Need advise moving from Portland to Orlando! (Sarasota, Winter Springs: job market, quality of life)

[StreetSmarts]

It's 45 degrees in Durham b/c its late November dude.

Ask the folks in durham what the temp is in April or May, or Sept and Oct. When it's 90 degrees and humid, it's 72 there. come on dude, 75 is a good temp overall, but we have to deal with the worst heat and humidity probably in the entire US from May to Oct.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by ComSense

Durham has high crime- which is why I mentioned Raleigh instead.

Durham's "high crime" is pocketed. It has a large minority population that lives in areas where the OP wouldn't live or visit. The nice parts of Durham are as safe or safer than their Raleigh counterparts. I lived in Durham for 5 years and maintain friendships with people still living there, so have a pretty good grasp on Durham's neighborhoods.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by OrlFlaUsa

It's 45 in Durham right now, it's 75 in Orlando. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to know where the better weather is. Also Durham is a small, dinky city in comparison to Orlando (which I don't consider big but compared to Durham NC come on).

"Better weather" has different meanings to many. Some prefer four seasons that are moderate and last about three months each over a two season climate with seven months of Summer. Furthermore Durham is not a small dinky city in comparison to Orlando. Durham's population is 240K and Orlando's is 250K. Orlando gets credit for 2.1 million of suburban sprawl, big whoop....consisting of lots of strip malls, fast food/chain restaurants and gas stations. Size aside, Durham's arts and food scene blows Orlando's out of the water (probably due to the fact it's one of the most well-educated cities in the US, unlike Orlando), so despite your dippy-skippy affinity for all of O-town's (snicker) "purported treasures"....it's really not all that to anyone who has lived in actual large cities, or medium sized cities with higher livability factors.

[StreetSmarts]

Not sure about Durham (dont know enough about it) but Raleigh blows Orlando out of the water, easily. And yes, Kyle, ur right, a large AA population in Durham.

[skiffrace]

I also live in Portland, and once upon a time briefly considered moving to Florida for the winter.
A tiny bit of research on FL cured me from that desire.
Portland is a great, civilized, safe city, surrounded by an astonishing natural beauty. You can live here easily without owning a car - it has good transit and is very walkable. On the subject of walkability - you can walk alone almost anywhere at night without the risk of being assaulted or robbed. Most people are nice, helpful and educated. Thanks to good walkability, you get to interact with fellow Portlanders - something not possible when everybody is caged in his car all day long. There are many high-tech companies, including Intel who employs 20000 people around here.
Yes, the winter weather is dark and wet, but just as it starts to improve around April or May, Florida weather becomes unfit to live.
In short, by moving full time to Florida you simply reverse the period of crappy weather, and rainy 45 degrees is easier to deal with than humid 90 degrees.
Almost forgot: a little over an hour west (typical work commute time in Orlando, I assume) we have beaches nobody in Florida ever dreamt of:

[StreetSmarts]

Didn't realize Oregon gives FL a run for it's money when it comes to beaches :/

[skiffrace]

Didn't realize Oregon gives FL a run for it's money when it comes to beaches :/

You meant it as a irony, but in reality, it does. Also, all beaches in OR are public land.

[StreetSmarts]

beautiful, but it doesnt seem to enticing to get in. it looks frigid, rocky, and theres nobody even around!

[annerk]

Portland has a higher homeless rate than Orlando.


Autocorrect responsible for most typos...

[OrlFlaUsa]

Originally Posted by ComSense

It's 45 degrees in Durham b/c its late November dude.

Ask the folks in durham what the temp is in April or May, or Sept and Oct. When it's 90 degrees and humid, it's 72 there. come on dude, 75 is a good temp overall, but we have to deal with the worst heat and humidity probably in the entire US from May to Oct.

Originally Posted by kyle19125

"Better weather" has different meanings to many. Some prefer four seasons that are moderate and last about three months each over a two season climate with seven months of Summer. Furthermore Durham is not a small dinky city in comparison to Orlando. Durham's population is 240K and Orlando's is 250K. Orlando gets credit for 2.1 million of suburban sprawl, big whoop....consisting of lots of strip malls, fast food/chain restaurants and gas stations. Size aside, Durham's arts and food scene blows Orlando's out of the water (probably due to the fact it's one of the most well-educated cities in the US, unlike Orlando), so despite your dippy-skippy affinity for all of O-town's (snicker) "purported treasures"....it's really not all that to anyone who has lived in actual large cities, or medium sized cities with higher livability factors.

Forgetting the weather preference for a second, neither Durham nor Raleigh can begin to compare to Orlando. I've lived in the Carolinas, visit Raleigh still about once every 12 months, and can for certain assure you that they do not have the downtown nightlife, dining or entertainment options we do. Just fly there and you'll see from the airport how Raleigh feels and acts like a smaller town. At least Orlando tries to be/feels bigger than it is. As for a size comparison, lets skip metro and city limits and go straight to urban area, oh yeah Orlando wins that handily. Listen it's okay if you prefer a colder, smaller, grayer, less vibrant metro, with less to do, and no beach in sight, but don't knock somebody for suggesting that Orlando is better. Now about that weather, obviously this one is totally subjective but I think I'll enjoy the beach tomorrow while folks in Raleigh enjoy, their "arts scene."