and homelessness . We have children that we want to raise in an environment where people are productive and warm as the temperatures in fl.. Hopefully, Ocala is not as bad as some have described,but those negative wouldn't discourage us from at least looking at it .

[YAPHET A BELLAMY]

I Definitely would rather buy a home in FLORIDA than NEW YORK too many taxes ,too cold.

[kshe95girl]

Originally Posted by YAPHET A BELLAMY

My wife and I live in upstate NY and see a lot of bi-polar people and homelessness . We have children that we want to raise in an environment where people are productive and warm as the temperatures in fl.. Hopefully, Ocala is not as bad as some have described,but those negative wouldn't discourage us from at least looking at it .

You do realize the homeless migrate here because its warm, right?
I wouldnt move here unless I had a job nailed down, btw.

[flyingbaldbeaver]

as a former long haul truck driver, i've been to nearly every corner of the contiguous usa except maine. i made about a dozen loads to ocala. it was always one of those funky, creepy experiences. i could name a few dozen other enclaves like ocala, but that would offend people. this is a place in florida separated from time and space, with its own culture and peculararities. as an outsider looking in, if you're thinking of moving to florida, this is not the florida you're thinking of.

[NewfKat]

I have lived in Ocala for 6 years. I have my BA in Psychology and my husband has his BA in biology. We are very happy living here and raising our family here. We have 3 boys and homeschool. We have yet to come across anyone who has tried to make our lives miserable. It's a happy community really especially if you have horses. They're are many trails to take your horses to. We also have great national forests and recreation close by.
The winters aren't bad, but there is some change of season compared to further south.
Yes, there are a lot of retired people here, but that's Florida.
Great place to live though!

[deeni]

My husband was sent here for his job and I literally cried as we were driving in. It looked small town and depressing. I was so upset that even though we were in Florida, we weren't even near a beach! But over the course of the two years that we lived there, we actually grew to really like it! We had everything we needed without the big city problems. We had our favorite pizza place, restaurants, nearby vacation spots, good friends, and a palm tree in our yard. (I would have preferred better shopping though...would always have to make the drive to Tampa to get my fix.) We have since moved from Ocala but talk about going back if a job opportunity ever presents itself in the future. It is not as creepy as it seems! LOL.