WARNING before moving to Florida (Miami, Orlando: foreclosed, for rent, crimes)

[skyygal]

Originally Posted by alfbroker

It took you an hour to read two sentences about the palmetto bug? You were the one who move to Florida because you said you kept falling down in the snow and had trouble driving in it right? You are a real champion for the Florida lifestyle on these posts. You also said you lived in Florida through summers in a house without a/c and loved it. That's a good thing to know because I don't think many other people would be able to do that. Most people would hate to be without a/c for a day or two in the longer summer in FL.

yes, alfbroker, i decided to move to fla after the 8th fall in the snow, how did you know? you are so intuitive, because that is EXACTLY why i moved to fla. imagine that! you're so good at twisting things people say on their posts that maybe you should just get their passwords from them and post the comments for them. that would save a lot of time and trouble for them. but of course, you might not like that.

[flabeachlover]

Originally Posted by justNancy

Yes, the bottom line is "there are good and bad points to everything." Period.

Keep in mind that when you wrote "I love the Florida heat" you also admitted you only vacation here. When I used to ski, I would pray for a good snowstorm. However, by April I'd get sick of scraping my windshield or shoveling my way out of the driveway. Dealing with the daily heat & humidity is no different for many people here. There are some years when 90-something days begin in April and continue through October. It starts to wear you down. I didn't feel this way during my first 15 years in SWFL, but the last 2 years I've felt totally drained by August.

Well, considering I live in WNY I think it's kind of obvious that I have only vacationed in Florida. We vacation there or South Carolina every year. I have also vacationed in Florida in August when it was very, very hot. But, my point was also that it is what you make of it. Obviously I'm not a fan of the snow, and have only experienced the very hot Florida summer once, although it was very hot in Florida in April when we were last there. Either way, it was a great time, which is basically why I stated that it is what you make of it.

[Coolride]

Originally Posted by joer69

Was told I sould leave my home in Florida after only living there 3 months, a hurricane coming. Didn't know if our house would be there when we were allowed to return. 62 years in Ohio, I was never made to leave my home. I moved back to Ohio, had to sell my Florida house at a big loss.

Are you serious , I've been here 35yrs., and never left my home, and been hit by two hurricanes, no big deal.

[alfbroker]

Originally Posted by Coolride

Are you serious , I've been here 35yrs., and never left my home, and been hit by two hurricanes, no big deal.

Excellent, helpful advice for potential new comers. Hurricanes are no big deal and the heat and humidity are a piece of cake, from other posts. In all fairness, areas in the center of the state such as Orlando and Gainesville are of course much safer than than areas near the coast. By the time a named hurricane reaches these areas they usually don't have hurricane force winds any longer. I have evacuated my home on the coast and stayed in both places to ride them out and turn it into a vacation.

[grapico]

I was born and grew up in FL, I left b/c the state did not offer what I was looking for, a big city urban environment, and good job market for knowledge based industries which pay a competitive wage compared to other markets. The state is fine, but that was my parents idea of a place to live, not mine. If Florida catered more to residents, instead of newcomers and tourists, and innovated strong job markets like other states, it might be another story.

[TedTLPN]

Originally Posted by grapico

If Florida catered more to residents, instead of newcomers and tourists, and innovated strong job markets like other states, it might be another story.

And you suggest they do this how?

[OrlFlaUsa]

Originally Posted by TedTLPN

And you suggest they do this how?

Well Ted I agree with Grap in a sense, and I know what he means. Despite some of the comments he makes over in the City v City threads, he is a pretty accurate poster. Florida makes it easier for wealthy snowbirds to buy a second home down here than for FT residents working to support a family. The State essentially gives tax breaks to people bringing their money or fixed incomes in from elsewhere at the expense of those who live here and might need actually need those services. Therefore a culture of "Why do I need to pay for schools," has been created even among transplants from areas with great social services and higher taxes. Also, this State has the 5th lowest tax burden on companies, so therefore once again, the wealth is being redistributed from the middle class who pay taxes to the corporations/rich who do not. Anyways not to rant Ted, but where I think Grap could open his mind is that if you want to be a part of creating a vibrant urban culture, then there are few better places than Orlando right now. We are growing, becoming more diverse, and people are demanding a more interesting culture. Unlike Chicago where those things exist on a large scale, they are just being born here. We have the opportunity to be cultural pioneers and make Orlando into the great city it's exploding into.

[ernbar]

Originally Posted by 1FromSC

We are moving to Florida in the not too distant future. We are looking forward to cooler summers and warmer winters. Yes you read that correctly COOLER summers. I am currently living in South Carolina. Our average high temperature for the past couple of weeks have been in the 100 degree range. (101 - 109). We had some record setting temps. Orlando's averages have been in the low 90 degree range. (91-92) Our average lows were in the mid thirties last year and Orlando's was in the mid to upper 50's. My arthritis is tired of the cold. LOL. So we are moving. We do not have "grass is greener expectations." We do expect to find more to do. So we are looking forward to the move.

Bryant

Ditto. I'm in Greenville and the temps in early-mid August have been terrible. About two weeks ago, the temperature gauge in my Nissan read 111 at noon. I parked it in the shade and it made a HUGE drop to 107! It felt as if I was in an oven being roasted alive. Fall will be e welcomed friend!

[alfbroker]

Originally Posted by ernbar

Ditto. I'm in Greenville and the temps in early-mid August have been terrible. About two weeks ago, the temperature gauge in my Nissan read 111 at noon. I parked it in the shade and it made a HUGE drop to 107! It felt as if I was in an oven being roasted alive. Fall will be e welcomed friend!

When you live in Florida, fall brings no relief. Everytime you go anywhere and leave your car for 15 minutes in the FL sun, it will be 120 degrees+ when you get back. Every time you go shopping, the beach, golf, for about 9 months a year depending what part of FL. Every day you go anywhere. Go home and put the car in the garage and it will be 120 in there in 5 minutes. From the frying pan into the fire.

[Hopn4miracl]

It is great your life worked out well for you and your family in Orlando. Here in South Florida life is turning sour for me as well as others I know. Jobs are getting harder and harder to come by and as for drugs - it is all around the young adults. It sure has touched my family. It is so hot down here there is not much to do here and kids are bored and in general it is not very wholesome down here. If I knew where to go now, I would go somewhere else. It probably is enjoyable for people who are financially well off. There are a lot of activities if you are into gambling, casinos, bars, shopping, beaches, restaurants, clubs, golf etc.