Tampa or Salt Lake City? Or stay in California? (Miami: apartment, movies)

[Curious.In.California]

Hi, I'm new here but I need some advice. I will try and make this as short as possible, even though its quite complicated. Basically my husband and I have been living in Palm Springs, CA for the past 8 years. There are a few things we like but a lot of things we don't like about living here.

The pros: 2 hours away from family in my husbands hometown of San Diego, 1.5 hours away from LA, no snow, beautiful mountains and palm trees, and mild winters.

The cons: too small - Palm Springs is pretty much a vacation and/or retirement destination so me being in my early 30's, its VERY hard to meet people my age. The summers here are BRUTAL! I'm talking 120 degrees and when the monsoon season hits in Aug, that adds humidity to that 120 degrees. It NEVER rains; this is a desert! If you get one cloud in the valley, it makes the news, lol! No potential for job growth...none.

Which brings me to our current dilemma...should we move for a better job situation which could open more doors for us down the road? My husband has two offers; one in Salt Lake City and one in Tampa (actually its in St. Petersburg to be specific).

Salt Lake City: My husband and I both went to school in UT so we're already familiar w/ the city. We have family and friends there and we love spring and fall there and the mountains are beautiful - those are the pros. The cons...we hate driving in snow and we are well aware how depressing the winters can be there. I'm sure we could adapt but here's the biggie...the job there would pay $16K LESS than the Florida job.

Tampa: I know very little about this city other than what sports teams play there. We went to Miami a couple years ago but we've never been to Tampa (what are the differences/similarities between he two)? I do happen to have an old high school friend who lives in Tampa and he loves it so that's at least 1 person I know there, lol. I realize Florida will be a humid heat so we would be trading our extreme dry heat for humid heat. I did live in Houston for 4 years in the 90's so I am familiar w/ living in humid conditions. I really don't like either, to be honest. I've had miserable summers here just like I did in Houston. Tampa is bigger than SLC and much bigger than Palm Springs. The job opportunity there is a good one; great paying w/ great benefits.

So our options are: stay put in Palm Springs in a Valley we've outgrown, w/ no possibilities for job growth BUT near some great cities like San Diego/LA where we have family. OR take the Salt Lake job where we love the mountains and we know the area BUT for $16K less. OR take the Tampa job and move to a part of the country we are very unfamiliar with but for a better job w/ better pay and benefits.

Just a little about us: we like mountains but we don't ski - they just look pretty, lol. We love the beach. We like museums, sporting events, shopping, movies, trying out new restaurants, working out, meeting new people and socializing/going out. We also love to travel and sight-see. If anyone has any thoughts or any advice, I'd love any feedback. Thanks!!

[algia]

From our recent experience....if you don't move you will never know if you'd liked it or not.

Move to St Pete; the breeze will make that humidity less annoying.

There are no mountains in FL...(Just an fyi) & the difference between Miami and Tampa are like night and day. Overall the Tampa/St Pete areas are MUCH cleaner than Miami from the people to the streets. It is more peaceful here, and I think you'd like it.

I think it is pretty obvious that if the job here is $16k higher, and there's no snow to drive in, that this is where you should move. And of course if you don't like it, you can move elsewhere again. We did...no big deal, but I can assure you that if you don't, you will kick yourself and always live with the "what if we moved" thing...you're young, no kids...what's stopping you? we moved with 3 kids.........

BTW you can always travel to see "mountains" either in the Caribbean's or the Carolina's...I am the same way I like to see them, not drive in them or ski...LOL That's what weekend trips are for. But you know what...if you drive up I-75 passed Ocala, there are hills in FL too...not huge...but sufficient to make a pretty landscape view.

[gypsychic]

IMO, no contest. St. Pete is GORGEOUS!!! You will love the beaches, they are some of the most beautiful in the country. St. Pete reminds me a little of vintage LA in a miniature way. When you come here you will see what I am talking about. Plus, it was just named #1 mid-size city for the arts. A lot of museums there. And good restaurants, too. The expanded Tampa Bay area really has a lot to offer, and if the job offer is much better than what you have, it will totally be worth it.

Yes, we have hot, humid summers, but half the year we have beautiful, sunny , almost-southern-California weather. As Algia said, no mountains, but the middle of the state has some beautiful hills, and it's only a few hours drive to see mountains for a change of scenery. Tampa has one of the best airports in the country, too.

Hope this helps!

[new.2.me]

I have lived my whole life in a town 20 minutes outside of SLC. While it is a beautiful state and the economy is strong (they say), we are looking to move out. Not because we hate it here, but because we are looking for something new. I feel like Tampa was incredible. I loved the weather, being able to go to the beach. The water is already warm even (everytime I've been to CA the water was frigid). My mom is from Gainsville and truthfully I think my southern roots are just taking over my soul and I just HAVE to get down there. Lol. For you, both Tampa and SLC will be something new and exciting you have to decide which adventure sounds more enticing to you.

[New Horizons]

That's a very far-fetched statement, and I think that most people from California would agree. Our humidity is higher here all year. I ran my AC through most of last winter just to keep my apartment dry. When we do get a dry spell, it's only caused by a temporary front that has the muscle to make it this far south. And when the front is over, the humidity creeps right back up.

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Yes, we have hot, humid summers, but half the year we have beautiful, sunny , almost-southern-California weather.

[Pragmaticus]

Originally Posted by Curious.In.California

Just a little about us: we like mountains but we don't ski - they just look pretty, lol. We love the beach. We like museums, sporting events, shopping, movies, trying out new restaurants, working out, meeting new people and socializing/going out. We also love to travel and sight-see. If anyone has any thoughts or any advice, I'd love any feedback. Thanks!!

You can have all those in both places. Except the mountain part here and the beach part there. Let's call it a wash .

If I have to select based on only weather, I would chose Salt Lake City. But overall I would pick Tampa Bay even though I love those winding canyon driving experiences.

I am surprised that they pay you less in SLC than St. Pete, to me SLC is more expensive of the two.

If everything was equal on both places, I would still chose Tampa Bay. 1) you get to be paid more and 2) experiencing a place that you have never been before is priceless .

Come on down!

[Tim Tim Tim]

As someone that has lived in both, id say SLC. The cost of living here is higher so that 16k difference wont be AS noticeable although I don't think it costs 16k more a year to live here.

to me, the pros of SLC are the nice mountains, seasons and friendlier people. The downsides (to most) would be the snow although if you have been there in the winter, you know they do a damn good job of keeping the roads clean during the winter.

The pros of Tampa are that its more diverse (pro for some, not me personally). There are a lot of really nice days, so many days of beautiful sun and no clouds although with that comes the CON of it being so hot here and only having 1 1/2 seasons, Summer and 1/4 sping and 1/4 fall. As for job growth, id say there probably similar. there are probably more options here now but SLC has one of the best "climates" for job creation.

Id pick slc, if i could go back id be there in a heart beat but either place can be as good as you make it. Starting over here would suck, as you have seen by other posts here, its not exactly easy to get out and meet people whereas we didnt have near as much of an issue finding friends in SLC

[Tim Tim Tim]

Originally Posted by new.2.me

I have lived my whole life in a town 20 minutes outside of SLC. While it is a beautiful state and the economy is strong (they say), we are looking to move out. Not because we hate it here, but because we are looking for something new. I feel like Tampa was incredible. I loved the weather, being able to go to the beach. The water is already warm even (everytime I've been to CA the water was frigid). My mom is from Gainsville and truthfully I think my southern roots are just taking over my soul and I just HAVE to get down there. Lol. For you, both Tampa and SLC will be something new and exciting you have to decide which adventure sounds more enticing to you.

just keep in mind that the whole paradise phase tends to go away with the daily grind to keep food on the table. The beach is the same every time you go so (to me) it gets a little old after a while. It is nice to vacation though, thats for sure.

[Arm&Hammer]

Stay away from SLC... I love greenry that Tampa has but wont find that in SLC and way too conservative and people act a bit weird over there (for my taste) if that is something you looking for. And as far as finding friends in SLC yes easy but a lot of them are flakes I know this when I lived there and many visits. I like real people not fakes you get in SLC or in California. Guess anybody can call me a typical yankee but I always know the real and shady folks. Good luck

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Tim Tim Tim

just keep in mind that the whole paradise phase tends to go away with the daily grind to keep food on the table. The beach is the same every time you go so (to me) it gets a little old after a while. It is nice to vacation though, thats for sure.

It goes away for some, but it doesn't go away for everybody. I have lived in Florida my entire life, and I wake up every day and give thanks I live in this paradise. It's different for everyone.