Orlando is not a very good city to live in

[FLABoyJ]

Originally Posted by Magnulus

I don't believe Orlando is such a good city to live in. It used to be, but not anymore.

I have lived in Orlando 12 years. I lived near Tampa in my childhood for 3 years. My dad was in the military, I lived all over the world, including in Europe. I've lived most of my life in Florida, though.

One of the worst things about Orlando that has gotten bad is the traffic. Traffic used to be decent here around 1996. It started getting bad after 2000, and has gotten worse in the last 3-4 years. This city is also unfriendly if you don't want to drive a car. Very poor bus service. Not many walkable communities, very few sidewalks in many places. We have year round motorcycle/bicycle riding weather (I ride sometimes, I put on about 3,000 miles a year on a Rebel 250 and Honda Metropolitan, and ride a bike in the winter sometimes), but unless you like Harleys, you are going to have a harder time finding a mechanic- lots of sportbikes on the road, a few scooters, but long rides to get them to a mechanic that will work on anything Japanese or Italian. There are plenty of not-so-young-anymore-yuppies (the viagra set) with less brains than money, and they seem to gravitate towards a Harley and believe in screwing everybody else over. There are bicyclists as I've said, but most roads are not conducive to bicycling. Only in places like Winter Park, Mt. Dora, or some parts of Orlando proper would I consider a bicycle practical transportation- and you'ld better be prepared to sweat alot in our summers.

Pay and jobs are pretty poor, unless you have a certain skillset in the information technology type fields, graphics work, or engineering. The jobs at Disney are largely low-paying. Why, why would anybody come down here to take one of those jobs is beyond me. Cost of living is relatively high, too. Especially housing, and doesn't really track wages at all. Our state government is run buy a bunch of plutocratic sychophants that enact policies largely favoring people who own large tracts of land, large houses... jacking up prices for everybody who just wants a 1,000 square foot house with a garage or townhouse. That sort of thing. Shaquiel O'Neil and Rosie O'Donnels of the world can price working class people out of land. In fact the tax codes in Florida are set up to benefit those kinds of people- retirees and celebrities. Eventually, though, Shaq and Rosie are going to have to flip their own burgers and iron their own clothes.

I myself am currently unemployed. I admit I haven't been looking too, too hard, but I have put out a few job applications and a few interviews. My requirements are for a job that doesn't require a 20 mile commute- something about 12 miles at most, because I don't want to have to spend an hour getting to work every day. I live in Seminole county, and I can't find a job, even a low end job working at fast food, retail, or the numerous drugstoer around here. Because college students pretty much suck them all up. There are about 60,000 college students just at the state school, and a few thousand more at Rollins College... and every one of them gets one of these ****-ant jobs just so they can buy an XBox or whatever. These are jobs that should be filled by competent adults, but instead they take them all, and often have a certain unprofessionalism about them that really is pathetic (and they don't hold them long, because hey, it's spring break or they get the summer off- so expect to have your order screwed up routinely, or have somebody overcharge you at the register). Bottom line is if you don't have some serious academic credentials, you will have a tough time living comfortably in Orlando. I'm thinking of self-employment in some kind of business I create, or leaving the state. It's ugly, there really is a shortage of good quality jobs that don't require a masters degree, and the governments at the city, county, and state level are asleep at the wheel on this issue.

So, if you are thinking of moving down here and raising a family, I'll ask what the heck kind of world you want your kids to inherit. Sure, Orlando is great, if all your kids go to college and get an MBA or become engineers or computer techs. But in reality it will suck for average people. Your kids will have to leave the area to find a job and an affordable place to live.

I think most people looking for a place to move would be far better served looking for a place with a diverse economy, like maybe certain parts of the Midwest. IMO, Tulsa, Oklahoma is a highly underrated city. They have mild winters, a low cost of living, a diverse job market (more diverse than Orlando, even if not quite as many tech jobs). Somewhere like that is a better place to live than a place like Orlando, which is overbuilt and really has nothing but a service-based economy full of people "in transition" from one place to another, not willing to put down real roots and actually create a community.

I agree I am moving to Tampa I love Orlando I just don't think its a great city to live iN any more.

[lisaqueen]

I agree with you that it hard to find a job and it not good at all cause the company just try to payless for their employes that's why they hiring alot new people in summer break and then sucks them aftersummer gone. But one thing I not really agree that student from college go to work not because Xbox or whatever maybe some of them but not at all. Some like me just try to save money for college. College is so expensive.............

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by 8move8away8

Moderator cut: message deleted..

Moderator cut: message deleted There are plenty of nice places to live within the Orlando area --- Winter Park, Downtown/thornton park, baldwin park, college park, Dr Phillips, Windermere, Hunter's Creek, Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary etc.

There are two very good hospital systems here with Florida Hospital and Orlando Health.

[GloryB]

I like Orlando, but if I didn't have a job here, I probably wouldn't consider it my home or anything. It is obviously perfect for lots and lots of people, but if I could live anywhere, I doubt I would choose here.

[walletaclark4]

Originally Posted by johnatl

Sorry, I'm not buying this. Three hours to get home?

Are you commuting to Toronto or something?

Boy I am really glad you're not buying it because I wasn't selling anything! My husband and I have been taken this commute for 10 years now driving one end of 75 South to 285 east to 141 north with the traffic and accidents EVERYDAY!
By the way I'm not commuting to Toronto - the something is Atlanta/ Norcross!

[knowledgeiskey]

I agree with the OP even though the post is over 3 years old.

Orlando has a weak economy. The lifestyle here sucks. The job market sucks. I would not recommend Orlando to anyone.


I've been here 20 years of my life, and I hope to move out when I have the means to.

[idr591]

Originally Posted by knowledgeiskey

I agree with the OP even though the post is over 3 years old.

The Country has a weak economy. My lifestyle here sucks. The job market sucks everywhere. I would not recommend having a positive outlook to anyone.


I've been here 20 years of my life, and I hope to move out when I have the means to.

Fixed it for you.

[a.vought]

Originally Posted by knowledgeiskey
I agree with the OP even though the post is over 3 years old.

The Country has a weak economy. My lifestyle here sucks. The job market sucks everywhere. I would not recommend having a positive outlook to anyone.


I've been here 20 years of my life, and I hope to move out when I have the means to.

Fixed it for you.

Brilliant!!!

[GISgirl82]

I totally agree. I grew up in Tampa, and now live in Orlando, but combined with the crowds, traffic, and rudeness of people, my husband and I want out of the state. I graduated college in May and cannot find a job in my field, and am tired of the heat.