Tell me why I shouldn't move to Orlando?!? (Miami, Clermont: crime, home)

[adele115]

I"m interested in any downsides or less apparent "problems" of Orlando?? I have well paying job offer in hand, I can't see any reason not to move to Orlando. Moving from Chicago so I can already deal with traffic and crime and taxes. I love the sun and don't like winter so that takes care of that. I'll stay away from the touristy stuff and from what I can tell Orlando is developing in positive ways.

Usually, the patina wears off once you get to know the good bad and ugly over time. So locals, any problematic issues in Orlando that might persuade a Chicagoan to stay put? Thanks in advance!

[Arcenal813]

If you have a good job in line, I can't see reason why you wouldn't want to... There seem to be a rather high number of "dumb" people here, but aside from that, it's a good place to stay. The neverending sprawl can be a bit chaotic. Don't underestimate it, regardless of how big a city you come from.

[adele115]

Thanks Arcenal352. Sprawl is a pain so I get that. I'm interested are there any issues related to Disney, tourism, crime, taxes that would cause one to pause?

[bmw335xi]

Orlando is very spread out, which is the biggest con in my opinion. I moved from San Francisco and if you live in a nice area, crime etc is a non-issue. Crime doesn't spread as easily as Chicago or San Francisco because it is very spread out. For me tourism is the biggest pro about Orlando. There are a lot of things to do and the city continues to keep itself clean and landscape the streets etc.

[uberwulu]

Orlando is a small town that thinks it's a big city. Said another way, it has a lot of big city conveniences, but it's run by small town idiots at small town prices. It's good if you're still trying to work your way up. For me, I just can't tolerate the weather anywhere else. I thrive on rain and thunder.

[HokieGCC]

In general I would say the Orlando area is much better than Chicago. Much much better. There is a trap however if you are working age. Salaries are low in Orlando. The cost of living is low but so are the salaries. Compared with places like DC and Boston and probably Chicago they are way lower. So, the size of your nest-egg, or pension will be smaller than of someone that has worked in DC (for example) all their working years. If you intend on retiring in FL no biggie. However, if you see yourself returning to a place like DC or Boston to retire you might not have enough money to maintain a living standard that you are used to. To sum it up FL is a poor place to try and earn your fortune but a great place to go once you have earned it.

[vicarjoe]

There are better places

[boy3365]

Originally Posted by uberwulu

Orlando is a small town that thinks it's a big city. Said another way, it has a lot of big city conveniences, but it's run by small town idiots at small town prices. It's good if you're still trying to work your way up. For me, I just can't tolerate the weather anywhere else. I thrive on rain and thunder.

I have a couple of friends who are from major cities who say this about Orlando and it is complete bull. They, nor I believe you, have never lived in an actual small town before. Yes, compared to Chicago, Miami, etc., Orlando may feel "like" a small town, but if I were to drop them off in one and leave them there for a few days, they would change their language about Orlando and comparably sized metros immediately.

Try living in a town where the biggest or practically only shopping center is Walmart and it's usual neighbors. Fast food is just McDonalds, Burger King, Subway, and Wendy's type places. Only one non-Walmart grocery store. If you want better stores that many consider "everyone has these" kind of stores that we take for granted like JC Penny, Chick-Fil-A, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Whole Foods, Target, a grocer that is not Walmart, be ready to spent 1-3 hours in a car getting there. I only mentioned shopping and food, but there are lots of things here that we take for granted that people in real small towns don't have access to at all.

[Miskolci]

I recently moved from the Chicago area to the Orlando area. More specifically, the far western suburbs of Chicago to the northern Clermont area. I suppose that is a suburb of Orlando? Therefore, I don't have a long term opinion yet, nor do I have a city proper opinion, but I can give you some idea of what I have found coming here from the Chicago area, if that helps at all.

The first thing, obviously, the weather. We left IL when it was -8 and snowing. We arrived here to temps in the '50's and sun. It was wonderful! We were in long sleeve t-shirts, the Floridians were in boots, winter coats, gloves and hats. I am told I will be like this soon enough. For now though, I just look around and smile when I would hear the weather report of "chilly, check on the elderly and your pets". Winter here is FANTASTIC!

While it is not yet summer by the date in Chicago, it is hot here and has been hot for a little while. This is why God invented air conditioning! The mornings and evenings are lovely, and that is when I go out and do yardwork. The middle of the day is for the pool. If you have a house, I do recommend a pool. We will certainly get more use out of the pool here in FL than we ever did in IL. Perhaps someday we will tire of the pool, but for now, it is one of the pleasures of being in FL.

I know July and August will be brutal, but we used to come down here to vacation during those months, when the kids were out of school. Now that I live here, I have no need to stand in line for hours at a theme park in the heat and humidity, so I figure I will handle summer just fine. We survived in the lines in the past, I can survive indoors now!

People talk of awful traffic on the roads. Being from the Chicago area, toll roads are a way of life, and I drive those instead of I-4. During rush hour, there is traffic on the tolls, but it is nothing like traffic on 355 or 294 during rush hour! I-4 is bad though. But, since I am used to paying to use the road anyway, I am not going to shy away from the toll roads.

Drivers are slow. Some are fast and crazy, but many are slow, especially on the toll road. When the speed sign is 70 in the Chicago area, you better go 80 or more so you don't get run over by a semi! Not so down here. 70 means maybe 65 or, possibly, 68. Again, some will go fast, but nothing like the Chicago area.

You will not find the selection at the grocery stores here as you will in Chicago. Oh how I miss my huge Jewel and my Woodman's! What I wouldn't give for a great Eastern European butcher so I can cook my Old World dinners for my family with the meats and seasonings that are required! Instead I have to have certain foods shipped down here, and oh that is very expensive!

My big, huge, major complaint down here in FL is the lack of work ethic. Workers are slow, so very slow, and in the process of having my home remodeled, I have yet to find a worker that actually shows up on time, works an 8 hour day, and doesn't leave cigarettes and garbage everywhere. So far, the only people that I have encountered that actually were efficient were the blinds company I used (owners from Gurnee, IL) and the glass company for my showers (owners from the state of NY). I believe many of the people that have lived in FL for a length of time are on "Island Time". It is frustrating beyond belief. How hard is it to finish a job correctly and on time?

And the smoking. There is a lot of cigarette use down here. Maybe where you lived in the Chicago area, it was the same, but it seems as if the acceptance of cigarettes where I was in IL was not looked at positively. Here, I don't find cigarette smoking to be that big of a negative in the local psyche.

Again, not sure where you plan on moving to in FL, but I can tell you that the people, as a whole, out here in the Clermont area are very, very nice. I have heard it is not like this in the city of Orlando, but I haven't been into the city proper to really find out. I know only that the majority of the people I have encountered out here have been pleasant and friendly. Strangers smile at you! I really like the friendliness.

Good luck in your move. There will be some culture shock, but overall, it is possible to adapt and embrace the Florida life and like it!

[adele115]

[quote=boy3365;44234130]I have a couple of friends who are from major cities who say this about Orlando and it is complete bull. They, nor I believe you, have never lived in an actual small town before. Yes, compared to Chicago, Miami, etc., Orlando may feel "like" a small town, but if I were to drop them off in one and leave them there for a few days, they would change their language about Orlando and comparably sized metros immediately.

Interesting, I lived one year in a small town where the best restaurant was a round the clock diner, and Walmart was the only destination. No starbucks, whole foods, etc. So, I'm not too worried about "small town life"going from Chicago to Orlando