Help me tolerate the HEAT! (Tampa, St. Petersburg: transplants, homes, college)

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by displaced23

Good point PP mentioned about my parents being involved with the kids. When we all used to live in S. FL (us in Miami, my parents in Ft. Lauderdale), we'd visit about every other weekend. And DH and I would get to go out (like on a date!) every 1-2 months. Now we go out alone about once a year, usually when we are visiting my parents in Florida from where we live now. They were working then so we didn't see them during the week.
I don't expect my parents to watch the kids for daycare purposes, just visits, and occasionally maybe if school is out and we can't get off work. Or if maybe the kids are sick and we need emergency help caring for them if we can't get off work as well. Our school system here has 40 days off per school year for holidays, not including summer vacation.
I would not consider moving back to Tampa, except we would save about $2,000-3,000 extra per month from mortgage differences and cost of living, combined with advertised jobs in our careers. Also, everytime I visit friends and family there I think, "wow, what a good place this would be to raise a family".
I like living here, but honestly? We only get so much vacation time per year and it's always eaten up to travel to Florida (and we'd prefer to travel to new places but cannot if I want to visit family too). We see the mountains/ocean once every year or so, and the ocean is obviously still in Florida. And, of course my parents aren't getting any younger, nor are we.
If the benefits outweigh the negatives, I can live with the heat, but want to approach it in a logical way and try to find ways to compensate instead of focusing on the negatives of what I don't like about Tampa. It really is a great area and has a lot going for it.

The key then is to focus on all the POSITIVES of the area and the move you would make. If you keep only focusing on not liking the heat you will never be happy. If you can save as much money as you say, you should be able to travel to get out of the heat during the worst months. Live as close to the coast as possible, get a house with a pool, and just get out and do FUN THINGS with your family! You don't focus on the heat so much when you are busy and having fun!

Yes, it gets hot here, we all have to accept that; the worst is from July through September, but even then we get nice thunderstorms to cool things off. I am a native, I gladly put up with those few months because I love the mild temps the rest of the year.

Tampa has it's naysayers here, but then so does just about everywhere. But at the same time there are many thousands of people living here happily, with thousands more wanting to relocate here. It's definitely got things going for it.

[displaced23]

Originally Posted by displaced23

If the benefits outweigh the negatives, I can live with the heat, but want to approach it in a logical way and try to find ways to compensate instead of focusing on the negatives of what I don't like about Tampa. It really is a great area and has a lot going for it.

Sorry, this should say "... negatives of what I don't like about the weather." Tampa I don't have a problem with. It's typing on a small phone I have a problem with.

[Keeper]

Everyone feels the heat differently. My DH loved the heat when at the beach but not at home inside. Gypsy is right if you focus only on the heat then you will not be happy in Tampa.

There is good and bad about every place so you have to look for the good. I use to take a walk every day during the summer at lunch.

My DIL came for a visit in August from Seattle and she had a hard time dealing with the heat. She has never lived any place with the heat and humidity for so long.

[gardenpearl]

If you decide you would consider moving, I would apply for some jobs first and that may answer the relocation question for you. Those advertised jobs you've seen may have many applicants. Other threads have mentioned that Tampa has a very competitive job market with a lot of educated but underemployed people looking for work.

Of course, Tampa is not the only area having this problem now.

[Spring Hillian]

The hot weather is why I am here.

[BucFan]

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog...he-right-thing

Interesting article....helps explain why people from Tampa aren't the friendliest creatures......

[LKJ1988]

2 hot to deal with the heat pete. Stay inside clyde.

[PDF]

Originally Posted by LKJ1988

2 hot to deal with the heat pete. Stay inside clyde.

The heat cannot be tolerated!

[LKJ1988]

Originally Posted by PDF

The heat cannot be tolerated!

I hate it when we are in a reverse west windflow bro. Just sucks the life out of ya.

[HomelessAndLost]

Originally Posted by BucFan

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog...he-right-thing

Interesting article....helps explain why people from Tampa aren't the friendliest creatures......

I visited Tampa twice in the past few months, and just last week. Coming from the northeast and after visiting Denver, people in the Tampa area were awesome everywhere! It was so nice to be around friendly, happy people. Where are you getting your experience from?